Honda Foreman 450es Fuel Tank Cover on 2040-parts.com

BMW M5 manual mess-up

By Chris chilton Motor Industry 27 January 2007 01:34 North American customers were delighted when BMW bowed to their demands for a full three-pedal manual version of the current V10 M5 super saloon, but aren’t quiet so enamoured with the finished product. The issue is not with the gearbox itself – BMW successfully replaced the European model’s seven-speed SMG box with the old-shape M5’s six-speed manual – but with the compromises that were needed to get there. Without the benefit of computer control for the opening and closing of the clutch plates, M division’s engineers couldn’t eliminate axle tramp under hard take-offs.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato production debut in Kuwait

Aston Martin V12 Zagato production debut in Kuwait The production ready version of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato we first saw at Villa D’Este will be unveiled at the Kuwait Concours d’Elegance in February. Last spring saw the Aston Martin V12 Zagato –  spiritual successor to the Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato – arrive at Villa D’Este, looking every bit as good as you would expect an Aston Martin by Zagato to look. There were doubts expressed about whether the v12 Zagato would go in to production – at least publicly – but it was always clear that the V12 Zagato was Aston Martin['s next halo car, following on from the even more extreme (certainly cost-wise) Aston Martin One-77.

Nissan sales rise, Infiniti drops in April

Sales of Nissan brand cars rose in April, but the Infiniti luxury division posted a decline for the month. Nissan-division sales were 64,765 units in April, up 14.5 percent compared with a year ago. For the year to date, Nissan sales are up 23.4 percent.