As the new year plates arrive, car sales look set to flourish as people are enjoying PPI claim payouts and cheap credit.

The second worst car was the Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2005- 2012) managing just 42.6 mpg compared with the claimed 59.6 mpg (71.8 per cent).

The 200 mph California T is set to roar into Britain from September after its world debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show, whilst the Jaguar F-Type sports coupe was launched this week.

The latest new Porsche roared into 'Motown' this week as all eyes turned to Detroit - the home of U.S. car-building, but a city that has known better times.

She is known for her individual style, so it should come as no surprise that singer VV Brown has partnered with Vauxhall Motors to personalise and design her very own Vauxhall ADAM car.

As Maserati marks its 100th year, you can expect to see the luxury car sponsoring exclusive events and opening new showrooms across the UK.

A few weeks ago Ray branded the Government's electric car policy being in a mess. His Whitehall sources tell him it rattled cages at the Department for Transport.

Ray Massey tests the Hyundai iX35 Premium 1.7 CRDI 2WD Manual, a car with kerb appeal

Promising more space, headroom, legroom and much greater ease of entry for rear passengers, it goes on sale in October from £15,900 to £20,050 on the road

The Audi S3 feels smart, comfortable, sporty and grown-up, but also great fun says RAY MASSEY. The stop-start system also switches off the engine to save fuel.

Prices start at £20,455 on the road for the 1.4-litre TSI 125 PS manual and rise to £33,795 for the mean-looking 2-litre TSI 280 PS R. First UK deliveries will be in October

The new model will be 17 per cent more economical than its predecessor. The Fabia is expected to go on sale in the UK early next year and will cost between £10, 000 and £16, 000.

The XE, on sale next spring from £27,000, is Britain's challenger to Germany's big-selling BMW 3-series and is arguably the most important family car in the firm's history.

Honda has revealed its new compact sports utility vehicle — the HR-V — which goes on sale next summer from £16,000.

The event marks Parliament allowing motorists to drive without a man waving a red flag ahead in 1896. Hollywood drove a two-seater 1904 De Dion-Bouton

Expect prices from around £25,500 to about £43,000 for the pumped-up CLA45 AMG, which will accelerate from rest to 62mph in 4.7 seconds, thanks to its 360 bhp, 2-litre turbo engine.

RAY MASSEY tests the new Land Rover Discovery Sport on the snowy roads of Iceland. With an impressive seven seats avilable and fantastic flexibilty this car is perfect for families.

It's Mercedes-Benz's its answer to rival BMW's X6 sports utility vehicle. It will be launched at the Detroit Motor Show next month. The new GLE Coupe is to get sporty styling and improved suspension.

Including the new BMW 6 Series Convertible, Coupe and Gran Coupe. The cabriolet will go from rest to 62 mph in just 5.5 seconds. All petrol models will have a sports tuned exhaust system.

The Czech company beat rivals BMW and Range Rover to win the title. The original Skoda Fabia won the award 15 years ago as well. Since VW took over the firm, Skoda has shed its joke reputation.

The Passat has been around for 42 years, the first model came out in 1973. The estate car is the fourth biggest-selling VW in the UK. The new model has keyless entry and heated seats.

Built with flexibility in mind, it also has a sliding second row of seats. There is a choice of five turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. It is also the only car in its class to team four wheel -drive with seven seats.

The company have put a great deal of attention to detail into the new model of the Zetec which is both effortless and nimble to drive. Ford have listened to their customers and simplified the car's interior.

Amid all the fashion models and cars at the Paris motor show, Kia's sports utility vehicle turned heads. The seven-seater promises improved ride, handling and crash safety, writes RAY MASSEY

The new prototype is a two-door 'crossover' aimed at young families but the final version will be a four-door petrol-electric hatchback crossover. It includes a permanent integrated child seat.

The Outlander PHEV can be charged overnight at home, run on electric-only power or operate in hybrid mode, switching between petrol and electric power, depending on which is most efficient.

Just as George Osborne ratcheted up company car tax for thousands of motorists, German giant BMW unveiled its new 'budget buster' — its first mainstream plug-in petrol-electric hybrid SUV.

In a stunt worthy of the latest Bond film Spectre — for which the firm is supplying many of the cars — the XF (pictured) was revealed in a dramatic stunt high over the Royal Dock in Canary Wharf.

Korea's SsangYong is launching a new sports utility vehicle from under £13,000 that promises value for money motoring for drivers who believe in watching their pennies.

Cumberbatch was at the Shanghai Motor Show for the unveiling of the MG GS It will go on sale in Britain late next year.

It's been an electric week for motoring. A fleet of 100 electric vehicles was ferrying VIPs at the UEFA Champions League in Berlin last Sunday where Spain's FC Barcelona triumphed over Juventus.

The festival will feature cars from yesteryear, today and tomorrow. Since 1993 automotive extravaganza has become the nation's motor show. All major car makers brass will be attending.

As British Jaguars delivered guests to the annual WTA pre-Wimbledon Party, the Russian tennis star squeezed in a sneaky drive of the Porsche Boxter Spyder.

Jaguar's elegant new products are leaping ahead to rival German companies such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The elegant new sports saloon XF is the latest to hit the road

The world's two foremost luxury car makers, Rolls-Royce and Bentley, will lead the charge of top British marques at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show. Bentley this week unveiled its first 4x4.

The new model is predicted to sell for a quarter of a million pounds. The two-seater was designed by Scot Moray Callum and unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show ahead of going into production.

French giant, Renault, will release new model to Brits in autumn although it will go on sale on the continent in the summer. Renault bosses say it's aimed at those with an adventurous spirit.

Amazing to think that Toyota is celebrating its 50th anniversary of sales in Britain.

For the British workers at the Nissan factory in Sunderland, it really will be 'to Infiniti and beyond' this autumn as the new upmarket Infiniti Q30 hatchbacks roll off the line and into showrooms.

The technology has been built into the Michigan-based car manufacturer's Sync systems and is powered by software built by Nuance.

Dubbed the 'Flying Huntsman' by the team of British engineers who created it, the Defender Double Cab Pickup went on show at an exhibition in Peterborough earlier this month with more to follow.

Charge up your flux capacitors! We're going back to the future with Tesla Motors' unveiling of its gull-winged, all-electric sports utility vehicle.

Eyes will turn East this month for the Tokyo Motor Show, where cars that will soon be on sale in Britain share space with some of the most outlandish designs on the planet.

The new Chelsea tractor is designed for fashionable, adventurous types who want wind-in-the-hair motoring.

Bosses at Kahn Automobiles are offering a £20,000 reward for help catching a hooded vandal who smashed a Bugatti Veyron's windscreen with an iron bar at the dealership in Leeds.

Though now retired from professional cycling, the six-times gold medal winner has learned to drive a Nissan Juke on two wheels in just two days, rather than the two months experts say is normal.

She;s spent an incredible four decades in the spotlight.

She is a solo artist now after her girl group Fifth Harmony broke up. And Normani proved herself a force to be reckoned with at Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

None of the British royal family were safe when the Australian-born comedian hit the stage.

Pauly D made heads turn as he arrived at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday night in pineapple-themed attire alongside The Ritas, as they promoted the brand's new margarita.