55056861aa Fan-cooling (chrysler) on 2040-parts.com

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.

VW Nils concept – it’s another posh city go-kart

Volkswagen NILS Concept We’ve been trying to think where this little fad for electric go-karts for commuters started. We think it might have been the Renault Twizy, but we’ve a feeling there’s something earlier. But never mind, the latest is from VW – the Volkswagen NILS.

Bentley Crossover and Sport Hatch/Estate planned

Bentley are planning an 'Allroad' Estate type car and a two-door Shooting Brake hatch These rumours crop up from time to time – new entry-level models from prestige car makers – but perhaps we need to take some of them a bit more seriously now the world seems to be on a down-sizing path. So we thought it worth at least giving a nod to the rumour that Bentley are planning a pair of entry-level models to slot in below the Continental – in the £70k bracket. Especially as they come from the pen of Georg Kacher, a well-connected and well-respected car journo.