2009
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HKS was one of the first major tuning houses to work on the GT-R supercar, developing performance kits and accessories for the 1989 R32 model right up to the latest 2009 R35 model. The tuning firm is now celebrating its 35th anniversary, and to mark the occasion it has released for sale in the United States the first assortment of R35 GT-R performance parts. For over 35 years HKS products have been put to the test in drag racing, road racing, rallying, and top speed trials arenas. HKS equipped vehicles have captured numerous racing championships and hold claim to a myriad of competition...
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GM Performance Parts enhanced Pontiac Solstice GXP CoupeNot much has been heard about Pontiac’s new Solstice Coupe since it was unveiled back in March at the New York Auto Show, but the car is set to make headlines again, this time at the upcoming SEMA Auto Show. A new concept version of the Coupe fitted with an assortment of accessories from GM...
Ralph Hanson -
Pontiac G8 GXP 'Street' powered by 7.4L LSX454 V8General Motors has released the first details about its SEMA offerings for this year’s show, with the Pontiac brand once again getting most of the limelight. One of the stars is based on the new G8 GXP, which for SEMA has been fitted with a new LSX454 crate engine from GM Performance Parts...
James Martinez -
Audi announces U.S. pricing for TTS Coupe and RoadsterAudi’s TT shook up the sports car scene when it was first released nearly a decade ago. Since then both the front- and all-wheel drive versions have won fans and comparisons across the globe. The new TTS, which was first revealed back at January’s Detorit Auto Show, is almost ready for...
Ralph Hanson -
Lincoln driving MKS to strong showing at SEMAAmong the many turbocharged tuner cars and monster-truck four-wheelers crowding the SEMA showfloor next week, there will be a cadre of Lincoln MKS sedans, suitably modified but standing somewhat back from the extremism of the rest of the show. Three of the cars will be on display, each offering a...
Nelson Ireson -
Group 5 building Dodge Challenger speedster for SEMAWhile Chrysler may have ruled out adding a convertible variant of the 2009 Dodge Challenger, no fewer than three open top versions of the rejuvenated muscle car will be on show at this year’s SEMA event in Las Vegas. The first custom convertible, announced two weeks ago, is the creation of...
James Martinez -
Nissan will soon be able to lay claim to the title of selling the most affordable new car in the United States, with its 1.6L 2009 Versa Sedan destined to be priced from just $9,990 when it goes on sale nationwide on November 18. The low price tag excludes destination and handling charges of $695 but it still significantly undercuts one of the top contenders in the economy car segment, the Toyota Yaris, which starts at $12,205 for the three-door Liftback model. The engine in the least expensive Versa Sedan is a 1.6L four-cylinder petrol unit that is rated at 107hp (80kW) and achieves fuel...
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Bloomingdale’s to offer Infiniti G37 Convertible 'Premier Edition'Retailer Neiman-Marcus has been offering special edition vehicles for the past number of years, the latest being the all-new 2009 BMW 7-series, but now Bloomingdale's is getting in on the action and has announced plans to offer the 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible. The special edition model carries...
James Martinez -
Saturn Vue Greenline ‘Hyline’ headed to SEMAThe Saturn Vue Greenline hybrid vehicle quickly fell off the radar following its launch back in November 2006, however the eco-friendly crossover is set to make headlines again, this time at the SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas. General Motors will present a modified version of the Saturn Vue Greenline...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Toyota confirms U.S. export program for Sequoia and TundraSales of Toyota’s heavy SUV and pickups have been on the decline in the U.S. for the past several months with rising fuel prices and growing environmental concerns shifting consumer demand towards smaller and more economical vehicles. The carmaker, which usually prides itself on productivity...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Acura's TSX diesel faces indefinite delayDiesel-loving fans of mid-range Japanese luxury sedans are mourning today, because the latest reports are indicating the long-awaited 2009 Acura TSX fitted with a 44mpg diesel engine will be delayed for an unknown period of time. It doesn't appear that the engine itself has been killed, rather...
Ralph Hanson -
Gene Stefanyshyn to succeed Corvette chief Tom WallaceGeneral Motors’ Corvette brand will lose its chief at the start of next month when Tom Wallace retires amid rumors of an indefinite hold on development of the C7 Corvette. His successor, Gene Stefanyshyn, is currently the vehicle line executive of rear-wheel-drive vehicles at GM, and will add...
Ralph Hanson -
Techart is well known in the aftermarket tuner scene for creating some of the best functional aerokits for Porsche cars, so it comes as little surprise that there has been plenty of interest in the German tuner’s latest kit designed for the facelifted 911 range. The pieces are constructed from high-quality polyurethane and have been developed using extensive wind-tunnel testing. The new front spoiler not only gives the 911 a slightly more aggressive look, it also reduces buoyant forces on the front axle and ensures optimal air flow to the brakes. A roof spoiler and a three-way...
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Custom Neil Tjin Pontiac G8 CST headed to SEMAOne of the most highly modified Pontiacs at next month’s SEMA Auto Show won’t be an official General Motors offering but the car should serve as a major endorsement for the ailing carmaker and could even boost interest in the tuning scene for one of its top models. The car is a fully...
Jeremy Weber -
Mercedes Benz introduces C350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCYMercedes Benz has introduced a new version of its C-Class sedan under the guise of its BlueEFFICIENCY eco tag. The car is the C350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY, and despite producing more power and torque than the standard C350 it uses on average 10% less fuel. This is because of the addition of...
Alex Kaufmann -
Report: Dodge Viper now eligible for employee pricingCarmakers are usually cautious when it comes to discounting their performance flagships and halo models, but a new report claims Chrysler has finally made its Dodge Viper supercar eligible for its employee discount program. According to the company’s employee advantage website, both the Viper...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Infiniti announces pricing for 2009 G37 Sedan and CoupeInfiniti today announced pricing on the 2009 G37 Sedan and G37 Coupe, which go on sale at Infiniti dealers across the United States on the fifth of next month. Both cars receive extensive revisions for the new model year, especially the G37 Sedan which picks up the award-winning 3.7L V6 that...
James Martinez -
Mercedes changing more model names including CLK and CLCConfusing alphabet-soup names like CLK, CLC, CLS SLK, GLK, CL, SL and SLR have made it hard for customers to keep track of Mercedes-Benz's vehicle lineup, and to fix that the company is looking at returning to more traditional names based around the A, B, C, E and S-Class names. Among the first to...
Nelson Ireson -
Chrysler will drop its all-wheel-drive option for the 2009 Dodge Avenger, Caliber and Chrysler Sebring because of low demand. The information was confirmed by company spokesman Jiyan Cadiz, who said the option never really caught on since its introduction for those particular models late last year. “For the Avenger, the take rate was 1.5% for 2008, and for the Sebring it was at 0.7%.” Cadiz revealed during a recent interview with Wards. “So obviously the bottom line is people want fuel economy, and the AWD modules are not profitable for us. That’s something we can get...
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Report: C7 Corvette put on indefinite holdThere are all manner of rumors concerning the next-generation C7 Corvette, with stories ranging from the possibility of a mid-engined platform to AWD powertrains and even the arrival of a dual-clutch version. Although there isn’t much substance to any of these rumors, one of them that’s...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Cadillac prices the CTS-V at $59,995, sales start Nov. 1Launching a come-back to sit among the world's best luxury sport sedans is no easy task, especially with the level of competition there is today from companies like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW and Lexus. But Cadillac appears to have done just that with its CTS, and now the CTS-V is poised to take the...
Nelson Ireson -
Jaguar XK facelift due for early 2009 revealRumors are circulating of a possible Los Angeles Auto Show reveal for the upcoming facelifted Jaguar XK, but according to the company, there will be nothing new from Jaguar in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, the new car is expected to make its debut sometime during the first quarter of 2009, meaning...
Nelson Ireson -
Report: Cadillac may fit turbodiesel V8 to CTSThe American car buyer is reputed to be warming to the idea of diesel power after several decades of disinterest, though few carmakers have dared to test the strength of that demand. So far the primary candidates have been luxury and sedans, but now Cadillac is rumored to be working on a fitment...
Nelson Ireson -
GM will close two SUV plants by end of 2008Cutting back on SUV and pickup truck production while shifting focus to smaller and mid-size cars means some reallocation of the workload among General Motors' North American factories. While many factories are just changing what they do, some will have to be closed to align with the new face of...
Nelson Ireson