Featured (was)
-
As the proportion of older drivers in the world’s leading nations grows, carmakers are finding new avenues for the technological advancement of safe driving. Taking a new angle on the head-up display (HUD) concept, General Motors is working on a prototype windshield system that enhances the driver’s view of the world instead of obstructing it with overlaid information. Designed specifically for the needs of older drivers, GM’s new enhanced windscreen system picks out details that might be missed, especially in low-visibility situations, and highlights them with brightly...
-
GM focuses on crossovers and carsTurning away from niche vehicles and small-market cars, GM is looking to build nothing but high-volume cars for the near future. That means significantly cutting back truck output and focusing its energy on cars and crossovers. The company has had some recent success with high-volume products in...
Nelson Ireson -
Brilliance BS4 sedan headed to GermanyChina's Brilliance Auto has shipped its first batch of BS4 compact sedans (pictured) to Germany where the cars will join the existing BS6 in the country's competitive executive saloon market. Brilliance is still building a presence in Europe and as such only 270 units are being shipped initially...
Kenneth Hall -
Spy Shots: BMW X5 ActiveHybrid prototypePhotographers have managed to snap some pictures of BMW's upcoming X5 hybrid, all within days of spotting prototypes of the X6 hybrid in California’s Death Valley. The images depict an X5 with an oversized bulge located on the bonnet, likely to be containing test equipment for the new...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mexico's Mastretta MXT to debut at London Motor ShowMexican sports car manufacturer Mastretta will debut its MXT sports car at next week’s London Motor Show before the car first goes on sale next May with an expected price tag of £32,999 (approximately $66,010). The lightweight two-seater weighs just 900kg and is capable of reaching...
Ralph Hanson -
Updated: Decision on BMW-Daimler partnership expected in NovemberUpdate: Only last week BMW and Fiat confirmed a tentative agreement to investigate the feasibility of co-developing a new compact car platform for the next-generation Mini and several Fiat and Alfa Romeo models, ending months of speculation and putting doubt towards the chances of a further tie-up...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
General Motors Company's [NYSE:GM] latest press conference effectively revealed the company's entire strategy for combating the current fuel crisis. Rick Wagoner and Bob Lutz, both key representatives in product development at GM, have revealed that the automaker will be becoming more and more 'European' in its lineup as U.S. fuel prices come to resemble that of the rest of the world. A more global approach means GM will be downsizing cars and engines in a bid to improve fuel economy. Vehicles such as the Cadillac SRX and the Chevrolet Equinox are expected to spearhead this approach with...
-
European carmakers rally behind electric vehiclesJapanese and American manufacturers are working hard to release a new generation of all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles over the next couple of years. European manufacturers have been reluctant in the past to embrace electric propulsion technology, but in light of tough new emissions...
Kenneth Hall -
Update: Left-hand-drive only Cadillac CTS-V planned for EuropeUpdate: Despite reports from Top Gear claiming the CTS's brawny force-fed brother - the CTS-V - won't be sold in Europe, a rival publication has word from a senior GM official that the high-performance saloon will make it to Europe in left-hand-only drive and will even be sold in the UK. Autocar...
Nelson Ireson -
Cost-cutting goes global as Ford plans more layoffsFord facilities around the globe may begin to feel the pinch of the current fuel crisis as cost-cutting begins in earnest. Gerhard Schmidt, Chief Technical Officer for Ford has confirmed that there will be a reduction in employees at the Ford Research Center in Germany (pictured), and that these...
Ralph Hanson -
BMW returns to ALMS with M3-based race carUpdated with official video. BMW used February's Chicago Auto Show to announce that it would return to the arena of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) next year with two new race-prepped versions of its latest E92 M3 Coupe set to join the GT2 class. The 2009 entry into the ALMS will be driven by a...
Alex Kaufmann -
Daimler updates its smart fortwo, adds micro hybrid start-stopStarting in October, smart's fortwo will get an update that includes a new micro hybrid drive (MHD) system to aid a pair of petrol engine variants. The micro hybrid system consists of start-stop technology, which the company says is good for an 8% reduction in emissions. Around the same time, the...
Nelson Ireson -
With the introduction of Ferrari's new California model, the Maranello company is planning to celebrate by showing off some of the new car's genetic predecessors, including the prototype that started it all at the Pebble Beach Concours this August. The range of California's spans half a century and includes some of the most iconic designs of all time. The gathering at Pebble Beach will mark the first time six variations of the California line have been gathered in one place. Fifty years ago, Ferrari began production of the rare 250 GT Spyder California and only 105 rolled off the assembly...
-
Fiat 500 Abarth SS to debut at Paris Motor ShowThe sporty Abarth versions of the Fiat 500 may still be in the midst of their first release phase, but already an even more powerful model dubbed the '500 Abarth SS' is in the works that will lift power output to 160hp (120kW) and make the car even more aggressive than the just-released Abarth...
Alex Kaufmann -
Luso Motors LM GT kit car design studyJust last week we brought you renderings of Luso Motors' LM23 track-day special kit car. The company has followed that up with a design study for a GT, and it comes in three flavors: convertible, shooting-brake and speedster. Like the LM23 the car is being designed as a lightweight sports car...
Nelson Ireson -
Thieves targeting older cars in the U.S.They may be vintage rides with pristine paint jobs and immaculate interiors, or they may be beat-up jalopies held together with duct tape and hope, but the top 10 most stolen vehicles in the U.S. for 2007 include several cars that are 10, 15 and 20 years old. Older Toyota and Hondas are the prime...
Nelson Ireson -
Spy Shots: Ford Focus spied with new grilleFord’s second-generation Focus range (international model) first went on sale in 2004 and then underwent an extensive facelift last year as part of its mid-cycle refresh. However, new prototypes of the car have been spotted testing in Germany, distinguished by their camo gear and slightly...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford focusing on Mexico for new production plansRising costs, shifting demand and a maturing market in North America, combined with high labor costs and tough union negotiations are pushing Ford to look for ways to improve its situation, and according the company's local CEO, Mexico is rising as an integral part of Ford's global future. The...
Nelson Ireson -
One of the key identifying factors of the individual drivers in their cars, race helmets develop and evolve over a driver's career to reflect sponsorships, personality and nationality, among other things. For fans of McLaren-Mercedes F1 team, and especially those backing Lewis Hamilton, the team's shop is offering a chance to own a limited edition replica helmet encrusted with real Steinmetz diamonds, just like the one worn by the famous Brit in Monaco. Interested fans had better bring their line of credit or a healthy bank account, however, because the helmets start at £15,000 ($29,400) and...
-
Update: Fiat announces partnership with BMWUpdate: The long-awaited return of Alfa Romeo to U.S. sales is finally beginning to make some tangible progress - today Fiat and BMW announced a possible partnership with BMW's Mini dealerships that will allow the German company to sell Alfas in its stores. The news means that Alfa could have at...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Liquid petroleum gas and lithium batteries to power Hyundai's first hybridOn the back of news that Hyundai is now the world’s fifth biggest carmaker in terms of vehicle sales (when sales of its Kia subsidiary are included) comes the announcement that the South Korean carmaker will launch the world’s first hybrid vehicle powered by advanced lithium-polymer...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Update: Saleen officially announces Racecraft brand, 420S MustangUpdate: The long-standing Saleen in-house parts brand, Racecraft, has graduated to full standalone status, with the announcement today of the first set of Racecraft-branded cars focused at the everyday enthusiast, rather than the wealthy sportsman or collector. Three principles guide the design of...
Nelson Ireson -
First U.S. Nissan GT-R delivered in CaliforniaAfter months of anticipation the Nissan GT-R supercar has finally gone on sale in the U.S. with the first car being delivered this morning to a Southern California customer. The keys to the Black Obsidian GT-R Premium model were handed to Daryl Alison of Costa Mesa, California, by dealer...
Nelson Ireson -
Spy Shots: 2010 Volkswagen Robust pickupIn its quest to overtake Toyota in the sales race, especially in the lucrative U.S. market, Volkswagen is developing a new pickup truck to expand its line-up. These latest spy shots, depicting the new pickup, shows that VW will be targeting the midsize truck market. This particular variant features...
Kenneth Hall