on 2040-parts.com

U.S. safety officials deny airbag exemption for the Pagani Huayra

U.S. safety officials have shot down Italian supercar maker Pagani's request that the Huayra coupe be exempted from needing advanced airbags--a move that means Pagani can't legally sell the car in the States. Safety rules require that all new cars sold in the United States be equipped with airbags that can automatically adjust deployment force based on the height and weight of the seat occupant.

Lutz's Cadillac puts on a better show than Lutz

"Hi, I'm Bob Lutz, and this is the Cadillac CTS-V Drive Challenge." General Motors Co.'s marketing chief dons his monogrammed helmet and puts Cadillac's 550-horsepower sedan through some warm-up laps at Monticello Motor Club, a members-only track. In what might have passed as a dismissible moment of Lutz braggadocio, "Maximum" Bob has challenged anyone with a four-door sedan to beat his 2010 CTS-V. Though not a showman by trade, Lutz is bankable for amusing, bald-faced assessments of his employer, his critics and the auto industry at large.

Lamborghini LP700-4 (2011): the rolling chassis

Lamborghini continues the long drip-feed on the new V12 supercar replacement for the Murcielago with this first picture of the carbonfibre rolling chassis. In this week's edition of motor show teaser photography, Lamborghini has started with a naked LP700-4 chassis, prior to next week's reveal of the fully clothed new V12 supercar.  You can clearly see the new pushrod suspension, the carbonfibre chassis, subframes snd the suitably enormous wheel and tyre package.    None at this point. CAR's Gavin Green has driven one of the prototypes (see the January 2011 edition) but it will be at next week's 2011 Geneva motor show where the world gets its first clear look at the new Lamborghini.