Fel-pro Head Set Gaskets Ford Mustang 4.6l Set Hs26188pt on 2040-parts.com

Shortages of Japan-built cars open the door for U.S. automakers

U.S. carmakers sense that they have a chance to win back customers this summer with the launch of several redesigned models, while their Japanese competitors struggle with supply shortages. About 197,000 car buyers who typically would favor a Japanese brand are in play this summer, according to market research firm A.T.

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.

Smart Forspeed concept (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

Remember the Smart Crossblade? Smart has produced another chop-top Fortwo - the Forspeed EV concept due to bow in at next week's 2011 Geneva motor show. The Forspeed apes the 2002 Crossblade, a roofless, doorless concept that was the perfect city runabout...