2009 Year to drive hard bargain; BARGAINS GALORE ON EVERY FORECOURT Graeme's verdict.

Byline: GRAEME LENNOX

THERE'S no doubt 2008 will be remembered as the car industry's annus horribilis.

But 2009 might turn out fine for buyers with bargains to be had everywhere.

Scotland's biggest dealer Arnold Clark are discounting cars by up to 50 per cent in their New Year sales.

Customers can save more than pounds 8800 on an 08-plate Mazda RX-8 sportscar or pounds 11,700 on a 57-plate Peugeot 407 saloon.

It all makes for a buyer's market and comes when the industry has produced some of the best cars the Sunday Mail has ever tested.

Ford's brilliant Fiesta won the Scottish Car of the Year but there were outstanding motors such as Volkswagen's scintillating Scirocco, Nissan's devastating GT-R and the brand new Ferrari California.

Now a raft of new vehicles promise even more innovation and technology.

Highlights include Ford's new Focus RS and Porsche's Panamera GT plus the new Lotus Evora sports car.

One car that featured on everyone's list was Jaguar's outstanding XF.

Much of the credit for transforming the brand must go to Jaguar's Scots design director, Ian Callum. His bold approach breathed new life into the big cat line-up. The XF builds on his stunning transformation of the XK. Powerful, elegant and seductive, it is a car that appeals to both sexes. No wonder its creator won the Walpole Award for excellence in British Luxury.

The XF hasn't done too badly in the trophy stakes either. It scooped the Best Luxury Car and Best Diesel accolades at the 2008 Scottish Car of the Year Awards, plus a raft of silverware from the motoring mags. The range starts from pounds 33,900 and is worth every penny. Jag have just added their most powerful and efficient diesel engine to the range for 2009.

The V6 Diesel S accelerates from 0-60mph in less than six seconds, has a top speed of 155mph and still squeezes 42 miles out of every gallon.

The Birmingham-built saloon will be joined in 2010 by a sporty Coupe but for now the saloon version will turn heads.

10 CARS TO WATCH OUT FOR

THERE may be fear on the forecourts but that won't stop motor giants launching a few beauties in 2009.

FORD FOCUS RS

FORD'S pounds 25,000 hatch has a 2.5-litre engine, top speed of 160mph and does 0-60 in less than six seconds.

HONDA INSIGHT

HONDA'S pounds 17,000 answer to Toyota's green Prius is set to outshine its rival when it comes to economy.

LOTUS EVORA

THE pounds 45,000 2+2 sportscar has plenty of power thanks to a 276bhp, 3.5-litre V6 engine borrowed from Toyota.

MINI CROSSOVER

BASED on BMW's 1-Series, this offers 4x4 driving, a sliding side door and 3D control hub for pounds 20,000.

MITSUBISHI i' CAR

THIS pounds 15,000 electric car for eco-conscious drivers has no emissions, a 100-mile range and a top speed of 85mph.

PORSCHE PANAMERA

THE German marque are venturing into the world of Grand Touring cars with this sleek pounds 50,000 supercar.

TOYOTA iQ

DOWNSIZE but retain luxury for pounds 9495. This 1-litre has nine airbags, air conditioning, alloys and keyless entry.

NISSAN GT-R

THE pounds 52,900 price tag defies this sportscar's spine-tingling performance and stunning athletic looks.

ASTON MARTIN RAPIDE 

DUE in the autumn, this pounds 130,000 four-door's 6-litre, V12 engine will ensure 007 is shaken and stirred.

SEAT EXEO

THE Spanish firm's answer to Audi's A4 is stunning and has the same cabin as the A4 cabriolet for pounds 16,000.

CAPTION(S):

Lap of luxury: The stunning Jaguar XF is a head-turner