Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Chrysler eight-speed gearbox to boost big sedans' fuel economy

Chrysler Group says its new eight-speed automatic transmission will be the first offered on domestically produced automobiles and will boost fuel economy and cut emissions of the company's two full-sized, rear-drive sedans. The transmission initially will be available on 2012 Chrysler 300s and Dodge Chargers powered by Chrysler's 292-hp Pentastar V6 engine, the automaker said Thursday in a statement. The cars are being assembled and will start arriving in dealerships by Oct.

Stunning pictures of classic cars in Paris

The classic car market is booming and there have been not one, but two, auctions of beautiful historic cars in Paris in the past week alone. We've already reported on the inaugural RM Auctions Paris sale, which saw nearly £15 million's worth of the world’s rarest and most exotic cars going under the hammer, including a Jaguar D-type that sold for more than £3 million. The other was the annual Bonhams Les Grand Marques du Monde au Grand Palais car auction.

Why we love Maximum Bob: A column by Dutch Mandel

In announcing that he will leave General Motors at the end of this year, product czar Bob Lutz bows out gracefully and elegantly and does it in the style that forged his legend. It's also a move made none too soon and if not hastened by Beltway functionaries, then punctuated by it. But make no mistake: Bob Lutz is not running from the fight engulfing Detroit and the rest of the automaking world.