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The all new GT-R is like no other car Nissan dealers across Europe and the U.S. have ever sold before so it’s little wonder scores of maintenance workers and sales staff around the globe are being specially trained in readiness for the car’s official launch. The highly-strung twin-turbo V6 engine outputs 473hp (353kW) and 588Nm (434lb-ft) of torque, performance numbers usually reserved for pricey sports cars that require servicing every couple of thousand miles as opposed to the usual ten thousand miles. Couple this with one of the most high-tech AWD systems in the world and a...
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Toyota’s plug-in hybrid moves closerConsumer demand in the United States is driving Toyota’s move to produce a plug-in hybrid car that can run off grid power alone for a short stint. Toyota won’t let the vehicle come to market without adequate quality control and research into the batteries that will power the car...
Alex Kaufmann -
UK targets foreign fine breakersJust when you thought the UK had come up with every possible way to get a fine out of a driver (speed cameras disguised as trash bins, doubled congestion charges and parking tickets among others), they go and find a whole untapped market of fines. It seems 700,000 fines go unpaid every year...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Hyundai’s new coupe caught uncoveredHyundai’s new Genesis coupe has been caught uncovered at a market research event sitting next to its toughest competitor, the Ford Mustang. The car was photographed by someone at the event, however nobody has claimed responsibility for the pictures, which turned up on an online forum. The...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
UK considering tougher penalties for speedingMotorists in the UK are already faced with some of the highest fuel prices and road taxes in the world and now they could be facing much tougher penalties for speeding. The latest proposal could see drivers banned for just two offences and face fines of up to £100 ($209). In fairness to the policy...
Ralph Hanson -
TTAC picks the 10 worst autos of 2007We’re sure most readers will have their own private list of hated cars but we bet few and far between would have every car on that list be from one of the Detroit 3. The same can’t be said for the guys who claim to be all things honest about the auto industry, so let’s take a look...
Ralph Hanson -
After having recently reported the cost cutting to take place at Chrysler we are relieved to bring word the exciting SRT (Street and Racing Technology) performance division will be hardly affected. Last week Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli announced plans to cull four models and cut up to 10,000 jobs but according to the director of the SRT these actions will have no affect on the performance division. In a recent interview with Edmunds, SRT boss Michael Accavitti was quoted as saying, “I don’t see any change at all in the direction we’re going with SRT.” Accavitti went on...
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Preview: 2009 Volkswagen Golf Mark VI GTI and cabrioThe Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the most sought after models in the Golf lineup and has even proven to be the favored choice over the more powerful R32 in most markets. Its combination of a punchy drivetrain, slick gearbox and understated styling have won it many fans over the years and...
Alex Kaufmann -
GM and Carnegie Mellon win DARPA driverless challengeIf you’re unfamiliar with the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Urban Challenge, it’s basically a competition between vehicles that drive themselves in a mock urban environment. This year’s event, which lasted more than six hours, took place at California’s...
Siddarth Raja -
Video: Jeremy Clarkson wins Special Recognition AwardAt last night’s National Television Awards ceremony in the UK, Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson took out the Special Recognition Award for his ‘unique contribution to television.’ The normally collected Clarkson seemed genuinely surprised to have won the award, which was...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2008 Green Car of the Year finalists announcedNo other auto show is better suited to hosting a green car award than the premier automotive event in the world’s biggest market for eco-friendly cars, the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. For the 2008 Green Car of the Year the nominees have been narrowed down to a field of just five finalists...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford Mustang FR500S unveiled at SEMAThe Mustang has been a race car as long as it’s been in production, initially in the Trans-Am series in the 1960s and 1970s, then more recently in the Grand-Am series. That tradition will continue in the all-new 2008 FR500S, designed for the Mustang spec series entitled the Ford Racing...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Earlier this month Fiat Chief Sergio Marchionne revealed Mercedes-Benz was one of a number of companies Fiat was in talks with over a possible alliance, but apart from the confirmation of the talks we don’t really know much about the negotiations. Earlier reports suggested Fiat and Mercedes would likely form an alliance to help expand each company’s respective commercial truck businesses but now there are claims Fiat could use a Mercedes platform for the next-generation 169 flagship sedan from Alfa Romeo. Last week we reported that Alfa Romeo’s future products would be RWD...
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Electric car scheme uses cell phone model for plans, hardwareElectric cars are believed by many to be the wave of the future, but critics harp on the long recharging periods and short range as insurmountable obstacles. And the critics are right, at least based on current technology and the availability of recharging stations. But that may change if one man...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Video: Test driving the Ferrari 599 GTB FioranoThere’s no shortage to the exotic metal the lucky guys at Top Gear get to drive. This time ‘round presenter Jeremy Clarkson is testing Ferrari’s gorgeous 599 GTB Fiorano and after he’s done with it the enigmatic Stig gets a chance to take it for a spin.
Ralph Hanson -
Hyundai prepping RWD Genesis Coupe for L.A. auto showHyundai has finally dropped some official info on its future RWD coupe and has released a preview of the new model in the form of this concept teaser sketch. The final production version is expected to debut late next year as a 2009 model but a near-production concept version will be unveiled at...
Siddarth Raja -
Facelifted Mercedes-Benz SLK appearing at Detroit ShowMercedes-Benz has a number of important model facelifts coming over the next couple of years with cars like the CLS, SL and B-Class all scheduled for a major makeover. The first of the revised models however will be the facelifted version of the SLK, which is reported to make its debut at next...
Alex Kaufmann -
First look at Nissan’s GT500 GT-R race carOnly last week Nissan announced that its all-new GT-R sports car would be entered into the GT500 class of the SUPER GT series in Japan for the 2008 season. Now we have the first image of the new race car, prepped by Nissan’s own motorsport company Nismo. This latest shot was taken as the car...
Siddarth Raja -
The Alfa 8C Competizione was never intended to be produced. It was just a concept car demonstrating what could be done with a brilliant team of engineers and lots of cash but an enthusiastic reception by the press and public encouraged Alfa to go ahead and build it. Unfortunately, Alfa decided to only build 500 of them. Demand would have supported many more units but it seems Alfa is only concerned with breaking even with 8C Competizione. According to AutoTelegraaf, Alfa had up to 1,200 orders for the 8C but held production back to just 500 units to maintain exclusivity. Since its debut in...
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50 Cent shows off his 500HP Pontiac G8We’ve already seen the new Pontiac G8 star in concept form in one of 50 Cent’s rap videos and now we have news of Fiddy’s own G8, which was unveiled this week at the SEMA Auto Show by the rapper himself. To build the car 50 Cent teamed up with New York-based tuner Unique...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Volvo considering five-door C30Volvo is considering expanding the C30 range by adding a five-door hatchback variant to join the current three-door. The C30 is based on the same P1 platform that underlies the larger S40 and V50 models so building an extended version of the C30 hatch would be straight forward. Such a vehicle would...
Ralph Hanson -
Cadillac planning RWD small car for EuropeGM’s efforts to boost the image of Cadillac in Europe has been thwarted by the poor performance of the FWD only BLS, especially up against segment leaders like the RWD BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. That’s why for its replacement Cadillac may switch to GM’s new RWD Alpha...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Nissan using Infiniti brand to promote hybrid techNissan will be mimicking Toyota and its premium Lexus division by focusing on the luxury end of its product line for hybrid drivetrains. Product planners will use the Infiniti brand to debut Nissan’s own advanced hybrid technology, which engineers are still developing. Nissan already sells a...
Alex Kaufmann -
Video: Bugatti Veyron vs Typhoon jet-fighterIn the latest episode of Top Gear Richard Hammond pits a Bugatti Veyron against a Eurofighter Typhoon jet in a one mile race. The jet-fighter did have the advantage of being able to take off but the rules of the race was that both had to turn around and do another one mile run in the opposite...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran