Toyota is bringing the long-defunct Camry back to the UK, with a hybrid version of the top-selling US executive saloon. However, Japanese rival Honda has no plans to follow suit and revive its old Accord nameplate by importing the latest American version.

Phil Webb, Honda head of car, told Motoring Research that while it was never say never, Honda is not contemplating bolstering its larger car range by bringing back the Accord. “Sales numbers wouldn’t justify the expense of homologating it for Europe. There’s simply not a business case for it.”

Even the fact Honda offers the Accord as a hybrid is not enough to swing it – despite the US Accord Hybrid offering similar performance and fuel economy to its Camry Hybrid arch-rival.

The firm will instead concentrate on the launch of its all-new CR-V, which goes on sale in September as a petrol, with a hybrid following in early 2019. 

Honda is bringing one overseas-built saloon car to Europe, though: the four-door Civic is coming later this summer. This is likely to sell in the hundreds, rather than thousands, said Webb.

The Turkish-built model is being introduced to offer a new alternative to Honda’s traditional customer base, although Webb said he also thinks it has potential in the corporate sector.

Honda’s global range is huge, said Webb, “and we are always investigating the potential to bring new models over here.” It’s a process that’s a little easier these days, as many cars are now built on Honda’s common global platforms.

“It all comes down to whether there’s sufficient demand for it. The numbers have to add up.” They do for the Civic saloon – but for now, it seems, Webb believes that for the Accord, they do not.

• The Toyota Camry is making a comeback – as a hybrid
• How a car enthusiast made the new Honda CR-V a 7-seater
• Honda CR-V Roadster is April fools’ gold

Dacia has revealed PCP finance offers for the new Duster value-priced SUV. And with payments starting from £129 a month, the brand’s sheer affordability seems as strong as ever.

The Duster finance deals are based around the Dimensions PCP scheme, and all are over three years, at 5.9 percent APR. Dacia also throws in a £250 deposit contribution to all deals.

It’s the £9,995 Access 1.6 SCe 115 that is offered for the bargain £129 price, with a customer deposit of £612. But as this model is pretty basic, lacking air-con or even a radio, most buyers are expected to enter the range with the Essential 1.6 SCe 115.

This is priced from £11,595, and comes in at £159 a month on PCP, with an £892 customer deposit. The better-stocked Comfort is £13,195 on the road, or £179 a month with a £1,074 deposit. And the range-topping Prestige 1.6 SCe 115 is £14,395 or £189 a month.

Diesel models start from £13,595 with the 1.5 Blue dCi 115, which costs £179 a month. A Comfort is £199 a month and a Prestige is £209 a month. Buyers can also choose 4×4 versions of the petrol, but not the diesel. Dacia expects the petrol to comprise the majority of sales.

Around two in three Duster buyers choose higher-end variants, head of Dacia UK Louise O’Sullivan told Motoring Research; very few customers pick the sub-£10k Access.

PCP deals on the new car have been kept competitive, she explained, despite a small increase in prices, thanks to a significant uplift in retained values. The Duster’s better quality, stronger equipment levels and ever-greater market awareness have all helped here.

“Customers trading up from the old one may find they have lots of equity still left in the car. Factor this in and some of them might be paying as little as £100 a month to trade into the new model.”

Read more:

• New Dacia Duster prices from £9,995
• Dacia’s ‘EasyJet’ approach takes it to 5 million sales
• The best 18-plate new car deals

They say you only get one chance to make a good first impression. That might be true if you’re appearing on Love Island or taking house buying advice from Kirstie Allsopp, but car manufacturers often get a second bite of the cherry. Here, we round up a selection of cars that shined bright like a diamond the second time around.

Ford Cortina Mk2

Launched under the banner of “New Cortina is more Cortina”, the second coming of the Ford Cortina represented a marked improvement over the original. More powerful engines, more room in the cabin, more glass, more luggage space and more comfort – just a few elements contributing to the feeling of getting more for your money. It might have lacked the styling purity of the Mk1, but the Cortina Mk2 laid the foundations for Ford’s family car dominance throughout the 70s and 80s.

Vauxhall Astra Mk2

The Astra Mk1 was a good car, helping to kickstart a huge sales drive by the company and cementing Vauxhall’s position as Ford’s chief rival. But the Mk2 moved the game on, thanks to its ‘pear drop’ styling and excellent value for money. It scooped the Car of the Year award in 1985 and spawned a range of variants, including estate, convertible and hot GTE and GTE 16v models. It was by far the most aerodynamic car in its class and it looked good, even after the arrival of the Mk3 in 1991.

Volkswagen Polo Mk2

The Bertone-designed Volkswagen Polo Mk1 was undoubtedly pretty, but it started life as an Audi. Without wishing to sound patronising, it was a great first attempt at building a supermini by a company with little experience in the segment. The second Polo was genuinely innovative, with Volkswagen adopting a ‘breadvan’ approach, complete with a surprisingly low 0.39 drag coefficient. Saloon, coupe and sporty G40 versions followed.

SEAT Ibiza Mk2

We love the original SEAT Ibiza. Based on a modified Fiat Ritmo (Strada) platform, styled by Giugiaro, and with input from Karmann and Porsche, it looks and feels like the car the Volkswagen Golf Mk2 should have been. Hashtag controversial. But there’s no room for misty-eyed nostalgia in this gallery, because the fact is the second-generation Ibiza was a more rounded car with universal appeal. Volkswagen’s input, including the use of the Polo platform, may have played a part.

Jaguar Mk2

“The changes made for 1960 without doubt represent together the greatest improvement so far achieved between a Jaguar model and its predecessor – short of a wholly new design.” The Autocar review of 1960 should provide all the evidence required to secure the Jaguar Mk2’s place in this gallery, with a host of interior and exterior changes combining to create one of the most iconic cars of the 60s. The Mk1 was good, but the Mk2 was in a different league.

Honda Civic Mk2

The original Civic was a game-changing vehicle for Honda, putting the Japanese giant on the automotive map. Despite appearances, the Civic Mk2 represented a wholesale repackaging of the Mk1, being longer and wider than its predecessor and boasting a much improved cabin.

Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2

Timing is everything. When Vauxhall launched the Cavalier in 1981, it probably expected to continue playing second fiddle to Ford in the sales chart. But nobody was banking on the Ford Sierra’s shock and awe styling, which resulted in conservative buyers switching to Vauxhall in their droves. When the dust settled, the Sierra propelled Ford back to the top of the tree, but the Cavalier was part of the UK street furniture throughout the 80s, spawning two-door, three-door, five-door, estate and even convertible versions.

Triumph 2000 Mk2

The original Triumph 2000 was a fine executive car, built at a time when Britannia ruled the waves in the segment. But if the Mk1 looked like a comfortable sweater, the Mk2 was a sharp Italian suit, complete with redesigned nose, longer tail, smart instrument cluster and better trim. The last of the big Triumphs, the 2000 and 2.5 PI were superseded by the Rover SD1.

Suzuki SJ410

The Suzuki LJ10 was designed to access the tight spaces that were off limits to larger 4x4s of the time, and its lightness made it a willing companion on the rough stuff. The second-generation SJ410 represented a shift from basic practicality to a greater focus on leisure and lifestyle, as well as providing the springboard for the Jimny you can still buy new today.

Ford Escort Mk2

In the Anglia, the Ford Escort Mk1 of 1968 had a tough act to follow, but it hit the ground running, becoming a million seller and spawning a number of legendary performance versions. The second-generation Escort arrived in 1975 and offered many improvements over the outgoing model. The classic ‘Coke bottle’ styling had gone, but the new Escort was more refined and more economical, despite being about the same size and weight as its predecessor. The performance models were pretty tasty, too.

Toyota Prius II

The original Toyota Prius – along with the Honda Insight – might have been a pioneering hybrid, but it was far from the finished article. The second-generation Prius of 2003 felt like a leap into the future, offering increased fuel efficiency and lower emissions, wrapped in a larger body. It also received the European Car of the Year award in 2005 and consistently scored well in reliability surveys.

Honda Jazz Mk2

“The 2008 Jazz takes everything people loved about the old Jazz. Then takes it all a couple of steps forwards.” Not our words, Lynn, but the words of Honest John. And that’s about as good as things get in the car world. HJ is right, of course, because the second Jazz was bigger, more comfortable and better to drive. Wave your Jazz hands in the air like you just don’t care.

Volvo XC90 Mk2

The first-generation XC90 was a hugely successful car for Volvo, transforming the brand’s image and becoming a hit with soccer moms across the globe. Little wonder, then, that the seven-seat SUV remained in production for a dozen years. The current XC90 had a tough act to follow, but has spearheaded a complete brand and product overhaul for the Chinese-owned manufacturer. As an aside, there have been no driver or passenger fatalities recorded in an XC90 since records began in 2004.

Porsche Boxster 987

The Type 987 or second-generation Boxster arrived in 2005, with Porsche using eight years experience with the Type 986 to deliver a much improved sports car. The styling was updated and the interior was upgraded, while the second Boxster also spawned a coupe version in the form of the Cayman.

Honda Legend Mk2

How do you follow in the footsteps of a Legend? If your name’s Honda the answer is simple: create another Legend. The second-generation Legend of 1990 was larger, smoother and more powerful than its predecessor, with more purposeful styling that seemed to take aim at the BMW 5 Series. The Legend progressed while the Rover 800 faltered, with the Mk2 800 merely a facelift of the old model.

Ford Fiesta ST

We’re cheating a little here, because this isn’t so much a Mk2 as a performance version of two generations of Fiesta. But hear us out, because it’s easy to forget that the previous Ford Fiesta ST wasn’t the first. The ST of the noughties was powered by a 2.0-litre Zetec engine and it provided an interesting alternative to the all-conquering Clio RS. But the second Fiesta ST was on a different level, catapulting Ford to the top of the hot hatch tree. By all accounts, the new turbocharged ST is even better.

Nissan Leaf Mk2

As the first mass-market EV, the Leaf did a huge amount for the electric car segment, not to mention Nissan’s sales figures. There are now more than 300,000 Leaf models on the road, giving Nissan a huge advantage over its EV rivals. The new Leaf is even better. Our verdict: “The 2018 Nissan Leaf is exactly the car it needed to be. It’s better all round, and crucially, more normal too. The EV aspect is exceptional, from the brilliant refinement, to the punchy and classy performance, to the extended range. It rides and handles with more European polish, and it’s even pretty good fun.”

Honda Prelude Mk2

We could point to the pop-up headlights as evidence of the Prelude Mk2’s superiority over its predecessor, but there’s more to it than that. For a start, it looks more appealing than the Mk1, with its wedge-like styling and, yes, the pop-up lights. But the new Prelude was also larger, more powerful, better to drive, only marginally less efficient and packed with cutting-edge tech, such as anti-lock brakes. Cool car.

Vauxhall Viva Mk2

The original Vauxhall Viva was a plain and rather conventional small car, but the Mk2 was different in so many ways. “In the case of the new Viva the new model is much, much more than just a new body. Some of our staff thought it so different from the previous one that a new name for it would have been justified.” The words of Autocar in 1966.

Ford Focus RS Mk2

Few would argue that the Focus RS has evolved and improved with every new generation, but we maintain that the Mk1 was the best looking. It was also a successful halo car for Ford, although the Blue Oval lost money on every one it sold. It had its faults, many of which have become characteristics with the passing of time, but the Mk2 was a more rounded product with a delightful 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz is reported to have lost £1.44 billion on the A-Class, so bosses would have been pleased to see the back of it in 2005. Many owners were equally unhappy with MB’s small car, with the A-Class beset with quality and reliability issues. The Mk2 A-Class was hardly an all-time great, but it was a far better resolved product.

Read more:

• Opinion: the three things you need to present Top Gear
• Crazy Golfs: celebrating the world’s greatest hot hatch
• Land Rover is developing self-driving off-roaders

Every summer, the streets of Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea erupt with the sound of supercars – many flown in from around the world. Armed with a camera, we spent several days in London, photographing these wild beasts in their favoured habitat. We’ve included the Instagram tags of owners where possible.

Apollo IE: @apollo_automobil

Remember the Audi-engined Gumpert Apollo? Meet its successor. The 789hp Apollo IE (Intensa Emozione) has styling from science fiction, along with a tuned Ferrari V12 and sequential manual gearbox. Despite a £2 million+ price tag, all 10 cars have reportedly been sold.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: @afzalkahn

Not merely a ‘standard’ Veyron, this is a one-of-30 Super Sport. Bugatti upped output from the 8.0-litre W16 engine from 1,001hp to 1,200hp, increasing top speed to an electronically-limited 258mph. This Veyron belongs to Afzal Kahn – the founder of car customisation company, Kahn Design.

Ferrari F12 TDF

The ferociously quick F12 TDF (Tour de France) is a hardcore version of Ferrari’s former flagship. It packs a 780hp front-mounted V12 and hits 62mph in 2.9 seconds. Perfect for cruising the King’s Road, then.

Porsche 911 Turbo S

Porsche 911s are a common sight in many London postcodes, although a Turbo S remains a relative rarity. This is the current ‘991.2’ iteration, with a 580hp flat-six – 40hp more than the regular Turbo. Performance? Try 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds and 205mph.

Audi TT RS: @insideoutnback

Back in 2016, we said: “the new Audi TT RS hits 62mph from standstill in 3.7 seconds. That’s quicker than a Ferrari F40, Porsche 959 or Jaguar XJ220. It’s also just 0.2 seconds slower than Audi’s flagship R8.” This stealthy black TT belongs to Jake: @insideoutnback on Instagram.

Pagani Zonda F: @zondamd

Nothing screams ‘supercar’ like a bright yellow Pagani Zonda. Launched in 1999, the Zonda was continually updated over 18 years in production – and there are numerous special editions. This Zonda F – owned by @zondamd – is one of 25 made, with exposed carbon fibre on the lower half of its bodywork. Power comes courtesy of a 602hp Mercedes-AMG V12.

Pagani Huayra BC: @scottsmith_official

The Huayra (say it ‘why-ra’) is Pagani’s second supercar, launched in 2012. The track-focused BC followed in 2016, with 755hp and a kerb weight of just 1,218kg (a 1.5-litre Ford Focus weighs 1,363kg). Note the exposed carbon fibre – a special ‘Triax’ compound claimed to be 20% stronger and 50% lighter.

Lamborghini Huracan Performante: @gravelwoodcarsales

The 640hp Huracan Performante laps the Nürburgring seven seconds quicker than its big brother, the 750hp Aventador SV. It also blitzed the 12.9-mile circuit faster than an 899hp Porsche 918 Spyder. Even at more sedate speeds on Sloane Street, the Lamborghini’s naturally-aspirated V10 sounds utterly feral.

Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster: @rana65556

The owner of this Aventador SV Roadster – @rana65556 on Instagram – has just bought a Huracan Performante Roadster, too. The SuperVeloce (literally ‘super fast) blasts to 62mph in 2.8 seconds and has a two-piece carbon hard-top that slots into the front boot. Huge ‘SV’ decals on the rear wings complete the look.

McLaren 675LT: wrapped by @dub_customs

We’ve not seen a better-looking 675LT than this – photographed on Sloane Street. Its bright blue finish is actually a vinyl wrap from Dub Customs, with unpainted carbon fibre for the spoilers and side skirts. The twin-turbo V8 675LT remains the fastest car around the original Top Gear test track.

Pagani Zonda Oliver Evolution: @the_man_1vvm

This extreme, one-off Pagani Zonda is named after the owner’s son. Its huge, split-level rear wing is designed for maximum downforce, while its 7.3-litre V12 is boosted to 760hp. Oliver was apparently nine years old when the car was commissioned. He’ll be one lucky boy when he inherits this.

Ferrari 488 GTB

Cruising London in a supercar doesn’t always go to plan – particularly if you have no insurance. This Ferrari 488 GTB is being hoisted onto a flatbed truck – bound for the council compound. No doubt its owner faces a hefty fine.

Lamborghini Aventador S: @joshblue1

Another yellow Aventador, but those ‘fangs’ in the front grille indicate this is the latest S version. Its mighty 740hp V12 offers plenty of straight-line speed (0-62 mph in 2.9sec, 217mph), while four-wheel steering improves cornering agility. Selectable drive modes, from Strada (street) to Corsa (track) were also introduced.

BMW M2: @l666xox

Giving the TT RS a run for its money is this BMW M2, owned by @l666xox. The 370hp coupe is smallest and arguably most exciting of the current M-car crop, with a lively rear-drive chassis and a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed semi-auto gearboxes. Long Beach Blue paint – the M2’s signature shade – helps this car stand out.

Koenigsegg Agera XS: @vtm_theking_4

‘XS’ indeed. This a Koenigsegg Agera XS – one of just two made. Beneath that less-than-subtle carbon bodywork is the 1,340hp twin-turbo V8 from the Koenigsegg One:1, capable of accelerating this Swedish supercar beyond 250mph. An active rear wing generates 450kg of downforce at 155mph.

Pagani Huayra: @sparky18888

There are acres of exposed carbon fibre on this Huayra and, if you look closely, you’ll notice the stripes in the weave line up perfectly between body panels. That’s a reflection of Horacio Pagani’s obsessive attention to detail, which includes having every screw laser-etched with the Pagani logo – at a cost of £65 each.

Mercedes-AMG E63 S: @shahidd89

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S isn’t a supercar in the traditional sense – not with four doors, five seats and subtle styling – but its performance is right up there: 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds and 186mph. As per the personalised plate, this E63 S belongs to @shahidd89.

McLaren 570S: @ty.carrera

Back in 2015, Motoring Research’s Richard Aucock reviewed the McLaren 570S, concluding: “[It] is unquestionably a five-star car, without doubt a new sports car great. Just like the Audi R8 at launch, it’s a new take on the super sports car, one that’s thoroughly McLaren and, because of the supercar richness it delivers for £140k, will have Porsche holding special engineering meetings to dissect it.” Nuff said, really.

Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster: @mapesbury_co

Looking like a bona fide Batmobile in black, this drop-top version of the Aventador S shows off its trademark ‘scissor’ doors at the kerbside. The car belongs to @mapesbury_co and was spotted in convoy with an Audi R8.

Ferrari Enzo: @the_luxurious_cars

Enzo Ferrari never lived to see the car that bore his name (yes, technically all his cars bore his name) but it’s likely he would have approved. When launched in 2002, the 660hp Enzo was the closest thing to a road-legal F1 car. It has a carbon fibre chassis, ceramic composite brakes, pushrod suspension and a semi-auto gearbox with shift lights on the steering wheel.

Audi R8 V10 Plus: @ye58ruv

Here’s that R8 again: a current-generation V10 Plus with the same 610hp V10 as a Lamborghini Huracan. Quattro four-wheel-drive means 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, while the interior boasts Audi’s neat Virtual Cockpit display. We do wish you could still have an open-gate manual gearbox, though.

Nissan GT-R: @musgtr

Snapped in Chelsea, here’s Japan’s very own ‘Godzilla’: the mighty Nissan GT-R. The purple/orange colour combo of @musgtr’s car won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the Skyline successor pulls no punches when it comes to performance. Zero to 62mph times as low as 2.7 seconds have been recorded.

Porsche 911 GT3: @v88tnt

This first-gen ‘991.1’ GT3 also rocks the orange wheels look – and boasts a full Brooke Race Exhausts stainless steel system. Andrew Brady described the updated (991.2) GT3 as “the best supercar on sale” when he reviewed it for Motoring Research earlier this year.

Mercedes-AMG A45: @benjaminhiscoe

OK, this certainly isn’t a supercar, although the 381hp Mercedes-AMG A45 is more than a mere hot hatch. Indeed, a 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds means it’s snapping at the heels of far more exotic machines. The soundtrack is special, too, the exhausts belching and banging with every gearshift.

Ferrari 458 Italia

Last but not least, a Ferrari 458 Italia: a car that sums up everything a supercar should be. Beautiful to look at, exhilarating to drive and achingly desirable, it’s far better suited to the Stelvio Pass than Sloane Street. Somebody should arrange a convoy…

Read more:

• ‘Mad Friday’ at Le Mans: supercars and classics take over town
• Era-defining supercars wow London crowds
• We bait London’s supercar spotters – and FAIL

Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has issued a warning about expected earnings. 

The primary reason for the drop in potential profit comes from the growing trade battle between the United States and China. Following the imposition of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Chinese government retaliated with increased import duties on a variety of goods.

Specifically, the Chinese import duties apply to vehicles produced in the United States. Mercedes-Benz has multiple factories and offices throughout the USA, including a production facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which builds SUV models including the GLS and GLE.

Daimler states that as not all of the cars produced in the Alabama factory can be redirected to be sold in other markets, this will have an impact on profits, should demand be reduced. The tariffs themselves will also have an effect, as the company says the full cost of these will not be passed on to customers. 

Other problems for the company have come from complying with the new Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) rules regarding fuel consumption and emissions. Other manufacturers have also been affected by this, with Volkswagen making plans to reduce production output to manage the changes. 

The Mercedes-Benz Van division is also likely to see reduced profits, following the need to recall Vito models due to emissions from diesel engines. 

During 2017, Daimler AG recorded net profits of €10.9 billion, representing a 24 percent increase from the previous year. Estimates for 2018 now put profits “slightly below” that achieved in 2017.