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.

Acura TSX

By Liz Turner Motor Shows 20 March 2008 11:41 The Acura TSX sports saloon has a Marmite face that you either love or hate. The deep v-shaped grille has a self-satisfied smirk and the airdam forms two strange little prongs at the corners. It works better in the metal than you’d guess from the pictures, and PR chief Chuck Schifsky tells us that reaction has been positive.

Transition flying car completes first public flight

Think of a flying car and - depending on your age - you may think of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or the Ford Anglia from the Harry Potter novels. But whatever, it's the stuff of fantasy, surely? The kind of machine that featured in those 'glimpses of the future' movies of the 1950s.