Autometer Sport-comp Series Tachometer 0-10,000 3 3/4" Dia Black Face 3700 on 2040-parts.com

Audi R8 V10 sells for $500,000 at charity auction

Which would you pay more for--a V10-powered Audi R8 or the new Ferrari California? At the third annual Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance in Florida last weekend, the Audi R8--the first one in the United States equipped with the 5.2-liter V10--was the winner in a charity auction, selling for $500,000, well above the car's sticker price of $180,000. Meanwhile, the Ferrari California was snapped up for $350,000, a bit more than the $225,000 sticker price.

Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake by Brabus (2012)

Mercedes tuning specialist Brabus has unveiled a raft of packages for the new CLS Shooting Brake. A range of tune-ups, body addenda, alloy wheel designs and sports exhaust packages are to be offered, but the real headline act is the 611bhp option for the flagship CLS63 AMG variant. It's not just a mad-cap power struggle though; Brabus offers a three-year/62,000-mile warranty on all its power upgrades, so bear that in mind if the other half isn't convinced your new family estate needs McLaren 12C-chasing poke.

July 14: Figuring out range

Topping off the tank seems to work best. By keeping it full I get a lot more freedom and a lot less range anxiety. Today I drove up to Pasadena twice, down to Los Angeles, west to Santa Monica and all the way back to my office in LA.