Atlantis A8131 Std Lan Yam Red on 2040-parts.com

Audi to buy Ducati – the four rings expands from four wheels

Audi has struck an exclusive deal giving it first rights to buy Italian superbike manufacturer Ducati, CAR can reveal.The exclusivity deal gives Audi until mid April when the deal will likely be finalised, according to high-ranking sources contacted by CAR. Ducati's liabilities are around €200 million [earlier report said €800 million, this has been corrected], and our sources suggest the total purchase price is about €250m-€300m. This is a bold move by Audi, which sees the long-term advantage in moving into two wheels as well as four.

CAR's review of 2009: the cars that die

It’s been out with the old for a host of models in 2009, some provoking misty-eyed fond farewells, some told not to let the factory door hit them on the bumper on the way out. We pick the saddest and happiest goodbyes of the year. A sculpted drop-top with rear-wheel drive and a frantically schizophrenic VTEC engine.  What’s not to like?

Photo of the week (2009): Porsche Panamera in a lift

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 21 April 2009 14:22 CAR’s editor Phil McNamara is in China this week, reporting on everything weird and wonderful at the Shanghai motor show. But when he called to say he was pouring over Porsche’s Panamera 425 metres up in the air, we started to think that maybe the jetlag was getting to him. Apparently not – on the evening before the opening of the Shanghai show, a select group of the world’s automotive media was invited to a preview of the Panamera on the 94th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Centre.