Other motors stories in brief
Robust new pick-up truck for VW
Volkswagen is hard at work developing an all-new pick-up truck for its range. This image shows a running prototype of the new addition to the VW range, to be called the Robust.
The mid-size truck - this one sporting a quad-cab - will be built in Hannover, Germany, as well Argentina.
Sources say two-wheel-drive and "off-road capable" four-by-four versions will both be offered. The 2010 Robust will be a global product but VW is still tight-lipped on their plans for US sales.
The VW Robust will come in a number of variations, single cab and double cab combined with either rear wheel drive or four wheel drive. Volkswagen considers the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi L200 to be the new vehicles main competitors.
Luxury cars outline EU alternatives
Aston Martin's chief executive says regulators should judge carmakers on the amount of CO2 their cars emit per year rather than per kilometre.
EU legislation targeting emissions has already brought complaints from other makers of luxury cars. Aston Martin chief executive Ulrich Bez, however, believes the way the legislation is structured puts brands like Aston Martin at a particular disadvantage. Bez described the discussion surrounding CO2 and the environment as "a business" and "a political thing".
"Our cars are on average driven 6,000 miles a year. Most other cars are driven 10, 12 or 15,000 miles a year," Bez added.
"I would go for yearly emissions, not emissions per kilometre."
Aston Martin's cars are typically their owners' second, third or fourth vehicles. Rolls-Royce, also under threat from the EU legislation, has made a similar arguement.
The brands want the EU to exempt low-volume manufacturers from draft legislation that will levy fines cumulatively worth billions of pounds on car companies.
The EU is considering exempting carmakers producing fewer than 10,000 cars per year from its emissions-cutting legislation.
No emissions for Audi in 10 years
Audi will make cars with no exhaust emissions within 10 years, its top executive has told a German weekly.
Rupert Stadler told Welt am Sonntag that he saw great opportunities in electric cars and expected diesel and battery technology to dominate in the coming five to 10 years.
"By then we will offer cars without exhaust emissions," Stadler said. Asked if Audi was not lagging domestic rivals Mercedes and BMW in the development of lithium-ion batteries that are more powerful than batteries used now in hybrids, Stadler said Audi's research capacities were larger than those of its German competitors.
"Electric cars offer great opportunities, which we have already seized on," Stadler said without elaborating.
Partnership for in-car music
Microsoft and Hyundai have agreed to build a music and information system to debut in cars sold in north America in 2010. Microsoft and Hyundai are reportedly investing $113 million and $166 million respectively in an Automotive IT Innovation Centre they will set up jointly.
The first product under the partnership would be a voice-controlled system linking mobile devices to car stereo systems. The market for car-based information and data systems is expected to grow sharply in the coming years.
Firms such as BMW and Chrysler have projects in the works to bring regular internet access to vehicles.