Mercruiser Alpha One Gen1 1.50 Gear Ratio on 2040-parts.com

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.

German tuner Eisenmann repackages Audi R8

German exhaust tuner Eisenmann has developed a package of changes for the Audi R8 sports car, covering the exhaust system as well as several exterior additions made from carbon fiber, to create what it calls the Spark Eight by Eisenmann. Eisenmann says its aero package is more than just pretty looks and claims that it improves the car's driving dynamics and weight distribution. The changes include: -- Front fascia with grille and fins.

Jaguar XJ – the ‘All-Star’ car

The Jaguar XJ receives Automobile Magazine's All Star Award No, ‘All Star’ doesn’t refer to celebs who’ve fallen for the charms of Jaguar’s new XJ, from our own Jaguar-loving Richard Madeley to rap’s own Mr Jay-Zed who featured a new XJ in a recent vid. The ‘All Star’ here is the All-Star Award from America’s Automobile magazine who’ve decided that the new XJ deserves an award, just as the Jaguar XF deserved the same accolade in 2009 and 2010. According to Automobile magazine: “The toughest part about this class is that it’s very hard for any one car to stand out in the crowd, and yet the XJ manages to do just that, in both its design and its dynamics.