Audi TT ultra quattro concept sheds 300kg & heads for Worthersee

The TT ultra quattro concept manages to tip the scales at 1111kg, 299kg less than the starting point – the TT S quattro – thanks to a new version of the TT’s aluminium space frame, carbon fibre reinforced plastic panels, carbon fibre for many body panels and some judicious use of magnesium. Other weight saving tricks include carbon ceramic brakes with aluminium calipers, titanium exhaust, cameras instead of heavy door mirror mechanisms, and carbon fibre and aluminium wheels. The weight saving extends to the interior of the TT ultra quattro concept too, with carbon fibre used for the door and centre console trims and glass-fibre reinforced plastic base for the seats which saves 22kh alone. But despite the weight savings Audi hasn’t made the TT ultra quattro concept a hair shirt outing with goodies like leather seats, AirCon and electric windows still on offer.

GM posts $7.6 billion profit for 2011

General Motors on Thursday posted a $7.6 billion profit for 2011, while recording its smallest quarterly profit of the year in the fourth quarter. Net income for the October-through-December period fell 7 percent from the year-earlier period to $472 million, as a $562 million loss in Europe--the steepest of the year there--weighed on the automaker's bottom line. North American earnings nearly doubled.

GM U.S. sales boss LaNeve to leave on Oct. 15

General Motors Co.'s head of U.S. sales, Mark LaNeve, is resigning effective Oct. 15 as the automaker continues to struggle with one of the worst years in U.S.