New Audi e-Tron at Detroit – the ‘Compact’ e-Tron

Audi has revealed a compact version of the e-Tron at the Detroit Motor Show Audi brought along the first Audi e-Tron to the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Looking like an electric version of the Audi R8, it managed to steal some of the thunder from BMW’s Vision ED concept . Most notable was the stratospheric torque figures Audi quoted, which ultimately turned out to be somewhat disingenuous.

British Grand Prix Qualifying: Rosberg on pole for Mercedes – Hamilton 6th

Nico Rosberg (pictured) takes pole for 2014 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Nico Rosberg has taken pole position for tomorrow’s 2014 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but team mate Lewis Hamilton made a complete mess of final qualifying and will start 6th in the race. Hamilton decided that his final run wasn’t quick enough and aborted it because he was a bit down in the first two sectors, but the rest of the track had dried out more, and if he’d carried on with his lap he would have almost certainly have taken pole. Behind Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel put his Red Bull in second place and McLaren’s Jenson Button took third followed by Nico Hulkenberg in the Force India and Kevin Magnussen in the second McLaren.

Aston Martin ditches Cygnet city car

CITY SLICKERS will no longer be able to cut a dash in a diminutive Aston Martin, following the company's decision to axe the controversial Cygnet from its range. The tiny Cygnet, which takes its name from a young swan, was an adaptation of the Toyota iQ, refitted with the finest luxury materials and priced at over £30,000. Its low CO2 output is rumoured to have been the main reason for the model’s presence in the range, since Aston Martin could in that way lower the company’s average CO2 output across the range in line with European emissions rules.