Aston Martin wants the Le Mans title

Aston Martin will challenge for the overall Le Mans Champion in 2009 Aston Martin won the overall title in 1959 – 50 years ago with the DBR1 driven by Caroll Shelby – and are aiming to bring the title back to the UK with the new car, which is based on the 2008 Charouz Racing System Lola, and powered by the same V12 engine seen in the title winning DBR9s of the last two years. The car will carry the famous Gulf Oil colours, and is being funded in partnership with Lola, Michelin, Koni and BBS. And this is a good time to pick to challenge for the title.

80 mph speed limit: Idaho and Wyoming poised to be next

Idaho and Wyoming could soon see 80 mph speed limits introduced to a number of highways, joining Texas and Utah as the states with some of the fastest permitted passenger car-driving speeds, KMVT-TV in Idaho is reporting. A bill in Idaho would see some sections of interstates go from 75 mph to 80 mph, and other selected highways go from 65 mph to 70 mph, which are probably speeds that drivers are doing anyway in remote and not-so-remote parts of both states. But the Idaho Transportation Department did not lend its support to the bill even though it is given the authority to implement it.

Chevrolet Sonic turbo gets six-speed automatic

Chevrolet Sonic fans who want the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine but don't want a manual transmission are in luck. Chevrolet is now shipping the Sonic with a six-speed automatic mated to the turbo engine. Fuel economy for the turbo Sonic, despite the automatic, is 27 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, with a 0-to-60-mph time of about eight seconds, Chevy says.