Latest road test – Audi R8 5.2 FSi Also; BMW Z4 Audi A5 Cabriolet Porsche Cayenne Diesel Mazda3

Looking for a Grand Day Out? I recommend the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway just across the Welsh border west of Birmingham – though you might find me on the footplate! For more info simply click the picture.

The latest place to see my work – my road tests are now appearing on the UKcarnews website (click on image at right to link to the site)

Conflicting signals

So that was May, and already we are in the middle of the year. The month brought plenty of opportunity to again discuss with colleagues the state of the motor industry with a trio of memorable launch events and the annual industry test day at the magnificent Millbrook test ground near Bedford.

The first of the launches was for Audi's R8 5.2 V10 and A5 Cabriolet in Spain. Driving these you can understand why Audi is faring among the best of the car manufacturers – both are excellent cars, and the R8, well read my test at right...

Then I went to Scotland for two launches both out of Inverness, BMW's Z4 roadster and the new Mazda3. This area of Scotland is glorious in terms of scenery and the rare extra of cloudless blue skies made it a trip to very much remember.

While the manufacturers at Millbrook smiled as ever, the tension of the current times was never far away, and particularly telling was Subaru's little B&Q tent erected next to Audi's massive two-storey hospitality unit. Yet as I reported last month there is some optimism about – the scrappage scheme, which many said would not work in the UK, has seen a great take-up in its first weeks and dealers are almost smiling...

Yet I write this just as General Motors files for bankruptcy, following Chrysler's example – both are core players in NASCAR racing, which of course I do a lot of work in, and as a result the future is a little uncertain. And on a personal note, I'm rather less busy than I have been in the past (just in case anyone's looking for a journalist...).

As mentioned last month an example of my editing skills can be found in model railway magazine 16mm Today, sent every quarter to members of the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers. I am responsible for every aspect of 16mm Today's design and production - I am working on some new pages for this site showing my work but meantime you can see some sample features on the 16mm Association's own site. Simply click on the cover and choose 'Magazine and publications' from the menu.

Business	Consumer	Sport