01 Yamaha Yzf R6 Front Driver Seat 28o on 2040-parts.com

GM preps for new engines, 8-speed transmission

General Motors is spending $332 million to upgrade powertrain plants in three states to build a new eight-speed automatic transmission, a new V6 and a new family of small-displacement gasoline engines. The plants are in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. GM is also adding $46 million to an earlier $600 million program to upgrade powertrain plants in Saginaw and Romulus, Mich.

Audi R8 V10 sells for $500,000 at charity auction

Which would you pay more for--a V10-powered Audi R8 or the new Ferrari California? At the third annual Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance in Florida last weekend, the Audi R8--the first one in the United States equipped with the 5.2-liter V10--was the winner in a charity auction, selling for $500,000, well above the car's sticker price of $180,000. Meanwhile, the Ferrari California was snapped up for $350,000, a bit more than the $225,000 sticker price.

Lexus LF-CC

Lexus is set to debut the LF-CC mid-size coupe concept at next week's Paris motor show that will give us a glimpse of the design and technology ideas that will influence the brand's future models. The LF-CC shares a lot of the same design cues featured on the LF-LC 2+2 sports coupe concept seen in Detroit in January, not least the new spindle-shaped grille that are found on all new Lexus models. It is set in a deep, metal-finish surround and is framed by the hood lip, deep lower spoiler and the projecting front wing tips – this is designed to give it a 3D look.