Nanotech motor - 'small' issue...

A BBC article covers the development of a molecular motor here. The only issue I have is the use of the phrase "inches ahead". There needs to be a new term to generally describe the movement of small things over nano distances... 'cells ahead' or 'molecules ahead' perhaps? Any suggestions or does someone with sufficient nanotechnology experience have a true term that the average lay person can use to generally describe what has taken place? As another example, the term 'it was blown to smithereens' is a common description to describe the destruction of something in an explosion. This is a very wooly and vague (but understandable by you and I) as a description of something happening.... over to you...