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Espionage isn't just restricted to the James Bond and John Le Carre figures of the world - we already saw industrial espionage taint the image of Formula 1 a couple of years ago with two Ferrari F1 employees being handed jail sentences in the matter. In a strange twist of events, this time Ferrari is at the losing end of some corporate espionage undertaken by rival manufacturer Aston Martin - although this time it wasn't in the F1 paddock. Reports are circulating that the owners of a New York based car dealership, that specialized in selling Bentleys and Aston Martins, have been accused of...
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Government preparing for possible Chrysler bankruptcyAs the April 30 deadline for Chrysler to restructure its business looms closer, the Treasury department has begun to prepare a bankruptcy filing for the struggling carmaker. The news highlights the severity of Chrysler's situation should it fail to enact a deal with Italian auto giant Fiat, but the...
James Martinez -
Ford posts $1.4 billion loss during first quarter, expects to break-even by 2011Ford has cemented its position as the most viable carmaker out of the Detroit 3, with the company’s first quarter financial results showing some very promising figures. Ford is the only Detroit 3 carmaker operating without federal bailout loans and while it still posted a $1.4 billion loss...
Ralph Hanson -
Audi confirms new model premiere for July 16 centenary celebrationThis year will see Audi celebrate its hundredth anniversary and to mark the occasion the carmaker has organized more than 50 events to be held across the globe. Two dates are especially significant: on July 16 2009, exactly 100 years after the company was established, Audi will host a commemorative...
Alex Kaufmann -
A-Class Special Edition promises sport, style, sensibilityDue for a complete reworking in just a year or two - possibly to be replaced by a whole new family of compact cars - Mercedes-Benz is refreshing the A-Class with a 5,500 unit special edition to help keep sales spooled up through the end of its production run. Playing up the A-Class's sensible...
Alex Kaufmann -
Audi Launches New A4 2.0 TDI eEurophiles in the U.S. have been clamoring for diesel four-cylinders for years, and just as ardently, the average American consumer has indicated their desire to have nothing to do with oil-burning four-pots. While we're still out of luck, Audi is prepping a car for Europe that will make us even...
Alex Kaufmann -
Chrysler may be on the brink of bankruptcy but that hasn't stopped the company from trying to claw its way back into the now burgeoning electric market - with the help of the U.S. Postal Service. This week the company showed off four all-electric Chrysler Town & Country minivan concepts, which it hopes will help its application for federal grant from the Department of Energy's 'Transport Electrification' stimulus program. Should Chrysler win this grant, it hopes to establish a nationwide demonstration fleet of zero-emissions minivans that could be used by the U.S. Postal Service for mail...
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Fesler-Moss accessories line for Chevrolet Camaro announcedFesler-Moss may be relatively unknown in tuner scene but its two individual constituents, Chris Fesler and Jon Moss have been involved in the aftermarket segment for quite some time. For those who don’t know, Chris Fesler is the man behind Fesler Built, a vehicle customizer and manufacturer...
James Martinez -
Chocolate-powered race car capable of reaching 145mphAs bizarre it may sound a university team in the UK has developed an eco-friendly race car designed to run on chocolate and vegetable oil. The new race car is the ecoF3 from WorldFirst, a small team from Warwick University in the UK, which envisages the car – or at least some of its...
Kenneth Hall -
Student designers tapped for Audi 'Intelligent Emotion' projectThe future of automotive mobility is a question that has always captivated the mind of the carmaker and the driver alike. Today Audi takes its turn to give us a glimpse into what they think the future may hold, seen through the eyes of design students at the Munich University of Applied Sciences...
Alex Kaufmann -
Bright Automotive unveils new 100mpg plug-in hybrid 'IDEA' vanA new automotive startup based in Washington DC named Bright has just revealed its latest product - a plug-in hybrid commercial van that the company claims will achieve a fuel economy of 100mpg. Named the Bright IDEA, the slipper-shaped van certainly looks the part, and if it lives up to the...
James Martinez -
Audi rules out U.S. production for now, needs more local salesAudi currently has no assembly or production facilities in North America but was reportedly considering starting a local operation to help avoid currency fluctuations from importing popular models from overseas. The company has announced today that it is postponing its decision on a North American...
Alex Kaufmann -
Chrysler's race to turn its debts into equity took a major turn for the better today, with an offer from a group of banks and hedge funds that hold almost $7 billion in debt. The group is proposing to exchange around $2.5 billion of Chrysler's debt, but only in exchange for close to 40% of the company. There is also a stipulation that Fiat must invest at least $1 billion in cash in Chrysler, as well as one seat given to the group on the company's board. The offer from the banks is a far cry from what the Treasury Department requested just last week, which was a debt reduction of around $6...
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Carmakers decide on universal plug for hybridsWhen we drive interstate or internationally, we expect fuel everywhere to be fairly similar. Now, to ensure that same security is there for drivers of plug-in hybrid vehicles, a number of major carmakers and energy companies have come to an agreement on what the plug should look like for the new...
Jeremy Weber -
Ultra-rare 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 up for auctionAnother ultra-rare Ferrari collectible is up for sale, this time the legendary 967 Ferrari 330 P4 (chassis number 0858) race car that’s set to star at this year’s 'Ferrari Leggenda e Passione' event in Maranello, Italy. The car being sold by RM Auctions is in fact one of just three...
Kenneth Hall -
Transparent ‘organic LEDs’ to revolutionize car displaysA South Korean company by the name of NeoView Kolon has just unveiled its latest development in the field of OLED technology. Similar to LED technology, the OLED title refers to 'organic light-emitting diodes', but rather than being used in light clusters as LEDs are being used at the front and...
Jeremy Weber -
Porsche Panamera squeezed into elevator for 94th story presentationIn the lead up to the unveiling of its Panamera sedan at the Shanghai Motor Show this week, Porsche made a special presentation of the car to a select group of customers and dignitaries on the 94th floor of the Shanghai World Financial Center. Getting the car up to the special event platform, which...
Alex Kaufmann -
Citroen previews C4 Sedan facelift at Shanghai Motor ShowThe Citroen C4 Hatch and Coupe underwent a mild facelift late last year as part of its mid-cycle update but the Sedan variant of the car (offered in limited markets) has remained unchanged, until now. The updated Sedan can now join the lineup as it has made its official debut at the Shanghai Motor...
Jeremy Weber -
Audi's R8 took the consumer world by storm when it was released and since the debut of the R8 LMS, the success has continued, taking a podium spot at its first race, the BFGoodrich Endurance Championship. Now the car is looking to stretch its legs and prove its mettle in even more arduous competition at the 37th ADAC Zurich 24 Hour Race in Germany. The Nurburgring's Nordschleife has become the world's favorite automotive testing and development circuit, so it's no surprise carmakers and race teams alike flock to the famed track to take on a 24-hour endurance race sure to point out any...
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Skoda adds facelifted RS and Scout to Octavia lineupHaving already released the facelifted version of its Octavia saloon at last year’s Paris Motor Show, Czech carmaker Skoda has finally added the updated versions of the performance Octavia RS and the Octavia Scout soft-roader to its lineup. Besides numerous design changes, both cars offer new...
Jeremy Weber -
The story behind BMW's Salt Flat Racer of 2025According to BMW's 'MINI Space' team of engineers and designers, race cars of the future may be built out of old oil drums, bomb shells and BBQ grills - oh and did we mention goldfish? While it may seem like the parts list for a race car out of a Dr. Seuss book, in reality the project by BMW to...
Alex Kaufmann -
Al Melling working on V10-powered WildcatSome of you may remember Al Melling, a top engine designer and one of the bidders for the TVR nameplate some time ago. Since then, Melling started his own sports car company, creating custom British roadsters, usually with V8 engines, under the Wildcat model name. On top of this he also released an...
Kenneth Hall -
Ford working on next-generation lithium-ion batteriesOne of the biggest things holding back the mass embrace of the electric car is their supposedly short driving range compared to conventionally powered cars, as well as their relatively expensive nature considering the youth of the technology and low production volumes. To combat this, Ford claims...
James Martinez -
New supercar club opens for race track enthusiastsMost people would agree that driving a Lamborghini or Porsche on today’s roads is a bit like riding a racehorse around your garden, but for many owners of such exotics this is the only way they can experience the extreme machines. A newly formed supercar club based in the UK - but open to...
Kenneth Hall