Audi A7 Sportback (2010) first official pictures

This is the new Audi A7 Sportback, a sleek hatchback designed to take on the next-generation Mercedes CLS and the forthcoming BMW Gran Coupe. It’s a bigger brother to the already established A5 Sportback, and underneath the five-door skin is the same platform that will underpin next year’s more sedate A6 saloon. Audi claims the A7 Sportback offers the sporty elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of an estate, though if you just want either of the last two an A6 saloon and Avant based on the same platform will appear in 2011.

Ford C-Max at 2009 Frankfurt motor show

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 04 September 2009 00:01 This is our first look at the new Ford Focus family – in C-Max, midi-MPV form. Now called just the straightforward C-Max, having dropped the Focus part of its name, the new car will be shown at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show. However, there’s still quite a long wait until you can actually buy the new C-Max – it won’t roll into Blue Oval dealers until autumn 2010, when it will pitch into battle with the Renault Scenic and Vauxhall Zafira.

First customers are key to EV sales success, execs say

Word of mouth is a key element to generating buyers for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Today, it's the early adapters, tech-savvy buyers who are embracing the technology and buying the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt and the battery-powered Nissan Leaf. But for these vehicles and similar models to go mainstream, anxiety about the technology needs to be eliminated.