Audi new electric vehicle concept

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.

The design is intended to combine elements of a racing car, a roadster, a fun car and an urban car, says Audi, with a sleek body and large 21-inch free-standing wheels.

Entry to the vehicle is through the tailgate, although the roof can slide back, turning the car into a cabriolet so that the two low-set passengers can get a real feel for their surroundings.

It will be propelled by two proprietary e-tron electric motors, which Audi claims will offer powerful acceleration, and powered by a lithium-ion battery.

The model is expected to be on show alongside other electric concepts such as BMW's i3 and i8, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which runs September 15-25 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Inside Korean Air’s new Airbus A380

Korean Air is to inaugurate its new A380 “superjumbo” on a route between New York City and Seoul this week.

The airline, which is the seventh in the world to fly the enormous Airbus aircraft, will wave off the first A380 flight from New York across the Pacific Ocean on August 9, launching what it describes as a “new age of air travel.”

It will be the first A380 service between Asia and New York, carrying some 407 passengers — considerably less than the 525 that the A380 is capable of.

Korean Air says that this makes room for a more spacious cabin, with 301 passengers in economy class, 94 lie-flat sleeper seats spaced six feet apart on the upper business deck and 12 first-class suites.

The aircraft also holds three bars, all for premium passengers — the Celestial bar, a cocktail lounge at the rear of the business class upper deck, another self-service bar at the front of the business-class deck, and a bar reserved for the use of first-class passengers only.

Passengers on board can also visit the world’s first in-flight duty free outlet, a compact area selling cosmetics, perfumes, liquor and accessories that are magnetized to ensure they don’t fall off the shelves if the aircraft hits turbulence.

The route is to run between Seoul and New York every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through August before switching to become a daily service from September.

Korean Air’s major rival, Asiana Airlines, announced in January that it intends to purchase six A380s for routes to Europe and the United States.