Standard Ignition Accelerator Pedal Sensor Aps151 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.

Saab on the road to independence

You’ve got to feel for Scandinavian car makers Saab and Volvo. Both swallowed up by big US car makers, and both now being abandoned in a vulnerable position after years of integrating their once independent products in to their parents infrastructure, they must wake up every day wondering if this is the day it all goes bang. Ford is simply trying (increasingly desperately) to off-load Volvo, but GM, which is in a much more precarious position than Ford, has now abandoned its Swedish child in a desperate attempt to appease Congress and survive.

EBay exotic: 1971 Maserati Indy

In honor of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, we bring you this lovely red 1971 Maserati Indy. Styled by Vignale, the Indy served as Maserati’s four-passenger business express from 1969 to 1971, powered originally by a 4.2-liter V8 and later by 4.7- and 4.9-liter versions of the Ghibli powerplant. This Oregon-based Euro-market example has a five-speed manual gearbox and power steering, and the owner of 20 years claims to have had a lot of expensive-sounding work done over the past few years.