Nelson Ireson, Senior Editor
Articles
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The mid-size sedan market gets a lot of talk in the U.S. because it is a high-volume, high-visibility segment. Conspicuously absent from the segment has been any type of Ford hybrid, until now.... -
Big Three CEOs speak before U.S. SenateThe three men at the head of Chrysler, General Motors and Ford are on the spot before lawmakers in the U.S. Senate today, pleading their case for a 'bridge loan' to help the automakers span the gap to a perceived future of prosperity. Remarks released ahead of the hearing before the Banking...
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Kuwaiti investor takes 40% stake in UK's ProdriveKuwaiti investment firm, The Investment Dar (TID), has taken a 40% stake in Prodrive, the UK motorsports and technology company announced today. The investment is the culmination of a year's worth of planning and talks that identified the benefits of the buy-in to both TID and Prodrive. “Our...
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Breckland updates Beira V8-powered Kappa roadsterGeneral Motors' Kappa platform has been widely praised for its performance characteristics (if also found somewhat lacking in ergonomics), so its choice as the basis of a custom V8-swap is in many ways unsurprising. It is, however, sure to be inspiring with a 400hp Corvette engine under the hood of...
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Pontiac enhances G6 lineup with mid-year updatesThe L.A. Auto Show is just days away, and as it draws near more models, updates and reveals are coming to light. Pontiac will be bringing a revised family of G6 coupes, convertibles and sedans to the L.A. Auto Show despite General Motors' widely publicized pull-out of its featured show vehicles...
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Germany holding aid talks with OpelGermany on Monday confirmed it would be holding talks with Opel, General Motors' primary European brand, to discuss the topic of aid for the company should GM cease supplying cash. The concern on Opel's part is very real considering the state of GM's U.S. and global operations, and Opel's...
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The 2009 European Car of the Year has been announced, and in the very closest of contests the Opel (Vauxhall) Insignia has taken out the top spot with 321 points, marking a very important victory for... -
Abarth and Intel launch co-branded desktop PCHigh performance is the heart of Abarth's brand image, but usually it's due to their work on combustion engines and hot hatches. This time around, it's a desktop PC receiving the Abarth treatment, co-branded with Intel to create a serious gamer's rig. A unique case design by Brain Technology Spa...
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Audi demonstrates inter-brand car-to-car networking in GermanyThe second CAR2CAR Forum at a testing ground in Dudenhofen, Germany, was the site of a new step forward in vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems. Among several other European carmakers, Audi presented a system that is able to interoperate with vehicles from other companies. The CAR2CAR Forum is...
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Dutch university working on affordable electromagnetic suspensionThe concept of an active suspension system isn't new - prototypes and testbeds have been in existence for decades. But now the technology is finally becoming compact and inexpensive enough to justify its use in mass-produced vehicles, or nearly so. To help arrive at a final concept, the University...
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ProCharger blower kits bump 6.1L HEMI to 575hpThe 2008 SEMA show is over, but the aftermarket parts keep coming, and ProCharger's latest addition - a foursome of forced-induction systems and kits - promises to breathe 150hp (112kW) or more into the 6.1L HEMI V8, such as the one found in the 2008 or 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8. Two variations of...
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Zobin design study imagines Ferrari F1 for the streetFerrari designs have been instant classics for the last five decades, inspiring imitators, fans and even competitors both on track and on the street. In that spirit, but on a somewhat more whimsical note, the Zobin Concept gives a glimpse at what a modern single-seater Ferrari might look like...
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Germany's Essen Motor Show is an opportunity for the country's tuners to show off their handiwork, and Brabus has used it as a platform to launch its first attempt at a modified electric car - the... -
Report: Expanded Audi R range back on the tableRumors of the demise of the R4 - a sort of 'baby R8' - may have been premature, as a new report indicates that not only is it still in the works, but it will be joined by a range of R models. The new R4 is expected to ride on the same platform that underpins the next-gen Porsche Boxster and Cayman...
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Toyota iQ takes top honors in Japan's COTY awardThough it was up against the likes of Godzilla, the tiny Toyota iQ has come out on top at the 2008 Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) awards. The win is seen as a potential selling point against competition like Daimler's Smart ForTwo micro car, especially in a segment that's differentiated largely on...
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Roush updates P-51-themed Mustang for 2009Last year's SEMA show brought a creation inspired by a P-51 fighter plane from Roush, and though this year's show just ended last week, Roush is building a new incarnation of the fighter-car for 2009. Dubbed the P-51B, the car is an evolution of the concept, gaining a few upgrades, but maintaining...
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Report: Toyota-Subaru joint project to be branded as Scion in U.S.News of a Toyota-Subaru joint sports car project has inspired mixed feelings - trepidation on the part of Subaru owners that loathe Toyota's influence, yet also hope for Toyota fans that long for the days of the Supra and Celica, or even the AE86 Corolla and MR2. Now word that the car will be...
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Seat launches Leon Linea R hot hatchThe Seat Leon hatch is in the midst of its second generation, with a facelift expected early next year. The all-new Linea R version of the car has come early, however, featuring a range of engines and a fresher design. Two four-cylinder petrol engines - a 1.8L rated at 160hp (119kW) and a 2.0L...
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At the end of October, Ford revealed a preview of the 2010 Ford Fusion, and with it came details on the next-generation hybrid system that would be available in the car. With relatively high... -
GM stocks nosedive after Deutsche Bank rating drops to $0Teetering on the brink of the precipice is a fairly accurate description of General Motors' future, according to Deutsche Bank, which revised its valuation target of GM shares to $0 today. Even if GM avoids bankruptcy, says the bank, its future will be essentially indistinguishable from a...
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Video: Carbon Motors unveils the E7 purpose-built police carCarbon Motors will be using the nine-city 2008 Pure Justice tour of the U.S. as an avenue for unveiling its all-new E7 purpose-built police car. The E7 hasn't even secured its final name yet - Carbon Motors will be relying on the law enforcement community to choose a name for the vehicle ahead of...
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Fisker Automotive building new engineering center in MichiganThe Fisker plug-in hybrid saloon has officially been revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Click here for all the details and images. While the rest of the automotive industry retracts, 'right-sizes' and closes facilities, Fisker Automotive is in the process of expanding. Today the company...
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More details on Toyota's coupe addition to new Prius familyIt's been known for some time that Toyota is toying with the idea of a nearly-full-line Prius sub-brand. Expected to feature a wagon-like, or possible truck-like model and a coupe in addition to the next-gen Prius sedan, the range would offer a focal point for Toyota's serious fuel-efficiency...
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Obama reaffirms commitment to auto industry aidDuring his campaign for U.S. President, Barack Obama repeatedly declared his support for the auto industry and indicated he would support it against the tide of the economic downturn. Today President-Elect Obama reaffirmed that commitment with a speech on the economy delivered in Chicago, noting...
Nelson Ireson