Audi R8 spyder appears headed for Frankfurt show

The much-anticipated Audi R8 spyder likely will make its world debut in production guise at the Frankfurt motor show in September. The drop-top version of the head-turning German supercar would share mechanicals with the coupe, which offers a V8 making 420 hp and a V10 with 525 hp. The R8 has a mid-engine layout and channels power to the ground with all-wheel drive.

Banks and Ryan ready for Pikes Peak

Gale Banks, part-time stunt driver Mike Ryan and the diesel wizards from Gale Banks Engineering will return to Pikes Peak this year with the Freightliner Cascadia that finished ninth in 2012. Competing in the Pikes Peak Open class, the team has been furiously working on the truck at the Banks Performance home base in Azusa, Calif. To get the semi tractor up the 12.4 mile road, Banks is installing its Super-Turbo setup on the 14.7-liter, Detroit Diesel-equipped truck.

BMW 3 Series GT Confirmed

A BMW 3 Series GT looks set to be launched with the next generation 3 Series It’s not going to be too hard to imagine how the 3 Series GT will look – think 5 Series GT on a boil wash. But BMW think there is money to be made with the GT concept, and are looking to take on the likes of the Audi A4 Avant and the Audi Q3. But don’t they already have that in the new BMW X1 and the 3 Series Estate?