Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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Ford’s iconic Mustang was given an update for the 2010 model year to keep it fresh alongside strong new competitors such as the Dodge Challenger, upcoming Chevrolet Camaro, and even...
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Ferrari 250 Testarossa sets new world record for a car sold at auction
Ferrari has set a new world record for a car sold at auction with a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testarossa fetching €9 million at the weekend (17 May 2009) in an auction of Italian supercars organized by RM Auctions at Ferrari’s Maranello home in Italy. The previous world record for a car sold at...
Ralph Hanson -
Lexus IS C gets F-Sport makeover
Lexus recently expanded its F-Sport Performance Accessories line to include parts for the GS sedan and IS AWD, and this week the company revealed full details for new parts for the IS C convertible that has just gone on sale. Previously the performance range was only applicable for the IS 250 and...
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Lola confirms return to F1 as Ferrari files injunction against the FIA
Few names stirs as much recognition, respect or emotion in so many fields of racing as Lola. For five decades, the company has built cars for innumerable race series, including Formula One during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The return of Lola to F1 could spell a new era for both the sport and the...
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Report: Chrysler to offer $1,000 certificates to all existing customers
As bankruptcy thrashes Chrysler vehicles' resale value the company is pulling out all the stops to keep sales up until it can emerge and join forces with Fiat. To help get feet on the floors of its remaining dealerships, the company is now reportedly getting ready to send out $1,000 certificates...
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GM reveals more details on 1,124 dealer cutback
Cutting back production and right-sizing brands and lineups is just one aspect of the restructuring underway at the hands of the U.S. federal government. Earlier this week hard cuts in both labor and dealership numbers were discussed, foreshadowing the next steps to come, and just yesterday a...
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Of the Detroit 3 carmakers, Ford is easily the strongest and compared with its global competition the Blue Oval isn’t looking too shabby either – impressive considering U.S. new car sales...
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Chrysler reveals more details on plans to cut 789 dealers by June 9
Cutting back production and right-sizing brands and lineups is just one aspect of the restructuring underway at the hands of the U.S. federal government. Earlier this week hard cuts in both labor and dealership numbers were discussed, foreshadowing the next steps to come, and today a Chrysler memo...
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Ghosn: Nissan to grow its connections with Renault to help boost earnings
Just days after reporting its first loss since Carlos Ghosn took the helm in 1999, Nissan is looking for ways to get back on track, and Ghosn thinks that means tightening its relationship with Renault. More cooperation could mean lower total costs and therefore more profitability, but the specifics...
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Report: Nissan still working on convertible Murano
It's a weird world we live in, but Nissan is apparently going forward with its plans to build a convertible Nissan Murano crossover SUV. Why? No one knows, especially in this market. Rumors initially popped up late last year, but nothing was heard since - until today. The report appears credible...
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BMW's Reithofer wary of tighter relationship with Daimler
Fiat is trying to tie together Chrysler and GM via Opel, so perhaps the idea of a BMW-Daimler tie-up isn't the strangest corporate pairing in the works, but it is potentially one of the most contentious. Lastweek Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said he'd like to see a partnership of equals between the...
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Renault joins Ferrari, threatens to quit F1 in 2010
As was expected on Wednesday, Renault confirmed that it too is threatening to quit formula one over the budget cap issue. The Flavio Briatore-led outfit said it is the two-tier element of Max Mosley's 2010 rules that has caused its French parent to "reconsider its entry in next year's" world...
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Hybrid and electric cars are often criticized for the fact that they still use electricity generated by fossil fuels, and often environmental groups will advocate the use of biomass-powered cars,...
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Honda could leapfrog Chrysler in North American production, sales
With almost all of its plants shuttered through the bankruptcy period and faith in the company at an all-time low, Chrysler is soon to be passed in both North American production and sales by Honda. The Japanese #2 carmaker has already cut the gap to Chrysler's production figures to 17,011 vehicles...
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GM looking to China to source next-gen affordable cars for U.S.
Just a few days ago we told you General Motors would be looking to build more and more cars overseas as part of its restructuring plans, and that China was one of the first places they'd look. Today news that GM will in fact be bringing Chinese cars to the U.S. has begun to trickle out into the...
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Preview: Opel Insignia 'GTC' Coupe
We’ve already seen Opel expand its Insignia lineup with the Hatchback and Sports Tourer, as well as the more recent OPC performance variant, but there’s one more model in the works that’s destined to be the most exciting and extreme. The model in question is a new coupe variant...
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Chrysler resale values down 6% in a week as uncertainty rules the day
It's simple math: carmaker plus bankruptcy equals uncertainty and lower resale values. But Chrysler owners are feeling the bite of that equation as the value of their vehicles dropped 6% on average in a single week. In the week after Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, owners of...
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Brad Pitt to play leading role in Steve McQueen bio pic
There are few, if any, names that compete with that of Steve McQueen in the realm of American automotive movie lore. As a legitimate race car driver and lover of all things fast and powerful, McQueen's bio pic is drawing the attention of the automotive faithful as well as fans of vintage 1960s and...
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The purchase of an average-priced new vehicle took only 21.5 weeks of median family income in the first quarter 2009, according to Comerica Bank's Auto Affordability Index. This reading is down 1.3...
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Obama kills the hydrogen car by slashing research funding
There may be debate over who killed the electric car, but we can now say with some certainty that the culprit behind killing the hydrogen car is none other than President Barack Obama. In his new budget, the President has eliminated funding to develop hydrogen fuel-cell cars, scrapping a $1.2...
Ralph Hanson -
As GM rebuilds itself, it will build more cars overseas
It's an old story, one that's been told with increasing regularity since the end of World War II. Jobs are moving overseas. Today, it's General Motors that will be shifting more of its production elsewhere as part of its restructuring plan. Lower wages, lower production costs, cheaper plant...
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GM’s financial troubles won’t impede Chevrolet Volt development
The much anticipated Chevrolet Volt, the car pegged with rescuing GM from impending financial doom, is about to start the next phase of testing despite threats of bankruptcy looming on the horizon. Development work on the Volt is continuing uninterrupted and the first fleet of prototypes with...
Ralph Hanson -
Report: GM wants 30% stake in possible joint Opel-Fiat company
The landscape of the automotive industry is changing, and before things are done, the changes may be massive. Already Fiat and Chrysler are forging an alliance, and Fiat is also going after part of Opel. Now a source says General Motors wants a piece of any merged Fiat-Opel operation that might...
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GM builds one-off Hero Edition Corvette ZR-1 for Kids Wish Network fundraiser
There is no shortage of special-edition Corvettes out there, factory-produced or aftermarket. In fact, General Motors itself has released several custom kits in the past few months. But the Hero Edition Corvette ZR1, built to benefit the Kids Wish Network, is the only one of its kind. Based on the...
Ralph Hanson