Yamaha Windshield, Nytro, Rs Rage, Venture, Rx Warrior, Rx-1 03-07, 15.5" Md, Cl on 2040-parts.com

Carbon-fiber parts and a software fix help create a lighter, faster Fiat

Chrysler Group's Mopar parts brand and Italian supplier Magneti Marelli have teamed up on a design exercise based on the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth that shaved weight and added horsepower. The vehicle, called the Venom, has a number of carbon fiber components -- hood and side mirrors, for example -- that makes it about 200 pounds lighter than the 2,512-pound Abarth. The Venom uses software updates and additional exhaust components to boost the Abarth's standard 160-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged engine's output by as much as 25 percent.

There will NOT be a ‘Super’ LaFerrari after all

Ferrari has been on the phone this morning to explain that the man from Autocar who spoke to LaFerrari’s chief designer, Flavio Manzoni, got hold of entirely the wrong end of the stick when discussing the design elements Ferrari didn’t use on LaFerrari. It seems Manzoni was explaining that during the design process for LaFerrari there were many design elements that couldn’t be included on LaFerrari, but were so good they wanted to keep them for use on future Ferraris. That was seized upon as confirmation that Ferrari were planning a ‘Super’ LaFerrari to sit above the new supercar at an even more extreme price.

Ford C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid (2011)

Ford has unveiled two new hybrid vehicles at the 2011 Detroit motor show, the plug-in hybrid C-Max Energi, and the C-Max Hybrid. Both are based on the five-seat Ford C-Max, and the pair go on sale in North America in 2012, while European sales follow in 2013. Both the Ford C-Max Hybrid and Ford C-Max Energi use an Atkinson-cycle (like the Prius) 2.0-litre petrol engine and lithium-ion batteries.