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Concept Car of the Week: Pontiac Banshee (1964)

In 1964, the Pontiac Motor Division was headed John DeLorean, who would go on to become one of the automotive industry's most divisive figures. He believed that Pontiac needed a compact, exciting car to compete with the newly launched Mustang and approved funding for the experimental Pontiac two-seat sports-car program, codenamed XP-833. Inspired by another GM show car, the rear-engined Corvair Monza GT from 1963, the lines of the XP-833 were a perfect example of the Coke-bottle bodystyle: long hood, short deck and sweeping fender curves.

Ford Focus ST: Get yer trousers on – you’re nicked!

Ford Focus ST - filming in The Sweeney We had the arrival of the production version of the Ford Focus ST at the Frankfurt show in September, and it is due to arrive in 2012 – as is a film version of the iconic 1970s TV show about the Met’s Flying Squad – The Sweeney. The Sweeney – for those not old enough to remember – was a 1970s police TV drama starring the late John Thaw and Dennis Waterman as Reagan and Carter – real-life Life on Mars cops; hard-drinking, chain smoking and with a complete disregard for the rules. The Sweeney featured Ford cars front and centre, with DI Reagan driven around in a Ford Consul GT and sidekick Carter foisted in to a Cortina when Reagan sent him off on his own.

Audi A3 e-tron stars at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

We’ve seen the Audi A3 e-tron before, but here at Frankfurt 2013 it yet again makes up an important part of the VW Group’s electrified product line-up – and makes it another step closer to production. Offering premium levels of comfort, refinement and equipment, the Audi A3 also gives running costs and efficiency – all these factors combined could well attract a new set of hybrid vehicle buyers.