Steve Davies

As we approach next month's Frankfurt motor show, Audi has released a batch of new images showcasing their quirky 1+1-seat Urban Concept. Described as a technical study into the future mobility needs of city dwellers, the Urban Concept employs the strict principles of lightweight construction, efficiency and sporty performance.

BMW's New 3 Series is due to go on sale towards the end of this year, so these will surely be amongst the final spy shots before the production car is exposed. As we've seen from previous pictures the F30 3 Series looks almost like a scaled-down 5 Series - a sensible looking saloon.

Now we know why Mercedes released pictures of just the 'inside' of their new B-Class a few weeks ago. Despite liberal use of the word 'sport' in the press release, we can't imagine many buyers choosing a B-Class for its external appearance or street cred. No, this is a car that's all about the experience of travelling inside a luxurious and well-designed cabin - a characteristic it borrows from the much maligned R-Class.

In a world first for a mid-engined sports car, the 458 Spider is equipped with a Ferrari patented fully retractable hard top, but where most hard top convertibles gain significant weight during such a transition, Ferrari's 458 Spider made entirely from aluminium is 25 kg lighter than a traditional folding soft-top weighing in at around 50kg more than the 458 Italia.

Following on from its inaugural showing at the famous Villa D’Este Concours in May and its successful campaign in the Nürburgring 24 Hour a month later, the production V12 Zagato is all set to appear at the forthcoming Frankfurt motor show.

Whether or not you're a fan of Porsche's most enduring model, it's impossible to ignore just how influential it has been in the world of motoring (and motorsport). At 48 years young, it might be getting on a bit and yet it shows no sign of stagnating. The 2010 911 GT3 R Hybrid became the world's first hybrid to compete in an international GT championship. But the crowning glory of Weissach's most iconic car is the role it plays as a benchmark for every other manufacturer to reach and (try to) beat.

The challenge whenever we test a car is to convey just how it feels behind the wheel. The tools at our disposal are words, pictures, video and sound, but I've always believed that you can't beat the sound of an engine at full-chat.

The Ford Mustang Boss 302 is all about the engine - NOT a muscle car engine as you might expect, but instead one of the finest normally aspirated V8s on the market today.

Fiennes Restoration is probably the most successful British engineering firm you've never heard of. What sounds like some antiquated back-street repair shop is one of those rare breed of companies who are innovating in the field of classic and historic restorations. Case in point - their machine shop boasts the highest number of CNC tooling machines used by an independent UK specialist restorer.