Car News
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While Ford is being praised for posting its surprise $100 million first quarter profit, its Mazda subsidiary has shocked just as many analysts with a record profit of $1.55 billion for 2007 – up 2% on 2006’s record level. The jump in profit was on the back of a 7% jump in revenues and a 5% increase in sales (1,363,000 units) worldwide. The carmaker is so confident that it’s predicting an even better sales result in 2008 despite rising fuel prices, unfavorable exchange rates, and shrinking demand for new cars both in the U.S. and Japan – its two single biggest markets...
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PSA Peugeot-Citroen developing new low emissions engine familyWith lawmakers in the U.S. and Europe planning strict new emissions and fuel economy regulations over the coming years, carmakers have been forced into drastically changing their thinking about all aspects of vehicle design. No stone is being left untouched as engineers look at ways to make cars...
Alex Kaufmann -
North American 2009 Mazda6 official detailsMazda is planning an August launch for its all-new Mazda6 midsize sedan in North America, almost a year after the car was first displayed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Part of the reason for the delay is because the new car has been specifically designed for North America and includes a larger...
Ralph Hanson -
Venturi Boosts Output Of All-Electric Fetish RoadsterMonaco’s Venturi Automobiles has displayed the latest version of its Fetish electric roadster at today's Top Marques Monaco and revealed new production details about the car, which is due to hit the streets in June of next year. Venturi has managed to boost output of the car’s electric...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
FIA using Toyota technology to improve F1 & IRL safetyUsually the high-tech world of Formula One is the first to benefit from advanced safety and performance features before the technology eventually filters down into regular road going cars. But with Toyota’s Total Human Model Safety (THUMS) computer simulation system, it was regular production...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Lexus registers name for new IS coupeMore evidence confirming the development of a new IS coupe has emerged with news today Lexus has registered a number of new names for the forthcoming model range with U.S. and Canadian patent and trademark offices. The new coupe will carry a ‘C’ designation tagged onto the end of the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Following a trend started by a number of European carmakers, GM has revealed a new ‘XFE’ (E)Xtra Fuel Economy labeling system which has debuted on the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. Cars badged with the new XFE logo feature a number of fuel economy improvements and on the Cobalt ensures the car is among the “most fuel-efficient compacts on the market.” The Cobalt with a manual transmission rates at just 36mpg for a mix of city and highway driving and is bettered only by the Honda Civic. However, the Cobalt’s 2.2L EcoTec engine is one of the largest units in its segment...
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Ford builds 9 millionth MustangFord announced today it had built its 9 millionth Mustang, a GT convertible that will be delivered to a dealership in Iowa. The announcement comes less than a week after the Pony Car celebrated its 45th anniversary and at a time when the Mustang is one of the top selling sports cars in the world...
James Martinez -
Are laser traffic lights the way of the future?Weather conditions and poor lighting can often combine to make crosswalks and intersections difficult to spot, especially at night, but Hanyoung Lee may have the answer with his Virtual Wall concept. Using lasers to create a wall of light that illuminates crossing areas, the system is certainly...
Nelson Ireson -
Spy video: 2010 Nissan GT-R Spec-VNissan has finally revealed its new GT-R SpecV. Click here for all the images and details. Just when you thought there was nothing more to see or read about Nissan’s GT-R super-coupe, a brand new prototype turns up at the Nurburgring and allegedly scorches the time set by previous test-mules...
James Martinez -
Volkswagen reveals production BlueTDI for U.S. marketToday marks the unveiling of the production version of Volkswagen's U.S.-targeted diesel powertrain. First debuted in Volkswagen's Tiguan BlueTDI early in March at the Geneva Motor Show, the BlueTDI technology has been developed specifically for the North American market. With its clean emissions...
Nelson Ireson -
Report: Bigger but lighter cars found to improve crash safetyOne of the most effective methods of improving fuel-economy is reducing vehicle weight but the challenge for car designers is how to reduce weight while keeping costs down and safety standards up. Modern safety features such as passenger cells and complex airbag systems add significant weight to a...
Ralph Hanson -
The original Daytona Coupe was a race car based loosely on the AC Cobra roadster that was produced in an extremely limited run of just six cars during the 1960s. The cars were created in collaboration with a number of racing legends including Carroll Shelby, Peter Brock and Bob Negstad and there was one in Shelby’s personal collection for more than 20 years until he sold it off back in 1999. This week, Shelby Automobiles presented Shelby with a custom Superformance Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe in honor of his racing past and the work he has done with the tuner. Painted in the same...
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Stile Bertone To Become Independent Design FirmTeetered on the edge of bankruptcy, Italian coachbuilder Bertone and its ‘Stile Bertone’ design house were approved today to be split into two independent factions. This will allow the more successful design arm to separate itself from the downturn that has been plaguing the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2010 Buick LaCrosse spy shotsBuick’s next-generation LaCrosse has been spotted testing at GM proving grounds both in the U.S. and Germany and as these latest images reveal the new car sports a similar shape to the Invicta concept unveiled over the weekend. Like the concept, the production version’s styling is being...
James Martinez -
Update: VW narrows U.S. plant location to three statesUpdated: Volkswagen’s U.S. chief Stefan Jacoby has confirmed the carmaker is looking at securing a location in either Michigan, Alabama or Tennessee for its new North American plant and expects a final decision to be made by the middle of the year. Key considerations for the decision include...
Ralph Hanson -
UK 'green levy' increases revenue but does little for environmentNew taxes planned for motorists in the UK, which aim to reduce emissions by forcing owners of heavy polluting vehicles to pay extra in registration costs, have been criticized as being just another source of revenue for the government and for having little to no effect on reducing emissions. The...
James Martinez -
Ford posts $100 million Q1 profit, Volvo loses $151 millionDespite facing a number of challenges this past quarter, ranging from rising fuel prices, unfavorable exchange rates, and an economic downturn both in the U.S. and abroad, Ford has managed to post a profit of $100 million – up from a net loss of $282 million just one year ago. Revenues for...
Siddarth Raja -
As premium brands continue to diversify and expand into new segments one bodystyle that appears to be gaining popularity among the German carmakers is the two-door luxury estate – more commonly referred to as the ‘Shooting Brake’. Audi today revealed its own Sportback version of the A3 in addition to the regular hatchback and before that reports of a new CLK-based Shooting Brake appearing at October’s Paris Motor Show also surfaced. Rumors of a BMW Shooting Brake based on the next-generation 3-series sedan first emerged nearly two years ago and finally we have detailed...
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Ford could still sell Volvo and axe MercuryAs Ford’s market share in the U.S. continues to dwindle – dropping to a new low of 13% this month – its CEO Alan Mulally is looking at further ways to cut costs and right now it appears nothing is sacred. Some of the measures Ford has already confirmed will take place as part of...
Siddarth Raja -
VW Scirocco And Gumpert Apollo Hybrid To Join LFA In Nurburgring 24 HoursNext month’s Nurburgring 24 hour endurance challenge is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events on this year’s racing calendar with three new important models confirmed for the race. Lexus has already confirmed a preproduction race-spec version of its upcoming LFA supercar will...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
VW offers 3 years free service on 2009 models in U.S.Volkswagen’s U.S. division has confirmed it will offer free scheduled servicing for its entire 2009 lineup under its new ‘Carefree Maintenance Program.’ The new program covers owners for up to three years or the first 36,000 miles and includes three scheduled maintenance intervals...
Ralph Hanson -
Cadillac CTS D3 styling kitImproving on the sharp lines of the all-new Cadillac CTS is no easy task but American tuner D3 has managed to design a new performance exterior package for the car that doesn’t mess up the edgy styling of the original. The parts have been designed to be functional as well, increasing...
Ralph Hanson -
Photo artist mocks up BMW M-Zero conceptA sort of automotive Frankenstein's monster, except sexy instead of hideous, the M-Zero concept was designed as a BMW despite containing elements of Audi, Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz, among others. Photo artist Mael Oberkampf's creation is little more than a flight of fancy, but as a design...
Nelson Ireson