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

Aston Martins voted 'best status symbol'

AN ASTON Martin is the car to be seen driving if you want people to believe you've 'made it', according to an offbeat new study. Research carried out by Auto Trader among 1,024 drivers showed that the British brand's cars are, perhaps unsurprisingly, the ones that most Brits think highest of, beating the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bentley down the order. In fact, the top three positions in the survey were filled by British car makers, with Bentley and Rolls Royce second and third respectively.

The best new-car discounts and deals: March's biggest savings

With the 14-registration plate change in March, dealers and manufacturers will be expecting to build on a strong start to the year. To do that they’ll have to discount. Here’s our pick of the biggest new car discounts available.

Mercedes Concept Coupe SUV is the new Mercedes ML Coupe (MLC)

The Mercedes Coupe Concept SUV (pictured) will debut in Beijing Cars UK reported back in 2011 that a Mercedes ML Coupe (perhaps the Mercedes MLC) was in the planning to take on the BMW X6, and Mercedes confirmed as much when they revealed will build a fifth model at its US plant in Alabama. Mercedes plan to start building their fifth model in Alabama in 2015, and today’s reveal of the Mercedes Concept Coupe SUV – which will debut at the Beijing Motor Show – is the first public step on the way to a coupe version of the M-Class – and the battle to steal sales from the BMW X6. Mercedes aren’t saying much about the Concept Coupe SUV, but they do say it’s a sportily-styled coupe SUV and provide a first look at a series production car expected next year.