James Martinez, Author
Articles
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Shelby SuperCars (SSC), the American supercar manufacturer behind the world’s fastest production car, the Ultimate Aero, has today confirmed plans to build an all-electric version of the...
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GM will shrink to four core brands in North America
One of General Motors’ biggest criticisms is the number of different brands under its roof, which ends up seeing it sell similar models that often compete with one another in the same segments. In its efforts to secure its share of a federal bailout, GM said it now intends to focus its U.S...
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Callaway launches supercharged Corvette for 2009
Chevrolet Corvette tuning specialist Callaway Cars has released yet another package for the iconic muscle car, with the latest kit centering around a supercharger upgrade for the standard 6.2L V8 model. Designed specifically for the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette, the new kit starts at $18,900 and lifts...
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GM money woes kill hopes of production Converj
One of the most exciting cars from last week’s Detroit Auto Show was the Cadillac Converj concept car, which General Motors used to showcase its plug-in hybrid technology in a luxury platform. Despite the concept featuring one of the most striking designs we’ve seen in a while, GM vice...
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Dodge officially unveils Challenger R/T Classic
No matter how you feel about car manufacturers recycling their icons of the past, there’s no denying that the interest shown in the Challenger has been phenomenal. While there has been a lot of information about the flagship SRT8 muscle car, at this week’s Detroit Auto Show Dodge...
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Ferrari F430 carbon wheel package by Miami’s 360 Forged
The number of high-end performance tuning coming out of Florida appears to have no bound, with Miami’s 360 Forged being the latest to join a growing list that includes the likes Renntech and Mosler Automotive just to name a few. Unlike some of the more established firms, 360 Forged is focused...
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Engineering firm Johnson Controls has unveiled a new concept at this year’s Detroit Auto Show that is described as a preview of technologies we can expect to see in future small cars. Combining...
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200C EV concept previews Chrysler’s new design DNA
Following on from the Dodge Circuit EV sports car shown earlier today, Chrysler has revealed the 200C EV concept, which is designed to showcase the carmaker’s future designs as well as its electric powertrain technology in a premium sedan. It doesn’t end there as the concept also...
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Hyundai Genesis Wins 2009 North American Car Of The Year Award
Coinciding with this week’s 2009 Detroit Auto Show is the 2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) awards, and for this year’s event the 2009 Hyundai Genesis took out the car award, while the 2009 Ford F-150 was picked as the top truck. Runners up for the car award were...
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Chrysler presents Dodge Circuit EV at Detroit Auto Show
Back in September Chrysler showed off three vehicles designed to show the world that it too could keep up with Ford and GM as they developed low emissions powertrains for the future. One of those vehicles was essentially a Lotus Europa with Chrysler badging, but this was understandable as the...
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Toyota reveals iQ-based FT-EV Concept
Toyota has announced that it will display its new FT-EV concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, while also confirming that it will launch an urban commuter ‘battery-electric vehicle’ (BEV) by 2012. The world's largest carmaker also revealed that it will start consumer trials of a fleet...
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Ford to launch SYNC in Europe by 2010, Asia Pacific and Australia to follow
Late yesterday Ford revealed its latest-generation SYNC in-car connectivity system, which for 2009 is updated with a new personalized Traffic, Directions and Information system. The new services will be available on nearly all 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models, however, their availability will...
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Ford is enhancing the connectivity capabilities of its vehicles by introducing exclusive new SYNC real-time information features that deliver personalized news updates to drivers’ mobile phones...
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Spy shots: Mercedes Benz E-Class Coupe with glass roof
The Mercedes -Benz E-class Coupe has been officially unveiled. Click here for more images and information. The current Mercedes-Benz CLK is something of an enigma - built around the C-Class platform, styled like the E-Class, and priced in between the two, the car sits in its own unique segment and...
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Carmakers to offer Internet radio as factory option
In-car multimedia specialist Blaupunkt is teaming up with Internet radio company miRoamer to unveil what they claim is the "world's first Internet car radio". The two companies state that the newly-developed system will enable drivers of vehicles fitted with Blaupunkt Internet stereos to tune into...
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1,000hp Dodge Challenger SRT8 by RDP Performance
Ohio tuning firm RDP Performance has cooked up a special version of the new Dodge Challenger SRT8 for last month's Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Florida. Taking a stock SRT8, which comes with an already impressive 425hp when it rolls out of the factory, RDP Performance has extensively...
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Honda developing electric motorcycle for 2010
Honda announced today that it will be developing an electric-powered motorcycle, with sales of the bike expected to begin some time next year. The news will be pleasing for those of you who remember Honda's electric moped concept that was unveiled back in 2004 but failed to see production. Honda's...
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San Francisco congestion charge under consideration
Efforts to duplicate London's much maligned congestion charge system in New York earlier this year failed dismally, and now a similar move in California's more progressive city of San Francisco is being met with similar disdain from residents. Currently, San Francisco city officials are considering...
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Hummer's troubled present and uncertain future are no impediment to tuners hell-bent on creating the most insane vehicles possible, and this blown V8 Hummer H3 is a prime example. Today the Germans...
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U.S. market primed for minicar resurgence
With the global economic crisis forcing consumers to tighten their purse strings, small cars with low sticker prices and high fuel efficiency are becoming more and more popular. While European and Asian markets have been popular with small cars for some time now, it is only recently that selling...
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New Camaro may be delayed due to supplier lawsuit
General Motors has sued one of its bankrupt parts suppliers, Cadence Innovation, and now the outcome of the lawsuit may be the determining factor in whether or not the highly anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaro will arrive on time. GM was originally planning on putting the Camaro into production in...
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Cerberus offers up stake in Chrysler
Cerberus Capital Management, current majority stake holder in Chrysler, is offering its entire equity stake in the carmaker to help it restructure and gain federal loans. The move is also designed to comply with one of the provisions in the Presidential loans initiative, which was approved late on...
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GM Performance Parts offering 'Body in White' Camaro for $7,000
GM Performance Parts (GMPP) will be offering 'body in white' packages for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, with sales expected to begin in the first quarter of 2009. Body in white refers to the stage in automotive production when the car's sheet metal has been assembled, but components such as the...
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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss Revealed
With Mercedes’ next generation of super sports cars currently under development by the carmaker’s racing arm, HWA, as well as its in-house tuner, AMG, the current manufacturing partnership with McLaren is set to end once production of the SLR supercar concludes next year. To mark the...
James Martinez