Kawasaki Bayou 400 4x4 1994 Left Front Brake Rotor/hub on 2040-parts.com

CDN-GM Interactive Design Contest August Update

It's hard to believe that the summer's almost over already, and with it your chance to win one of five paid internships (including housing) at GM's Warren, MI design studio in the CDN-GM Interactive Design Competition 2012. There has been some very high quality work coming in since June and with 19 days left, there's still plenty of time to put together your design for the next Buick Lacrosse, Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Camaro, or GMC Terrain. The competition is open to all full-time college or university students from across the US and Canada, and is a fantastic way to make a name for yourself, improve your skills in the "off-season", and get a head start on your career.  The judges and mentors are participating heavily in the comments, so remember to show as much work as possible, from inspiration and mood boards to thumbnail and ideation sketches, in order to get the best feedback for your final design.

Audi R8 GT Spyder gets early unveiling at 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans

The new Audi R8 GT Spyder got an early unveiling outside the Audi Racing Pavillion at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans on Friday evening. The 552-hp V10 drop-top rocket uses carbon-fiber panels and a lightened interior to lower weight compared with the standard R8 5.2 FSI quattro Spyder. Audi claims 62 mph arrives in just 3.8 seconds, and the car tops out at 197 mph.

Mini Clubvan announced, hipsters rejoice

Mini is getting into the commercial space with the Clubvan, which has two seats, five doors and a flat floor for easy loading. Mini says the van is designed for both business and leisure cargo carrying. When the U.S.-bound Mini Clubvan arrives this fall, it will use the company's base engine for power, which means 121 hp from a 1.6-liter engine.