Autoblog UK

Prestige car dealer Clive Sutton says the Ferrari 458 Italia is already commanding a premium of £30k over list price before it even hits the streets.The London-based trader says he has a bank of clients ready and waiting to pay over the odds for an early 2010 order for the new supercar.

"The problem is there are a lot of buyers out there that are bored," Sutton explained. "The F430 is relatively old now, and there are buyers in DB9s and Bentley Continental GTs that want a change.

"The problem is getting hold of an order. Some buyers might think they're first on the list at their dealership but in terms of where they are in that list across the country can be very different."

Sutton says the new 458 is a 'stunning car' and that Ferrari is one of the most emotive brands he sells from his St John's Wood showroom.

The VW Beetle, the Mini and the Fiat 500 are all brilliant examples of small cars from the good old days that have gained an ever-increasing number of new admirers and buyers after relaunch. The retro trend has been a resounding success for those manufacturers. The next cult car is now in the pipeline. Citroen are to resurrect the 2CV, better known as the 'Duck'. Around five million examples of the Duck sold worldwide between 1948 and 1990. In truth, there's not much left of the old body shape but at first sight, the car looks very zippy. The Citroen DS2's design is largely based on the REVOLTe concept car that so fascinated visitors to September's Frankfurt Motor Show. The treatment of the rear holds the greatest nostalgia value for former fans – it's very accomplished. The lack of a roll-up roof is sure to be addressed in a future model. Expected price is a not unreasonable 13,000 euros, (around £11,700).

Ford's strategy of renewing their whole portfolio of models on a rolling basis is proving to be highly successful. The new range of vans, both large and small, is getting an excellent response from the buying public. And this success story could continue into 2010 with the arrival of the C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, the latter of which is even due for release in the USA. Both are based on the new C-segment (compact) platform which is intended to turn the next generation of the Focus into a genuine contender for the title consistently retained by the VW Golf. Until that happens, though, Ford continue to consolidate their position as the second strongest brand in Europe and deserve all the accolades that are coming their way.

In the strangely named cee'd, Kia have come up with a car that virtually sells itself and is the envy of many other manufacturers. Apart from providing superb value for money, the Koreans can now justifiably claim to be offering attractive design and state -of-the-art technology. Likewise, the choice of materials and the finishing no longer permit much scope for criticism. In addition, purchasers concerned about reliability will be reassured by the generous seven-year guarantee. The Koreans have now also come up with a delightful van, the new Venga, which has the potential to continue the Kia success story in Europe. Not only the local opposition but also those other Asians in Japan have good cause to be worried. The price of the Venga is, however, still to be announced.

The new 9-5 from Saab gives a strong indication of the direction the company intends to take, despite its last few crisis-ridden months. The future is at least looking a little brighter with the prospective sale to Koenigsegg moving ahead. The Saab 9-5 could mark the start of a new era, though how this era will look is anyone's guess. Will they revert more strongly to their avant-garde roots? Might they extend their range with a few smaller models? Which other automotive players will Saab seek to collaborate with? Will they be venturing into hybrid territory? A lot of questions remain unanswered, so we will (as the old saying goes) "await developments with interest". But the new 9-5 could certainly be the first of many. Let's hope so. Because it's nice to see there's life in the old dog yet .

Mercedes have given the boys and girls at AMG a free hand and just look what they have come up with: one of the most exciting cars available today. Sporty through and through, possessing luxury aplenty and with an historical pedigree - that's how to build a supercar and show that German engineering is still in the premier league. One perfect technology package consisting of, aluminium space-frame body shell with gull-wing doors, AMG 6.3L, front-mounted V8 engine having dry sump lubrication, rated at 571bhp and 650 Nm, transaxle-mounted seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and sport's chassis with twin aluminium wishbones, guarantees superior driving dynamics and fun of the highest order The bad news, as always, is the price. At around 178,000 euros (£164,000), it's not exactly peanuts. But we can all have our dreams, more so than ever, given the present climate.

Lexus unveiled a world first at the Frankfurt Motor Show: a full-hybrid premium compact model. According to the Japanese upmarket constructor, the Lexus Future Concept hybrid (LF-Ch for short) lays down a clear marker concerning their resolve to get a foothold in the European compact segment. Up to now, Lexus have been active only in the US market with an extensively modified Toyota Prius. The LF-Ch, which appeared in Frankfurt only as a prototype, offers clear insight into the direction that Lexus design will be taking in the future.

As retro mania continues to spread, Porsche are now also getting in on the act. The 911 Sport Classic is a deliberate throwback to earlier models and borrows many of their styling cues. In addition, though, it features every conceivable modern luxury, and can be customized even further. As we know, Porsche can meet almost any request. But that's what sets this 911 apart from classic Porsches, which were pure driving machines. The Sport Classic's powerful engine (408bhp) still ensures excellent road performance, but the car's unladen weight of 1,425 kilograms, despite doors made of aluminium, speaks for itself. This 911 should go on a diet. Now that would be really retro, because sometimes less is more.

After attracting record crowds of just under a million for the preceding motor show in 2007, 750,000 visitors were expected at the 63rd IAA. On the penultimate day, Saturday, attendance figures were a projected 850,000. The deficit was only half as big as was first feared. At the world's biggest motor show, 781 exhibitors from 30 countries presented the latest developments in the automotive and associated supply industries. Under the shadow of the economic crisis, there were 30% fewer companies present than at the last show two years ago. At this year's IAA, the focus was on eco-power units for cars. Most of the vehicles exhibited, however, be they e-cars, hybrids or hydrogen-powered, won't be available for another two to three years at the earliest.

We've seen a few weird specimens emerge from the French automobile industry over the years – they just like to stand out from the rest of the European herd, we guess. But being different is after all part of the business of building concept cars. In the BB1, Peugeot have come up with a visually challenging idea for the Frankfurter Motor Show. It is a prototype measuring just 2.5 metres in length powered by electricity and seating four. So what's the BB1 supposed to be? An urban motor of the future that has had some bruising encounters with the robust style of the Parisian driving? Even after the initial shock, the vehicle still looks like it's been squashed. So has this concept got a future? We could imagine it in the context of a Michel Vaillant comic or maybe in Disney's 'Cars 3'.