Speaking at the company’s press conference at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.  Philip Ross, senior vice president of Honda Motor Europe, said the carmaker would build on the momentum created by a series of new model introductions in 2015, including the all-new HR-V and Jazz, the Civic Type R and refreshed Civic and CR-V ranges.

“We are confident that this range will satisfy and delight our existing customers, and bring in many more, as the breadth of our range and the quality of our product broadens the appeal of Honda to an ever wider audience,” said Mr Ross.

Next year will bring the start of mass production of the new NSX hybrid supercar and Mr Ross also confirmed the 10th generation Civic is scheduled for a European launch from early 2017, with production of five-door variants exclusively being produced at the carmaker’s plant in Swindon in the UK following latest investment of €270m in new production technologies and processes.

“2015 has been an important year for Honda, but it’s very much the start of things to come,” concluded Mr Ross.