Audi A8 D3 Kessy Keyless Entry Access And Start Control Unit 4e0909131 on 2040-parts.com

Bedford Autodrome to get Ariel Atoms for 2012

Corporate track-days at the Bedford Autodrome will get lairier in 2012 - Somerset-based Ariel has announced it’ll supply ten cars for the PalmerSport track-day events next year. Stopping short of the unhinged Atom V8, the PalmerSport-spec cars get the normally aspirated 245bhp Civic Type-R engine, and some key changes to set it aside from the Joe-Public Atom. The Palmer-spec car will get a Sadev paddle-shift sequential gearbox, which swaps ratios in 60 milliseconds, whilst some choice chassis mods optimise the Atom for its full-time track-toy brief.

Mercedes-Benz introduces nine-speed automatic gearbox

Mercedes-Benz has quietly slipped a new nine-speed automatic into its lineup as standard equipment on the European market E350 BlueTec. The new in-house produced unit, known internally under the name 9G-Tronic, has long been slated for selected Mercedes-Benz models. However, its existence was officially denied until the weekend, when Mercedes-Benz's German language website configurator went live with various updates for the E-class lineup -- including an entry signaling the 9G-Tronic is now available on the standard rear-wheel drive E350 BlueTec in place of the older seven-speed.

Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour Concept: Geneva Motor Show

ItalDesign Giugiaro – owned by Volkswagen – has created a compact SUV crossover – the Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour Concept – based on Lamborghini underpinnings. The Giugiaro Parcour – named after the odd French habit of bouncing off buildings – has been developed as both a coupe and a roadster (you can see both in the pictures above) and uses the potent 542bhp 5.2 litre V10 from the Lamborghini Gallardo as well as a Lambo 4WD system to create what ItalDesign say is a blend of crossover, SUV, sports car and GT. All bases covered, then.