Vehicle sales witnessed decline in the month of December following the slow demand due to the global financial crisis. Sales of passenger as well as commercial vehicles posted slow growth rate. Maruti Suzuki, General Motors and two-wheeler makers Hero Honda and Bajaj recently released their sale figures which indicate the adverse state of automobile sector in the country.

Munich  - BMW has given its Z4 sports car an extensive makeover, showcasing at the Detroit Motor Show in January the model that succeeds the Z4 Roadster and Z4 Coupe.

One of the many new technical features is a hydraulically- operated, retractable hardtop roof that opens and closes in 20 seconds. It also includes a glass rear window for improved visibility.

Retaining the basic design of its predecessor with the long bonnet and short rear, the new Z4 however comes with broader shoulders and more dominant kidney-shaped grille.

Tokyo  - The Japanese car maker Honda has announced that it will develop an electric motorcycle as part of its programme to develop more efficient vehicles with lower emissions over the next two years.

Details of the plans have not been revealed yet, but the motorcycle is expected to go on sale in 2010. Vectrix Corp., based in the United States, claims to be the world leader in zero emission electric scooters and high-performance bikes, building its Electric Vx1 and Vx1e scooters in Poland.

Hamburg  - Despite all the reports of gloom in the car industry, niche cars remain in vogue with a host of elegant cabriolets planned for 2009 emphasizing all the fun of open-top driving with more space, technical features, lighter and efficient engines.

Among the stars are the new Audi A5 four door Roadster, the new BMW Z4 and the Mercedes E-Class Convertible that is hitting the roads later in the year.

Prague  - Skoda has launched its most expensive and fastest production car, the Superb V6 four-wheel drive, powered by a 3.6-litre FSI with an output of 191 kW/260 hp and prices starting at 34,790 euros (48,521 dollars).

With the cheapest Skoda costing only 8,092 euros in 1997, the latest Superb is the "most expensive Skoda ever built," according to the car maker. The Elegance version including all extras cost 45,229 euros including seven airbags and an array of assistance systems, leather upholstery and sunroof.

Detroit  - Volvo is set to unveil the 2010 successor model to the current S60 featuring a range of new technical details at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

Designed by Steve Mattin, who previously worked for Mercedes, the coupe-like concept is a distinct break from previous box-like designs.

"We will place emphasis on powerful-looking cars with wide shoulders, but have variations from model to model. The upright front with V-shaped bonnet will remain," Mattin told Germany's auto-motor-sport magazine.