Autoblog UK

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

Diamonds might be a girl's best friend but a £140,000 supercar might just come close as one footballing WAG has just found out.

Melanie Slade, the long-term girlfriend of Theo Walcott, has just been presented with a brand spanking new Ferrari California by the Arsenal striker to celebrate her 21st birthday.

According to The Sun, the physiotherapist student is 'over the moon' and has already got personalised plates for the car.

It's a bit of a step up from the Volkswagen Beetle he bought her three years ago and the insurance premiums for the Ferrari are probably more than the Beetle was worth, but with a 193mph top speed we imagine Mel will find the upgrade more than makes up for the cost.

Ferrari's most powerful and fastest model to date was named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. This supercar was designed by Pininfarina and is one of the world's most powerful vehicles. The Enzo was originally going to be limited to a production run of 349. Ferrari sent out a prospectus to existing customers and all 349 cars were sold before manufacture began. A while later, after receiving many requests, Ferrari decided to build another 50 models, bringing the total number of cars produced to 399.

Ferrari Enzo
350 km/h
660 horsepower

The 63rd IAA in Frankfurt will doubtless go down in automobile history as the 'green IAA'. There were many eco-cars to admire, but they were not always painted green and usually had the colour blue in their names (Blue Motion or Blue Efficiency). Renault and BMW preferred bluish light when exhibiting their e-cars. Skoda was the only manufacturer to call its fuel-efficient models 'Greenline'. The colours currently in fashion are silver, black, white and red. Of course, British models still use the legendary British Racing Green, but Bentley have launched new shades of green, with an Apple Green for its limousines.

Who do we associate with the colour red? Why, Ferrari, of course! Michael Schumacher's much-vaunted Formula One comeback didn't work out, but he will probably remain a Red for the rest of his life. At the IAA, Schu had the honour of unveiling the brand-new Ferrari 458 Italia, which, contrary to Ferrari tradition, was not painted red but yellow.

Autoblog's James Baggott reports from the Frankfurt Motor Show

FORMULA 1 legend Michael Schumacher has revealed the new 458 Italia is quicker around Ferrari's Fiorana test track than the legendary Enzo!

The seven times World Champion was on the Ferrari stand to help unveil the 458 supercar at Frankfurt and told press he was 'astonished' at what had been achieved with the new car.

Schumacher said: 'Our points of reference for this car have been very high, those being the cars that have gone before it.

'With the 458 we have achieved targets that as a former F1 driver I never thought we could achieve. That it is quicker than the Enzo around Fiorana says a lot.

'I thoroughly enjoy my development role for Ferrari in my retirement and am looking forward to the future developing even more cars.'

The 458 Italia is the successor to the F430 and is available to order now. It is set to go head to head with the McLaren MP4-12C road car in what is likely to be the most exciting supercar battle in decades.

It's a dream come true for Giancarlo Fisichella. With immediate effect, he will be Ferrari's number two driver and his first race for Scuderia Ferrari will be at, of all places, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in his native country Italy. After days of speculation, the issue has finally been clarified as to who will stand in for the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari, after the two poor showings by Luca Badoer in Valencia and at Spa-Francorchamps.

It has been Fisichella's long-held dream since 1996, beginning with Minardi, then Jordan and Benetton, back to Jordan, then to Sauber, Renault and finally Force India. His sensational second place in last Sunday's Belgium Grand Prix was probably the clincher for the Ferrari bosses; to give the number two driving spot to the father of two until the end of the season. 36-year-old Fisichella will contest his 225th Grand Prix in Monza – and it will surely be a very special race for him. After driving for Ferrari in the remaining five races this season, Fisichella will be their official reserve driver in 2010.

First it was Michael Schumacher, then Luca Badoer, now it looks as though there could be another face about to line up on the F1 grid - Sebastien Loeb.

Ok, so Schumacher and Badoer had their F1 returns thrust upon them after the unfortunate injury to Ferrari's Felipe Massa but the appearance of the reigning World Rally Champion in an F1 car at the end of the season and possibly into next year has already drawn mixed responses from within the sport and beyond

The new Ferrari 458, also known by its pretty epithet 'Italia', looks very tasty indeed. The V8 engine is so delectable, the designers decided to encase it under a glass lid. The figures trip off the tongue: 570 horsepower, a top speed of 201mph (325 km/h) and 0 - 62 mph in 3.4 seconds. Three gargantuan exhaust pipes make the rear end truly eye-catching. Michael Schumacher was involved in the development of the super sports car. One technical marvel: the 458 Italia takes a mere 60 milliseconds for a gear change.



Top 10 preview IAA Frankfurt: Aston Martin Rapide, Audi A5 Sportback, BMW X1

The bubble of hysteria surrounding the comeback of ex-champion Michael Schumacher has burst. The record title holder has had to abandon his planned return to the Formula One circus for health reasons. Because of an injury to his neck sustained in a serious motorbike accident last February, the F1 veteran is not fit enough to face the physical challenge posed by the GP race in Valencia on 23rd August. "I've done absolutely everything I can to prepare myself for this temporary return, but I regret to say that it just hasn't worked out," wrote Schumacher on his website.

So his successors in the top flight of motor racing will not be getting the opportunity to measure themselves against the legendary figure. And Formula One itself will now miss out on bumper business with the withdrawal of this major attraction. Manager Weber had been planning a new series of fan articles and the race venues were hoping for massive spectator turnout.

The successor to the F430 is already in the starting blocks. Christened the 458 Italia, this latest model is obviously going to be even snazzier, faster and stronger. The scarlet racer makes its world debut at the Frankfurt Automesse IIA due to take place between 17th and 27th September.

Record F1 championship winner Michael Schumacher is said to have had a hand in its design, incorporating years of experience gathered in Formula One racing. The steering wheel for the 458 Italia, for example, clearly shows its origins. The front of the vehicle has an aperture for the grille and air intakes on either side. Additional downforce is generated by the mini-wings on the bonnet which deform at higher speeds in order to reduce air resistance. The 458 Italia's engine is the first ever V8 to emerge from Maranello with direct injection. The output is a magnificent 570 horsepower at 9,000 revs – a good 80 more than its predecessor.