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

ZF boss thinks 9 speeds is enough for transmissions

The nine-speed transmission might be where the race to add gears ends, ZF Friedrichshafen CEO Stefan Sommer said. He referred to nine speeds as the "natural limit" because going beyond that number adds weight and complexity that cannot be offset by gains in fuel efficiency. "There is no hard line, but you have to consider the law of diminishing returns.

Dacia won’t build a car smaller than the Sandero

The Dacia Sandero (pictured) will remain Dacia’s smallest model In austere times, budget buys sell. Which is why Dacia is having so much success with its compact Sandero and Duster SUV. With prices on the Sandero starting at just £5,995 and Duster SUV prices as little as £8,995 (although you’ll have to pay £10,995 for a 4WD version), car buyers are buying Dacias as quickly as Renault can build them, with sales in a European market that shrank by 7 per cent last year up by 18 per cent to 90,000 cars for Dacia.

Alfa Romeo Mito TCT (2011) comes to the UK

Alfa Romeo's first twin-cluch gearbox is launching in the Mito - and the Mito TCT is now available in the UK. The MultiAir 1.4 is the launch engine for the TCT twin dry clutch transmission. Typically for Alfa, it's technically interesting: Alfa claims it enhances performance and comfort, gives a sportier feel and more importantly in the current climate, reduces CO2 emissions.