AT ABOUT this time every year we look forward to what’s emerging for March 1, the date of the number plate change.

Even though the plate change now comes twice a year and is no longer the big event it used to be, the 07 plate still represents an opportunity to snap up one of the many models introduced for spring 2007. There is no shortage of very tempting options to plump for.

We’ll start with the smallest cars on the market, the citycars. One stands out as particularly good fun and it’s the Peugeot 107 Sport XS. Okay, so it boasts no more power than the rest of the 107 range but the bold stripes and the funkier interior married to a Group 1E insurance rating are bound to be popular with younger drivers. The all-new smart fortwo is a better bet for hardcore real urban use.

Superminis are still selling extremely strongly and here my selection would be the biggest one on the block, the Renault Clio. The budget-conscious Freeway edition is new on dealer floors and represents a smart way to get a supersized supermini for a decidedly small price. The 1.2-litre engine isn’t much to write home about, so if you put more of an emphasis on driving fun, track down Ford’s recently revised Fiesta Zetec Climate instead. It’s still the sharpest steer in the class. The new Skoda Fabia also looks very interesting and will attract a fair few letters of intent once customers read the initial reviews.

Step up a class to the traditional family hatch and the dark horse for the 07 plate could well be Kia’s funky looking Cee’d. This model marks the Korean company’s step up to the big league and while it still carries a typically Kia price, the interior will come as a welcome surprise to anyone expecting the sort of low-rent plastics that have typically plagued south-east Asian cars. It feels as well-built as many more ostensibly upmarket models. The Toyota Auris is well worth investigation, offering better quality and sharper styling than the Corolla it replaces.

Medium range cars are in a bit of a rut at the moment and I’d advise buyers to keep their money in their pockets if they’re shopping for something new in this sector. The forthcoming Ford Mondeo and Citroën C5 both look very interesting but otherwise there’s not a whole lot to get excited about. The same can’t be said about the compact executive class, where most of the medium range buyers have decamped. The all-new Mercedes C-Class is the hot ticket here but like the Ford and the Citroen, it won’t be here in time for March 1. In contrast, BMW’s 335i and 335d variants are on showroom floors now and are to be reckoned with.

Take the time to look around and drive a variety of cars in the sector you’re considering. Above all, enjoy it. That, after all, is what buying a new car should be all about.

Full-sized executive cars are also engaged in a pitched battle, BMW’s recently revised 5 Series just doing enough to get the nod here. Luxury models are also selling very well, with Bentley’s Arnage attracting long waiting lists. If your means aren’t quite as bountiful, the forthcoming Lexus LS600h hybrid is a fascinating piece of technology, a more ecologically friendly version of the new LS460 model on sale now.

People carriers are also being launched with astonishing frequency. The middleweight performers are still selling very well and the Citroën C4 Picasso, in both five-seat and ‘Grand’ seven-seat models, looks set to give the sector a good shake-up. The revised Volkswagen Touran also seems to be a hot ticket, shaking off the old car’s rather boring image. Need even more space but want something that won’t have teenagers stopping you in the evening and trying to order a large doner? The Ford S-MAX and the Galaxy might have been on sale a while but availability of diesel variants has been tight, so these would be my prime picks.

Despite the sales curve plateauing somewhat, 4x4s are still doing very good business in the UK. Later this year, Citroën and Peugeot will launch a twin assault with their C-Crosser and 4007 models. Likewise Audi are set to launch a smaller Q5 model but again this will be a way off. In the shorter term, the car the Peugeot and Citroën are based upon, the Mitsubishi Outlander, looks interesting but most of the orders will go to Land Rover dealers who are now proudly displaying the Freelander2. Jeep’s Wrangler has sprouted a few more creature comforts in its new shape for those looking for something properly go-anywhere. Crane your neck further upmarket and the new BMW X5, the heavily revised Porsche Cayenne and the 6.0-litre W12 version of the Audi Q7 all look mouthwatering.

As for hot hatches, the Alfa 147 Q2, the Audi S3 and the BMW 130i three-door merit closer inspection while the latest Honda Civic Type-R is the big headliner. The new Vauxhall Corsa VXR and MINI Cooper S are both worth test driving as well. If you can afford a sports coupe, look for the latest Audi TT, also available as a drop top, the Lotus Europa and Volvo’s C30 if you really want to get the curtains twitching. Serious money options include the Ferrari 599, the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 and Porsche’s astonishing 911 GT3. Need the wind in the hair? Look no further than the new Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe.

This is by no means an inclusive list and every dealer will have other new arrivals to talk about, some less genuinely 'new' than others. Take the time to look around and drive a variety of cars in the sector you’re considering. Above all, enjoy it.