Autoblog UK

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'.

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' .

By 2013 at the latest, Volkswagen plan to bring a model onto the market with zero emissions at point of use. CEO Martin Winterkorn made this announcement as the Frankfurt Motor Show got underway. VW have lagged behind the rest in the move to embrace the electric car, but there are indications that things could now get lively on this front, with the E-Up! becoming VW's ecological standard bearer as the launch date of 2011 for their new small family car approaches.

The E-Up! is intended to show how an electrically powered urban runabout from VW might look. The vehicle has shrunk from its original design to 3.19 metres in length. Because VW have moved the front passenger seat relatively far forward, there is now room on that side of the car for two adults to travel in comfort. Rather like the iQ from Toyota, the E-Up! is best described as a 3+1-seater. The power is stored in a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 18 kilowatt hours – enough for an 80-mile journey (130 kilometres). VW claim a top speed for the prototype of 83mph (135 km/h).