Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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High sales hopes aren't exactly in fashion right now, especially in the car industry, and Lexus is following suit, eying a fairly humble first-year target of 25,000 units for its new HS 250h...
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The Bugatti Veyron experience isn't priceless: it's $25,000 a day
With only about 300 of the Bugatti Veyrons in existence, a single-day rental may be the only chance some get to experience the car first hand. And for £16,000 ($25,000) the folks at Holders Vehicle Contracts in the UK will deliver exactly that. The single-day rate might sound like a pittance...
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3 versions of John DeLorean biopic in the works
Whether it's for the quirky but ultimately flawed stainless-steel DeLorean DMC-12, his legacy as the developer of the Pontiac GTO, or his role behind the scenes at Packard and General Motors, John DeLorean will be remembered as one of the 20th Century's most influential automotive personalities...
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Volkswagen develops 30% lighter Golf
Earlier this year Audi's plans for a lighter pair of next-generation S4 and S5 performance variants were revealed. Now Volkswagen has been tied to a similar program with its popular Golf platform (2010 Volkswagen Golf Mark VI pictured). The lighter weight makes it easier to maintain performance...
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Supreme Court allows sale of Chrysler to Fiat
The Supreme Court has approved the sale of substantially all of Chrysler's assets to Fiat, helping to finalize their alliance as well as the American automaker’s bankruptcy proceedings. Approval was given for the $2 billion sale of the assets to a new company that will be 68% controlled by a...
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Chevrolet Equinox two-mode hybrid coming in 2011
Before the financial crisis hit, General Motors had some major plans for its Saturn brand including the launch of a two-mode hybrid Vue and eventually a plug-in hybrid version. Development and engineering for both vehicles had been completed and production of the two-mode hybrid Vue was originally...
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A bit over a week into GM's bankruptcy and we're starting to see announcements that mirror those made by Chrysler about a month ago. Today's is the naming of the post-reorganization chairman of GM,...
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Republicans and Democrats blame each other for GM collapse
The collapse of General Motors has seen some of the most divergent views on both politics and the automotive industry appear in recent times, and even though the collapse of GM had been predicted for months, if not years, there is still arguing over who was responsible and what American consumers...
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Ferrari Enzo designer opens new Californian studio
Ken Okuyama, the Japanese born designer behind striking cars like the Ferrari Enzo and Maserati Birdcage, has opened a new design studio located in Southern California. In addition to a previous stint at Pininfarina, Okuyama was also the former transportation design chairman of the Art Center...
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Ethanol-injected Ford Bobcat V8 detailed in DOE documents
Ford’s new EcoBoost range of engines is about to go on sale, debuting in the new Lincoln MKS before filtering across to most of the automaker’s lineup. EcoBoost promises to deliver more power but better fuel economy. For example, a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is estimated to produce up to 340hp...
Ralph Hanson -
2009 Volkswagen CC gets IIHS Top Pick award
Advanced vehicle systems like stability control, ABS and traction control have become so common that we often gloss over them in a car's spec sheet, but they are important innovations for safety. Volkswagen's CC has taken that to heart, outfitting a core complement of technologies that have helped...
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Chevrolet Corvette sees $365 price rise for 2010
Chevrolet is introducing a series of updates for the Corvette for the 2010 model year, with changes affecting the entire lineup from the base model all the way to the scorching ZR1 supercar. First and foremost is the introduction of the Grand Sport Model, which returns for 2010 with widebody...
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Driving simulators such as Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) and Need for Speed: SHIFT (NFS) are set to be released soon, and while much of the focus will remain on these two realism-focused games, a dark horse...
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Hennessey offers tuner school for up and coming rev heads
For many high school leavers getting a leg up into the world of performance tuning means years of hard work and often the ‘right connections’ – either a friend or relative in the industry that give a recommendation. Unfortunately, many with a passion for high performance cars...
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Renault expands Megane lineup with stylish Estate wagon
Renault has released more details on its new Megane Estate wagon, which made its world debut back in March at the Geneva Motor Show and is set to go on sale in Europe later this month. The new Estate distinguishes itself from the standard Megane hatch with its greater carrying capacity, extended...
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GM has 16 suitors for Saturn, no final decision in sight
General Motors is proceeding to the next step with respect to the sale of Saturn, confirming this week that it’s in talks with up to 16 potential buyers and that it will look to secure an agreement with a specific group by the end of the year. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, GM...
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U.S. Air Force shows off high-tech supercar duo
In what could be one of the most bizarre ways to spend our tax dollars, the U.S. Air Force has commissioned the design and construction of two highly-customized cars using Air Force technology. Before you start questioning why the Air Force would need a pair of custom cars, they were developed as...
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Official: GM files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
General Motors today announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following an agreement reached with the U.S. Treasury and the governments of Canada and Ontario to accelerate its reinvention and create a leaner and stronger "New GM". The filing is the third-largest in U.S. history and the...
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While most automakers are scrambling to add hybrids and other alternatively-fueled models to their lineups, General Motors is getting rid of a couple of struggling hybrids currently residing in its...
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Another round of dealer cuts imminent at GM
Just a couple of weeks ago General Motors revealed that it would be cutting ties with over 1,100 dealerships, and the bad news keeps coming for dealers as the struggling automaker is expected to cut a further 450 dealerships in the coming months. Many dealerships are under franchise agreements with...
Ralph Hanson -
Harley Earl's personal 1963 Corvette for sale by Mecum Auctions
Harley Earl, the father of the Corvette and so many other seminal General Motors classics, was a pioneer in the field of automotive design. His personal 1963 Corvette reflects that spirit, and now that it's up for auction, Corvette collectors around the world are paying attention. Built...
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Preview: RS Spyder-based Porsche Carrera GT successor
Even five years after its final production, the Porsche Carerra GT lives on in the hearts and minds - and often garages - of Porsche loyalists, supercar enthusiasts and plain old gearheads. Recently rumors broke that Porsche is working on a successor to the GT based around the RS Spyder American Le...
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New UAW deal cuts GM's competitive gap on labor costs
Labor has taken a lot of the blame for the current state of the U.S. auto industry, and to a degree, rightfully so. But without the labor, no cars can be built, so General Motors has been hard at work on a new contract with the UAW, which has finally been approved by 74% of union locals. Today GM...
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GM engineer drops Corvette ZR1 supercharged LS9 into '69 Chevrolet Camaro
For many auto enthusiasts, the golden age of automotive styling was during 1960s, when designers had virtual free reign on their designs and didn't have to worry about aerodynamics, pedestrian crumple zones and other such ‘nuisances’. At the same time, the ‘60s could hardly be...
Ralph Hanson