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

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.

Mercedes SLA Roadster looks likely

As car manufacturers start to look with fresh eyes at smaller, cheaper cars, reports from Germany confirm that Mercedes is close to committing to the SLA, a small Roadster to be based on the next generation A-Class platform. The original SLA concept was shown at Detroit in 2000, and aimed to slot in beneath the SLK. But at that time Mercedes didn’t have a suitable platform on which to base the car, and the project was shelved.

New Bentley SUV teased

The new design for the Bentley SUV teased There’s little doubt Bentley will make a success of its SUV, despite the original EXP 9 F Concept getting far more brickbats than plaudits. So Bentley have been back at their drawing boards making the Bentley SUV (which could be the Bentley Falcon) look more like a Bentley, and the tease is now beginning for its arrival in Bentley showrooms in early 2016 with a single photo (above). As expected, Bentley has replaced the blunt Mulsanne-like front end of their SUV with a nose that looks like its been taken from the Flying Spur, and no doubt added a few more curves on the bits we don’t see in the tease photo.