Simple Strings, Chassis Wheel Alignment Tool By Performance Oriented on 2040-parts.com

The first SRT Viper is sold, we spot an exotic XTS, and the 2013 SVT Raptor offers more off-road fun, this week's Autoweek in review

The first SRT Viper crossed the block at Barrett Jackson in Orange County this past week, for a cool $300,000. All the proceeds will go to the Austin Hatcher Foundation, a charity to help families and children affected by pediatric cancer. While the Cadillac XTS hasn't been a stranger on public roads around Michigan, this heavily camouflaged example is a bit of a mystery.

Petrolhead spiders cause Mazda recall

Mazda has had to recall 42,000 vehicles in the US after it emerged that a species of spider had been weaving webs in fuel vent hoses, increasing the risk of fuel leaks and fires. The yellow sac spider’s curious domestic activities cause a build-up of pressure in the evaporative fuel vent that – in theory at least – could result in a cracked fuel tank and therefore an increased risk of fire. This isn’t the first time that the Mazda 6 has received the unwanted advances of a gas-guzzling arachnid, either – three years ago Mazda had to recall over 50,000 cars for precisely the same reason.

Porsche says Panamera avoids gas-guzzler tax

Few expenses were spared in conceiving the Porsche Panamera, but consumers will avoid at least one cost of ownership: the ignominious gas-guzzler tax. Porsche has announced ratings for the 2010 sedan; it will get a combined figure of 18 mpg or 19 mpg from the EPA, depending on the model. This means Porsche’s four-door foray will avoid a fairly substantial cost of ownership--a tax of up to $7,700 is levied on the most prolific guzzlers.