Car News
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Maserati has confirmed via its official website (www.Maserati.com) that it will make a surprise announcement or presentation on October 2 at the 2008 Paris auto show. No other details have been revealed but there is a poll active on the site that asks visitors to guess what the surprise could be. The list of options include a new car, advertising campaign, website, concept store, new headquarters, a revised trident design, a new testimonial or a new logo. Most of the votes thus far have been for the new car, which is not without reason as the Italian carmaker is working on two new models seen...
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High fuel costs the biggest hurdle for diesels according to carmakersMore than half the cars sold in Europe today are fitted with diesel powertrains due to several factors but mostly because diesel fuel is taxed less than petrol. Throw in the fact that diesel powered cars are usually more efficient than their petrol counterparts and it’s easy to understand why...
Ralph Hanson -
Chrysler minivan plug-in hybrid promises 40 mile electric only rangeThe third and final production-intent electric prototype unveiled by Chrysler today is arguably the most important of the carmaker’s future electric vehicles as it is likely to be the highest seller of the trio. Designed around the more mainstream Town & Country minivan, the prototype...
James Martinez -
Jeep takes electric technology off-road with Wrangler-based plug-inShowing its commitment to clean and efficient motoring both on and off the road, Chrysler has unveiled a prototype plug-in hybrid vehicle based on the Jeep Wrangler SUV. Designed with the full capability of the legendary off-road vehicle, the new prototype still promises an electric-only driving...
Ralph Hanson -
All-electric Dodge concept previews new production sports carChrysler has demonstrated that it won’t be left behind in the technology stakes with the unveiling of three near-production prototype electric vehicles at a press event at its Auburn Hills headquarters in Detroit today. The prototypes are the result of the carmaker’s recently...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW looking at more 7-series variantsWhen developing its fifth-generation 7-series flagship, BMW engineers focused on reducing complexity of the design in the hope of reducing overall production costs for the car. The end result was a halving in the number of suppliers as well as a 7-8% reduction in production times compared with the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Due to popular demand, Rolls Royce has commissioned yet another special edition Phantom saloon under its official ‘Bespoke Programme’ designed specifically for Middle-Eastern customers. The region is a haven for those seeking unique Rolls-Royce models, with a couple of special vehicles popping up recently, such as the decadent gold-colored Phantom Drophead Coupe and the custom Peony saloon. The latest car is the new Phantom Mirage, which draws inspiration from a champion race horse of the same name. Mirage was a pure white Arabian horse that held the title of Champion Arabic...
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More details on Renault’s upcoming Megane CoupeImages of the production Renault Megane Sport Coupe have been leaked once again, this time from a patent application filed in the European Union. The latest shots confirm the upcoming Megane Sport Coupe, due next year, will feature similar styling to the Coupe Concept (pictured) from March’s...
Kenneth Hall -
S600 Pullman Guard marks 80 years of armored Mercedes carsMercedes-Benz and its security division have been building armored cars for the past 80 years and to mark the occasion the carmaker has released its latest S600 ‘Guard’ model based on the stretched Pullman limo. Targeted towards government ministers, tycoons and royalty – plus a...
Kenneth Hall -
Ferrari cuts ribbon on new factory, first California soldAn all-new production line has opened today in Maranello, crowning 18 months of work and a 40 million investment. The ribbon-cutting ceremony comes just days after the Ferrari California's official unveiling, and coincides with the sale of the first California at auction. The 20,000 square meter...
Ralph Hanson -
VW unveils concept version of upcoming pickupThe long-awaited and much anticipated Volkswagen Robust pickup truck has been canceled for European and North American sale, but the project is still alive and kicking as indicated by the carmaker’s latest 'Pickup' concept vehicle. Set to be unveiled later this week at the 62nd IAA Commercial...
Alex Kaufmann -
Bill Ford sells one million of his own Blue Oval sharesDirect descendent of Henry Ford and current Blue Oval chairman Bill Ford Jr. sold one million of his own shares in the carmaker, about one-sixth of his total common stock holdings, in a surprise move last Thursday. The shares were sold at $5.05 each, earning Ford a tidy $5.05 million from the sale...
Ralph Hanson -
A British man, wishing to remain anonymous, has purchased what is now the most expensive car in the world—one of the few Ferrari [NYSE:RACE] 250 GTOs built to secure homologation for the FIA's GT category. Only 39 of the cars were ever built, and their rarity and desirability has long been high, just not £15.7 million (approximately $28.7 million) high. The example that garnered the record-setting bid is a 1963 example, from the middle of the car's 1962-1964 production run, reports The Sun. It had previously been valued at about £11 million—a significant sum, to be...
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Hartge releases new modified BMW 135iAlmost six months ago, Hartge revealed its original take on the 1-series. At that time, it was entirely an appearance and suspension upgrade package, leaving the engine untouched. Now, having spent the last six months extracting even more power from the 135i's twin-turbo six-cylinder, the German...
Nelson Ireson -
First images of Fiat 500 Abarth SS revealedAs microcars go, the reborn Fiat 500 has enjoyed stellar success. Already having spawned a number of high-performance and special editions, the car's hot sales have driven yet another special model - the Abarth SS, or as the Italians would say it, 'esseesse'. Long awaited and finally revealed, the...
Nelson Ireson -
Volkswagen announces three sport-oriented Golf modelsA mix of old and new, Golf's Mark VI GTI will also spawn some old, and some new, names when the first of three sporty versions makes its debut in October. Renewing the famous GTI, reviving the cult-favorite R brand and introducing the diesel GTD, VW is angling for just about every segment of the...
Ralph Hanson -
Pininfarina plans concept electric car for ParisAt last year's Geneva Motor Show, Pininfarina revealed its Sintesi fuel-cell vehicle, a skillful and attractive concept that showed the legendary coachbuilder was still at the cutting edge of design. This time around, the company is planning to try its hand at an electric vehicle, marrying...
Nelson Ireson -
Major restructuring planned for BMW USABMW is looking at reducing its U.S. sales for the first time in 16 years as the carmaker copes with a declining market and high fuel prices. One of its strategies is to take its focus away from the U.S. and instead attempt to boost sales in more profitable markets. The plan comes from BMW's new...
Alex Kaufmann -
Less than a year after showcasing its A-BAT hybrid pickup truck at the Detroit Auto Show Toyota has confirmed that it is looking for potential suppliers for the vehicle but stresses that it has not been given the green light. Suppliers have been asked to bid on making parts for the compact truck, with the list of items including a four-cylinder petrol engine as well as a hybrid module. According to Toyota, seeking bids on components is a standard practice in evaluating the costs of production, and the A-BAT could still be in competition for a place in the company's compact car lineup against...
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BMW releases new images for 2009 7-seriesBMW has finally released full details and images for its fifth-generation 7-series flagship following the premature leak yesterday of several images and sketchy details. As expected, the car picks up several influences from the previous CS Concept including new LED elements on the headlights, an...
James Martinez -
Amuse GT-R crosses the 600hp barrierDespite fears Nissan’s new GT-R wouldn’t tolerate anyone tinkering around with its innards, Japan’s industrious tuning firms have managed to develop a number of aftermarket parts claimed to boost performance of the supercar. Initial testing showed that even simple mods such as...
Ralph Hanson -
Parmigiani and Hermès release special edition Bugatti Type 370 watchSwiss watch company Parmigiani Fleurier has released an updated version of its Bugatti Type 370 wristwatch for 2008, after enjoying two years of success including winning an ‘International Watch of the Year’ award back in 2006. The watch was originally released to celebrate the launch...
Alex Kaufmann -
Tata: No Jaguar or Land Rover vehicles will be built in IndiaDoubts surrounding the passage of the historically British marques Jaguar and Land Rover into Indian ownership have consistently dogged the deal since its first rumored inception. Now that Tata is well underway in its new position as owner of the brands, it is assuring customers that there are no...
Nelson Ireson -
2010 Camaro SS interior revealed at enthusiast eventThe all-new Chevrolet Camaro was unveiled in July at GM's Design Center, but until now the high-performance SS variant had remained unofficial - despite numerous official photos being released. The wait for the car's official confirmation is over, however, and as expected it will feature a stomping...
Ralph Hanson