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With all the drama surrounding F1 these days, including Ferrari's threats to abandon the sport should new FIA-imposed budget caps go through, it’s about time F1 fans got some good news. Luckily, we managed to find some today, with the announcement that luxury marque Aston Martin will be entering the championship from 2012 onwards. The details of the deal were hammered out yesterday evening with F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone, and Aston Martin will be entering the championship as a manufacturer entrant, much like Ferrari does today. Practically speaking, the Aston Martin team will begin its...
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Bob Lutz: GM won't abandon sports cars, pickups and SUVsGeneral Motors' vice-chairman Bob Lutz has revealed what the future holds for the struggling carmaker, reassuring the press that despite an impending bankruptcy the firm will emerge as a "powerhouse" in the auto industry and that it will still produce the types of vehicles that are largely blamed...
James Martinez -
First look at upmarket Citroën DS 3Moving up in the automotive world is a difficult task, whether it's Acura trying to reach tier 1 luxury status or Hyundai-Kia seeking recognition as a globally competitive carmaker. Citroën has faced its own difficulties in recent years, producing products that outstrip the brand's reputation...
Kenneth Hall -
Nissan could be first to get DOE's advanced car funds with $1.1B loanIt's a rare thing to remark on the government's hesitation to spend money these days, but that's precisely the case of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program. The government set aside $25 billion to fund the program last year, but to date...
Ralph Hanson -
BMW celebrates 75 years of roadster productionRoadsters. Open air, summer sun and a visceral connection to the road. For many, the quintessential enthusiast's driving experience. But for many, many more, they are the attractive and sporting little convertibles that flit back and forth to work, shops and play with equal ease. Today BMW is...
Nelson Ireson -
BMW, Daimler working together to bring next-gen radar to cars in every segmentThe future of the automobile is a tricky subject, but looking to the nearer term, high-tech driver-assistance systems are definitely on the way. Getting there is the problem, and that's where luxury carmaker bankrolls and high-tech corporations come into play. A group of suppliers including Bosch...
Nelson Ireson -
Johnny Cash fans will appreciate this one: Toyota is offering up for sale online a range of parts from its Formula 1 GP cars - almost enough to build one up, one piece at a time. Pricing is surprisingly reasonable, with parts starting as low as £200 ($320). That £200 will only get you a brake disc or basic suspension piece, however. Stepping up to front and rear wing assemblies, the price rises to a still-reasonable £2,000 ($3,200) while a complete rear wing, engine cover and underbody section goes for £4,400 ($7,026). Some of the pieces available can be found in the gallery below...
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GM bondholders agree to take 25% of new company, U.S. Treasury gets 72.5% ownershipAs General Motors prepares for a bankruptcy announcement on June 1, the U.S. Treasury is helping to pave the way by releasing a new deal that leaves GM's bondholders with 25% of the restructured company, and the government as a 72.5% 'inactive' stakeholder. Winning the support of the bondholders...
Nelson Ireson -
Warren encouraging GM to move corporate HQ with tax breaksDetroit has long been the heart of America's automotive industry, but 2009 has been a major period of upheaval for the city, with further shocks expected to come - including the possibility that General Motors will move its corporate headquarters out of Detroit downtown area and into a neighbouring...
Alex Kaufmann -
Report: Mercedes prices the 518hp E63 AMG sedan in Europe at €105,791Unveiled during this year's New York Auto Show sporting the new look of the E-Class but with unprecedented levels of power and performance, Mercedes Benz and AMG fans are eagerly awaiting the start of sales of the new E 63 AMG. Pricing information for the U.S. has yet to emerge, but a report today...
Kenneth Hall -
Gemballa expands Avalanche GTR family with 650hp Porsche 911 Turbo CabrioGerman Porsche specialists Gemballa has come out with a number of extensive modifications over the past couple of years under its 'Avalanche' heading, including the blistering 850hp (634kW) GTR 800 EVO-R based on the 911 Turbo. The tuner has also released lower powered variants with...
Jeremy Weber -
Cervini's 'Shaker Hood' increases airflow for Dodge Challenger, adds muscle car charmNew Jersey’s Cervini Auto Designs has just unveiled its latest modification for the Dodge Challenger - a custom ‘shaker hood’ system that helps give the car a more muscle feel, as well as proving functional by increasing airflow to the engine. The new system actually consists of...
James Martinez -
Volkswagen may already be in the midst of preparing a new three-door version of its 2010 Polo hatchback, but a rumored coupe version due late next year promises to be even more attractive. The car would slot into VW’s lineup as a smaller sibling to the Scirocco coupe, with which it will share most of its styling, and there may even be some influence from the recently revealed Bluesport roadster concept. As a more aggressive variant to the Polo family, as well as a stepping stone to the higher-spec Scirocco, the Polo coupe will be getting the carmaker's impressive 1.4L supercharged and...
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Chip Foose builds custom Mustang for fan contestFew names get the kind of respect in their field that Chip Foose's gets in the realm of car design and custom hot rods. That's why fans are excited to see he'll be giving away a custom 2010 Mustang GT to the winner of a free contest. The car's build sheet reads like a sponsor dream list, with...
Ralph Hanson -
Study: Hybrids to make up one in five U.S. car sales by 2020Just a bit over ten years ago, only a few of the dedicated had any idea what a hybrid car was, but in another ten years or so, the eco-friendly vehicles will account for 19.4% of total sales in the U.S., according to JP Morgan's latest estimates. Today hybrids make up a little less than 1% of the...
Nelson Ireson -
Telesto Ventures forms new advisory team as bidding for Saturn intensifiesWe’ve heard a lot about Roger Penske and his plans to acquire the Saturn brand from General Motors and use it to start selling vehicles sourced from carmakers overseas. Last week Penske announced that his company hired ex-Chrysler president Tom LaSorda to advise on the bidding process, and...
James Martinez -
Infiniti prices 2009 EX crossover from $33,800Infiniti today announced pricing for its 2009 model year EX35 crossover, which officially goes on sale nationwide tomorrow and comes with a more generous list of standard equipment and new safety features. For 2009, the base RWD model, which retails for $33,800, now features standard...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Toyota boosts monthly Prius output to 50,000 as demand spikesToyota’s all-new 2010 Prius officially went on sale in Japan just 11 days ago and has already garnered enough orders to justify Toyota increasing production targets by 8,000 cars per month according to the latest report. It sold enough pre-orders in just the first day to easily outsell the...
Ralph Hanson -
When Mark McNabb announced his resignation from head of GM's premium division last week, it wasn't clear where he'd be headed next. But today, Maserati North America has announced he'll be heading up their company as the new president and CEO. The move from a GM brand to a Fiat brand is an interesting one, especially considering all the wranglings going on at Chrysler and GM's European operations with the Italian car conglomerate. It appears Fiat is really trying to leverage the current industry situation to make significant steps forward against the competition. With VW also gunning for the...
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Vath boosts C63 AMG Estate to 585hp V63 RS statusCarbon emissions taxes and fuel efficiency requirements are throwing a bit of a wet blanket on the horsepower wars, especially in Europe, but the aftermarket is carrying on the battle with undiminished ferocity. The latest combatant is Vath's V63 RS Estate, a re-interpretation of the already...
Alex Kaufmann -
Volvo may receive lifeline from Belgian governmentDespite Volvo being a Swedish company, the trouble-stricken carmaker may have to look to the Belgian government for financial aid to help keep it on its feet. Volvo currently operates a plant in the Flanders region of Belgium, and the Flemish Premier Kris Peeters has been in talks with Volvo CEO...
Jeremy Weber -
Jaguar unwraps Police pursuit XF for the UKWe've all seen the odd supercar in police livery, but it's another thing entirely when the police are actually considering buying fleets of one of the market's highest-rated luxury vehicles. That's exactly what’s happening in the UK as Jaguar has just released a high-performance police...
Kenneth Hall -
Lotus Esprit successor may feature Lexus V10For Lotus fans, the next few years should prove to be very interesting times as the company pushes ahead with its five-year plan to update its model lineup, including successors to the Elise and Esprit. Lotus has already unveiled its new Evora, but rather than sitting still with this car, work on...
Ralph Hanson -
Modified Audi A4 hits record 226.6mph top speed on bio-gasThe search for less-toxic alternative fuels is leading in many promising directions, one of which is bio-gas. Effectively a form of natural gas made from plants, the fuel was used this week to speed a modified B7 Audi A4 quattro to a new bio-gas world speed record of 226.6mph (364.6km/h). Despite...
James Martinez