New Valeo Voltage Regulator, 12 31 7 551 153 on 2040-parts.com

BMW M3 Convertible (2008): first official pictures

By Stephen Dobie First Official Pictures 18 January 2008 15:08 The M3 family has swelled further with BMW’s announcement of the new convertible version - and a twin-clutch gearbox. This is the first M3 with a folding metal hardtop, and the first with BMW's new transmission. It's a new seven-speed gearbox called M DCT gearbox – a double-clutch affair (like VW's seven-speed DSG) allowing near-instant changes, with little drop in power.

Ford Verve Sedan, F150 (2008): first official pictures

By Liz Turner Motor Shows 13 January 2008 18:48 The Mustang Bullitt GT is the cherry on top, not of a cake, but a pile of bread-and-butter products at Detroit that could save Ford. The Blue Oval has unveiled an all-new mighty F150, a four-door US version of the Fiesta-sized Verve concept seen at Frankfurt and a range of turbocharged direct-injection petrol engines, dubbed EcoBoost. Derrick Kuzak, group VP for global product development, told CAR Online that to truly reduce emissions you need a mass-production solution people can afford, and EcoBoost doesn’t need all the expensive and complex after-treatments for NOx and particulates needed by diesel to meet US regulations.

Mercedes GLA – the A-Class SUV – will arrive in production guise at Frankfurt

The production version of the Mercedes GLA Concept (pictured) will debut at Frankfurt 2013 It’s only three months since the new Mercedes GLA debuted at the Shanghai Motor Show as a concept, but it’s already close to arriving in production guise. In fact, it looks like the new GLA – based on the new Mercedes A-Class underpinnings – will arrive in production form at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, ahead of going on sale in early 2014. The new GLA is aimed squarely at the competition from the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, and if it delivers as well as the A-Class has it stands a very good chance of becoming the pick of the premium compact SUVs.