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CES opens with fewer big wheels, including carmakers

There are some grumblings that the annual CES is becoming less relevant in this era of 24-hour news and instant globalization of information on the internet. And you can make a good argument that the relevance of the world's largest consumer electronics show is at least evolving, for carmakers as well as for other industry giants. It has always been an industry only show, with no public -- the “consumers” in "consumer electronics" -- allowed.

Audi R8 e-tron – cruising in California video

We have video of the Audi R8 e-tron cruising the Pacific Coast Highway Audi first revealed its electric car project at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September last year with the R8 e-tron, an electric car based on the R8 and featuring four electric motors creating a quattro EV. Audi then went on to reveal their second e-tron at the Detroit Motor Show – the Audi R4 e-tron – which seems to preview a new R4 model from Audi and finally the latest – and most convincing e-tron – the Audi A1 e-tron at the Geneva Motor Show last week. But so far we’ve not seen any of the e-trons on the move.

Nissan cuts the price of the Micra to £7,995

The Nissan Micra is getting a price cut in the UK, with the entry-level Micra dropping to just £7,995 and price cuts across the Micra range. That means the entry-level Micra 1.2 12v Visia comes down form a not exactly bargain basement £9,750 to a much more appealing £7,995. And Nissan hasn’t done it by cutting equipment levels, as they say every model still gets the same level of equipment, including Bluetooth.