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Think Global is a Norwegian manufacturer of electric vehicles and is the same company behind the original ‘Th!nk’ electric car that went on sale in the U.S. during the late 1990s. Back then, Think was owned by Ford, which sold it in 2003 to Swiss company Kamkorp Microelectronics. In...

Audi took the risky step of replacing the V8 engine in its sporty S5 range with a new supercharged V6. Sure the six-cylinder mill is lighter and more fuel-efficient but what about the prestige of a V8, not to mention the smoothness and aural delight? Audi believes its customers, current and future...

Volkswagen-owned Skoda doesn't get much press in the U.S. but over in Central and Eastern Europe it is one of the most popular automotive brands. Having launched new versions of its mainstream Octavia and Superb sedans in the past year, the company last week took the covers if its all-new Yeti...

Last September Japanese tuning and aftermarket parts firm Trust filed for bankruptcy in its home country, but despite the hairy situation the tuner’s U.S. extension, GReddy Performance Parts (GPP), was able to continue operating unaffected. As in the U.S., bankruptcy in Japan is a business...

While German luxury rival Audi is posting record profits and sales, BMW’s performance is looking much more sour with the company announcing today that its profits have dropped 89% over the past 12 months. BMW still managed to earn a net annual profit of €330 million but analysts were...

Love them or hate them, tuners are here to stay, and sometimes they even manage to improve the cars they tackle. Take the new JMS VW Scirocco for example. Though they recognize the difficulty in improving on a dramatically styled new car like the Scirocco, they've managed to make some basic changes...

What do you get when you combine a MINI Cooper S Clubman with a renowned furniture design company? An Airstream trailer concept, of course. Well, maybe the result isn't so obvious, but that's exactly what will be on display at the Salone del Mobile in Milan this April. The Republic of Fritz Hansen...

Hydrogen fuel is often derided as an impractical and inefficient solution - and for the most part, the critics are right. But BMW is forging ahead with its hydrogen-burning cars, today announcing a technological development that has raised thermal efficiency to 42% - one percent greater than...

Th!nk's financial saga has seen it bounce from owner to owner, into bankruptcy and back out, and now it's looking for government aid, but still its vehicles and ideas are inspiring people. The FROST design study, for instance, was penned by a Norwegian design student as a Th!nk concept, intended to...

The third-generation Fiat Grande Punto has been on sale since 2005 but thanks to its Giugiaro-styled lines the car still looks fresh to this day in the crowded compact hatchback market. Despite this, Fiat is still planning to update the car with a facelift later this year although the nature of the...

Audi’s motorsport division first announced plans in August last year to launch a 500hp-plus (373kW) version of the V10-powered R8 for use in the 2009 GT3 racing series. The first of these high-performance race cars has now finally been released, with Audi Sport Italia taking delivery on...

General Motors and Chrysler have told authorities in Canada they need as much as $8 billion in aid to stay afloat, more than double the original amount requested just three months ago, and in the latest twist Chrysler has threatened to pull out its operations if it does not receive the funds. The...

Ford of Europe will be expanding its flex-fuel vehicle range with the addition of a new variant of the Mondeo capable of running on three different types of fuel. Scheduled to make its debut later this month at the Leipzig Motor Show, the new tri-fuel Mondeo will be able to use petrol, ethanol, or...

Noted for its sleek, stylish and almost stealthy modifications of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, Kicherer occupies a special place in the German tuner scene. Apparently that place is very special, because it has released a new E-Class tuning program before the car has even been delivered to dealerships...

The best way to make a small fortune in motorsports? Start with a large one. Yes, the old adage is true as ever, but it need not always be, at least in a few cases. The Renault Sport Experience is one way to get some track time on the cheap, and it's getting ready to hit some of the most famous...

About two years ago a Texas-based custom car manufacturer by the name of Unique Performance was found to be guilty of ‘title washing’ their cars, which eventually saw the owners of the operation arrested and charged and the business shutdown. Unfortunately for the scores of customers...

Ever since Mansory acquired the former Porsche performance division of Swiss design firm Rinspeed, the Bavarian tuner has been releasing a slew of new models based around Porsche’s various models. Last week’s Geneva Motor Show saw several of the beasts unveiled, including the...

Taking care of its retirees is one of the things the American auto industry prides itself on, and for good reason. But it's also one of the things that are making it hard to compete with foreign carmakers - the expenses are getting out of control. To help keep both Ford and the UAW operating in the...

In the future, no one will ever leave their homes. Work, play, business - it will all be done remotely. Or at least that's what it's beginning to seem like. So-called 'telepresence' is one of the buzzwords in the burgeoning robotics industry, but carmakers like Honda are leapfrogging the system...

The weak economy knows no borders, rampaging across the globe taking its toll in lost jobs and bankruptcies. The car industry in particular is no stranger to this strife, and some might say Great Britain's carmakers most of all, considering their rocky history. In late January UK Business Secretary...