Jerico Dr-4 Transmissions on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes Electric Drive B-Class at Paris 2012

Mercedes has revealed an electric version of the new B-Class – the B-Class Electric Drive Concept – which will debut at Paris 2012. Mercedes has revealed the electric B-Class in the guise of the B-Class Electric Drive Concept – a name Mercedes say will find its way on to the boot of all electric Mercedes, Smart and Tesla cars – which previews a production version by 2014. Powering the B-Class Electric Drive is the Smart electric Drive powerplant, located in the space normally taken up by the ICE, which offers 134bhp and a healthy 228lb/ft of torque with the batteries to power the electric motor housed in what Mercedes are calling the B-Class’s Energy space ahead of the rear axle.

Mazda’s suitcase car is three-wheeled perfection

A lot of people complain about the fact that the future started years ago, and, yet, no one’s produced a viable flying car. That disappointment is misplaced. The real tragedy is that Mazda never mass produced the suitcase car.

Kia's Forte Super Bowl ad features violent android lady

There's no Jimmy Cliff or Flaming Lips in Kia's Super Bowl ad for the new Forte, but we can't help thinking they're the second company this week to miss out on co-opting seminal New Jersey punk outfit the Misfits' “We Are 138.” While attaching the song to the unveiling of Ferrari's new F138 was a no-brainer from a numerically synergistic standpoint, the track's poppy brutality and ominous query, “Is it time to be an android, not a man?” dovetails perfectly with the rise-of-the-sexy-machines theme of the Kia clip. Clearly, the android in this spot -- portrayed by former Miss USA Alyssa Campanella -- has the upper hand over the poor schnook oiling up the new Forte with his greasy mitts. We can't help thinking the whole ad would've been better if the Misfits' original pint-size vocal dynamo Glenn Danzig had been involved somehow.