Audi R8 GT (2010): first news of lightweight R8

Audi has shown the new R8 GT – a limited-edition model to sit atop the R8 supercar family. The GT is 100kg lighter, thanks to some body parts made from carbonfibre and its V10 engine is tuned up to Gallardo-nibbling spec. With 552bhp and 398lb ft, the R8 GT will be considerably faster than the standard R8 5.2 FSI V10.

McLaren shows off its MP4-12C GT3 racer

McLaren GT, comprised of a partnership between the British company and CRS Racing, has unveiled its new GT3 race car based on the forthcoming MP4-12C sports car. This is the first McLaren built for FIA GT racing since the F1 GTR took to the track before production ended in 1997. "McLaren has racing in its blood, and it was a natural step to take our MP4-12C road car and turn it into the most reliable, efficient and easy-to-drive GT3 car," said Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren Group's chief executive officer.

Hongik University's transportation design process

Hongik University in Seoul, Korea, is one of the preeminent design schools in the country with a diverse range of programs. But the school's transportation design department has also developed a unique approach for concept ideation. At the International Transportation Design Forum in Pforzheim, Germany, Professor Joo Hyun Chung from the school's Transportation Design course gave Car Design News an exclusive insight into the process, explaining how students express their ideas into 3D surfaces directly, using materials such as paper and wire for the first exploration of the form rather than the traditional 2D to 3D process.