Honda Super Magna - Original Complete Rear Brake - on 2040-parts.com

Tomorrow’s world: future petrol engine tech news

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 28 September 2009 14:15 Petrol engines are changing dramatically. You’ll have heard of the phrase 'downsizing' and most major manufacturers are shrinking their regular gasoline engines to trim emissions and fuel consumption – while employing new tech to keep up the horsepower and torque outputs. This is the holy grail for engineers: maintain the power and performance of the existing big capacity engines we’ve become wedded to, but in a smaller, more economical package.

Nissan LEAF reversing record on video

The Nissan LEAF EV broke the record for the fastest reversing over a mile at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and we have it on video. Last week we reported that as part of its ‘Big Turn On ‘ campaign to get the world ‘switched on’ to electric cars Nissan were going to have a crack at the world record for going backwards for a mile in a car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Which they did.

Mercedes-Benz courts Renault for new Smart model based on Twingo

Mercedes-Benz is set to join forces with Renault in a deal aimed at providing its underdeveloped Smart division with a contemporary-engineered front-engine/front-wheel-drive platform as the basis for a frugal new Forfour model. The new Smart, due out in 2013, is planned to sit on a lightly modified version of the Renault Twingo’s underpinnings, complete with a 93.3-inch wheelbase. Speaking about the new car over the weekend, a highly placed Mercedes-Benz official told AutoWeek: “It’s a key component in plans to grow the Smart brand.