Nelson Ireson, Senior Editor
Articles
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With figures that equal the proposed Chevrolet Volt without the wait and with the familiarity of the highly successful Toyota Prius platform, California outfit Jungle Motors may have a winner on... -
Detroit carmakers approach Canada for $6.8B in loansA decision on the U.S. government's loan package is expected to come from Congress sometime today, but already carmakers are approaching the Canadian government, seeking more aid. The $6.8 billion sought from Canada would still fall short of the $25 billion originally asked for from Congress, even...
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Volvo lays off 2,700 workers, in sale talks with China's SAICLabor negotiations between Volvo and Sweden's auto worker union have come to a close today, resulting in the termination of 2,721 emloyees, the vast majority of which are blue collar workers. The layoffs come as Ford has engaged Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) in talks to buy the...
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Report: Chrysler has hired bankruptcy firm Jones DayThe U.S. Congressional hearings on Capitol Hill are still underway, and thus far no definitive result has been reached. Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli has at times appeared apologetic and even regretful, but always concerned with securing additional funding for the company. The near-desperation...
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Washington: Automakers, Senators working on solutionThe CEOs of America's major carmakers, before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee today, are acknowledging their past shortcomings but also projecting future strategies based on lessons learned. Lawmakers thus far appear to be more receptive to the idea of loans now that the...
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Project Better Place expands to HawaiiShai Agassi's Project Better Place has gone on an expansion spree of late, enveloping two new sites in the U.S. and one in Australia in addition to the previously announced locations in Denmark and Israel. Now the initiative is moving its plans to Hawaii, working with the governor and the state's...
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The war for the title of the best new muscle car is about to get underway in earnest now that all three contenders have been revealed. The 2010 Ford Mustang, which debuted at last month's Los Angeles... -
Maserati unveils GranTurismo MC Sport Line at BolognaBologna, Italy's late-season car show, has played host to a surprising number of new models this year. The latest, Maserati's MC Sport Line, is an option package designed to give the company's cars a decidedly motorsports-inspired look and handling treatment. Not that Maserati is by any means...
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GM will decide Saab's fate quickly, Sweden willing to help, but not buyYesterday all three of America's major carmakers revealed their future plans to Congress, and a part of General Motors' was the possible sale of Saab. While the brand is still being reviewed, and no decisions have yet been made, GM says it will make the choice to keep or sell quickly. "We will work...
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Tesla senior VP Darryl Siry resigns over 'disagreements in strategy'The fledgling electric car company that is Tesla Motors has had a great deal of success and a great deal of turbulence at the top of its executive hierarchy. The famously bitter separation of Martin Eberhard from the company was an involuntary arrangement, but Siry has chosen his path away from...
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GM offers to cut brands, salaries and jobs in $12 billion restructuring planThe Chevrolet Volt captured the mind of the public and the press when it was revealed during the company's 100th anniversary celebrations in September, though even then it was suspected that trouble was brewing for the company. Last month's announcement of an impending cash shortage and this...
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Ford submits plan to Congress, promises EVs, possible profits by 2011The return trip to Washington by the nation's key automotive CEOs will be a considerably more concrete happening, with real-world plans, hard numbers and specific goals. Ford is the first to announce its ideas for the future, and the plan revealed today offers a goal of profitability by 2011, and...
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Only one original Lamborghini Bertone Miura Roadster was ever created, and now that special car is headed for sale in Switzerland. The Kidston auction house is offering the car, which was originally... -
Lotus Carlton voted favorite Vauxhall everMarkets outside the UK and Europe were unfortunately not made familiar with the rip-snorting Lotus Carlton - a heavily modified Vauxhall Carlton - during its short lifetime. Nevertheless, the utterly insane 177mph (285km/h) twin-turbocharged straight-six-powered sedan has grown to cult status...
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BMW first carmaker to implement Microsoft's multi-touch SurfaceThe customer experience at BMW - especially when taking delivery at the factory in Europe - is a unique one, soon to be made more unique by the inclusion of Microsoft's Surface, a multi-touch screen capable of some rather impressive maneuvers. BMW is the first carmaker in the world to implement the...
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Lotus Evora Attracts Celebrity Pre-OrdersUntil the Evora came along in the middle of this year, Lotus hadn't introduced a truly new car to its ranks since the Elise/Exige arose 13 years ago, instead contenting itself with special, high-performance editions. Now the Evora is out, and as a 2+2 promises more practicality and accommodation...
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Volkswagen reveals modified range at EssenGermany's Essen Motor Show, which runs this week through December 7, is a European tuner showcase, and Volkswagen is taking the opportunity to show off a handful of modified cars. Among them are the Golf VI, Scirocco, Passat CC, Jetta and Polo, but a pair of them are grabbing the spotlight - the...
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BMW launching 50-car Mini-E test fleet in BerlinTest markets for electric cars are popping up all around the globe as various carmakers and start-up projects work to lay the groundwork for more widespread adoption of the next-generation propulsion systems. The latest new market to be announced by BMW is the Berlin fleet of Mini-E EVs that will...
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Finland is known throughout the motorsports world for its production of some of the all-time greats to ever step behind a wheel, but also for its treacherous and enticing roads. Bentley will be ...
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Carmakers planning eco-caravan to D.C. for next round of talks
Barack Obama has backed Congress' decision to delay a decision on additional auto industry loans, urging the carmakers to have a clear plan when they return to Capitol Hill in December, and the carmakers are already reportedly planning to show up in dramatic style, forming a caravan of Detroit's...
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UK, France, Germany, Italy agree on CO2 limitsItaly has reportedly dropped its objections to a European Commission plan to introduce softer CO2 emission limits on new cars, leaving the door open for an EU-wide agreement on a 130g/km fleet wide CO2 limit. While still not official, inside government sources in Germany told Reuters that an...
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Mazda KAAN wins 2008 L.A. Design ChallengeToday, the design entry from Mazda R&D of North America was chosen as the winner of the Los Angeles Auto Show's 2008 Design Challenge. This year's theme, Motor Sports 2025, asked nine of Southern California's automotive design studios to form their vision of the future by depicting a motor...
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VW Jetta TDI wins 2009 Green Car of the YearThe Los Angeles Auto Show is winding down its press events today, but this morning's first feature was the revelation of the winner of the 2009 Green Car of the Year award. Volkswagen's 2009 Jetta TDI took the honor, beating out a field of five finalists. The Jetta TDI is the first 'clean diesel'...
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2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible unveiled at the L.A. auto showInfiniti's gorgeous new G37 Coupe gets a drop-top sister today, and having seen the vehicle in the metal, we can confirm it's even better in person. The svelte Convertible is the first G car to go topless, and aside from the folding hardtop design, its specifications are essentially identical to...
Nelson Ireson