Allstar Performance Throttle Sponge P/n 26070 on 2040-parts.com

McLaren MP4-12C Sets 7.28:00 at Nurburgring +video

McLaren MP4-12C sets a time at the Nurburgring We’ve had a spate of claims for lap records at the Nurburgring by production cars, and the latest to play the game is the McLaren MP4-12C, with McLaren claiming a time of 7.28:00. The last shenanigans we had with Nurburgring records was with the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR setting a Nurburgring time of 7:12.13 which, although very quick – and claimed as a Nurburgring record – wasn’t actually a record at all. Although we do have sympathy with our colonial cousins who believe its validity is greater than that of cars like the Radical.

Crunch watch Dec 09: the auto industry in crisis

Welcome to CAR's news aggregator as we round up the seismic change in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour Wednesday 30 December 2009• Saab's PR chief told AN that GM is extending the deadline for a sale to 7 January – and the Trollhattan factory will resume limited manufacturing in early January to build the new 9-5 and some 9-3 cabrios (Automotive News, subscription required)• Last night Bloomberg reported a Saab board member claiming that the 31 December deadline for a Saab sale or closure 'is not holy'. If GM receives a bid that is 'sufficiently interesting', it'll extend the deadline, said the Saab suit (Automotive News, subscription required)• GM is offering massive discounts on Pontiac and Saturn cars, as it seeks to get rid of the remaining stock from these terminated brands.

Audi R8 e-Tron revealed

First pictures of the electric Audi R8 - the Audi R8 e-Tron The pictures here have leaked out of Audi, and clearly show that the e-Tron is very much Audi R8, albeit with some changes. The grill is changed, as are the wheels and rear end. The interior has very little resemblance to the R8, partly because this is an electric car and a concept.