Polaris 7192562 Left Hand Xc Side Panel Decal on 2040-parts.com

New Audi Q7 (2013) to shed weight. But no Audi Q9 planned.

The 2013 Audi Q7 will be much lighter than the current Q7 The Audi Q7 was rather late to the SUV party of the noughties, not hitting the road until 2005. That meant the Q7 had a bit of an edge when it launched, as it was newer than its competition, but it also means the Q7 is still soldiering on when its competition has already launched newer, shinier models. But Audi are working on fixing that, and fixing the biggest criticism of the Q7 in the process – its sheer weight and size.

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.

New McLaren F1 (P12) Official Specs?

We’ve got specifications of the new McLaren F1 (P12) which appear to confirm our earlier reports on its power and performance. Update: It seems the source of this story – an article on Jalopnik – was actually based on a spoof. So all we have is a mish-mash of best guesses and speculation and no new facts at all (see comments at the bottom).