Troyer Racing Parts Suspension Rods on 2040-parts.com

Audi A3 e-tron (2015) to launch Audi’s plug-in hybrid attack

Audi’s first plug-in hybrid will hit the UK by 2015, with the electric-assisted drivetrain installed in the A3. E-tron versions of the next-generation A4 and Q7 will follow, as Audi gets serious about plug-ins, and takes the fight to BMW’s forthcoming range of ‘born electric’ i cars. Audi A3 e-tron: the full lowdown Audi UK’s number-crunchers have been trying to calculate the market’s size, to estimate potential demand and help shape the A3 e-tron’s spec.

First Sight: Mercedes-AMG GT

“If I was to buy any sports car that wasn't a Mercedes, it'd be a Porsche 911,” says Mercedes' head of design, Gorden Wagener. “But when you see the two cars together, we think ours has the edge.” He's talking about the new Mercedes-AMG GT, a front-mid engined, two-seater sports car that's unashamedly aimed at higher-end 911s, and we've come to see it at Mercedes' Sindelfingen studio.  The GT replaces the larger SLS, and is seen by Wagener as the best example yet of his 'sensual purity' design philosophy: “The SLS is very much [he gestures] line, line with a surface in between. With the GT we started with the surface and worked to refine and reduce the number of lines.” Elements of the SLS's platform have been carried over, so the GT measures the same 1,939mm wide.

Lamborghini Aventador: The ‘Soon to be Green’ Supercar

Lamborghini are to introduce a series of ‘Green’ updates for the Aventador including cylinder deactivation and stop-start. Hot on the heels of the news that the Lamborghini Aventador has already sold 1,000 units – in half the time it took for the Murcialago – comes the news that Lamborghini are planning on making the Aventador a much ‘Greener’ supercar. Top of the list of updates planned is cylinder deactivation which will seamlessly deactivate six of the Aventador’s six cylinders under light load, yet immediately offer the full Monty of twelve as soon as your right foot twitches.