SRT Viper GTS-R takes to the track

The boys from SRT put a few hot laps on its 2013 Viper GTS-R on Friday in preparation for running with the American Le Mans Series. Team wheelman Marc Goossens was behind the wheel at the 2.279-mile, 14-turn Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, S.C. Check out the one-minute video above and the comments below from SRT director of marketing and operations Beth Paretta, driver Marc Goossens and road racing manager of SRT Motorsports Gary Johnson.

SUVs – Huge in India

The West’s perception of a 4×4 in India – the truth is quite different (click for full image) Car buyers in the West flooded in to SUVs / 4x4s of one sort or another over the last decade. But the current economic woes have brought the SUV bandwagon to an abrupt halt as buyers desert the SUV in droves in favour of something smaller and more economical. Indians can actually buy everything from the most popular Ford Endeavour through to a full blown Cayenne or Range Rover.

Chevrolet Sonic gets $14,495 base price

The new Chevrolet Sonic small car--which replaces the Aveo in Chevy's lineup--carries a base price of $14,495 for the sedan and $15,395 for the hatchback, including shipping charges, when it goes on sale this fall. The 2012 Chevy Sonic sticker price is a jump of $2,249 to $3,005 above the 2011 Aveo, but the Sonic is a new design that includes more standard equipment. It rides on General Motors' new Gamma platform.