And for the first time...

And for the first time in five years, Ford has been deposed from its position as market leader by Vauxhall. Official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed the blue oval took 15.19 per cent of the UK market. But its Luton-based rival pipped it at the post with 15.33 per cent. The February table shows that with the second-generation model on sale, the Ford Focus remains Britain"s best-seller, with 5,453 cars registered last month. The Vauxhall Astra comes in second, with 4,703 registrations.

Set to be unveiled at...

Set to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month, the Japanese car has an impressive engine line-up to match its sporty looks. The entry-level IS250 will be powered by a 215bhp 2.5-litre direct-injection V6, while the flagship IS350 will have a 315bhp 3.5 V6. The first diesel engine to be offered in the range is a newly developed four-cylinder 2.2-litre direct-injection turbo D-4D unit, with power being sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. Petrol variants, however, will feature a sequential automatic transmission instead.