Mercedes launch new 9G-Tronic gearbox on E350 BlueTec

New Mercedes E350 BlueTec (pictured) gets 9-speed 9G-TRONIC auto It’s not exactly a million years ago that automatic gearboxes offered poorer performance and economy than manual gearboxes, and came as standard with just three gears. But now, automatic gearboxes are so good they can  change quicker than any driver and, with the proliferation of eight-speed auto ‘boxes, offer improved economy and performance too. The next logical step is even more ratios in an auto ‘box, and Land Rover has already revealed they’ll be fitting the Evoque with a 9-speed ZF ‘box from 2014, and the new Jeep Grand Cherokee gets a nine-speed auto ‘box too.

Porsche Macan gets 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine

Porsche Macan gets 2.0 litre 4-Cylinder petrol engine The new Porsche Macan looks set to change the rules for the compact SUV market, with class best handling and dynamics and performance that beats many a focused hot hatch. But despite beliefs Porsche would offer its first 4-cylinder engine in a generation at launch, the only engines on offer were a 3.0 litre diesel in the Macan S Diesel, a 3.0 V6 Turbo in the Macan S and a 3.6 litre turbo in the Macan Turbo, with expectations that the Macan wouldn’t get a four-cylinder engine util the end of 2014. But it looks like an early arrival for the four-pot Macan with news it’s getting a new 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine which delivers 237bhp and 258lb/ft of torque, enough to get the Macan to 62mph in 6.9 seconds and offer official economy of 37.6mpg.

BMW ‘Jump for Joy’ Video – the Audi dig.

BMW's latest Jump for Joy Video We’re still not too sure about BMW’s ‘Joy’ campaign. I know we all have to love fluffy bunnies and have nightmares about climate change, but can’t we leave that to car makers like Reva or even Tesla? Do BMW – The Ultimate Driving Machines – have to go the ‘Green Guru’ route?