1982 Plymouth Caravelle Owners Manual 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.

Ferrari celebrates 8 million Facebook Fans with a 458 burnout

Ferrari Facebook 8 Million Video More celebrations by car makers hitting social media milestones, this time Ferrari celebrates 8 million Facebook fans with a 458 burnout. We do wonder how long the latest car maker PR stunt of celebrating social media milestones will continue, but if it gets coverage – like this – the answer is probably that it won’t stop – ever. Yesterday we had AMG celebrating a rather small 2 million YouTube views with a blat in a C 63 AMG Coupe round Laguna Seca, and today we get treated to a Ferrari 458 Italia strutting its stuff to celebrate a far more significant 8 million Facebook Fans (or should that now be Facebook ‘Likes’?).

One Lap of the Web: Maserati renders, VW e-Up beat boxin' and GM's reorganization

The Maserati Bora was produced between 1971 and 1978. Yesterday it was brought back by ace render artist Alex Imnadze at World Car Fans. The profile of the render looks a bit like the McLaren 12C, but the nose is all Maserati.