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Fiat and Chrysler first released a joint statement announcing they had signed a non-binding term sheet to establish a global strategic alliance just over two weeks ago but according to Fiat's CEO the deal could be signed and completed by as early as the middle of this month. The alliance, to be a key element of Chrysler’s viability plan, would provide the American carmaker with access to competitive, fuel-efficient vehicle platforms, new powertrains, and components to be produced at Chrysler manufacturing sites. It would involve Fiat acquiring up to 35% of Chrysler in return for product...
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Italian red-light camera maker charged with fraudRed-light cameras and 'smart' traffic lights have been criticized as nothing more than cash cows for the cities that use them to ensnare unwary drivers. Now an investigation unfolding in Italy may be shining a light on even darker practices. More than merely catching out drivers that push the...
Nelson Ireson -
Nissan GT-R SpecV spotted in left-hand drive trimReleased just a few weeks ago, the Nissan GT-R SpecV promises to be an even more hardcore track-focused weapon than the original. Fans that had feared the SpecV might end up a JDM-only variant need fear no longer, as a left-hand drive model has been spotted in the wild, indicating foreign-market...
Ralph Hanson -
Mercedes Benz considers natural gas powered vehicles for U.S.At this week’s Washington Auto Show, Mercedes Benz plans to showcase its compact B-Class hatch with a powertrain designed to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). The carmaker already sells a dual-fuel version of the B-Class in Europe that runs on either petrol or CNG or a combination of the...
Ralph Hanson -
BMW will focus on eight-speed automatic transmissionsBMW will soon be offering a new eight-speed automatic transmission developed by ZF that is set to appear first in the 7-series flagship saloon. The new transmission is said to be both more fuel-efficient and cheaper to manufacture than the current six-speed unit, and its performance is also claimed...
James Martinez -
Chrysler ‘Employee Pricing Plus Plus’ program prices revealedThe past month has been one of the busiest for struggling Detroit carmaker Chrysler, within the past several weeks receiving a $1.5 billion infusion from the federal government, revealing plans for a strategic alliance with Fiat, and announcing a range of new incentives. Under the new...
James Martinez -
The true cost of owning a mega-luxury car is often compounded when things like maintenance and insurance are taken into account, but it turns out depreciation is the real killer. For the Maybach 62S, one of the most expensive and excessive luxury sedans on the market, the penalty will run upwards of £350 ($500) per day, during the first year alone. That's right - a 2008 Maybach 62S in typical condition is worth about £129,200 (roughly $183,000) less than the car's http://www.autonews.com/article/20090202/ANE03/901309934345,800 ($491,935) sticker price in the UK. The figures, courtesy of...
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GM in talks to offer OnStar to other carmakersTelematics services are expanding even as the global car market contracts, with Toyota/Lexus the latest to join the arena with its recently-announced Enform system. Now General Motors' OnStar system is looking to expand by partering with other carmakers, according to the latest reports. Talks...
Ralph Hanson -
Over 40% of cars built in North America built by foreign companiesIn January we brought you news of Toyota's predicted surpassing of Chrysler in North American output in 2009, and nearly two years ago we reported on the Detroit 3 slipping below 50% market share in the U.S. Now the trend continues, with the Detroit 3's North American car output slipping below 60%...
Nelson Ireson -
Acura forges ahead with tier 1 luxury plans, NSX could be revivedApart from Lexus, Japanese luxury brands still pale in comparison to their German rivals in terms of the number of models they produce and the prices they can command. Overall image in the marketplace and status on the street have likewise proven difficult to develop. That's why Acura is making a...
Alex Kaufmann -
More details emerge on Ford’s upcoming electric compactFord confirmed at last month’s Detroit Auto Show that it would launch an all-electric compact car in 2011, co-developed with automotive parts supplier and independent vehicle manufacturer Magna International. Today new details on Ford's efforts to but electric wheels on the ground have...
James Martinez -
BMW’s M division sets second-best sales year on recordBMW’s M division has tallied a record year of sales, topping 24,000 units between January and December 2008. Strong sales of the M3 and its new Cabrio and Sedan variants are the driving force behind the record feat, accounting for over 18,000 of the M-cars sold. In August of last year, BMW...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Major carmakers are rushing to develop a new generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles including industry giants Toyota and GM, which hope to have the technology ready for sale by the end of the decade. GM appears to have the lead at the moment, forming a partnership with LG Chem to develop and manufacture long life lithium-ion batteries for its upcoming Chevrolet Volt. Toyota, meanwhile, has been relatively secretive about its plug-in hybrid advancement but has now revealed some details about its progress. Initial trials of plug-in hybrid Prius that were started last year have shown that the...
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Shadow Sports Design unveils aerodynamic-enhanced Nissan GT-RWith the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon now good and over, we now have all the details about the latest modifications prepared for Nissan’s popular GT-R like this latest kit from Shadow Sports Design. Decked out in red, the custom GT-R features a number of aerodynamic modifications designed to improve...
Jeremy Weber -
Fourth model and replacement for tC coupe in the works at ScionAfter a bright start almost seven years ago Scion’s sales have tanked and its lineup, which thrives on originality and freshness, is starting to show its age. The Toyota budget brand sold just 113,904 cars last year, down 12.5% on the previous year, and volumes are predicted to dip even lower...
Ralph Hanson -
Honda confirms third-quarter launch for new crossoverHonda is currently in the process of developing a new crossover vehicle to cover a wider range of segments in its lineup, and a recent sighting of a prototype testing in the U.S. suggests that the North American market may receive this vehicle in lieu of the current Accord Euro ‘Tourer’...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Scientists develop power-generating shock absorbersWhen it comes to power-regeneration technology the first place most people look at is brake hardware. Many of the petrol-electric hybrid vehicles on the roads today, and even some non-hybrids, feature some sort of brake energy regeneration device. These usually consist of storing energy in a...
Ralph Hanson -
First look at Hyundai Genesis Coupe Super Bowl XLIII adHyundai will debut its 2010 Genesis Coupe in the U.S. during Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, February 1, using a short television commercial designed to highlight the performance potential of the 310hp car and help build hype for it. Just a day out from the big game, Hyundai has released one of the...
Ralph Hanson -
Late last year Britain’s Bee Automobiles announced plans to revive the BRM brand after 60 years with the launch of a new all-electric race car. The BRM Bee Four was born, a four wheel race car with an electric motor in each wheel hub designed to compete in the Speed Hill Climbing Championships in the UK in 2010. The BRM brand was founded just after the Second World War by Raymond Mays, who had built several hill climb and road racing cars before the war, and Peter Berthon, a long-time associate. Mays' pre-war successes inspired him to build an all-British Grand Prix car for the post-war...
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Acer unveils Ferrari 1200 notebookThe somewhat odd tie-up between laptops and supercars has taken another step forward with Acer's latest Ferrari edition laptop, the 1200. This time around the package is a 12.1in ultraportable with impressive specs for such a small computer. Released in the UK, the 1200 features a 12.1in...
Ralph Hanson -
FLIR PathFindIR offers in-car nightvision to the aftermarketInfrared nightvision displays have up to now only been available as an option on the highest-end luxury vehicles, police helicopters and military devices. Now it's available for installation on any car or motorcycle thanks to FLIR's PathFindIR. Though the PathFindIR system may not be as cleverly...
Nelson Ireson -
Nissan developing system to prevent wrong-way drivingThe incidence of drivers going the wrong way up expressway ramps in Japan is apparently high enough to merit a specific effort to combat its occurrence. Nissan is working on a system that combines GPS location, a map database and an advanced telematic computer system to warn drivers if they attempt...
Kenneth Hall -
Mitsubishi confirms Lancer Sportback GTS and Ralliart for U.S.The rally-car wars just got a little hotter, as Mitsubishi has today confirmed it will be bringing the Lancer Sportback to the U.S. The hatchback bodystyle equips it to do battle on equal footing with Subaru's Impreza and WRX hatches when it arrives in the U.S. around the middle of the year...
James Martinez -
Porsche sales fall sharply, profits still expected to risePorsche, coming off record sales and profits last financial year, has announced that for the first six months of the current year of business the company has experienced a 27.3% decrease in sales to approximately 34,000 units. Citing the downturn in the global economy as the key factor behind the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran