Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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With all the drama surrounding F1 these days, including Ferrari's threats to abandon the sport should new FIA-imposed budget caps go through, it’s about time F1 fans got some good news....
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Nissan could be first to get DOE's advanced car funds with $1.1B loan
It's a rare thing to remark on the government's hesitation to spend money these days, but that's precisely the case of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program. The government set aside $25 billion to fund the program last year, but to date...
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Toyota F1 team selling genuine parts from its Grand Prix cars online
Johnny Cash fans will appreciate this one: Toyota is offering up for sale online a range of parts from its Formula 1 GP cars - almost enough to build one up, one piece at a time. Pricing is surprisingly reasonable, with parts starting as low as £200 ($320). That £200 will only get you a brake...
Ralph Hanson -
Chip Foose builds custom Mustang for fan contest
Few names get the kind of respect in their field that Chip Foose's gets in the realm of car design and custom hot rods. That's why fans are excited to see he'll be giving away a custom 2010 Mustang GT to the winner of a free contest. The car's build sheet reads like a sponsor dream list, with...
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Toyota boosts monthly Prius output to 50,000 as demand spikes
Toyota’s all-new 2010 Prius officially went on sale in Japan just 11 days ago and has already garnered enough orders to justify Toyota increasing production targets by 8,000 cars per month according to the latest report. It sold enough pre-orders in just the first day to easily outsell the...
Ralph Hanson -
Lotus Esprit successor may feature Lexus V10
For Lotus fans, the next few years should prove to be very interesting times as the company pushes ahead with its five-year plan to update its model lineup, including successors to the Elise and Esprit. Lotus has already unveiled its new Evora, but rather than sitting still with this car, work on...
Ralph Hanson -
Organizing an exclusive event for one of the most inclusive sports cars ever made - the Mazda MX-5 Miata - may seem paradoxical, but that's exactly what Mazda France is doing this June at the Le Mans...
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Report: UAW agrees to 17.5% stake in restructured GM, bondholders reject tender offer
In a hugely positive step for General Motors, the carmaker, together with the U.S. Treasury and United Auto Workers (UAW), reached a tentative bargain on how they'll deal with changes to the current agreement in the face of the industry's problems and GM's increasingly probably bankruptcy. The...
Ralph Hanson -
2010 Lexus HS 250h first drive
Get behind the wheel of the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, and one of the first things you'll realize is that the seemingly inevitable comparison to the Prius isn't entirely appropriate. The Lexus is certainly destined to be more expensive and exclusive than Toyota's popular hybrid, but it's also a...
Ralph Hanson -
BMW unveils single turbo N55 six-cylinder engine for new 5-series GT
BMW’s current N54 series straight-six engine is one of the most praised engines in the industry today, having taken out the coveted International Engine of the Year award last year and appearing in a vast array of BMW models. With the unveiling of the new 5-series GT last week, BMW has...
Ralph Hanson -
Toyota may cut back U.S. Prius allocation as demand in Japan soars
Buyers in the U.S. looking forward to purchasing the new 2010 Toyota Prius may have to wait longer than they initially bargained for, following strong demand for the latest hybrid in Japan. Going on sale just a week ago in Japan, the third-generation Prius was a hit before it even descended on...
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March 2011 launch for Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Following a lrecent report that GM’s plans for a high-performance Camaro Z28 had been canceled and the Camaro Convertible was on hold, comes a little good news but also some bad. The good news is that the Convertible is back on track for a March 2011 launch, while the bad news – you...
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The Chevrolet Beat has been paraded around the last several auto shows as the forerunner to the production Spark hatchback revealed at March’s Geneva Motor Show, which will sit just below the...
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GM receives additional $4 billion in Treasury loans
General Motors received an additional $4 billion in loans from the U.S. Treasury late on Friday, while also reaching a cost-cutting agreement with the Canadian Auto Workers union ahead of a rumored Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing expected next week. This is in addition to the $19.4 billion already...
Ralph Hanson -
U.S. Treasury invests $7.5 billion in GMAC
As the economy and car market continue to stagnate, it's becoming increasingly obvious that the bailout funds already paid to industry players like General Motors, Chrysler, and their financing arm GMAC, were just the tip of the iceberg. Today the Obama administration proved that point by handing...
Ralph Hanson -
GM and UAW reach tentative deal
The U.S. Treasury, General Motors and the United Auto Workers have reached a tentative bargain on how they'll deal with changes to the current agreement in the face of the industry's problems and GM's increasingly probably bankruptcy. The details of the deal are being kept quiet until the local...
Ralph Hanson -
Magna-Saturn-Opel alliance could prove formidable
A lot of discussion goes into the topic of finding synergies within the auto industry, but few big, successful examples show what that looks like. The disastrously failed attempts - DaimlerChrysler, for example - are more well-known. But Magna's gambit to win Opel and now Saturn from the rapidly...
Ralph Hanson -
MEC Design adds sporty touch to the Mercedes Benz S-Class
There's something about a lowered Mercedes Benz S-Class with a bodykit that just looks sinister, and while there are some examples out there that can seem downright cruel others, such as this example from MEC Design, are much more pleasing to the eye. With one of the most comprehensive...
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Chrysler's in-house accessories division Mopar has been sponsoring champion drifter Sam Hubinette for a number of years now, including for this year’s 2009 Formula Drift series where he is...
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Volkswagen will preview electric future with new Frankfurt Motor Show concept
Following in the footsteps of last year’s Golf TwinDrive and Space up! Blue concept vehicles, Volkswagen will reinforce its electric car image with the unveiling of a brand new concept car at this September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The latest concept is described as a rival to General...
Ralph Hanson -
Fiat merger with Opel could mean the end for Lancia
Italy's Lancia has had a turbulent past and has only been back on the automotive radar for a short while now, however, the relatively niche brand may be on the outs again following news of Fiat's interest in Opel. Fiat, which has already formed an alliance with Chrysler, is now attempting to form a...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford says no to dealer cuts, consolidation
On Monday Ford made it clear that it had no plans to consolidate Lincoln and Mercury dealerships with existing Ford-brand outfits, and today it has come out against any big cuts in its dealer networks. The Blue Oval's franchise owners will be glad to hear it, as they've seen their compatriots at...
Ralph Hanson -
Camaro too popular for GM's own good?
There's no denying the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is an eye-catcher, and it has the performance to match it, with even the V6 variant checking in at over 300hp. But all that mean and too little green could be making it harder for General Motors, despite over 18,000 sales so far. GM's new de facto...
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Last Mercury Sable to roll off line Thursday
As General Motors sacrifices and sells off about half of its brand portfolio and Chrysler downsizes through bankruptcy, Ford has stayed above the fray. But with the end of production of the Mercury Sable coming this Thursday, talk of the brand's potential demise has come back to life. Early in...
Ralph Hanson