Alex Kaufmann, Author
Articles
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It’s bad enough that Volkswagen has ruled out its handsome Scirocco Coupe for U.S. sale, but to add insult to injury the carmaker in the process of developing a range of new exciting...
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Spy shots: BMW 5-series GT on the streets of Munich
In late 2007 BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer revealed plans for several all-new models including a design study called the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS). Then, at March's Geneva Motor Show, BMW gave us the first tangible evidence of the new PAS in the form of the 5-series Gran Turismo (GT) concept...
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Report: BMW to cut 1-series production costs, introduce shooting brake variant
BMW is having a hard time making much money on the 1-series because it is capped in its upper price range by competition with the 3-series, yet it still features much of the same technology and is nearly the same size as its bigger brother. To help remedy this situation, BMW is looking to cut build...
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Hybrid sales crash 45% in April, but up against March
It's no secret that hybrid and small car sales have been among the hardest hit in the ongoing market downturn. They've fallen at rates well beyond the total market's decline and continue to do so, dropping 45.5% in April against the same time a year ago. But total hybrid sales are up 1.4% against...
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Volkswagen launches 'truth & dare' site to dispel diesel myths
Americans don't know what to think about diesel, and when they do, they usually think it's a clattery, foul-smelling solution best left to freight-movers and trains. But the reality of today's diesel-powered cars is much different, and Volkswagen is out to inform the public through a new site...
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Mercedes Benz E-Class Hybrid in the pipeline
Mercedes Benz will launch its first hybrid vehicle, the new S400 Hybrid in the third quarter of the year, but the new saloon will be the first of many Mercedes hybrids as the carmaker is planning to sell petrol-electric versions of its three major model lines. Joining the S-Class hybrid will be...
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The wraps first came off the Lotus Evora 2+2 GT back in July 2008 but despite the car looking production-ready Lotus engineers had plenty of fine tuning to complete before the car could finally go on...
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Wiesmann GT MF5 picked as Official Safety Car for 2009 FIA GT Championship
Wiesmann’s MF5 has been in production for just over a year but the striking GT’s combination of a BMW M5 V10 drivetrain and seductively retro styling has made it very popular among performance circles. One group that has noticed the car is the FIA, which has picked it as the Official...
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2009 BMW 750i dyno tested, reveals hidden power
Dynamometers are notoriously tricky beasts, and comparing between systems, individual examples and even on the same machine across time can be hard or impossible. But they do serve to give a rough ballpark figure, and one of the latest tests of a 2009 BMW 750i reveals it's in a very interesting...
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Mercedes Benz targets 0.20Cd drag coefficient in next five years
Sometimes, making cars more efficient is best done through the application of more fundamental principles such as improved aerodynamics, rather than complex and expensive powertrain upgrades. Mercedes Benz is embracing that philosophy, with a plan to bring the respective drag coefficients of its...
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Michael Schumacher laps Mugello in a Ferrari 430 Scuderia
It's not everyday you get to see a hot lap with one of the best drivers ever to have lived, and it's definitely not everyday that it's done in a street-legal supercar. But today is that day. The Ferrar 430 Scuderia piloted by Michael Schumacher in this clip is based on the F430, but further...
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Tuning gone mad: Mercedes-McLaren SLR ‘999 Red Gold Dream’ edition
If Batman were to have a change of career from fighting crime to becoming a playboy, this is the car he might be inclined to drive - the Ueli Anliker SLR 999 Red Gold Dream. As you can see, the tasteful owner that commissioned this piece had discretion and subtlety at the top of his list of...
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First shown off as a concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault's Twingo CC (coupe-cabrio) was expected to make it to production in 2008. Delays have hit the little car's development, but...
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Early look at Carlsson tuning package for new E-Class
German tuner Carlsson is renowned for its work with Mercedes Benz models, ranging from its aerodynamic upgrades to its mechanical modifications that offer alternatives to the stock standard AMG treatment most high-performance Mercs are subject to. Mercedes' new E-Class, of course, means that...
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Lumma unveils new upgrade package for BMW 3-series Coupe
Love it or hate it, the BMW 3-series Coupe has a lot going for it - price, performance and features are all at a sweet spot for the market. That makes it a prime candidate for aftermarket add-ons, as owners of the popular car seek to differentiate their particular example. Enter Lumma Design with a...
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Audi confirms new model premiere for July 16 centenary celebration
This year will see Audi celebrate its hundredth anniversary and to mark the occasion the carmaker has organized more than 50 events to be held across the globe. Two dates are especially significant: on July 16 2009, exactly 100 years after the company was established, Audi will host a commemorative...
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A-Class Special Edition promises sport, style, sensibility
Due for a complete reworking in just a year or two - possibly to be replaced by a whole new family of compact cars - Mercedes-Benz is refreshing the A-Class with a 5,500 unit special edition to help keep sales spooled up through the end of its production run. Playing up the A-Class's sensible...
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Audi Launches New A4 2.0 TDI e
Europhiles in the U.S. have been clamoring for diesel four-cylinders for years, and just as ardently, the average American consumer has indicated their desire to have nothing to do with oil-burning four-pots. While we're still out of luck, Audi is prepping a car for Europe that will make us even...
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Ferrari has already shown off a new ‘Laboratorio Technologico’ 599XX experimental car based on the regular 599 GTB Fiorano, which was designed as a test-bed for future technologies and...
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Volkswagen reveals production plans for new up! minicar family
It’s often the case that a radical concept car will be developed for a major car show only to be put away in storage never to be heard of or seen again once the show’s over. Fortunately for fans of the 2007 up! concept, Volkswagen won’t be mothballing its new baby. Instead it...
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Student designers tapped for Audi 'Intelligent Emotion' project
The future of automotive mobility is a question that has always captivated the mind of the carmaker and the driver alike. Today Audi takes its turn to give us a glimpse into what they think the future may hold, seen through the eyes of design students at the Munich University of Applied Sciences...
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Audi rules out U.S. production for now, needs more local sales
Audi currently has no assembly or production facilities in North America but was reportedly considering starting a local operation to help avoid currency fluctuations from importing popular models from overseas. The company has announced today that it is postponing its decision on a North American...
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Porsche Panamera squeezed into elevator for 94th story presentation
In the lead up to the unveiling of its Panamera sedan at the Shanghai Motor Show this week, Porsche made a special presentation of the car to a select group of customers and dignitaries on the 94th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center. Getting the car up to the special event platform, which...
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Audi teams readying R8 LMS to take on 24 hours of the Nurburgring
Audi's R8 took the consumer world by storm when it was released and since the debut of the R8 LMS, the success has continued, taking a podium spot at its first race, the BFGoodrich Endurance Championship. Now the car is looking to stretch its legs and prove its mettle in even more arduous...
Alex Kaufmann