Reliability is a key factor to consider when purchasing a car and with the results of the Fleet News magazine 2009 top50 results just released it is the perfect opportunity for customers and consumers around the UK to take stock of the situation and make a informed decision about their next purchase and used Honda’s recorded staggering results.

The Japanese and German car manufacturers have come out of the latest survey very well, with the Honda Civic coming out with the top honour of being the most reliable car on the market today. There was even more reason for the Japanese car giant to celebrate with two more of their cars featuring heavily inside the top 5 cars with the Honda Jazz in third place and the Honda Accord scooping fourth place.

Although the German manufacturer’s profits have fallen thanks to this year’s trying economy, the BMW group remain optimistic. Thanks to recent indications of recovery, they are hoping to make a positive turnover by the end of the year across all their brands.

The fall in returns has been blamed on a decrease in consumer spending and has resulted in a loss of 73.8% (down to £70.5 million) with total sales of cars across the BMW group including BMW, Rolls Royce and MINI brands down 15.7% from the year before.

Ok, a Lexus may not appear to be the most exciting cars on the market, although that could all change when the LF-Ch hits the market, but what Lexus has always held above the rest is reliability. Taking this into consideration means that a used Lexus will prove to be a prudent move for second hand buyers.

Owners of approved used Lexus vehicles rarely find problems, as is evident in customer satisfaction surveys, with Lexus at the head of the list for cars between 3-5 years old.

The latest BMW 3 Series emphasises the German motor experts’ intent on producing eco-friendly and economical vehicles that do not compromise on performance.

The BMW 316d saloon encompasses BMW’s award winning EfficientDynamics technology and returns impressive statistics.

With better combined fuel consumption (62.8 mpg) than two of its main rivals – Audi A4 TDIe 136 and Ford Mondeo ECOnetic TDCi 115 – and more eco -friendly, emitting just 118g/km CO2 (just 35 pounds annual road tax), the BMW 316d is set to finish top of the class yet again.

Lexus dealers are set to be in for a busy couple of years as they look to set to push full steam ahead with production of their new premium compact car, the Lexus LF-Ch.

Since unveiling the latest model at the Frankfurt Motor Show to critical acclaim, Lexus dealerships have been inundated with requests for further information on the LF-Ch which won’t be available on the road until 2011.

With a petrol hybrid engine that will emit less than 100/km CO2 and front wheel drive, the LF-Ch represents a new challenge for Lexus who aim to target market share from the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series.

The motor industry has been struggling against a tide of financial depression over the course of the last year as we all know: Cars continue to back up on fore-courts with customers refusing to part with their hard earned cash, opting instead to save their money until the recession has passed. Even the new scrappage scheme employed by several manufacturers hasn’t worked as well as they had initially hoped.

However, there is some good news coming out of America that sales on certain brands of luxury cars has started to move in a positive direction again. Sales of Lexus cars have been boosted with a 12% gain in the last month.

New images of the Lexus LF-Ch concept car, set to be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show have been released, and the compact sportsback looks even better than Car Chat had first expected.

Following from the sketches of the concept car, leaked by Lexus a couple of weeks ago, these images of the actual concept car look stunning.

This model will aim to gain Lexus some of the market share in the sportsback sector, to rival the likes of the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3.

This new Lexus model will also be available in full hybrid making it the first fully electric car of its type.

With The Insight becoming the first hybrid vehicle to top the Japanese sales list in April, Honda has recorded rising domestic sales once again in August.

Honda car sales significantly outperformed industry figures, increasing by 13 per cent during the first three weeks in August compared to the same period in 2008.

The Honda Insight has continued to perform strongly gaining significant market share in the Hybrid sector.

Honda increased their global production by 90,000 units in June as sales and pre orders rose considerably as the Japanese Government offered incentives and tax breaks on the purchase of eco-friendly vehicles.

2009 is a celebratory year for MINI having recently commemorated its 50th birthday, and now they are set to enter new territories – the world of the coupe.

BMW has released images of the MINI Coupe Concept that is set to be exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid September and this reincarnation of the classic hot hatch looks set to steal the show.

This most iconic of hot hatches will now enter the sports coupe market for the first time in its 50 year history and judging by the images, MINI fever is likely to spread once again, not only through the UK and Europe, but also across the Atlantic and beyond.

Honda have catered for those who wanted a new Civic Type R but couldn’t afford one with the release of the Sport-Si Civic.

The Sport-Si Civic is soon to hit the UK market, starting with a 1.4 litre i-VTEC Si and then the 1.8 i-VTEC Si and 2.2 i-CTDi Si will follow a few months later.

With colour-coded body mouldings, Type R front grille, alloys, dark chrome features, half leather interior and USB connectivity, starting from just 15,800, pounds Honda are sure to be inundated with pre-orders.

Honda dealers are taking orders for the Sport-Si Civic now – click here for more info.

Lexus has unveiled their latest concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show – a car that they expect to take on BMW’s hugely successful 1 Series.

The Lexus CT concept car is to be a first sportsback for the Toyota subsidiary company. Whereas Lexus have concentrated on the coupe and SUV market they now aim to challenge BMW, Audi and the like and from the initial sketches of the concept car, they could gain significant market share.

This is new ground for Lexus and is set to be well received in Germany, as it is likely to be worldwide.

Japan seems to have surpassed us in just about everything. Cars, money, technology, you name it. The Japanese seem to be able to take their hand to almost anything and everything! But, the tables seem to have turned for this one subject at least.

Japan has a large market for sturdy, reliable cars, and Honda has provided their working class citizens with just that since September 1948 from their corporate headquarters in Minato, in Tokyo, Japan.

The Honda Civic Type R is made at the Swindon Honda factory but Honda is importing the hatchback, so that it can be sold in Japan.

The brand new Lexus HS 250h is selling like hot-cakes after it was unveiled in Japan and the US in July. Toyota was targeting 500 sales per month, but in their first month the car has already achieved a whopping 9,000 orders!

Lexus is undoubtedly a very reliable company, making many comfortable, stylish and sensible cars. Lexus’ are generally proven to be liked by consumers, so it isn’t surprising that the 2010 Lexus HS 250h is selling so well – it’s a beautiful car to look at and to drive.

The BMW 3 Series Saloon and Convertible have been named best compact executive car and best convertible. The two high-profile awards were awarded to the motoring company by th UK’s biggest selling weekly motoring magazine: Auto Express. 

The panel of motoring experts from the magazine assessed the two cars and later awarded them the two prestiduous awards.

The road test team from Auto Express said: ‘BMW’s superior dynamics won the day. A model range that includes everything from a diesel variant capable of 62.8mpg to the supercar-chasing 414bhp M3 is unbeatable’ about the Saloon.

The MINI John Cooper Works Cabrio will join the Australian line-up next month. The new and exciting drop-top isn’t just the newest member to the John Coper Works range, but also is it’s fastest convertible yet. The turbocharged convertible is the third car in the John Cooper Works line-up and, being the quickest accelerating convertible in the sub-$100,000 range, it surely is a very fast MINI.

The John Cooper Works Cabrio (first unveiled at this years Geneva Motor Show), claims to be able to hit 100km/h in 6.9 seconds – wow!