Iron Man 3 broke box office records this weekend, earning $175.3 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales, $504.8 million in international receipts, and more than $680.1 million in the days since its worldwide release.

And as much as we love watching the handsome Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr.) and gorgeous Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) on the big screen, the true stars of the movie are the gadgets and toys. Who wouldn't want to have Stark's money, laboratory, and the armored suits he uses to fight villains? But here's another thing I wouldn't mind having: Tony Stark's Audi R8 e-tron, or Pepper Potts' Audi S7 Sportback. Other models with cameos in the movie are the Audi A8 L, Audi A6, Audi S5 Coupe, and Audi Q5.

U.S. Pro Surfer and Pro Rally Star Team Up As Female First-Timers And Place 8th!

By Sue Mead

Casablanca to Essaouira, Morocco: It was no surprise that pro navigator and rally driver Chrissie Beavis, 32, of San Diego, was successful at the arduous and difficult navigation required of competitors in the Gazelle Rally that brought her team to an eighth-place finish out of 150 teams from 20 nations. After all, the multi-talented Beavis has guided many celebrated drivers, such as Rhys Millen, Tanner Foust, Ramana Lagamann and Seamus Burke to numerous stage and overall wins, highlighted by a Pikes Peak win in 2005, a United States Rally Championship win in 2006, and Gold and Silver Medals at the X-Games in 2007 and 2008. Beavis started campaigning her own Performance Stock Class car in 2005 in the California Rally Series, and has also had class wins as a driver, with several podium finishes.

This story began at a New Orleans race track. I was test driving the 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish with my own driving instructor.

I could bore you with superlatives or say, very honestly, that after many years of trying out vehicles on racetracks, this time I got it! The exhilarating feel of driving at speed, the sound of the engine, the smell of the leather, the way the Vanquish catches light when it is in motion. Yes, I finally understood the lure of the racetrack and the draw of the Aston Martin. And yes --(ladies you will understand) ---it was a ‘shades of grey’ moment!

As automotive enthusiasts, we have a soft spot for Disney/Pixar’s Cars movies. So we’ve been looking forward to the latest chapter, which does NOT occur on a movie screen: The debut of Cars Land, part of a $1 billion renovation at Disney’s California Adventure Park.

"While I love all of the movies we’ve made at Pixar, the Cars films are particularly close to my heart, so seeing Radiator Springs come to life at Disney California Adventure is a dream come true,”  said Disney/Pixar creative director John Lasseter at last week's grand opening.

It's that time again!  Technical Tuesdays, where we bring you video tips from our own Jody DeVere.  Today Jody tells us how to remove a stubborn, stuck lug nut from a flat tire.  Nothing's more frustrating than having a flat in the middle of your day - but struggling with the lug nuts to change that tire can amplify that frustration tenfold. 

Head past the jump to join Jody and learn the secret to loosening a stuck lug nut.  See you next Tuesday!

Our Technical Tuesday series featuring Jody DeVere's eHow video series continues today with an area that mystifies most people, myself included.  The strange tangle of hoses and belts that snake about under your hood.   Jody de-mystifies the tangle and explains what a technician looks for when deciding if the belt or hose needs replacing.  Empower yourself - watch the video and check on your own hoses and belts, before the coming summer weather causes more tell-tale cracks and weaknesses!    Watch the video after the jump.

It's that time again - time for some female friendly tips and tricks courtesy of Jody DeVere and the AskPatty series of videos on eHow.  In this installment, Jody tells us all about one of the most important fluids in our car for safety - brake fluid.  When is the last time you checked yours?  In this video, Jody explains the easy process of keeping an eye on that all-important fluid.  Hit the jump for the video!

Our weekly series of how-to videos continues as Jody offers insight on how to restore a plastic headlight lens.  As we enter the period of April showers, you'll want to be sure your headlights offer you the visibility you need, as well as letting other drivers on the road see you.  

Plastic headlight lenses yellow and dull over time - you may have noticed your lenses aren't as crystal clear as they used to be.  If that's the case, don't fret!  Headlight lens restoration is easier than you think, and the kits are inexpensive.  Follow these tips from Jody (after the jump) and keep your lights shining bright!

Our own Jody DeVere brings you more of her wisdom from our eHow video series.  In this installment, battery cables.  How to check them, how to clean them, why that matters.  Check it out after the jump, and find more Ask Patty videos at http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_12403_auto-advice.html!

Toyota has produced a series of videos that will ring true to anyone who, like me, played the ever-popular Game of Life growing up.  With humor and dry wit, they compare "real" adult life to the version played out in the board game - and of course, they bring it back to having the right "piece" to play the game. Now, for the uninitiated, in the Game of Life all the player tokens are cars, and they hold not only you but also your little plastic pretend family as you work to make your fortune (or just avoid bankruptcy).  The token Toyota recommends for the full-size game?  None other than the Prius c.  It's their hybrid / electric model and it's turning a lot of heads.

The series of videos has a lot of great information on car buying, they're very helpful if you've never bought a car, or even if you have and are considering shopping again.  I'll give you the first video here, but to see the whole series (and I recommend you do so) go to http://www.youtube.com/priusc.  The first video's past the jump.  Hit it!