Luxury German auto brand Audi has released the first images of a new electric concept car.

The “Urban Concept”  is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September as part of a wider study on city mobility.

A lightweight model, the cockpit has been made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which Audi says was the product of a new design process based on the principles of minimizing weight and increasing efficiency.

BMW has given out the first details and images of its i3 and i8 models before the concepts are shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show

One of the most notable features of the new design is a bodywork largely made of carbon fibre, described by BMW as a “revolution in automotive design.”

The new material, which has never been used for a car body on a volume-production scale before, offers a weight reduction of between 250 and 350 kilograms, which should considerably lengthen the range and speed of the electric vehicles.

BMW revealed the 328 Hommage concept just before its show debut at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este near Lake Como, Italy last weekend.

Based on the Vision Connected Drive Concept revealed in Geneva, the 328 Hommage is a modern interpretation of the classic sports car from the 1930s.

Bathed in that distinctive diagonal carbon fiber weave, the 328 Hommage focuses on lightweight construction through carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).

French carmaker Renault marked its return to fast-growing India on Monday with the launch of a luxury sedan designed especially for the Asian market.

Renault India managing director Marc Nassif said the launch of the Fluence marked “the real first phase” of the carmaker’s entry into India.

Its earlier foray in the nation was the four-door Logan built with former local partner Mahindra and Mahindra, which was aimed at the mid-size segment.

Lamborghini will launch a production version of Sesto Elemento concept in October. The vehicle will start arriving at dealerships in the third quarter of 2011.

Auto Motor and Sport magazine says production will be limited to 10 or 20 units and pricing will surpass €1.9 ($2.8) million.

The Sesto Elemento featured a 5.2-liter V10 engine that developed 570 PS (419 kW / 562 hp) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque.

Swedish automaker Volvo has unveiled a new concept for the Chinese market at Auto Shanghai, which opens this week.

The luxury sedan concept suggests Volvo intends to take a definite upscale direction with its next model and is geared towards China’s growing cadre of luxury-lovers.

Dubbed the Concept Universe, the vehicle is designed to capture Volvo’s traditionally Scandinavian design and to anticipate what modern luxury car buyers want, adding a coupe-like roofline to escape the ‘boxy’ feel of some previous Volvo designs.