Nelson Ireson, Senior Editor

Articles

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  2012 Fiat 500 Abarth Coming To 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Nelson Ireson July 25, 2011

  We've long known the Fiat 500 Abarth was coming to the U.S. We've also known it would be on sale in the first quarter of 2012. What we didn't know, until today, was when it would first make its...

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  More Talk Of Infiniti-Red Bull Racing Performance Street Car

  Talk of a Red Bull Racing-flavored Infiniti road car isn't new--it's been discussed by company honchos almost since the inception of Infiniti's sponsorship of the Formula One team. But today, more details from the top people at both Nissan and Red Bull have emerged. Christian Horner, team principal...

  Nelson Ireson July 25, 2011
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  Ken Block Unveils Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle: Video

  Ford's insane versions of the Fiesta for Ken Block's Gymkhana and WRC cars are nothing short of mind-blowing in their ability to generate power and turn it into tire smoke, especially considering the tiny displacement of the turbo hatch. The latest take on the uber-Fiesta is a "hybrid function hoon...

  Nelson Ireson July 25, 2011
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  Sheryl Crow To Auction 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL For Joplin Tornado Relief At Pebble Beach

  With a classic collector car like the 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, there's always a good reason to buy the car: the car itself. But this time, there's an additional incentive to keep bidding, and it doesn't have anything to do with collectibility or simple aesthetics. The proceeds will go to benefit...

  Nelson Ireson July 25, 2011
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  BMW USA Chief Jim O'Donnell To Be Replaced By Ludwig Willisch

  BMW of North America's current CEO Jim O'Donnell will retire this fall, with German executive and former head of sales in Europe and Japan Ludwig Willisch taking his place. The surprise move comes after strong June sales saw BMW outsell Mercedes-Benz and extend its lead as the top-selling luxury...

  Nelson Ireson July 22, 2011
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  Corvette Racing Seeks Mosport Comeback From Tough Lime Rock Race: ALMS

  The Corvette Racing team saw victory at Le Mans, but is finding the 2011 ALMS season a bit more challenging.

  Nelson Ireson July 22, 2011
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  Bernie Bribes Bayern Banker?, Pits Go Electric: F1 Update Nelson Ireson July 22, 2011

  Formula 1 maestro Bernie Ecclestone has had a bit of a rough year. After getting bashed about for his expensive watch, then brow-beaten into dropping four-cylinder turbos for sixes, and forking over...

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  2013 Audi S7 Spy Shots

  Current Audi S models, while visually quite different from the standard versions to the informed eye, often fly under the radar of regular folks. But that's set to change for the next generation of S models, according to previous reports, and these latest spy shots hint at just how the S7 will...

  Nelson Ireson July 22, 2011
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  2012 Roush Stage 3 Mustang In Predictable Yet Awesome Burnout Video

  Why burnout? Because muscle car. Because why not. Because Roush. Whatever your justification (if you even need one) there's always a little room in the day for some gratuitous tire smoke, especially when delivered at the drive wheels of a big American V-8 that's been tuned up to 540 horsepower. The...

  Nelson Ireson July 22, 2011
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  Lexus Confirms 2013 GS 350 For Pebble Beach Debut

  After the LF-Gh Hybrid Concept at the New York Auto Show and the spy shots we've captured of the car in testing, the shape of the next Lexus GS sedan is taking pretty clear shape. We only have about a month left to wait to see the final product, as Lexus officially announced today that it will show...

  Nelson Ireson July 22, 2011
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  First 2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe Wrecked

  The crew of BMW 1-Series fiends over at 1Addicts.com has dug up some photos of what is believed to be the first known 2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe wreck--and it's the first 1M delivered to Korea. The culprit appears to be wet roads and a bit too much speed. Fortunately, it looks like the 1M will be...

  Nelson Ireson July 22, 2011
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  Audi To Build New Plant In Mexico Instead Of Using VW's U.S. Plant

  Volkswagen builds a lot of cars in North America. Some of them are built in Mexico, but many are built right here in the U.S. Audi wants to get in on the cheaper construction and shipping costs available here, but it doesn't want to borrow VW's extra capacity. Instead, it will build its own new...

  Nelson Ireson July 21, 2011
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  Ferrari, Bentley, Aston, Mercedes: The Most Expensive Wreck This Week Nelson Ireson July 21, 2011

  What you see here is photographic evidence of what is very likely the most expensive wreck this week. What brought it about? We're not sure, but we're not sure it matters, either: you're looking at...

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  Mercedes' New 5.5-liter V-8 To Replace 6.2 In Next C-Class AMG?

  Just this morning Mercedes-Benz graced us with more details on the naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter AMG V-8 put to use in the 2012 SLK55 AMG, but already rumors about the next car to get its glory have sprouted. The car tipped as the 5.5's beneficiary? The next C-Class AMG. Having put the latest C63...

  Nelson Ireson July 21, 2011
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  Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster Gets Interactive Owner's Manual

  The German gurus at Mercedes-Benz have whipped up an online, interactive owner's manual for the new SLS AMG Roadster, treading a path that was blazed by...Hyundai. Despite being a bit late to market with a new kind of interactive owner's manual Mercedes' SLS AMG Roadster remains one-of-a-kind. The...

  Nelson Ireson July 21, 2011
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  Discovery HD To Launch Velocity Automotive Channel: Video

  If you're a fan of Mecum auctions, classic cars, or watching Brits bash beaters into near-new condition, you're familiar with HD Theater, which is owned by Discovery. Soon, we'll have even more excellent high-def automotive content thanks to a new agreement that will spawn Velocity, a new...

  Nelson Ireson July 21, 2011
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  2013 Chevrolet Cruze Wagon In The Works?

  It looks like Chevy may be planning an addition to our Forbidden Fruit tree in a couple of years: a fresh report out of Europe is talking about the arrival of a Chevy Cruze wagon in 2013. Europe already gets the hatchback version (as do several other global markets). So why do they get all the...

  Nelson Ireson July 21, 2011
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  2011 Lotus Evora S Joins Italian Carabinieri

  The 2011 Lotus Evora S pushes aside Italy's finest supercars to find a spot with the Italian Carabinieri.

  Nelson Ireson July 21, 2011
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  Update: Maserati Birdcage At Mecum Isn't A Fake, It's A Reconstruction Nelson Ireson July 21, 2011

  UPDATE: We were the first on the Web to bring you word that the 1960 Maserati Tipo 61/60 "Birdcage" chassis no. 2459 coming up for auction at the Mecum Monterey Auction to be held during Pebble...

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  The World's Most Original AMC Pacer: Barn Find

  A face only a mother could love. Had to tie a steak around its neck so the dog would play with it. Just plain ugly. All of these are fitting descriptors of the AMC Pacer, but this particular example is interesting anyway. Why? Because it's very likely the most original Pacer in the world. Having...

  Nelson Ireson July 20, 2011
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  Porsche's 7-Speed Manual Transmission, The Yeti, And Double Rainbows: Video

  There are a lot of strange, unexplained things in the world. Some of them have been caught on video. Unfortunately, that video is almost always too grainy and shaky to draw any conclusions. So it is with the Porsche 7-speed manual transmission. Sure, we're pretty certain one is coming in the 2012...

  Nelson Ireson July 20, 2011
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  First Pagani Huayra Spotted In U.S. ...Is An AMG Test Mule?

  File this one in the so strange it's probably true folder: the first Pagani Huayra spotted on U.S. soil is said to be not a customer car, but an AMG-owned test mule used to run new engines to their limits, according to the spotter. The images, snagged by a reader at GT Spirit, show what is clearly...

  Nelson Ireson July 20, 2011
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  2012 Audi A6 Hybrid: Forbidden Fruit

  Audi is getting ready to unleash its 2012 A6 Hybrid on Europe. It was originally due late this year, but now looks like it won't be on sale across the pond until early 2012. But the U.S. is still at least two years away from the hybrid--if we ever get it. Some reports, like the one from Inside...

  Nelson Ireson July 20, 2011
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  Sinister BMW M3 DTM Concept: New Gallery

  The racing version of the M3 destined for DTM competition looks menacing in its sinister raw-carbon clothing.

  Nelson Ireson July 20, 2011