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

Transmissions gone wild!

If you've been car shopping recently, or just paying attention to Autoweek car reviews, you've noticed that the six-speed automatic -- de rigueur as recently as a year ago -- suddenly has ratio envy. The new hotness? Eight- and nine-speed automatic transmissions.

CCS launches MFA degree programs

The College for Creative Studies in Michigan, USA, is set to launch new Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree programs in Design and Transportation Design. The new courses, which launch in Fall 2009, will give students a broad scope of skills and experience in 2D and 3D design, and will include a basic study in business that will take place at the University of Michigan's respected Stephen M Ross School of Business. CCS says that this will equip graduates with the tools required to implement concepts and make strategic decisions - increasingly important parts of a 21st century car designer's skillset.

New Audi A4 (2012): UK prices start at under £24k

2012 Audi A4 - UK Prices start from 'under' £24k The facelifted Audi A4 isn’t a new A4 for 2012, just one with plenty of tweaks and changes under the skin to freshen it up for its battle against the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. The new Audi A4 was revealed at the end of October - together with the facelift for the S4 and A4 Allroad – and it brings with it some decent styling updates, a more upmarket interior and changes under the bonnet. There’s a new 1.8 litre TFSI with 170bhp and 50.4mpg, although you can still have the old 1.8 TFSI with 118bhp, and it’s the old A4 1.8 TFSI Audi are trumpeting as ‘sub £24k’, although for some reason they’re not being specific.