OCCASIONALLY in this gig people will come to you seeking advice — on the basis, presumably, that as an official “motoring correspondent” you might actually have some small clue what you’re waffling about.

The one millionth Audi Q5 has driven off the production line at Audi’s main plant at Ingolstadt.

We all know that exclusivity and excellence comes at a price, whatever commodity it is you would like to purchase, writes Declan Colley.

The relentless nature of the competition in the compact executive segment has been highlighted in the past year with the introduction of a brand new C-Class Mercedes, a completely revamped 3 Series from BMW, the arrival of a completely new contender in the shape of the Jaguar XE and finally as 2015 shuts the blinds on a very busy 12 months, Audi has further upped the ante with its’ all-new A4.

We already know the BMW 6-Series Coupe to be a very fine machine indeed; graceful, eye-catching, stylish and packing a punch. Well, now we have a Grand Coupe version of the car to hand and guess what, it packs a punch and is stylish, graceful, eye-catching and has four doors.

It is never easy being the poor relation, especially when it seems you’re always being kicked in the teeth by superior and unbeatable forces. When you’re always regarded as second-class or completely downtrodden in some way or another, it is difficult to emerge from the stigma and establish yourself as a genuine and worthwhile being in your own right.

THE Audi TT Coupe has always been something of a contentious car, writes Declan Colley

Amid all the general bewilderment - not to mention criticism - regarding BMW’s revamped name designation policy with regard to its’ model line-up, it cannot be denied that even if you do not understand or come to grips with it, several very interesting new cars have emerged from the process.

NEWS leaked out from the Audi headquarters, at Ingolstadt, in Bavaria, this week of the impressive-looking new Q7. The car has been a huge success since it was introduced in 2005.

Many industry insiders were understandably concerned for the future of Volvo when the Swedish manufacturer was sold off by Ford in 2010 to the Chinese concern Geely Automobile, feeling that while the alliance was a welcome short-term fix, its long-term future was questionable.

Although the Audi S3 resembles any A3, it is a fantastic drive.

THE supermini has not been Audi’s stomping ground. The premium German marque relies on its traditional market segments for the majority of its sales. But Audi has been diversifying its product line-up with bewildering rapidity.

A gunman who took three people hostage at a German city hall, forcing chancellor Angela Merkel to cancel a planned election rally there has been captured and his captives rescued unharmed.

A gunman has taken three people hostage at a German city hall, forcing Chancellor Angela Merkel to cancel a planned election rally there.

AUDI Ireland has announced sales of 3,400 units for 2011, a year-on-year increase of 23% for Irish sales.

IT WON’T be long now before Munich’s wintery smells start taking to the nostrils.

An 11-year-old girl was killed today in the Bavarian town of Ingolstadt after she fell 30 feet (9 metres) from the amusement ride car she was in.

CORK firm CMC Capital has lined up a €300 million investment in the German property market by the end of the year.