Car sales slow despite luxury models' surge

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New car registrations rose a paltry 0.03% in January to 128,853 compared with the year earlier, prompting the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders to lower its forecast for the year to 1.92 million units, a 1.1% drop on 2011. Last month's figures were helped by strong sales of luxury marques such as Aston Martin, which jumped by 14.5% and Bentley, up by 43%.

However, the broader gloomy economic climate held back sales of mass-market models.

The SMMT also said it expects the market to remain subdued in 2013, with sales rising marginally to 1.98 million units.