Audi Sport Quattro concept (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

The Audi Sport Quattro Concept will be shown at Frankfurt as a spiritual successor to the 1980s rallying legend. This time, the road-going version can muster 0-62mph in a stonking 3.7sec and top 189mph thanks to its 690bhp drivetrain.  Haven’t we seen an Audi Quattro Concept before? Yes – but this is a different take on the 2010 Quattro concept, and may make it into showrooms.

Ford salutes Carroll Shelby with 850-hp GT500 Cobra

The “friends of Carroll Shelby” are saluting the late automotive pioneer with a remarkable, one-off 850-hp GT500 Cobra that was revealed Friday at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Ford Motor Co., Shelby American, Ford Racing and others collaborated on the omnipotent machine, styled in the blue and white colors of the legendary Cobras of the 1960s. It gets a wide body kit, high-performance 13-inch-wide rear wheels and a 4.0-liter Ford Racing supercharger that lifts output from the GT500's usual level of 662 hp.

Pininfarina adds product-development director

Starting on Dec. 1, Andrea Maria Benedetto will serve as Italian car-design firm Pininfarina S.p.A.'s product-development director. Benedetto, who last served as the vice president of body and chassis function in the research and development division of Toyota Motor Europe, will organize engineering and R&D activities.