Toyota Celica Supra Button Assy, Horn. Blue, 1984 Ma61 on 2040-parts.com

New techniques cut cost of carbon fiber

Carbon fiber, once so costly that it was the preferred material only for fighter planes and supercars, is catching the attention of weight-conscious automakers. Carbon fiber's cost is falling dramatically, thanks to production advances that let suppliers speed the material's finicky, and costly, curing process. One technological breakthrough that makes carbon-fiber auto parts more affordable may come from a process used to make carbon-fiber golf clubs.

Audi A3 saloon gets the Ricky Gervais treatment for USA (video)

Ricky Gervais (pictured) fronts a new advertising campaign for the Audi A3 in the USA Audi of America has launched an advertising campaign for the new Audi A3 saloon featuring Ricky Gervais and a soundtrack of Queen’s ‘We are the Champions. Which doesn’t seem the most logical fit. But it seems the theme of the new Campaign for the A3 is ‘Uncompromised’, and Ricky Gervais – especially with his hosting antics at the Globes – is considered a man who sticks to what he believes, without compromise.

Banks and Ryan ready for Pikes Peak

Gale Banks, part-time stunt driver Mike Ryan and the diesel wizards from Gale Banks Engineering will return to Pikes Peak this year with the Freightliner Cascadia that finished ninth in 2012. Competing in the Pikes Peak Open class, the team has been furiously working on the truck at the Banks Performance home base in Azusa, Calif. To get the semi tractor up the 12.4 mile road, Banks is installing its Super-Turbo setup on the 14.7-liter, Detroit Diesel-equipped truck.