Audi’s new A1 will go on sale late this year and dealers have started taking orders today (May 6th).

The German manufacturer’s smallest model is expected to rival the Mini, and will be priced between £13,145 and £18,280.

Each of the three trim levels available for UK A1 models will include alloy wheels, remote central locking and a six-speaker single CD audition system.

Additions to the Sport model include sports suspension and seats, along with Bluetooth mobile phone preparation and a Driver’s Information System.

The engine choices include a new 1.2 TFSI petrol engine linked exclusively to a five-speed manual transmission. It also offers a low CO2 output of 118g/km.

Meanwhile, the 1.4 TFSI power engine is still available and delivers enhanced performance and means the A1 can go from zero to 60 in just 8.9 seconds.

At the other end of the size scale, the company recently launched a larger version of its A8 saloon.

The World Rally Championship (WRC) heads to New Zealand this weekend (May 7th-9th) and Citroen’s Sebastian Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena are bidding for a fourth straight win.

After taking top spot in Mexico, Jordan and Turkey, Loeb and Elena now lead the field by 40 points as the WRC heads to the southern hemisphere.

Frenchman Loeb has won the title six years in a row, four of those years driving for Citroen, but he has admitted the weather will make it tough for him and his co-driver to keep up their current winning run.

"It will be a little dry on the first day and maybe we will have rain on the next two days," the 36-year-old told the WRC’s official website.

"That’s no good for me because if you don’t have road cleaning on the second and third days then maybe we have no chance to win."

There will be eight more races in the WRC after this weekend, with the final rally taking place in the UK.

Electric car manufacturers may install a feature on their vehicles to make them more audible.

The practically noiseless cars could be hazardous to pedestrians, who could unwittingly step out in front of one, so regulators in the European Union are considering allowing producers to use different sounds to negate the problem.

It is thought that the sounds will be different from the standard noise an engine tends to make, and there have even been suggestions that Star Wars-style sound effects might be used.

According to the Daily Mail, research by the University of California found that electric cars got 40 per cent closer to pedestrians compared to petrol and diesel cars before they could be detected by sound.

The Toyota Prius, a hybrid car launched in 1997, saw record UK sales in February, with 538 units sold, and since then the total number of sales for the eco-friendly vehicle have exceeded 1.6 million.

Mazda has brought the release date of its upgraded Mazda6 model forward to meet popular demand.

The models are now in Mazda showrooms across the country and feature refreshed exterior and interior styling, additional equipment and a host of technical enhancements.

Fuel economy has been improved by up to 6.4 per cent, with CO2 emissions cut by 6.1 per cent. Prices for the upgraded Mazda6 range from £16,995 to £23,445.

There are two body styles on display (hatchback and estate), and six engines types, split evenly between petrol and diesel, while there are four equipment levels.

Mark Cameron, sales director for Mazda UK, said the amendments to the car were "more than just a cosmetic exercise" and it remained among the best-in-class for CO2 emissions.

"The car has more aggressive front styling, while the engines, suspension and steering have been fine-tuned, enhancing refinement," he added.

In the 2009 to 2010 fiscal year, Mazda UK broke the 50,000 sales figure for the second time in history.

Audi’s new A1 will go on sale late this year and dealers have started taking orders today (May 6th).

The German manufacturer’s smallest model is expected to rival the Mini, and will be priced between £13,145 and £18,280.

Each of the three trim levels available for UK A1 models will include alloy wheels, remote central locking and a six-speaker single CD audition system.

Additions to the Sport model include sports suspension and seats, along with Bluetooth mobile phone preparation and a Driver’s Information System.

The engine choices include a new 1.2 TFSI petrol engine linked exclusively to a five-speed manual transmission. It also offers a low CO2 output of 118g/km.

Meanwhile, the 1.4 TFSI power engine is still available and delivers enhanced performance and means the A1 can go from zero to 60 in just 8.9 seconds.

At the other end of the size scale, the company recently launched a larger version of its A8 saloon.

The World Rally Championship (WRC) heads to New Zealand this weekend (May 7th-9th) and Citroen’s Sebastian Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena are bidding for a fourth straight win.

After taking top spot in Mexico, Jordan and Turkey, Loeb and Elena now lead the field by 40 points as the WRC heads to the southern hemisphere.

Frenchman Loeb has won the title six years in a row, four of those years driving for Citroen, but he has admitted the weather will make it tough for him and his co-driver to keep up their current winning run.

"It will be a little dry on the first day and maybe we will have rain on the next two days," the 36-year-old told the WRC’s official website.

"That’s no good for me because if you don’t have road cleaning on the second and third days then maybe we have no chance to win."

There will be eight more races in the WRC after this weekend, with the final rally taking place in the UK.

Congestion on the UK’s roads is down by over two per cent, according to the latest provisional figures from the Department for Transport.

A year-on-year comparison revealed an overall decrease of 2.1 per cent in traffic levels in the first quarter of 2010, with car traffic down by three per cent.

But motorists frequently using urban ‘A’ roads have not seen any change in the amount of traffic on those roads, while rural ‘A’ roads have seen a two per cent decrease in traffic.

The only reported increase was in light van traffic, which rose by two per cent, but heavy goods vehicle traffic was down by one per cent.

Average journey times per mile in the UK’s ten main urban areas remained at three minutes and 34 seconds, while the average delay for vehicles on inter-urban roads – motorways and ‘A’ roads – fell from three minutes 54 seconds to three minutes 39 seconds.

According to a survey be Exchange and Mart, 62 per cent of motorists think more cash is needed to fix Britain’s roads.

Congestion on the UK’s roads is down by over two per cent, according to the latest provisional figures from the Department for Transport.

A year-on-year comparison revealed an overall decrease of 2.1 per cent in traffic levels in the first quarter of 2010, with car traffic down by three per cent.

But motorists frequently using urban ‘A’ roads have not seen any change in the amount of traffic on those roads, while rural ‘A’ roads have seen a two per cent decrease in traffic.

The only reported increase was in light van traffic, which rose by two per cent, but heavy goods vehicle traffic was down by one per cent.

Average journey times per mile in the UK’s ten main urban areas remained at three minutes and 34 seconds, while the average delay for vehicles on inter-urban roads – motorways and ‘A’ roads – fell from three minutes 54 seconds to three minutes 39 seconds.

According to a survey be Exchange and Mart, 62 per cent of motorists think more cash is needed to fix Britain’s roads.

The £100 million the government has allocated to repairing potholes in the UK’s roads will not be enough, it has been claimed.

A survey by Exchange and Mart highlighted that 62 per cent of motorists think more cash is needed to get the roads to an acceptable state.

As part of its pre-election survey, the firm also found that the majority of motorists were disappointed with the Labour party’s pledge to put £285 million towards motorways improvements and expansions, suggesting it is not enough.

However, none of the main competing parties seem to be offering much more for UK road users.

"Our survey goes to show just how low morale is for British motorists," said Debra Healy, digital director of Exchange and Mart.

"For most motorists it costs too much and road conditions are poor and unsafe. The hard winter has left the roads in a terrible state and more snow and bad weather over Easter has just highlighted the problem."

She added that as none of the main parties are focusing on road users, many people looking to reduce costs on their car will be unsure who to vote for.

An eco-friendly Volkswagen Golf could be available in the UK as early as next year, according to Autoexpress.co.uk.

The German car manufacturer has launched an all-electric model of its popular hatch which features lithium-ion batteries stored in the boot.

A front-mounted electric motor producing 113bhp and 270Nm of torque enables the car, which weighs 205kg more than a standard diesel Golf, to reach a top speed of 86mph.

The company has already confirmed it will follow up its Toureg Hyrbid with further hybrid versions of the Golf and Passat, ready for release in 2013.

Volkswagen’s very first all-electric production vehicle will be the Up! Blue-e-motion, scheduled for release in 2013. The all-electric Golf models would initially be used by a small number of leasers before going on general sale further down the line.

Recently, the company revealed an updated version of its Phaeton model which will go on sale in August.