1942-7 Packard 356 Oil. Pan. 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.

Audi A3 concept (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

Strip away the big wheels, give it a few numberplates and you're looking at the next Audi A3. Audi unveiled this thinly veiled production car at the 2011 Geneva motor show this morning. So this is the next Audi A3? Pretty much, although while it is undoubtedly a sharp looking saloon, from the front three-quarter angle you’d be hard pushed to work out whether this was an A3 or A6.

Lamborghini Aventador roadster revealed

The much-anticipated Lamborghini Aventador roadster is joining the supercar stable of the famous Italian purveyor of performance. The LP 700-4 Aventador roadster will cost in the neighborhood of $445,300, and it can be ordered at any Lamborghini dealership. It follows the one-off Aventador J (for Jota) that was revealed this spring at the Geneva motor show.