2009
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Honda today announced plans to begin sales in Japan of the CR-Z hybrid sports car in February 2010 and a Fit hybrid before the end of 2010. By combining these two models with the currently available Insight and Civic Hybrid, Honda will further enhance its lineup of compact hybrid models and help it become one of the ‘greenest’ automakers in the world. Both cars will be powered by Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA), also found in the Insight and Civic hybrids. In the case of the Insight, the IMA incorporates a 13hp (10kW) electric motor and a compact Intelligent Power Unit (IPU)...
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Cobra N+ develops factory-backed parts for Nissan’s 370Z
Nissan’s new 370Z is shaping up to the be the next big tuner special, with one of the first aftermarket firms, Cobra N+, revealing its new kit for the stylish coupe today. With a punchy 3.7-liter V6 up front, a quick-shifting 6-speed with Nissan’s innovative Synchromesh feature and a...
Jeremy Weber -
Bob Lutz stays on at GM, switches to marketing role
Bob Lutz, the iconic and often polemic Vice Chairman of General Motors' global product development team, announced back in February that he would be retiring from the company at the end of the year. With GM emerging from bankruptcy protection earlier this week as a leaner and more focused company...
James Martinez -
Cargraphic next in line to modify Porsche's new Cayenne Diesel
Hot on the heels of the modified Cayenne Diesel from Techart come a new power and styling package for the big Porsche from fellow German tuner Cargraphic. Priced from a reasonable $1,650, Cargraphic engineers will install a new ECU upgrade to boost power output from the SUV’s Audi-sourced...
Alex Kaufmann -
GM plug-in hybrid crossover on track for 2011 debut
When General Motors sells Saturn later this year, it will lose more than a quarter of its sales of hybrid vehicles. Saturn, with no V8 models, fullsize SUVs or pickups, is GM’s most fuel-efficient brand and is second only to Chevrolet for overall hybrid sales with its Vue and Aura mild-hybrid...
Ralph Hanson -
Volvo offers S60 SE run out special
Production of the Volvo S60 finally came to an end last month, marking the end of a eight year product cycle that saw more than 580,000 cars roll off the line at the car’s Ghent factory in Belgium. To celebrate this milestone and clear any remaining stock before the all-new model arrives next...
Jeremy Weber -
That luxury sport-utility vehicle you're eyeing could come with lots of street credentials - as well as a hefty insurance bill. It's no surprise that expensive rides can cost a lot at the showroom, but a new study by Insure.com drops the other shoe on costs of ownership for the finest, most capable vehicles on the planet. Namely, it's going to cost you a lot to insure some of the best vehicles on the road against accidents, liability, and acts of God. According to the site, some of the most expensive vehicles to insure include the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the 2009 HUMMER H2, and the 2009...
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New images of Hurst’s ‘Competition/Plus’ Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger has been a welcome arrival for many muscle-car fans. Willing to overlook its hefty weight for the old-school looks and meaty Hemi power, they've already purchased just about every car scheduled to be made for the next year. But Hurst wasn't content to leave the Challenger...
James Martinez -
Volkswagen CC picks up Red Dot Design award
The 2009 red dot design award winners were announced back in March, but last night the 'Best of the Best' award was handed out at a presentation in Essen, Germany, to Volkswagen for the Passat CC four-door coupe. Essen's Aalto Theater hosted the ceremony, where VW designer Martin Kropp accepted the...
Nelson Ireson -
Hurst announces Pontiac G8 H.O. 'Executive Hot Rod'
The Pontiac G8 - and its entire brand - are nearly extinct, but there's time for one last hurrah at Hurst. The historic hot rod company has plans to build 52 special-edition Hurst/Pontiac H.O versions of the G8 as well as a G6 convertible. Like the Hurst Challengers released late last year, the...
Nelson Ireson -
GM ends 25-year NUMMI partnership with Toyota
General Motors has confirmed that it will dump its ownership stake in the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) joint venture that it established with Toyota more than 25 years ago. Located in Fremont, California, the NUMMI plant was last responsible for versions of the Toyota Corolla and...
Ralph Hanson -
Dodge Challenger SRT8 gets German makeover
German running gear specialist KW Automotive has chosen a very peculiar vehicle for its latest modification program, one of the purest examples of a modern-day American muscle car, the Dodge Challenger SRT8. As with any production car, there are always weaknesses and in the case of the Challenger...
James Martinez -
Four months ago in Geneva, Infiniti's stunning Essence Concept laid the foundation for the future of design at the Japanese luxury brand. Soon, it will hit the pavement at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it will take on the traditional hillclimb. The Essence is a rear-wheel drive luxury coupe designed for a 592hp gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. The hillclimb event will mark the concept's first public performance. When it's not running on course, it will be on display at the FoS-TECH pavilion. Joining the Essence at the Festival and on the hillclimb course will be the...
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BMW 7-series M-Sport package makes early debut
Up until the end of last year BMW was in the process of developing a brand new performance car positioned above the current 7-series flagship and destined to enter the premium four-door coupe segment. Then the global economic crisis hit and on the back of weak financial results BMW decided not to...
Alex Kaufmann -
Lexus tops J.D. Power Initial Quality study, Porsche and Cadillac close behind
When it comes to luxury-car quality, taste often plays as big a role as fact, but J.D. Power tries to boil the issue down to a simple metric: problems per 100 cars. The resulting ranks are dubbed the Initial Quality Study, and used to guide consumer decisions. As usual, Lexus rates at the very top...
Alex Kaufmann -
All-wheel drive BMW 7-Series due later this year
The later part of 2009 will see the introduction of AWD powertrains versions of BMW’s 7-Series, with the first models likely appearing after a debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September as 2010 models. The change is, for many, long overdue as the German competition has long offered AWD...
Ralph Hanson -
Infiniti G37 Convertible on sale for official start of summer
Earlier this month Infiniti announced pricing on the newest addition to its lineup, the all-new G37 Convertible, and today the stylish drop-top officially goes on sale. Pricing has been set at $43,850 for the standard model and $43,900 for the G37 Convertible Sport with a six-speed manual. This...
James Martinez -
Opel shows off interior for new Astra
After months of previews, teasers and small official photos, the 2010 Opel (Vauxhall) Astra has finally been let out of the bag. The hatch has been revealed in high-res photos and for the first time we get a look at the upcoming car’s stylish new interior. The new Astra is crucial for Opel as...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
For the true enthusiast, there are few events that satisfy as completely as the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Both concourse and racing event, Goodwood offers the best of both worlds in an environment steeped in history and tradition. Lexus will be taking advantage of this year's Festival to show off its LF-A supercar and a racing version of the IS-F, among other interesting treats. The Lexus LF-A will certainly be one of the main attractions with its 500hp V10 engine and endurance-racing credentials. The Lexus IS-F race car will not only be showing, it will be going - right up the hill climb...
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Porsche: Cayenne Hybrid on the streets by late 2010
It's no secret that Porsche's planning a range of production Cayenne hybrids, but today Porsche board member Wolfgang Dürheimer told the German daily Rheinische Post that the vehicle would be in dealerships and on the street by the second half of 2010 with a starting price around €90,000...
Nelson Ireson -
Nissan prices Nismo 370Z from $39,130
Nissan brand new Nismo-enhanced 370Z has officially gone on sale, priced from $39,130 and available with just three accessories – Nismo branded carpeted floor mats ($115), illuminated kick plates ($200) and a carpeted trunk mat ($95). Like the limited production Nismo 350Z introduced two...
Ralph Hanson -
Porsche considering Audi TTS engine for cheaper Boxster
Porsche, the once unassailable leader in the sports car segment, has proven that it is not completely shielded from the current economic crisis sweeping the globe. In an official statement, Porsche revealed back in March that its sales have been struggling and earlier in the year the company...
Kenneth Hall -
Chrysler resumes production post bankruptcy, starts with Dodge Viper SRT10
With the Dodge Viper business safely in Fiat’s hands for now, production at the car’s Conner Avenue plant in Michigan has finally resumed. Chrysler stopped production at all of its North American plants when it filed for bankruptcy on April 30. The information was confirmed to the Wall...
Ralph Hanson -
Status Design gives the Porsche Cayenne a bold new look
Russian tuners seem to have a certain fixation with modifying the Porsche Cayenne, with sensational Russian-designed takes on the high-performance SUV cropping up frequently. The latest team to take on the Cayenne comes in the form of Status Design, a Russian outfit that has taken what many...
Jeremy Weber