Nelson Ireson, Senior Editor
Articles
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German supercar manufacturer Gumpert has announced it will be distributing its Apollo supercar in the United States via a partnership with Evolution MotorSport. The odd-looking but ferociously fast... -
IIHS calls for states to raise driving ageFor many teens in the U.S., taking the classes, lessons and tests to earn their driver's license is a rite of passage that can't come too soon. The sense of independence granted by personal transport is symbolic of the actual independence to come as they reach adulthood. But the Insurance Institute...
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Detroit 3 running out of finance options, Federal loans look uncertainThe Detroit 3 are already getting as creative as they can to create liquidity as the downturn in the U.S. economy and car market push bottom lines lower and lower. Selling brands and cutting leasing programs, renegotiating deals with union officials and encouraging worker buyouts, the carmakers are...
Nelson Ireson -
Report: U.S. Grand Prix back on the tableScratched from this season's Formula One schedule due to disagreements over the financial aspects of the event, the U.S. Grand Prix may be back for the 2010 season. Talk in the F1 paddock indicates that Bernie Ecclestone is holding discussions with a number of potential U.S. locations, though the...
Nelson Ireson -
Production 2011 Chevrolet Volt photos leakedThe Chevrolet Volt is expected to be shown next week as part of General Motors' centenary celebrations, but it appears an advance copy of the photos to accompany the release has leaked ahead of schedule. The photos, which clearly depict the car alongside several executives, show the car has taken a...
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Castagna Tender Two: Fiat 500 beach buggy EVAlready known for its entertaining and meticulously detailed modifications to the Fiat 500, Mini Clubman and more, Castagna has once again turned its hand toward the stylish Fiat 500 minicar with surprising results. Converting the car to a two-seat, teak-decked beach buggy was the easy part - the...
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Previewing the Mark VI production car in ultra-efficient diesel form, the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion concept is a concept only is its engine and application. But that engine and its efficiency tuning... -
MG expanding lineup with three new modelsThe limited-edition TF is already on sale in the UK, and over 80% of the 500-car production run is sold out. The TF is just the beginning of the Chinese owner's plans for the brand, however. Starting in 2010, the SAIC-owned MG will begin building a range of new cars, with the first to be a mid-size...
Nelson Ireson -
Ford convinced electricity will beat all alternativesThere are almost as many different approaches to the future of automotive fuel and energy supply as there are carmakers, with hydrogen combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cells, ethanol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and a number of permutations of these all in development. Ford thinks they are all just...
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2009 Kia Borrego scores 5 stars in NHTSA crash testThe Hyundai-Kia automotive conglomerate is on a roll of late with its stong crash test scores. Just over a week ago the 2009 Hyundai Genesis scored a perfect five-star rating, and now the Kia Borrego SUV has scored the same, which should help the big vehicle with its recently-announced North...
Nelson Ireson -
GM launches site to bust myths about its businessBankruptcy, bailouts, secretive plots to kill electric vehicles - General Motors has been accused of seeking all of these. To help set the record straight, or at least put out the official spin, GM has launched a new 'Facts or Fiction' site that aims to torpedo many of the popular misconceptions...
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Ford holding job fairs to encourage worker buyoutsQuitting a well-paying job or taking an early retirement is a hard choice to make during an economic downturn, especially when good credit is so hard to come by, so it makes sense that Ford is having a hard time encouraging workers to take their buyout packages. That doesn't ease the need to...
Nelson Ireson -
Updated with new information
After a number of leaks, a sighting in a preview clip for the upcoming James Bond movie Quantum of Solace and an official announcement, Ford has revealed even more... -
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG by BrabusBrabus is well-known for taking Mercedes vehicles to extreme states of tune, including the V12 twin-turbo Bullit, a tweaked version of the SLR Roadster and even the Daimler-produced Smart ForTwo. Now the company has taken on the C63 AMG, rebranded as the Brabus B63 S, and though the German tuners...
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Small cars make for big repair costsFender-benders in small cars can be a lot more expensive than the speeds involved might otherwise indicate, according to a new study by the IIHS. The results of low-speed crash testing show that some cars can rack up thousands of dollars in repair bills - the Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf) (pictured)...
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First look at possible Ferrari 430 Scuderia SpiderThough high-end supercars have always been something of a marriage of art and performance, Ferrari's cars have always managed to favor the performance side of the equation, even in their large and comfortable grand tourers. The 430 Scuderia, on the other hand, has eschewed all vestiges of fashion...
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Report: GM to show Chevrolet Volt at Sept. 16 centenary celebrationGeneral Motors is planning a number of events to mark its centenary this month, including a formal celebration later this month at its headquarters in Detroit. In the lead up to the date GM has released a number of teaser shots and more details for the production version of its Chevrolet Volt...
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RENNtech tunes the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMGOutrageous power in an unlikely package is not a thing of the past, and it's unlikely ever to truly die, no matter what the mainstream media may say. RENNtech has embraced that philosophy with its latest creation, a tuned version of Mercedes' C63 AMG - itself an already over-the-top take on a...
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Lincoln's recent rebirth as Ford's focus for luxury, led by the 2009 MKS sedan, has targeted it for a market that doesn't focus heavily on compact cars. The game is changing, however, as even BMW and... -
Hertz to enter car sharing businessCar sharing clubs are a sort of communal pool of vehicles that members can use when needed, but otherwise leave parked in a series of small public fleet locations. The arrangement can be both economically and environmentally beneficial, especially in larger cities. Until now, the idea hasn't...
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Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 by Jeremie ParetStartup French supercar tuner Jeremie Paret has unveiled his first creation, a custom Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 featuring styling cues from the Reventon, pink brake calipers and a range of custom trim and interior materials. Paret's tuning process includes a few unique and interesting steps...
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VW showing range of aero kits at German industry showThe Automechanika show traces its history back to 1971, when it began as an industry trade fair. Since then the car manufacturers themselves have joined in to show off cutting edge features and new accessories and equipment. Volkswagen will be taking advantage of the show to offer a range of new...
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Lexus first in luxury owner loyalty survey, Saab lastLuxury brands take particular pains to breed loyalty in their customers, since the cars they sell ostensibly offer something beyond the best value for money, whether that's a style, a feel or a history. Cultivating a sense of belonging ensures buyers will return to the brand when they need to...
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Report: BMW considering four-cylinder 3-series for U.S.Germany's strongest premium brands in the U.S. sell cars at home that wouldn't fit their image abroad, including tiny city cars and any number of diesels. Nevertheless, the rise of fuel efficiency as a primary buying criterion has reportedly driven the company to consider introducing a...
Nelson Ireson