AUDI A-FOREFRONT

Technical giant Siemens has created a selfdriving or autonomous classic car that will drive itself up the hill at the Goodwood

Festival of Speed (July 12-15) and which will also be displayed in the festival’s Future

Lab display.

It’s not the only autonomous car that’ll be going up the hill. A Roborace autonomous racing car will also be attempting the feat.

Hopefully, both cars are more successful than the Roborace car I saw write itself off at the Paris round of Formula E last year. If either car plays up, it’ll be a very public display of why autonomous cars aren’t a brilliant idea. Audi will be facelifting its A4 saloon and estate models for 2019 with new front and rear bumpers, and more pronounced side skirts, plus new alloy wheel designs and body colours.

SE and Sport versions will get their own design details that’ll distinguish them from the S line and Black Series models. Inside the A4 you’ll find revised infotainment systems and multifunction steering wheel. Deliveries will start before the end of the year.

DS Automobiles, the luxury offshoot created by Citroen in 2014, is further splitting away from the mother-ship by creating its own dealer network of ‘stores’ or ‘salons’. Citroen is clearly aiming to boost the cars’ image and going for a Lexus level of service. Twenty-five of these outlets will open this month, with the number doubling by the end of the year. An interesting strategy that will only work if the cars themselves are desirable.