Kenneth Hall, Author
Articles
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Michael Schumacher was unmasked as the BBC car programme Top Gear's mysterious 'The Stig' on tonight’s episode of the long-running show. The enigmatic white-overalled, gloved and helmeted... -
First look at Mugen’s Euro-spec Honda Civic Type-RHonda is currently prepping an even higher performance version of its European Civic Type-R that’s set for release in the UK in the third quarter, with other markets to follow shortly after. The latest version has been inspired by last year’s Civic Mugen RR concept vehicle and has been...
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McLaren boss says breakaway will quash F1 while Mosley appears unconcernedOne way or another, it appears that the core teams of what has been Formula 1 for the past 50 years will be racing against each other next year. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh thinks the recognition will follow the teams, while FIA president Max Mosley thinks the team will be forced to return when...
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Formula One Teams Association announces breakaway series for 2010As evening fell at Silverstone on Thursday, Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) bosses headed out onto the A43 bound for Renault's nearby Enstone headquarters. After deliberating for hours, the team body has since released a statement that all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial...
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Caterham gets pan-European homologation for Seven roadsterCaterham's range of ultra-light track cars have been extremely popular amongst driving enthusiasts in the UK and certain other nations such as Italy, Japan and the U.S., but for the first time one of its cars will be available to be enjoyed by everyone in Europe. The company’s Superlight R300...
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Jaguar planning SV8 and XJR performance models for 2011 XJ rangeJaguar’s most powerful engine at the moment is the supercharged version of the Gen III AJ-series 5.0L V8, which develops a peak output of 510hp (380kW) and 461lb-ft (625Nm) of torque and currently resides in cars like the XFR and XKR. This engine is also destined to appear in the...
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It's often cited as an advantage of electric cars, but it's also one of the biggest potential danger zones: silence. It makes for peaceful - if somewhat eerie - cruising at speed, but it also poses a... -
McLaren F1 GTR Longtail Race Car Up For SaleThe McLaren F1 was so far ahead of its time in terms of performance that it redefined the meaning of the term 'supercar'. But even during its production run, there was a faster variant, limited in production but now up for sale from a private collection in Japan. Built for racing, the F1 GTR...
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Spy Shots: Noble M600 SupercarNoble's sports cars are not exactly known for their attractiveness but rather their driving ability, but this reputation may be set to change with the latest details on the upcoming M600 supercar confirming the company is putting some more thought into the aesthetics of its vehicles. We first...
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BMW working on Rolls-Royce custom MiniSpecial editions and the Mini seem to go together like rubber and asphalt, with no fewer than three out in the last month, including the luxury-focused Mayfair Edition (pictured). But the next special edition could be something special, indeed. Built in cooperation with Rolls Royce, the new Mini...
Kenneth Hall -
Jaguar engineer confirms hybrid plans, says Lexus hybrids are inefficient
Jaguar is well underway in the development of its next-generation XJ saloon and despite the company’s financial hardship the car is still on track for a debut in the second half of next year. For the current XJ, Jaguar looked to its past for inspiration and this definitely hurt its sales...
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Porsche considering Audi TTS engine for cheaper BoxsterPorsche, the once unassailable leader in the sports car segment, has proven that it is not completely shielded from the current economic crisis sweeping the globe. In an official statement, Porsche revealed back in March that its sales have been struggling and earlier in the year the company...
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The iPhone or the latest Blackberry or Nokia offerings are often taken as the gold standard of mobile phones for most folks. But sometimes you need a phone that just works, even if you dip it in mud,... -
Wald Int'l Black Bison Mercedes-Benz R-Class: cyberpunk family haulerDon't feel bad if you've never heard of the Merecedes-Benz R-Class. Yes, it's sold in America and yes, it's been out for quite a while now, but its dismal sales have been the exception to Mercedes' rule. That's what makes Wald's decision to give the not-quite-a-minivan the Black Bison treatment all...
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Rolls-Royce Ghost Designer Reveals Plans For Coupe And Convertible VariantsJust as the Phantom has its Coupe and Drophead convertible variants, Rolls-Royce’s upcoming Ghost sedan is expected to spawn its own two-door variants. The legacy started with cars like the Carmargue and Corniche, both of which were based on the Silver Shadow, which itself is the forebear to...
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TVR legend Peter Wheeler dies at age 64Niche British sports car manufacturer TVR is known for its wild, off-the-wall designs and the formidable nature of its cars when pushed to their limits. Sadly, Peter Wheeler, the man who was instrumental in building the brand for over two decades has passed away at the age of 64, following a short...
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Plug-in hybrid option planned for Jaguar’s XE Roadster?Jaguar's transfer to new ownership last year had many, from customers to dealers to industry analysts, worried about what might come of it. But Tata Motors' ownership has so far proven reassuring in its commitment to the Jaguar brand. The latest word from Ratan Tata reaffirms the vision Tata has...
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Saab buyer to be revealed this week, most likely KoenigseggThe ongoing tale of Saab's sale may be drawing to a close, as early reports out of Sweden today have General Motors and Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg, along with a group of Norwegian investors, agreeing to the deal in a letter of intent. GM confirmed in its February viability plan that it would...
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F1's governing body has given five of the eight FOTA teams another week to lodge unconditional entries for the 2010 world championship. McLaren, BMW, Renault, Toyota and Brawn were listed... -
Mercedes C-Class Estate gets the Black Bison treatmentThe Black Bison line of appearance packages from Wald has won notoriety for its treatment of everything from the Nissan GT-R to the Lexus IS-F and even Toyota's Land Cruiser. This time out, they've taken on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate, and come up with yet another extreme creation. If there's...
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Lotus threatens to sue 2010 F1 entry bearing its nameThe Lotus Cars company has followed the Brabham family in distancing itself and threatening legal action against a proposed formula one team bearing its name. It emerged last week that 'Team Lotus' could return to the grid next year in the form of British F3 team Litespeed, who said they were...
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Le Mans issues open invitation to F1 manufacturersIt's no secret that the current manufacturers teams in Formula 1 aren't happy with the plans Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone have laid out for 2010 and beyond. Some, including Ferrari, are threatening to pull out of the series altogether - and the organizers behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans are...
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U.S. satellite listeners to get live broadcast of entire 24 Hours of Le MansThe battle for the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans is already heating up with Peugeot protesting Audi's R15 race car, and things will only get hotter as the weekend approaches. If you don't want to miss a minute, then you'd better have satellite radio, because Sirius XM will be covering the event from...
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Official details and photos for Mini's F1-Commemorative ‘World Championship 50’ editionWhat was previously just a rumor and then confirmed in late May has now become official: the Mini John Cooper Works (JCW) World Championship 50 special edition. The car was unveiled at its 50th anniversary celebrations a few weeks ago, revealing a new special-edition Mini to mark the event as well...
Kenneth Hall