1969 Oldsmobile 88 Center Defrost Duct Divider on 2040-parts.com

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.

Audi plans range of eco-friendly vehicles, report says

The British magazine Car reports that Audi's top executives have approved plans for an entire range of environmentally friendly vehicles to be launched over the next six years. The eco-friendly lineup includes five vehicles, dubbed E1 through E5, according to the report. The range includes a small city car, dubbed the E1, that will use the platform shown with Volkswagen's Up concept but with an entirely new body design.

Cadillac introduces ATS Crimson Sport Edition

The already sleek Cadillac ATS will get a limited-production Crimson Sport special edition this spring. The deep red exterior metallic paint is just one of the upgrades to the standard ATS. Inside the Caddy, four unique interior options will be available: red with black accents, caramel with black accents, black on black and platinum with black accents.