Autoblog UK

Organisers of the Los Angeles Auto Show invited design studios based in Southern California to set out their vision for Mobile Teens in 2030 (Youthmobile 2030). Studies were drawn up by design studios at General Motors, Audi, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Toyota. 2009 is the sixth year that this Design Challenge has been held. The winner will be announced on Press Day at the Los Angeles Auto Show, 2nd and 3rd December 2009.

Car Hero by General Motors can drive itself and is steered by mobile phone (that's if they are still around in 2030). Audi designers submitted two very bold design studies, the eSpira and the eOra, that are guided to their destination by hand movements (not a good idea for those of us who are not at our best in the mornings but nevertheless need to get to work). Nissan's V2G is an eco-friendly electrically powered car. This e-car has an aerodynamic egg shape and six wheels. In Mazda's Souga, the car's two occupants sit diagonally behind one another. According to its designers, buyers of the Souga will configure the car to suit their needs. Both Nissan and Toyota designers believe that, in 2030, vehicles travelling in the rush hour will often be joined together in groups of two or more. The Toyota's appearance can be digitally altered and tyre friction converted back into energy.

An Audi TTS will race in the legendary Pikes Peak Race, without a driver at the helm. That's the ambitious aim of a team of students from Stanford. First efforts on a salt lake have proved successful with the car reaching 210 km/h (135mph). Shelley, the autonomous Audi, gets its name from the best-known and most successful rally ace, Michelle Mouton, who was the first woman to win the Pikes Peak race.

Early next year, Shelley will cover the course with driver, so that software can be programmed with live data. The race proper takes place on 27th June 2010. It won't be easy, as the famous rally circuit snakes its way 20 kilometres up a mountain around 156 turns.

It's all change in the class, medium-size and above. Nothing is the way it used to be. The marketing strategies of the car manufacturers serve to mix the various classes and crossover is the new buzzword. There were seven 'crossers ' to choose from in this Golden Steering Wheel category: Audi A5 Sportback, Subaru Legacy, Seat Exeo, BMW 5 series GT, Infiniti G 37, Toyota Avensis and Mercedes E-Class. The Audi A5 Sportback clinched it. This victory for the Audi A5 Sportback represents the18th in the 34-year history of the carmaker with the four rings logo. Audi is now the most successful brand in the competition.

The most important prize award for cars in Europe was instituted by the publisher Axel Springer in 1976, and has been awarded annually since then. On the 4th November, top managers from the car industry accepted awards for the model year 2009 at the Axel Springer Building in Berlin. Eight new models in total received a Golden Steering Wheel award. For the third time, a Green Steering Wheel prize was presented for the best eco car. Fiat and Ferrari president, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, received an honorary award.

The winners in the individual categories:

Small car class: VW Polo
Compact class: Vauxhall Astra
Medium class and above: Audi A5 Sportback
Luxury class: Porsche Panamera
Supercar: Mercedes SLS
MPV: Renault Scenic
Eco award: Toyota Prius and VW Blue Motion
Honorary prize: Luca Cordero di Montezemolo

The new Audi A8 is awaited with bated breath. Due to arrive in the showrooms in January 2010, it is reputed to combine the dynamics of a BMW 7 series with the comfort of a Mercedes S-Class. Like other models in the Audi stable, the A8 will be equipped with Drive Select for the electronic control system, including pneumatic suspension. The new range of engines are claimed to reduce fuel consumption by 15 percent. The price of this luxury Audi has been set at 65,000 euros (£60,000). The newcomer was spotted performing a circuit of the Nürburgring in mufti. See photo gallery below for the candid camera pics.

In extending their R8 series, Audi have launched a full frontal attack on Volkswagen AG sister company Porsche. First it was the eight-cylinder R8 taking on the 911, and then it was the more powerful V10 version tackling the Porsche Turbo. With the arrival of the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro, even the open-top 911s must now fear for their market share. The confrontation could be described as a clash of the modern with the traditional. Even in terms of everyday practicality, the R8 can compete with the 911. However, Porsche may be poised for a counter-strike, because there has been much talk recently of Porsche branching out into smaller and more affordable entry models. So the fight goes on into the next round and there is plenty more excitement to come, though at the end of the day, it seems unlikely that either of them will land a knockout punch.

The e-tron shows where Audi are heading in terms of electric sports cars. The recipe is as follows: sports car design, huge wheels each with two electric motors plus front and rear axles coupled with modern lighting and energy technology. This two-seater delivers 313 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 4.8 seconds. The performance figures are by no means the only indicator of the well-thought-through strategy: the design aspects too show what the future holds. And for a virtual taste of this vision, you can try a simulated run on the Playstation 3 game 'Vertical Run' .

At the IAA in Frankfurt, you can marvel at the many designs, new concepts and visions of the future. You don't see the supposed stars of the IAA out on the road until many years later, if at all. But car manufacturers have to finance our brave new world somehow. That is why, in Frankfurt, there are also some normal vehicles which will be on sale soon. On the Audi stand, one such car has proved to be a highly regarded all-rounder. Once again, Audi have set new trends in design with the A5 Sportback. It has the sporty elegance of a coupé, the comfort of a limousine and the practicality of an estate car.

After launching coupé and open top versions, the engineers from Ingolstadt are rounding off the A5 series with this pretty 4.7 metre car body design. The Sportback's big advantage compared to its four-door competitors - Mercedes CLS, Passat CC and Jaguar XF - is its wide-opening tailgate. Behind it, there's 480 litres of luggage space plus an additional 500 litres with rear seats folded back. Now we know why a five-door coupé is quite a novelty.

Autoblog's James Baggott reports from the Frankfurt Motor Show

AUDI has taken the wraps off its stunning R8 Spyder at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Powered by the firm's mighty V10 engine, the £111,995 model will be available to order from November in the UK.

The fully-automatic hood opens at speeds up to 31mph and has a lightweight construction to help keep the overall weight of the car down.

The 5.2-litre powerplant pumps out 518bhp and will dash to 60mph in 4.1 seconds, only a two tenths slower than its hard top stablemate. The plus side, of course, will be an even better sound track! Top speed is pegged at 194mph.
Clever technology that makes a debut on the new model includes seatbelt mounted microphones – so your callers will be able to hear you above the roar of the wind, and that V10!

An R tronic paddle shift model will also be available costing £117,155.

How sensible are crossover-vehicles such as the Audi A4 allroad quattro? Compared with the normal A4, the only extras are, increased ground clearance and an improved ESP system, which are no doubt handy when green-laning or crossing rough terrain. But how often does your average person do that? Only a small minority who use an allroad will actually indulge in a leisure pursuit that demands more off-road ability than a car. Those people are more likely to have a Q5 in their sights, which can be had as an entry model for 850 euros less than the A4 allroad. Painted all-terrain side body skirts can even be specified as an option on the A4 allroad: it all sounds a bit daft. Most Allroads will simply be parked in the city somewhere and be asked to climb sleeping policemen at most.