Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Japanese Cars Top Reliability Table

THERE’S some good news for owners of cars from Japanese brands, as they have topped a recent reliability survey conducted by Warranty Direct. The bad news? Certain UK brands didn’t perform so well.

New 2015 Mercedes S 65 AMG Coupe revealed – price from £183,065

The new 2015 Mercedes S65 AMG Coupe arrives The range-topping Mercedes S65 AMG Coupe has been revealed, and offers up its credentials as the perfect alternative to the Bentley Continental GT W12 with its 621bhp V12 delivering performance of 0-62mph in a 4.1 second whoosh. Even with its AMG badge, the S65 AMG Coupe is probably best thought of as the luxury take on the more aggressive and sporty S63 AMG Coupe – just as the V8 Continental GT is the sporty side of the Bentley Continental range – with its more effortless take on performance and power. There’s no doubt you get plenty of power and torque from the big V12, with 621 bhp and 737lb/ft of torque – driven to the back wheels through Mercedes’ seven-speed Speedshift automatic ‘box – on tap, enough to get to 62mph in 4.1 seconds and on to a 155mph limited top speed – but in a more creamy and effortless way than the S63.

First sight: Volkswagen Passat (2015)

In recent years, European buyers have been switching their mid-size sedans and wagons for smaller cars, crossovers and SUVs. The Volkswagen Passat, Europe's most successful company car, has defined this market segment pretty much since it arrived back in 1973, and this latest, eighth-generation model has been designed to attempt to reverse that buying trend. When we catch up with design director Dr Klaus Bischoff at the car's unveiling, he's certainly confident that the new car represents a significant step forward.