Featured (was)
-
Alfa Romeo’s 147 hatch equipped with the new Q2 front self-locking differential and the 1.9L 150hp JTDm diesel engine has arrived on the market. The innovative Q2 diff provides some of the advantages of a four-wheel drive vehicle, but at a significantly lower cost thanks to the front-drive configuration. The Q2 system works by utilizing a Torsen limited slip differential that splits torque between the two front wheels depending on the amount of slip. If one wheel starts to lose traction, torque is partially transferred to the other wheel, in turn producing less understeer, greater...
-
Passat R36 edges closerWe finally have images of the production version of the upcoming Passat R36 from Volkswagen. From the images, it's clear that the new car shares the same front end styling with the smaller R32 Golf and will come in both sedan and estate versions. Sources state that the R36 will run an enhanced...
Ralph Hanson -
Car owners faking it with false badgesThere is a group of car enthusiasts out there who have no qualms about masquerading low priced standard models as the more expensive and more exclusive high-end versions. Rather then spend the extra bucks on the better equipped model, some people will simply add the extra badges designating that...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Next generation MustangFord will go with a less retro look for its next generation Mustang, but will stick with the iconic car’s classic features so that it'll remain instantly recognizable as a pony car. Planned for release after 2010, the new ‘Stang will arrive a couple of years after the new Camaro. To...
Ralph Hanson -
Volkswagen Neeza concept planned for BeijingVolkswagen will be displaying its new Neeza concept at the Beijing Motor Show later this month, which could form the basis of a new crossover model similar in size to its Touareg SUV. The concept car will feature rear-opening suicide doors and side mounted cameras in place of rear-view mirrors...
Alex Kaufmann -
Video: Martin Brundle's Supercars
Racer and commentator Martin Brundle has always been a fan of fast cars, and in this hour-long video he presents us with some of the fastest and most expensive exotica ever seen. Though the video is a little old and doesn’t feature the Veyron, you still get to see the new supercars, such as...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Like Ford, General Motors is starting to realize the benefits of using a truly global platform in high volumes. AutoWeek is reporting that both a GM source and one of its supplier’s has mentioned that the General is developing a new platform for small cars that it will share across its global markets with an estimated annual volume of 1.4 million cars. Following GM’s method of using the Greek alphabet for naming of its platforms, the small Gamma architecture will provide the running gear for the next generation Opel Corsa and Chevrolet Aveo due in 2009. Production plans are not...
-
Mulally: We're not competitiveFord CEO Alan Mulally has admitted that the company remains uncompetitive against its rivals, commenting that "we're not competitive and it's been getting worse year after year.” Speaking with the Detroit Free Press, Mulally remains positive and is enthusiastic about the opportunities to...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Toyota to build new plants in India and ChinaToyota is well on its way to becoming the world's number one car manufacturer, and the latest news is that the Japanese giant is planning to add new factories in India, China and the US be as early as 2009. The company is already growing at a pace of half a million cars a year, and now the Wall...
Ralph Hanson -
eBay Watch: Porsche 928 utilityeBay is notorious for the strange items that you can find up for sale, and this 1987 Porsche that was converted into a pickup is no exception. The conversion took place just two years ago and features full metal construction plus a completely new paint job. We can't say we've ever come across a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW launches the Hydrogen 7BMW has kept its promise of delivering up to 100 hydrogen-fuelled 7-series sedans, with the first customers set to take delivery as early as next March. Produced in a plant in Munich, Germany, the first batch of cars will be leased to minor celebrities including politicians, sports stars and...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Personalise your PorscheFor years the iconic lettering on the back of a Porsche signified the the fact that you were driving arguably the best sports car in the world. Now, a company is offering a way for you to change the lettering to your own choosing, on any Porsche model, from the Boxster to the Cayenne. You can pick...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Volkswagen has an odd situation on its hands thanks to its subsidiary Seat, who has priced its new Leon Cupra hot hatch below that of the Golf GTI on which it shares the same platform. Seat has tweaked its Leon hatch using knowledge it gained from participating in World Touring Car Championships, and has managed to squeeze a little more juice from the familar 2.0L turbo that it shares with the Golf GTI. Now with 237bhp, the Leon has 30bhp more than a GTI, but the starting price tag of £19,595 undercuts its VW Group sibling by £400. The Cupra is Seat’s most powerful car ever and the...
-
Toyota Prius again ranks as the most satisfying carHow much do you like the car you drive? Would you buy the same car again? These were the two simple questions that were presented to new car buyers by the Consumer Reports National Research Center in a recent survey. For the third straight time in a row Toyota’s Prius came out on top, with...
Ralph Hanson -
Mitsubishi Readies New Lancer Sports Sedan For Detroit Auto ShowMitsubishi will debut its second car based on its new global platform at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, in the form of the all-new, four-door Lancer small sedan. The first car built on the global platform was the second-generation Outlander crossover, but the Lancer is much more significant as...
Ralph Hanson -
Kia launches factory backed aftermarket partsWe’ve all seen them before, budget econo cars tricked out in flashy aftermarket accessories that are often worth more than the car itself. The worst offenders are the odd bunch who like to equip their small underpowered hatches with huge exhausts and ridiculous bodykits with go-fast stickers...
Kenneth Hall -
Honda launching Mugen in the USHonda has announced that it will be launching the Mugen name in the US with the planned release of a limited-edition Mugen Civic Si sedan in spring next year. Mugen is a Japanese tuning house with very close ties with Honda, and has been enhancing and racing Honda vehicles since the 1970’s...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
The future models of Fiat and Alfa RomeoFiat Group’s two day investor and analyst event is now over and we were able to come away with important information for several upcoming models from the company plus a couple of its subsidiaries, including Alfa Romeo and Lancia. Details on Alfa’s model range for 2008-2009 were released...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Leading from the previous story where 6 of the top 10 worst cars on sale were from Detroit, the influential Consumer Reports magazine has found that the domestics are lagging the Japanese in numerous comparison tests, as reported by The Detroit News. The domestics fail mainly on the reliability front, but Detroit’s latest model redesigns have gained crucial points in the reliability stakes when compared with prior-model-year vehicles. This bodes well for Ford and GM’s next generation products that will share the same platforms, as each new model gains significant ground over the...
-
Malaysia considers Volkswagen stake in ProtonAccording to one of its founders, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Proton will collapse unless it finds an international partner. Proton has lost significant market share to main rival Toyota, and was previously holding talks with Volkswagen. However, negotiations were said to have...
Ralph Hanson -
New electronic wedge braking technologyGerman electronics specialist Siemens has developed new braking technology in the form of the electronic wedge brake, which the company claims can dramatically reduce stopping distances of cars compared with conventional hydraulic systems. Previous attempts to improve the efficiency of braking...
James Martinez -
New HUMMER truck due in 2009The head of GM's Hummer brand has told reporters that the brand will be launching a new truck in 2009. According to Hummer’s General Manager Martin Walsh, "the new product will have unparalleled off-road capabilities, and like our current Hummers it would be recognizable from a distance."...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2007 Smart Fortwo Coupe & CabrioDaimlerChrysler has finally released details and official images of the second generation Smart Fortwo. Only available in a two-door coupe or cabriolet, the new Fortwo has grown in size and power. In order to meet strict new EuroNCAP pedestrian safety regulations, designers decided to add an extra...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW’s US diesel strategy unveiledA BMW insider has foretold the German carmaker’s plans for the introduction of its diesel range in North America for the first time. BMW will make its official announcement pertaining to its US diesel strategy at this month’s L.A. Motor Show, with the oil-burners expected to hit...
Ralph Hanson