2006 Polaris 900 Fusion Gates G-force C12 Belt Drive Carbon Fiber Ty on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes-Benz A-class gets the AMG treatment

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed limited details about its most affordable performance model to date, the A45 AMG. Set to go on sale in Europe in early 2013, the rival to the Audi RS3 and the BMW M135i sits at the top of the third-generation A-class lineup. The price, although not yet officially revealed, is expected to start at about 50,000 euros, or $62,400 at current exchange rates).

Caterham AeroSeven concept (2013) first official pictures

This is Caterham’s vision for the future of its car range: the AeroSeven concept. Dragging the Seven template into the 21st Century, the two-seater AeroSeven reportedly uses F1 knowhow in its design, and will launch to 62mph in less than four seconds. It’ll go on sale in production form in late 2014, two years before the Alpine-Caterham sports car deal comes to fruition.

Audi shifts to eight-speeds for most models

A formal press conference probably won't happen until this summer, but we hear that Audi dealers have received their 2011 order guides, and it looks as though the company will be going from 0 to about 70 percent of U.S. sales being eight-speed automatic transmissions. Beginning this fall, the eight-speed will replace today's six-speed automatic in the A4 2.0-liter turbo sedan and wagon, the A5 2.0-liter turbo coupe and cabriolet, the Q5 2.0-liter turbo, the Q7 3.0-liter turbo, the Q7 diesel, the Q7 with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and the all-new A8 and A8L with the 4.2-liter V8.