News
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Ford has confirmed plans to launch the high performance RS version of the recently revealed facelifted European Focus, which is set to arrive in 2009. This latest teaser hints at the styling direction the new model is taking, revealing an aggressive new bumper and flared wheel arches. The only other official details apart from this teaser are that the RS will be based on the 2008 Focus ST. The brilliant Volvo-sourced 2.5L five-cylinder turbo engine will likely be the powerplant of choice but expect to see significantly more power than the Focus ST’s 225hp. Earlier reports claim the RS...
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Project Kahn Bentley Continental GTSProject Kahn’s latest custom kit is the new GTS styling package designed specifically for the Bentley Continental GT ultra-luxury coupe. When creating the new kit, designers were looking to improve on the sporting image of the GT but at the same time conserve the bespoke look of the car. The...
Ralph Hanson -
Ekström takes top honors at 2007 Race of ChampionsReigning Champion of Champions Mattias Ekström managed to take top honors at this year’s Race of Champions event at Wembley Stadium in the UK, beating out motorsport heavy-weight Michael Schumacher in the finals. Both Ekström and Schumacher claimed one win each in the best-of-three...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Toshiba’s high-tech batteries could be EV revolutionThe main problem with modern electric vehicles (EVs) is the range and recharging issue. Tesla’s Roadster, for example, is probably one of the most advanced and developed pure EVs in the world, and it’s still struggling with range and recharging issues even as it nears production. But...
James Martinez -
Diesel BMW X6 promotional video leaked onto webThe latest new model to roll off BMW’s production line was recently officially revealed - at least from the outside - but thanks to what appears to be an internal leak, we can bring you a look at the X6, uncovered and up close, inside and out. The example in the video appears to be a diesel...
Alex Kaufmann -
Buy and race your own F1 carThis past week saw the launch of PF1, a new company based in the UK planning to sell and maintain old F1 cars for personal track use. Partnering with engine technology specialists Cosworth, PF1 has acquired several late-model Jordans, Jaguars and Super Aguri race cars and will be offering potential...
Kenneth Hall -
The reintroduction of slick tires in 2009 is not set in stone, FIA president Max Mosley has warned. Bridgestone supplied a developmental slick tire for teams to experiment with at the recent Jerez test. It is planned that the current grooved tires, introduced in 1998 to cut cornering speeds, will be scrapped after next season, in unison with new regulations to slash aerodynamic downforce by as much as 50 per cent. But Mosley told the British magazine Autosport that if the new bodywork rules do not reduce cornering speeds as intended, the return of slicks may be called off. “The theory...
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Mercedes-Benz CL-Class by WaldWe’re used to seeing plenty of modified Mercs from the German tuners, but rarely do we see a Japanese customizer give the Teutonic saloons and coupes the aftermarket treatment. Wald International is one such tuner that specializes in the modification of some of Europe’s finest, cars...
Ralph Hanson -
Mazdaspeed (MPS) Mazda6-Atenza Concept pics leakedWord has been circulating for several months now that the Mazdaspeed Mazda6 will not be returning to U.S. showrooms once the current model is sold out. Whether that holds true remains to be seen, but it looks like Mazda is at least planning to sell a Mazdaspeed (MPS) version of the car in non-U.S...
Ralph Hanson -
Nissan and Chrysler considering swapping modelsRenault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has made no secret of his desires to form an alliance with one of America’s major carmakers, and now we have reports claiming Nissan and Chrysler are in preliminary discussions about a possible tie-up. According to a source close to the talks, the two carmakers...
James Martinez -
Saleen’s Patriot American Flag Edition Ford MustangThis has got to be the first time we’ve seen a car tuner build a custom vehicle to honor its country’s servicemen and women, with Ford specialist Saleen building a unique pony car dubbed the Patriot American Flag Edition. Saleen, in fact, built the cars, as a way to say welcome to...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Nissan GT-R dyno: 475hp at the hubsA few days ago we were talking about Nissan wanting to get the GT-R to an SAE-certified 480hp so it would match the Porsche 911 Turbo, one of its chief rivals. It looks like that should be an easy feat if the dyno numbers coming out of Japan today are solid - and it looks like they are. According...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Excluding old-school Volvos and early shooting brakes, the Mercedes-Benz Estate can be considered one of the first luxury station wagons. German tuner company Lorinser was founded in 1977, the same year the Estate was first introduced. 30 years later, Lorinser gives the new W204 Estate - now part of the C-Class range instead of the E-Class - an ‘athletic and muscular’ treatment with new exterior cladding and a range of pumped-up engines. From front to back, the Lorinser wagon sports a honeycomb grille, newly sculpted flanks with air inlets for the front brakes, propeller-shaped...
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Revolutionary future Infiniti hybrid driveSome say electric vehicles are the real future of automobiles and hybrids are just the first step in the transition. With drivetrains like Infiniti’s forthcoming hybrid, that transition may be a long one, however. By now most of us are familiar with the series hybrid, the plug-in hybrid and...
Kenneth Hall -
2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR priced at $98,110It appears Chrysler has kept its promise of delivering the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR at under $100K by pricing the ultimate Viper at $98,110 including an $850 destination charge. That puts the price of the actual ACR upgrade at around the $12K mark if you factor in the price of the car itself (a...
Kenneth Hall -
Nissan wins 14th straight Ward’s 10-Best Engines awardThey’ve done it again. Nissan’s familiar VQ series engine has been included in the latest ‘10 Best Engines’ list by Ward’s, making it the 14th straight year a VQ series engine has earned that distinction. This also makes it the only engine to be included in the list...
James Martinez -
Jaguar and Land Rover sale in Q1 2008?The ongoing saga of the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover continues, although it seems now a real end may be in sight. Ford’s concern with the process is that the brands are sold to a buyer that wants to continue to build upon their legacy. The previous deadlines for the sale of the two brands...
Ralph Hanson -
Toyota to save over $2.7B annually starting next yearToyota’s march to the top of the world’s sales lists continues and at the same time the Japanese mega-maker is looking to cut costs at every possible point. The savings will come from improved quality, reduced waste and human resources development in addition to their new “Value...
Alex Kaufmann -
Stretching the meaning of the word ‘used’ to its most technical limits, Japanese car auction firm Aucnet has sold a barely-driven GT-R at auction. The pearl-white GT-R sold for 10.4 million Japanese yen, which works out to roughly US$94,000 or €63,945 - about US$25,000 over the base MSRP of $69,850. Although the GT-R’s mileage is unknown, it’s unlikely to be more than a few thousand miles at the absolute most. Aucnet says this is only the third time in its history that a used car sold for more than the new-car price. The others were a 1987 Nissan Be-1 and a 1990...
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NACOTY 2008 Finalists namedThe North American Car of the Year (NACOTY) finalists were named today, and the winner will be revealed at the NAIAS in Detroit January 13th, 2008. Not surprisingly the re-worked American entries are climbing to the forefront this year, beating out German and Japanese competition to make the list...
Ralph Hanson -
Updated: Suzuki ‘A-Star’ concept official detailsSuzuki and its Indian partner Maruti will use the upcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi to launch a new concept car dubbed the A-Star. The concept was developed jointly by Maruti and Suzuki and is the precursor to a new global compact model. Concept cars often do not become production models, being more...
Ralph Hanson -
Preview: Skoda Octavia faceliftNow that Skoda’s new flagship Superb sedan has been revealed, attention can now turn to the Czech carmaker’s next major model launch with the introduction of the facelifted Octavia range. The middle segment model will be receiving a mild restyling for its mid life-cycle update as can be...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Edo Competition boosts the Porsche Carrera GTPorsche’s ultimate Carrera GT may no longer be in production but that hasn’t stopped one of Germany’s most reputable aftermarket tuners developing a range of performance upgrades for the uber Porsche. Edo Competition now offers three power stages for the Carrera GT, with 670, 715...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Nissan Forum to feature ‘turntable seats’Interior car design has historically been relegated by exterior design, possibly because most people only get to see other people’s cars from outside. But that seems to be changing, and a clue of that is the Nissan Forum minivan concept car, to be displayed at the next Detroit Motor Show. The...
Ralph Hanson