Cardone 53-4906 Power Brake Unit on 2040-parts.com

We sample Honda's car technology of the future

Ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show 2013 we’ve been to Honda’s research and development facility in Tochigi to see and experience some of the Japanese firm’s new and upcoming products and technology. We’ve covered the new Honda Civic Type R in some detail separately, but among the other cars driven here is the next generation Honda Jazz (known as the Fit in Japan), no less than three different types of Honda hybrid system, including one similar to that fitted in the forthcoming NSX supercar, and an all-carbonfibre CR-Z prototype. On top of which, we’ve also experienced a self-driving car, watched a crazy automatic-parking demonstration and sampled the latest version of the all-electric Micro-Commuter, Honda’s equivalent of the Renault Twizy.

BMW looks to patent seven-speed lockout manual transmission

The intrepid Bimmerphiles over at www.e90post.com have uncovered a few drawings from BMW's latest patent request. The drawing shows a new transmission linkage and what looks to be a seven-speed manual transmission. Like the new Porsche 911, the BMW gear shifter has six gears in standard H pattern, with a seventh gear out to the right.

New BMW X4 looks a winner: Geneva Motor Show

The new BMW X4 (pictured) revealed at Geneva The arrival of the new BMW X4 at the Geneva Motor Show isn’t exactly a surprise, and nor is the fact that it’s very much the same as the X4 Concept we saw at the Shanghai Motor Show last year. What is perhaps a bit of a surprise is a price list that appears to price the new X4 about 15 per cent more than the comparable X3; the X4 xDrive 35d M Sport costing £48,990 compared to the X3 xDrive 35d M Sport at £42,900. Still, style comes at a price.