Car of the Year 2004 - The wait is over, the biggest and best test of the year is here. There were laughs, there were tears, there were a few arguments, and at the end of it all there was a decision. Lightweights took on heavyweights, siblings battled with siblings, and the hot hatches played merry hell with everyone. Who needs panto with these kind of shenanigans?

Citroen C4 VTS Hot Hatch Group Test - The U may have the coolest new ad, but can its technical wizardry overcome the Leon Cupra R, Astra SRi and Civic Type-R? Brett Fraser is your robot in disguise

Driving Audi's DTM-winning supersaloon - Fog, drizzle, an unknown circuit and an ever so slightly scary DTM car - all just another day out of the office for Meaden. Hold on tight as we go for a few quick laps in the astonishing, bewinged M W Monster Merc G55AMG

AMG has been shoehorning monster V8 engines into unsuspecting Meres again. Latest is the unlikely G-wagen, now with nearly 500bhp. Colin Goodwin gets to grips with it, while Tomalin and Metcaife have a frank exchange of views

Buying Guide: F355, Esprit Sport 350 & VX220 - Three cars that you drooled over in past eCOTYs but couldn't afford at the time. Well, depreciation has had its wicked way in the intervening years, and interest rates aren't going to get any lower... Here's what you need to know if you're tempted to take the plunge

Big boys' toys - Christmas Day can be a nightmare with all that mock eulogising over gifts of beige socks, so drop a few more hints this year by leaving this sparkling guide to gadgets, toys, books and DVDs lying around in a prominent position

Planet evo - Aston's stunning DBR9 leads the new breed of GT racers; we've the first pics of a spectacular new Ferrari and the Range Rover Sport; plus the lowdown on two genuinely exciting new MGs

Letters - A reader identifies the car from a kids' movie that inspired Koenigsegg's 250mph CCR supercar; another reckons we should move evo to California

Long Term Tests - A fond last look at the Clio V6 (sniff) before turning to greet a new 997 (hoorah) and a Murcielago (yippee!). Jethro's Evo has been verge surfing, while Dickie's Exige will now deafen as well as blind. Allan Pattison becomes Alan Partridge, and Chee-Chiu Lee becomes Bruce Lee as he takes on the Caterham - and survives

Back Issues - Missing a copy or just fancy a quick chat? Either way the nice people in our back issues dept won't disappoint - and they've just unearthed a few more old copies too

The Knowledge - Almost looks a little empty without the 3000GT this month, but time's a great healer

Great Escapes - James Thompson's had a few big smashes in his time, and not just in Touring Cars...