Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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Scion has confirmed plans to unveil a new “micro-subcompact” concept car at the upcoming New York Auto Show. The concept will reflect Scion's youthful image and represents a new segment... -
Roll your own 2010 CamaroGeneral Motors has its hands full building out the first 14,000 pre-ordered Camaros for the next several months, but if just have to have that new muscle car and you aren't one of the lucky horde, don't despair. Chevrolet has a site just for you. The online build process is simple - pick one of the...
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Wagoner admits pre-planned bankruptcy "could work"Both General Motors and Chrysler are fearful a bankruptcy would kill whatever consumer confidence the ailing Detroit carmakers may have left but in the latest twist of the saddening U.S. auto industry saga the CEO of GM has revealed that a pre-planned bankruptcy "could work". Rick Wagoner insists...
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iPhone OS 3.0 promises to open up turn-by-turn navigationThe ubiquitous iPhone is about to become even more useful, thanks to the updates coming in iPhone OS 3.0. OK, so where's the car news? Well one of the updates is the addition of turn-by-turn nav development. Unfortunately Google Maps won't be part of the package due to licensing issues, but...
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eBay watch: World’s fastest production car up for saleIt may not be as flash or luxurious as the Bugatti Veyron, but the Ultimate Aero TT from America’s Shelby SuperCars (SSC) is currently listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest production car on the planet. The car’s official top speed of 255.83mph (411.76km/h) -...
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Ecotricity's electric sports car nearing productionEnvironmentally friendly electrical utilities company Ecotricity has been selling green electricity for over a decade, but its founder Dale Vince has decided to take on a more ambitious project: to build a good looking, "wind-powered" electric sports car. Currently, Vince is working with a team of...
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The facelifted and sleeker 2010 Ford Mustang is the talk of the web - at least when they're not talking about the new Camaro, but the pair of concepts that kicked off the previous generation of... -
VW will sell sedan and hatch versions of Polo compact in U.S.The small-car surge in the U.S. was cut short last year when once-high fuel prices dropped as suddenly as they'd risen, but the future of the market seems clear: prices will rise again, and small cars will be the best solution. To that end, Volkswagen is planning to bring its 2010 Polo compact car...
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Jaguar runs out 2009 XK with new XK-S modelIf you’re a luxury carmaker trying to make it through a global financial crisis there are essentially two things you can do to try to boost sales – reduce the cost of the cars, or load them up with extra features and gadgets in the hope that punters will appreciate the extra value...
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Hyundai Genesis Coupe sales off to a good start, already outpacing SedanTraditionally, coupe variants of mainstream sedans sell in much lower numbers than the four-doors on which are they based, but in the case of the new 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe the opposite is true. Sales of the Coupe have been extremely strong, even outpacing that of its sedan sibling despite...
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Number of cars on U.S. roads set to fall for the first time since WWIIAs a sign of how bad things are really getting for the U.S. auto industry, the number of cars on the roads are expected to drop for the first time in more than fifty years. We're not just talking several thousand cars either - the fall is expected to top several million vehicles. Last year, the...
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Ford, Chrysler say GM should get more out of CAWFord is projecting the strongest image of the Detroit 3 at the moment due to its refusal to seek government loans, but it says the deal General Motors and the CAW reached won't be good enough to keep Ford competitive in Canada. GM, on the other hand, seems pleased with its deal, and has announced...
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No one doubts the credibility of Lamborghini's most performance-focused vehicles, whether on the street, the track or environmentally conditioned multi-story garage. But knowing they are impressive... -
GM dealers not ordering new cars due to uncertain brand futuresIn what is set to become a terrible domino effect, lagging demand for new cars and an uncertain future at Hummer, Saturn and Saab dealerships is leading to an inventory pile up. That, in turn, means dealers are ordering no new cars, driving General Motors' production schedule even further out of...
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Ferrari and Panerai team up again for Scuderia range of watchesAt the end of last year famed Italian watch company Panerai released a special 'Ferrari California Flyback Chronograph' to commemorate the launch of the new Ferrari California convertible. Now, the exclusive watch company’s Ferrari Scuderia collection has been expanded by two new models: the...
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More details on VW's planned Golf GTI ‘R-Series’Last November Volkswagen unveiled a thinly disguised 'concept' of the new Mark VI Golf GTI, one of the most acclaimed hot hatches on the market, and in late January the first images of the actual production version hit the web. Following the success of the Mark V model, there were high expectations...
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Chrysler threatens to pull out of CanadaGeneral Motors and Chrysler have told authorities in Canada they need as much as $8 billion in aid to stay afloat, more than double the original amount requested just three months ago, and in the latest twist Chrysler has threatened to pull out its operations if it does not receive the funds. The...
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Ford and UAW deal could save $500 million annuallyTaking care of its retirees is one of the things the American auto industry prides itself on, and for good reason. But it's also one of the things that are making it hard to compete with foreign carmakers - the expenses are getting out of control. To help keep both Ford and the UAW operating in the...
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No stone is being left unturned in carmakers' hunt for more and better safety technology, and Toyota is often at or near the forefront of that search. Today the company has released a new system: the... -
Ford builds 100,000th hybrid SUV, reaffirms electric futureWhen it comes to hybrids, it’s usually Toyota and Honda that get all the good press but American carmakers are just as active in the segment though their efforts mostly go unnoticed. Not this time, however, as Ford wants everyone to know that it has produced its 100,000th hybrid SUV. The...
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Hammacher Schlemmer releases GPS nanny to keep eye on teensSafety tech is progressing in every field imaginable, especially with the aid of computers and telematics. But what if you don't want to fork over for the latest vehicle to get the ability to track your teen's driving? Hammacher Schlemmer has the answer. Innocuously named the Driving Activity...
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Massachusetts wants SUV owners to pay more for the privilegeIt's got a snazzy title, it's controversial, and it's already popular. No, it's not Britney Spears' new 'Circus' tour. It's a plan - called the 'Hummer Tax' - to increase the registration fee on SUVs, and it has the backing of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Car dealers and SUV owners are...
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Nissan announces new EV program in Tucson, ArizonaECOtality has partnered with Nissan and the Pima Association of Governments to bring a new zero-emissions initiative to the Tucson, Arizona region. By pairing prototype EVs and a new charging network, Nissan hopes to further expand its development of practical research into widespread use of...
Ralph Hanson -
GOP senators John McCain and Richard Shelby want bankruptcy for GM and ChryslerFormer presidential candidate John McCain, as well as fellow republican senator Richard Shelby, both believe that General Motors and Chrysler should go into bankruptcy rather than taking American tax dollars to prop themselves up. McCain is opposed to both the Wall Street bailout and the automotive...
Ralph Hanson