Car News
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Pushing the cutting edge of technology forward has been a job traditionally set on the shoulders of the car industry's leaders, as they have the R&D budgets to finance the expensive and time-consuming work. But Hyundai-Kia is pushing technology on its own of late with the introduction of a pair of liquid-petroleum-injected hybrids. Kia's is the latest to join the lineup, with a Forte LPI Hybrid launching in South Korea today, reports Kia World. The car uses the same system launched last July in the Hyundai Elantra. Both cars will be sold in 'global markets' after a shakedown period in South...
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Video: see the construction and delivery of the first 2010 CamaroGenerally positive reviews are already filtering in from the various outlets and the waiting list of buyers is already 14,000 long - both indicators that the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is staged for success. Since even those on the pre-order list will be waiting up to three months to see their beloved...
Ralph Hanson -
Ratan Tata asks British government to offer assistance to Jaguar-Land RoverWarning of impending layoffs should government aid for Jaguar-Land Rover not arrive soon, Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata restated the need for government-sourced funds. An urgent call went out in February from the company's CEO, and though aid of £2.3 billion ($3.25 billion) was approved by the...
Kenneth Hall -
Will It Bend? IIHS Reveals First Round Of Tests Under New Roof Rating SystemCrash testing brand-new vehicles may rub the Puritan ethic the wrong way, but it's the only sure way to find out just what a car is capable of in terms of protecting its occupants. Today a new round of testing by the IIHS reveals how the first batch of small SUVs holds up under new roof-strength...
Ralph Hanson -
BMW and Daimler looking to form purchasing alliance in U.S. and ChinaThe saga between BMW and Daimler forming a strategic alliance dates back more than two years. To this day, nothing major has materialized except a deal over procurement and purchasing of common components, but there was hope that a resolution would be found after the surfacing of reports that the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Fiat will launch first dual-clutch transmission this year in the Alfa Romeo MiToFiat will finally see the introduction of its first dual-clutch transmission later this year, with the stylish Alfa Romeo MiTo hatchback first in line to receive the fuel-saving gearbox. The particular unit is a six-speed gearbox with a dry dual-clutch system that was developed by Fiat Powertrain...
James Martinez -
It's not often that major automakers push production dates ahead in time rather than back, especially with the current economic conditions, but Nissan might be doing just that with its electric vehicle program. While earlier Nissan was claiming that its first mass-produced electric vehicle would not be reaching dealerships in the U.S. before 2012, the company now states that this date could come as early as 2010. The news comes from Nissan's director of product planning and strategy, Mark Perry, who explained to Automotive News that "if a market is ready for it" the company is open to the...
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Driver of Lotus Elise clocked at an ‘impossible’ 173mphBritish police have discovered the world's fastest unmodified Lotus Elise, having clocked motorist Tex O'Reilly at the phenomenal speed of 173mph - almost three-and-a-half times the speed limit for the area where he was 'caught'. Unfortunately for the Derbyshire police, the Lotus Elise they managed...
Kenneth Hall -
First look at America’s Liv Inizio electric supercarSmall companies developing electric supercars with Ferrari-rivalling performance may seem fairly common these days, and the latest entrant into this niche market segment - the Liv Inizio - seems determined to follow in the footsteps of other fledgling electric car start-ups. EV Innovations, the...
James Martinez -
Porsche considering 356 Speedster revivalLooking back on some of the cars that made sport driving great, and built the legend that has become today's Porsche, you'd wonder how we ever got to 3,500lb, 500hp twin-turbo monsters. The 356 Speedster, for example - considered by many to be one of the first modern sports cars - weighed a mere...
Alex Kaufmann -
Small car, hybrid sales taking a long drive off a short pierThe short-sightedness of the car-buying public is breathtaking. It was just months ago that fears over $4 gas prices had people scurrying about, dumping loaded SUVs for a fraction of their purchase price and replacing them with smaller, more efficient vehicles. But today, with fuel well under $2...
Nelson Ireson -
Toyota-Subaru joint sports car may lead to Celica comebackEarlier this month, Toyota executive vice-president Masatami Takimoto confirmed the company was working on a small hybrid sports coupe for the European market but other than a few sparing details no solid information was revealed. This sent the rumor mill into overdrive, with speculation quickly...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
In the lead up to Formula One’s season-opener in Melbourne, Australia, this weekend, Toyota driver Timo Glock has been treated with a ride by the company’s renowned ‘Toyota V6 Hilux Heroes’ stunt driving team. Glock spent the day at Calder Park Raceway north of Melbourne where he learnt the secrets of stunt driving from the team’s professional teachers. Glock was tutored by Guinness World Record holder, Lawrence 'The Legend' Ryan, and the team's lead driver Jack Monkhouse, who showed off the finer points of two-wheel driving before unleashing the F1 pilot behind...
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Luxury condo builder gives away free Lamborghini with each purchaseMiami is home to its fair share of automotive exotica that often seems to litter the streets, but even then you wouldn't expect all the occupants of a 28-unit condo to be driving a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder would you? Well you would now, considering that a Miami-based luxury condo builder is...
Ralph Hanson -
Pontiac G8 sees record sales amid harrowed industryIncentives, incentives, incentives. That's the name of the game at all of the major carmakers these days, and in many cases, it's paying off. Take the Pontiac G8 for example: despite a market that's off over 40%, the G8 sedan saw its best sales ever last month - over double the number sold in...
Ralph Hanson -
Kia considering brand-wide name changesGetting young people to buy cars is tougher than it sounds. Fashion, mode and politics all play a role in addition to the classical considerations for car buying: price, features and performance. But Kia is determined to grow its business with younger buyers, as its current 52-year-old average...
Nelson Ireson -
Faralli & Mazzanti launches the V-12-powered Vulca SItaly's Faralli & Mazzanti (F&M) is probably most widely recognized for its Antas V8 but the company has a new hero car, this time with a V-12 heart. Unlike the previous Antas V8, which was based around a donor Maserati chassis, the new Vulca S V12 was designed from the ground up and...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Audi to offer smaller 1.8L TFSI in TT RoadsterSince its debut the Audi TT has stirred emotions and imitations with its daring looks, just as fresh now as when introduced just over a decade ago. The Roadster is even more image-conscious, and in recognition of that, Audi is reportedly considering a downsize for the drop-top's engine to a 1.8L...
Alex Kaufmann -
As the traditional car industry struggles against a lack of consumer credit, economic instability and its own growing pains, several of the major players are forging ahead with next-generation vehicle programs, including all-electric zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs). Nissan has been at the forefront of the field, alongside corporate partner Renault, for some time, and today it plans to kick of a U.S. tour with its newest ZEVs, starting in San Diego. A ride-and-drive program with San Diego Gas & Electric hosting the community leaders and fleet operators will expose people to the potential for...
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Melkus launching brand rebirth with RS2000 this NovemberDevelopment of the first new Melkus sports car since 1986 is almost complete with initial plans for a November 2009 relaunch of the brand still on track. The first final design models of the car have been created, and are expected to be shown publicly at the Frankfurt Motor Show before going on...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
VW promoting Chattanooga plant with new visitor centerWhile many Americans are struggling to make ends meet during the current financial crisis, the people of Chattanooga, Tennessee, have a brighter outlook thanks to the construction of a new Volkswagen plant that will help boost local employment. Production isn’t scheduled to start at the plant...
James Martinez -
U.S. production of Orlando MPV on hold says union officialWhile the likes of Audi and Daimler are surging forward with their product development, cash-strapped companies such as General Motors are having to abandon certain market segments and cut back on new model launches just to stay in business. The latest product cuts reportedly taking place at GM...
Ralph Hanson -
Volkswagen launches Golf GTI in Europe, U.S. sales start this SummerAt last year’s Paris Motor Show Volkswagen unveiled a thinly disguised 'concept' of the Mark VI Golf GTI, the latest iteration of one of the most acclaimed hot hatches on the market. New shots released today show the concept car was in fact a doppelganger for the production model, right down...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Jeep’s future will likely include compact Fiat Panda CrossFollowing the announcement of the proposed alliance between Fiat and Chrysler in January, the question on everybody’s lips was which European top-sellers were finally going to come to North America. Stylish compact cars like the Fiat 500 and Bravo were suddenly a very real possibility for...
Ralph Hanson