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Execs at GM have given the green light for the Hummer H4, a new baby SUV similar in size to the Jeep Wrangler that’s expected to go on sale in the 2009 model year. Hummer has been experiencing strong sales outside of the US and the addition of a new smaller model will only cement that success. Late last year it was rumored that a H4 concept car could be ready for next year’s Detroit Auto Show but sources say developers don’t have a suitable platform on which to base the new model yet, reports Automotive News. Joining the H4 will be a new pickup version of the H3 with...
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Subaru introduces visual changes to new ImprezaThere’s no denying the new Impreza has been a failure for Subaru even before it’s gone on sale. The industry was expecting a new model that would allow Subaru to step up and reposition its brand as affordable Japanese luxury but what we got was a car that is so derivative it could well...
Siddarth Raja -
Mitsubishi to present Concept-cX at FrankfurtMitsubishi will unveil the Concept-cX crossover at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show in order to gauge public interest ahead of a possible introduction of a production version slated for 2009. The compact SUV will be powered by a new high-output 1.8L clean diesel engine equipped with a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Bentley reports record profits and salesBentley has reported an increase in its global sales volume for the fourth straight year in a row, with turnover and operating profits also reaching record levels. Back in February we reported that Bentley was easily outpacing rivals Maybach and Rolls-Royce in the sales race and official data...
James Martinez -
No penalty for guilty McLaren - FIAF1's governing body on Thursday announced that McLaren will not be penalised following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris. A statement, however, revealed that the 26 Council members did find Ron Dennis' outfit guilty of breaching the International Sporting Code for possessing...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ford posts $750m profit for Q2Ford has reported a surprise profit of $750 million for the second-quarter, which comes after seven consecutive quarters in the red. Reasons cited for the positive result include recent cost-cutting and an improvement in the Blue Oval’s core automotive operations. The carmaker is currently...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Renault will unveil a new concept car based on its Twingo minicar at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, with production versions expected to hit the market sometime next year. The new car will be a convertible version of the Twingo equipped with a folding metal roof, which in effect makes it a Twingo Coupe-Cabrio or CC for short. The car’s lines will be slightly altered from the current Twingo hatch, especially at the rear which needed to be redesigned to accommodate the folding roof mechanism and storage. Inside, there will be seating for only two and it will have a more upmarket...
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Fiat 500 sold out in 3 weeks, prompts extra productionFiat’s recently launched 500 minicar is proving so popular that management has decided to increase production. According to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, annual production for the 500 will expand to 140,000 from the current 120,000 level starting from next year. It’s hard to imagine that...
James Martinez -
€11.4 billion merger of Continental and Siemens VDONormally we wouldn’t report this, but when two of the auto world’s biggest parts suppliers decide to merge in a deal that’s reported to top €11.4 billion, you can bet it’ll have a major effect on most of the carmakers. So, why should you care? First of all, together...
Kenneth Hall -
Toyota starts testing plug-in hybrids in JapanToyota has announced today that it has developed a new plug-in hybrid prototype based on the Prius and has started testing it in Japan with US tests to follow soon after. Toyota’s vice president in charge of powertrain development, Masatami Takimoto, revealed back in May that commercial...
Siddarth Raja -
Mercedes’ DiesOtto engine does 39MPG in a S-classMercedes is attempting to beat rival Volkswagen to the market with the world’s first mass produced petrol engine that combines the torque and fuel economy of modern diesels with cleaner emissions. Efficient features that have been added to the engine include direct injection, turbocharging...
James Martinez -
Nissan testing on-board breathalyzersThe notion of carmakers installing on-board breathalyzers connected with an interlock system to prevent you from starting your car if your blood-alcohol levels are above the illegal limit is not as far fetched as it seems. Nissan is currently testing such a system in a partnership with the Japanese...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
The Fiat 500 minicar only made its debut this month but there’s already talk of additional variants being developed including a new long wheelbase ‘Giardinetta’ version similar to Mini’s new Clubman. Already confirmed for production are the cabriolet soft-top and performance Abarth versions due by the middle of next year, but Fiat execs are mulling plans for both a three door station wagon and a 4WD SUV. This new rendering is a good indication as to what the wagon variant could look like and is based on a preview of the car that was shown on a video at the launching of...
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Italy’s Tomaso Set For A RevivalThe legendary Italian marque De Tomaso may be revived if a group of American and Chinese investors have their way. In 2003, MG took over the label to secure a production facility for a new sports car but the plans went bust and Tomaso closed its doors just one year later. A new group of investors...
Kenneth Hall -
Callaway C16 Speedster to debut at 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceCorvette specialist Callaway is set to unveil its latest C16 Speedster flagship at next month’s Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the third model in the C16 lineup joining the coupe and cabrio. The unique roadster features a 700hp supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, and a chopped roof with only a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Australia loses F1 season opening slot for 2008Melbourne will no longer host the opening round of the formula one season after refusing to run the Australian grand prix at night in future. Instead, Bahrain will kick off the 2008 calendar, with the Albert Park event following it in mid-March, Australian organisers revealed on Monday. "Bahrain...
Ralph Hanson -
Cadillac lowers European targetsCadillac sales have been so slow in Europe that execs have been forced to readjust sales forecasts downwards. New targets for Cadillac’s European sales have been reduced to just 10,000 units per year in the short term with the hope that this lifts to 15,000 eventually. This is a significant...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Alonso wins rain-affected Nurburgring GPWorld champion Fernando Alonso slashed teammate Lewis Hamilton's lead of the drivers' world title to a mere two points on Sunday by winning the chaotic European grand prix. Hamilton, in the sister McLaren, finished a lap down and just out of the points at the end of a miserable weekend for the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Switzerland’s Sportec has released its latest package for the Porsche 911 Turbo, which includes a range of power mods, aerodynamic enhancements, plus chassis and suspension tuning. As if the 997 Turbo wasn’t powerful enough, the "Swiss made" performance pack lifts output to 580hp, resulting in a 0-100km/h time of just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 338km/h or 210mph. The engine conversion kits come in four different flavors, offering power upgrades ranging from 530hp in the ‘Stage 1’ kit to 580hp and 765Nm of torque for the ‘Stage 4’ range topper. For its...
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VW to present new low-cost concept car at FrankfurtVolkswagen will showcase its new platform for a range of future low-cost vehicles in a new concept car that’s planned for September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. CEO Martin Winterkorn previously pledged to launch a sub €8,000 VW model by the end of the decade, which would also form the...
Kenneth Hall -
Ford Oz to develop new RWD lineup, twin-turbo V6 destined for MustangFord may mimic General Motors by developing its next-gen RWD architecture in Australia for vehicles scheduled to arrive by 2011. The plans are under consideration at Ford HQ in Dearborn, and stipulate that Aussie engineers will develop the drivetrains for the new Mustang as well as the Crown...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Spy Shots: Barely disguised BMW X6BMW is currently preparing its Spartanburg plant in the US to start churning out as many as 40,000 units of its upcoming X6 crossover vehicle, and these latest spy shots gives us the best look yet as to how the new model will be styled. Clearly seen is the vehicle’s sloping coupe-like...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
UK trials pollution detecting camerasFirst the UK government taxes vehicles based on their carbon-dioxide emissions, now, it’s testing a ‘spy’ camera that can determine which cars are the heavy polluters so that it can charge them for entering proposed 'Low Emission Zones'. The new camera can scan up to 3,000...
James Martinez -
BMW name turns 90On the 21st of this month, the BMW name turns ninety. Back in 1917, on this date, the BMW trademark was registered for the first time and two days later a letter sent to senior management informed them of the new name with every product built by the enterprise from that date onwards wearing the...
Kenneth Hall