66. MAZDA CX-5

Price From £23,500 (est) On sale Summer

DESPITE starring at last year’s LA Motor Show, the new Mazda CX-5 won’t hit the UK until the summer. Slimmer headlights and a larger grille set it apart, while at the back are a new tailgate and tail-lamps. The car is 10mm longer and wider than before, but sits 15mm lower.

Also new is a high-res infotainment system, plus there’s a head-up display, heated rear seats and climate control. Adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition will be available, too.

Updated versions of the 2.2-litre diesel and 2.0 petrol engines will be the best sellers, the former delivering 173bhp, but there’s no detail on economy figures yet. Mazda says the CX-5’S chassis is 15.5 per cent more rigid, which should improve the handling.

JAPANESE sports cars are having a revival. The Nissan GT-R became a hit, then the Honda NSX returned, and now Toyota’s Supra is making a comeback.

The Supra has been developed in conjunction with BMW – it will use the same platform as the next Z4 – but the Toyota will get a look inspired by the FT-1 concept (above). Power will come from a twin-turbo straight-six, as with the last Supra. Toyota hasn’t ruled out hybrid drive for its flagship, though.