Audi A5 Sportback – Official

Audi has released details of the A5 Sportback that will launch in the UK in September Audi are on a mission to fill every niche that exists – and some that don’t – in order to reach their goal of selling 1.5 million cars a year by 2015. Set to go on sale in the UK and Europe (but not the US) after the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the Audi A5 Sportback is said to offer the practicality of an estate with the elegance of a Coupe. And in many ways it does offer that.

Hyundai ix35 Hydrogen FCEV arrives in the UK

The first Hyundai ix35 Hydrogen FCEVs hit the road in London (pictured) The Hyundai ix35 FCEV is the world’s first hydrogen powered production car (although production is very limited at the moment) and the first five ix35 FCEVs are about to hit London’s roads. The hydrogen-powered ix35s are part of the London Hydrogen Network Expansion (LNHE) project which aims to build acceptance of hydrogen powered vehicles and build a proper hydrogen transport infrastructure, initially on London and the south east. Hyundai are actually planning to build 1,000 ix35 FCEVs over thye next couple of years, but the majority of those will be heading for Europe where the EU has a number of projects running to promote hydrogen use for road vehicles.

New Ford Mondeo to get new 1.5 litre EcoBoost engine

The new EcoBoost engine will also be turning up in the Ford Fusion for North America, but the UK and Europe are going to have to wait until at least the end of 2014 – when we get the new Mondeo - before the new engine is on offer. The 1.5 litre EcoBoost offers improved economy and emissions compared to the 1.6 litre currently available  - with similar power, performance and torque compared –  but one of the main reasons for offering it is that many countries offer tax breaks for engines under 1.5 litres. The new engine will be built by Ford In Romania initially (although it will get churned out elsewhere too in due course) and offers turbocharging, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing.