Small MPV models also took a hit with sales down by 670, along with entry models in the premium sector, where BMW One Series and Mercedes Benz A Class lie, which were down by 895 sales.

Segments of the market where sales went up were the super mini class where cars like Toyota Yaris, Fiat Grande Punto and VW Polo are prominent. Figures here rose by 5,959.

The Midi MPV class, where Opel Zafira is top seller, saw a sales rise of 1,100 cars.

The biggest percentage rise was in the premium executive car class, which is S Class Mercedes Benz, BMW 7 Series and Jaguar territory.

Here there was a rise of 30% - 266 cars. Sales of expensive premiumclass coupé models rose by 270 cars and top SUV models were up by 560 cars.

The forecast for this year is that expensive models will continue to forge ahead in a market that will see between 190,000 and 205,000 new car sales. Last year, 178,000 new cars were sold, up from 171,000 in 2005, a 4% increase.

The high-figure forecast is partly based on the expectation that the remaining SSIA money will make an important mid-year boost in early summer.

The sales boom continues, even though over 70,000 second-hand cars, many of them expensive executive models, were imported last year.