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It’s been well documented that Italy’s classic automotive design firms and coachbuilders are doing it tough. Bertone recently underwent a drawn out restructuring phase, which saw the company nearly go bankrupt and sold to an overseas buyer, while Pininfarina lost more than $164 million last financial year. Zagato, too, has had its share of troubles but now the firm has been partially acquired by Indian design and engineering firm Autoline Industries. The Indian firm has bought a 49% stake in the legendary Italian design house, which in its heyday has penned cars for the likes of...
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Toyota Leads Brand Value Survey, Mercedes Leads Luxury BrandsBrand value can be a fickle thing. It’s impossible to measure accurately and it can be affected by numerous volatile factors, but at the end of the day if a consumer is willing to pay more for one brand over another then brand value becomes a vital indicator of a company’s overall...
James Martinez -
Japanese firms develop mobile phone with built-in electronic keyA trio of Japanese companies have come together to create the world's first mobile phone that also acts as an electronic key for certain vehicles, allowing its owner to automatically unlock their car door and start the engine without having to fish around in their pockets for a traditional key...
Ralph Hanson -
Lexus accused of misleading ‘green’ claimsFor the second time in less than 18 months, Lexus has come under fire for misleading advertisements that promote its RX400h hybrid SUV as being far more environmentally friendly than it actually is. The RX400h was being advertised by Lexus as "perfect for today's climate (and tomorrow's)", and that...
Kenneth Hall -
EU announces plan for mandatory daytime running lights by 2011The European Commission has announced plans to make it mandatory for all new cars to be fitted with daytime running lights (DRLs) as standard from 2011, and on trucks and buses one and a half years later. Despite widespread opposition from carmakers, the issue was raised once again on the back of...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Hyundai reveals new SEMA Genesis Coupe modified by Street ConceptsThe third and final tuning company chosen to use the Hyundai Genesis Coupe as their canvas at the upcoming SEMA show may just unveil the most outrageous Genesis Coupe yet, if the pictures are anything to go by. Hyundai has given their Genesis Coupe to 'Street Concepts', long-time Hyundai tuners...
Alex Kaufmann -
Maserati has confirmed via its official website (www.Maserati.com) that it will make a surprise announcement or presentation on October 2 at the 2008 Paris auto show. No other details have been revealed but there is a poll active on the site that asks visitors to guess what the surprise could be. The list of options include a new car, advertising campaign, website, concept store, new headquarters, a revised trident design, a new testimonial or a new logo. Most of the votes thus far have been for the new car, which is not without reason as the Italian carmaker is working on two new models seen...
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High fuel costs the biggest hurdle for diesels according to carmakersMore than half the cars sold in Europe today are fitted with diesel powertrains due to several factors but mostly because diesel fuel is taxed less than petrol. Throw in the fact that diesel powered cars are usually more efficient than their petrol counterparts and it’s easy to understand why...
Ralph Hanson -
More details on Renault’s upcoming Megane CoupeImages of the production Renault Megane Sport Coupe have been leaked once again, this time from a patent application filed in the European Union. The latest shots confirm the upcoming Megane Sport Coupe, due next year, will feature similar styling to the Coupe Concept (pictured) from March’s...
Kenneth Hall -
Ferrari cuts ribbon on new factory, first California soldAn all-new production line has opened today in Maranello, crowning 18 months of work and a 40 million investment. The ribbon-cutting ceremony comes just days after the Ferrari California's official unveiling, and coincides with the sale of the first California at auction. The 20,000 square meter...
Ralph Hanson -
VW unveils concept version of upcoming pickupThe long-awaited and much anticipated Volkswagen Robust pickup truck has been canceled for European and North American sale, but the project is still alive and kicking as indicated by the carmaker’s latest 'Pickup' concept vehicle. Set to be unveiled later this week at the 62nd IAA Commercial...
Alex Kaufmann -
Bill Ford sells one million of his own Blue Oval sharesDirect descendent of Henry Ford and current Blue Oval chairman Bill Ford Jr. sold one million of his own shares in the carmaker, about one-sixth of his total common stock holdings, in a surprise move last Thursday. The shares were sold at $5.05 each, earning Ford a tidy $5.05 million from the sale...
Ralph Hanson -
A British man, wishing to remain anonymous, has purchased what is now the most expensive car in the world—one of the few Ferrari [NYSE:RACE] 250 GTOs built to secure homologation for the FIA's GT category. Only 39 of the cars were ever built, and their rarity and desirability has long been high, just not £15.7 million (approximately $28.7 million) high. The example that garnered the record-setting bid is a 1963 example, from the middle of the car's 1962-1964 production run, reports The Sun. It had previously been valued at about £11 million—a significant sum, to be...
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Hartge releases new modified BMW 135iAlmost six months ago, Hartge revealed its original take on the 1-series. At that time, it was entirely an appearance and suspension upgrade package, leaving the engine untouched. Now, having spent the last six months extracting even more power from the 135i's twin-turbo six-cylinder, the German...
Nelson Ireson -
First images of Fiat 500 Abarth SS revealedAs microcars go, the reborn Fiat 500 has enjoyed stellar success. Already having spawned a number of high-performance and special editions, the car's hot sales have driven yet another special model - the Abarth SS, or as the Italians would say it, 'esseesse'. Long awaited and finally revealed, the...
Nelson Ireson -
Volkswagen announces three sport-oriented Golf modelsA mix of old and new, Golf's Mark VI GTI will also spawn some old, and some new, names when the first of three sporty versions makes its debut in October. Renewing the famous GTI, reviving the cult-favorite R brand and introducing the diesel GTD, VW is angling for just about every segment of the...
Ralph Hanson -
Major restructuring planned for BMW USABMW is looking at reducing its U.S. sales for the first time in 16 years as the carmaker copes with a declining market and high fuel prices. One of its strategies is to take its focus away from the U.S. and instead attempt to boost sales in more profitable markets. The plan comes from BMW's new...
Alex Kaufmann -
Toyota seeks suppliers for A-BAT pickupLess than a year after showcasing its A-BAT hybrid pickup truck at the Detroit Auto Show Toyota has confirmed that it is looking for potential suppliers for the vehicle but stresses that it has not been given the green light. Suppliers have been asked to bid on making parts for the compact truck...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW has finally released full details and images for its fifth-generation 7-series flagship following the premature leak yesterday of several images and sketchy details. As expected, the car picks up several influences from the previous CS Concept including new LED elements on the headlights, an oversized grille and more fluid taillights. The rear end of the car is sure to draw criticism, just as the previous generation did, but overall the new model displays a much more elegant design than its predecessor. While the exterior changes appear to have been kept to a minimum, there are rumored to...
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Parmigiani and Hermès release special edition Bugatti Type 370 watchSwiss watch company Parmigiani Fleurier has released an updated version of its Bugatti Type 370 wristwatch for 2008, after enjoying two years of success including winning an ‘International Watch of the Year’ award back in 2006. The watch was originally released to celebrate the launch...
Alex Kaufmann -
Tata: No Jaguar or Land Rover vehicles will be built in IndiaDoubts surrounding the passage of the historically British marques Jaguar and Land Rover into Indian ownership have consistently dogged the deal since its first rumored inception. Now that Tata is well underway in its new position as owner of the brands, it is assuring customers that there are no...
Nelson Ireson -
2010 Camaro SS interior revealed at enthusiast eventThe all-new Chevrolet Camaro was unveiled in July at GM's Design Center, but until now the high-performance SS variant had remained unofficial - despite numerous official photos being released. The wait for the car's official confirmation is over, however, and as expected it will feature a stomping...
Ralph Hanson -
U.S. average fuel economy climbs to 20.8mpgShifting from SUVs and pickup trucks toward smaller cars may already be having an effect on the overall average fuel economy in the U.S. Figures released today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reveal that the actual increase in fuel economy may be even higher than the 0.2mpg bump...
Nelson Ireson -
Small cars still too small for U.S.?The floor dropped out of the market for SUVs and pickups this year, and Americans were supposedly replacing them with small cars. But what's small in America isn't what's small in the rest of the world, and truly small cars appear to continue to get short shrift. The latest evidence of this fact is...
Nelson Ireson