Yes, this is a 525-horsepower, matte-silver station auto with carbon-ceramic brake rotors. Is any additional explanation why this is cool really needed?

You'll remember last week that the Canadian supplier Magna and the Russian bank Sberbank took over 55 percent ownership of Opel/Vauxhall. GM retained a 35 percent stake, with Opel employees taking the remaining 10 percent.

Yet, an updated version of the Opel Ampera, a four-door, plug-in series hybrid based on the Chevrolet Volt, was still in Opel's booth at Frankfurt (the original version debuted in Geneva). Inside Line spoke with a GM official, who confirmed that the Ampera program is still on.

The word from Frankfurt is a definite maybe on this one.

"I have to admit that it was a mistake to take this car out of the market," Volkswagen Group CEO Stefan Jacoby told reporters at the Frankfurt auto show. "We think that the Volkswagen brand is a good place for this. We are looking at various alternatives for the re-launch of Phaeton."

The Phaeton was discontinued in 2007. Its peak income year in the U.S. was 2004 when VW sold 1,939.

Automotive News (sub.req) via Auto Observer

Inside Line spoke with BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer today and learned all future diesel models the company brings to the U.S. will be all-wheel-drive. That likely means the BMW 335d's days are numbered. There's already a diesel version of the X5. At minimum, we'll expect to see a diesel X3.

Full Test: 2009 BMW 335d

This might look like your average third-generation Toyota Prius. Well it might except for the body decoration. What you see here, is a concept plug-in hybrid.

In place of the standard Prius' nickel-based batteries, Toyota says this vehicle carries lithium units built by PEVE (Panasonic EV Energy Company), a company 60-percent owned by Toyota.

The company says that beginning late this year it will begin distributing 500 such test vehicles into it's global fleet. Of those, the U.S. is scheduled to get 150 placed in what Toyota refers to as "stategic clusters" around the country. The aim is to acquire experience with real-world use of the plug in. When fully charged, Toyota says that the plug in will drive 12 miles on electric power only. Once that little bit of range is used up, the vehicle reverts to conventional hybrid operation.

Behold the future of mini-minivans is upon us here in Frankfurt. Ford introduced the  7-passenger, sliding-rear-door-having Grand C-Max. This vehicle (minus the "Grand" modifier in the name) will hit the U.S. market in late 2011.

The Grand C-Max and the somewhat less grand, 5-seat C-Max are the first Ford vehicles introduced that are based on the new Focus platform. We'll get the updated, full-Euro-level Focus late in 2010 after an unveiling at January's Detroit show.

The C-Max is a handsome little mover that Ford claims will occupy "whitespace" in the American market. In other words, there are no competitors in that class. Either the company is intentionally forgetting the Mazda 5 or it considers the similarly sized little minivan to not be a proper competitor since it seats only six. Certainly, Ford will be hoping the C-Max sells a whole lot better than the rare Mazda.

Mazda has a long tradition of bringing concept-ized versions of its Miata to auto show. Mostly these are merely eye candy and don't have much influence on production Miatas.This Frankfurt show's entry in the category is the MX-5 Superlight, a sort-of speedster version of the basic car that looks shit cool. The German design team that conceived the Superlight have take the MX-5 back to it's lighter-weight, smaller displacement roots.In place of the 167-hp 2.0-liter four cylinder the U.S.-spec MX-5 carries, the Superlight carries a lightweight 1.8-liter four with 125 horsepower.

But the team also slashed the MX-5's overall weight to 2,194 pounds, making it 250-to-300 pounds lighter than a production unit. That's an impressive trimming, although this being a concept car only, part of that was achieve by losing the windshield and convertible top. The combination of silver and white color combo and command brown leather interior trim is particularly tasty.

For a look at all the Miata/MX-5 auto-show specials have a look at a Mazda blog post we did from an early Chicago Auto Show.

Rolls-Royce appears to have caught the same disease as Aston Martin. And that is generally a good thing.

We like to think of this ailment as The Ramones Syndrome. Named for the primeval punk band, the disease is characterized by pleasant repetition in all endeavors. The Ramones had essentially one song, but it was a fun song. Likewise, Rolls and Aston have essentially one stunning look apiece that is applied to everything the companies do.

The so-called baby Rolls is basically a less grotesquely huge version of the Phantom, with a bit less severity.

This was our first in-person look at the Ferrari 458 Italia. And it restores our establishment in Ferrari design. After the California, we were a bit worried.

The lithe 458 Italia is, to our eyes, a master class in sports-car design. The basic shape and proportion is well-balanced and elegant. The gently curving body panel are ordered over details, such as the headlight assemblies that are just odd enough to be intriguing.

This 430 replacement is easily the best looking sports car at this show of very strong sports car entries. It'll go on understanding for somewhere around $200,000 primeval next year in Europe and the middle of next year in the U.S. It carries a 4.5-liter V8 which produces around 570 horsepower and is bolted to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Enjoy a huge photo room of the car after the jump.