Volkswagen Polo 2009 Coil Pack on 2040-parts.com

Ford and GM tie-in with Apple

Having established a relationship with Nike for recycling materials as demonstrated on the Ford Reflex concept, Ford has now joined GM in collaborating with Apple to ensure their cars are iPod compatible. Rather than the retrofitted wire many drivers have had to resort to, cars will offer a bespoke area in the glove compartment that also acts as a charging point, the iPod instead controlled through the car?s GUI. By the end of the year, 70% of all new models sold in America are expected to be iPod compatible, an arrangement that furthers Apple?s continuing domination of the MP3-player market and one that will introduce Apple to the car-computer market, anticipated to be worth $6billion by 2010.

Audi A1 Sportback Five-Door: Price & specs UK

Audi A1 Sportback Five-Door - full price list Last week Audi revealed the new addition to the A1 family – the five-door A1 Sportback – with an extra set of doors and just the tiniest bit of extra room. But the only price they gave us was the entry point of £13,980 for the A1 1.2 Sportback. But now Audi has had chance to get its calculators busy they’ve worked out what the new A1 five-door is going to cost right across the range, and made it a bit clearer what the five-door offers over and above the three door A1.

Gesture-controlled Audi wins VDA Design Award

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has announced the winner of its 2013 Design Awards, which asked students from across the world to submit their final graduating projects completed between October 2011 and July 2013. Eric Leong from Sweden's Umeå Institute of Design, came in first place with his 'Audi Elite' project, earning himself €4,000. Leong's single-person vehicle can be controlled using the entire body through gestures and movements, and adapts to the needs of the driver, giving them more control.