Mac Tools 8" Needle Nose Pliers on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes launch new 9G-Tronic gearbox on E350 BlueTec

New Mercedes E350 BlueTec (pictured) gets 9-speed 9G-TRONIC auto It’s not exactly a million years ago that automatic gearboxes offered poorer performance and economy than manual gearboxes, and came as standard with just three gears. But now, automatic gearboxes are so good they can  change quicker than any driver and, with the proliferation of eight-speed auto ‘boxes, offer improved economy and performance too. The next logical step is even more ratios in an auto ‘box, and Land Rover has already revealed they’ll be fitting the Evoque with a 9-speed ZF ‘box from 2014, and the new Jeep Grand Cherokee gets a nine-speed auto ‘box too.

Audi A4 Allroad quattro ready to roll

The Audi A4 Allroad quattro - launches at Geneva in March [ad#ad-1] It looks like Geneva is going to be more of a highlight than the recent Detroit Motor Show, which turned in to something of a sombre occasion. No surprise really, considering the US auto industry is in the worst shape of any in the world (been there, done that – remember BL in the ’70s?). But Europe, despite the current economic woes, makes the best cars in the world, and is going to be out in force in March.

Faralli and Mazzanti Antas V8

Farralli and Mazzanti, an Italian classic car restoration company, has created their first touring car, the Antas V8. Exhibited the other side of the border from Villa d'Este at the Top Marques exhibition in Monaco, the Antas V8 is also the first car created entirely in-house by Farralli and Mazzanti. Powered by a Maserati V8 - with carburettors - the Antas V8 is inspired both philosophically and materially by past 'special series'.