Nelson Ireson, Senior Editor
Articles
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It was a mixed result for Ferrari at this weekend’s Valencia Grand Prix in Spain, with Felipe Massa dominating the race from pole and taking victory, while his team mate Kimi Raikkonen’s... -
Hyundai-Kia continues U.S. expansion with new gearbox plantRanked fifth overall in the global auto industry for the first time this year, surpassing brands like Honda, Nissan, Chrysler and Fiat in overall sales, Hyundai-Kia has been intent on improving its U.S. manufacturing and distribution resources for several years. Already a small-car plant in West...
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Hyundai considering 5.0L Tau V8 engine for GenesisThe Tau V8, Hyundai's first completely in-house engineered and built V8 engine, has received positive preliminary opinions from those that have had the chance to test it, but already the company is looking at boring or stroking the Tau out to 5.0L from its current 4.6L to help boost low-end torque...
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Violence could prompt Nano plant move, says TataProtests that have grown increasingly violent at Tata Motors' planned Singur, West Bengal Nano production site could force the carmaker to leave the area and find another location for its upcoming people's car. With $350 million already invested into the operation, however, it won't be a cheap...
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Are tolls more fair than taxes for road charges?Though not popular in many areas of the U.S., road tolls are a common part of daily life in many Eastern cities and in cities around the globe. According to a new study by researchers at two California universities, the age-old question of whether tolls are more equitable than taxes has been...
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California studying ways to make hybrids louderLotus has designed a system to make hybrid cars produce whatever engine sound the owner might desire, and recently Eberspacher revealed a similar technology. The reasoning is that hybrids are so quiet they actually pose a danger to pedestrians - and especially the blind - who can't hear the cars...
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The difficulty facing the U.S. automotive industry with the recently-revised 31.6mpg by 2015 CAFE requirement is well-known, but no less pressing. The carmakers claim the costs to comply will be... -
GM To Funnel $500 Million Into U.S. Cruze ProductionThe all-new Cruze compact car from General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] was just revealed in some detail this morning, but already GM has announced its plans to put a half-billion dollar fund behind the car's production and promotion in the U.S. Of that $500 million, $350 million will be headed...
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Report: V12 Cadillac XLS shelved, DTS/STS replacement still in the worksTough CAFE standards, even tougher economic conditions and high oil prices have conspired to lay the ultra-luxury Cadillac XLS and its V12 engine to rest. Never officially confirmed for production, there had been rumors that it was being worked on internally. At the same time, Cadillac's on-again...
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Abt Sportsline tunes the Audi Q5German tuning shop Abt Sportsline is run by a family that has become synonymous with motorsport in its home country, and so it's no wonder their products reflect that heritage. The Abt Audi Q5 builds on the already strong base vehicle with more power and a handful of styling tweaks to present a...
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Audi releases A4 Challenge iPhone driving gameMarking the first-ever entry of a carmaker into the field of iPhone applications, Audi has released a new driving game for the platform. Making use of the phone's built-in motion sensors, gamers can steer a tiny version of the 2009 A4 through a range of courses. Rated at just 2.5 stars out of five...
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Video: in-depth interview with GM CEO Rick WagonerThe automotive industry's current period of upheaval is perceived from within by many industry heads as merely the prologue to a bright future. Rick Wagoner is certainly a member of that camp, and this hour-long interview by Charlie Rose draws out that optimism, and the reasons Wagoner feels it's...
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The standard EuroNCAP testing procedure requires a 40mph (64km/h) frontal crash test speed, and performance at that level is the basis for the tested car's rating. However, Germany's ADAC testing... -
C7 Corvette ZR-1 to be twin-turbo V6?The new king of General Motors' lineup, the Corvette ZR-1, has barely begun making the official press rounds but already insiders are talking about the next-generation version of the car, expected to be based on the as-yet unrevealed C7 Corvette. Definite information is at a premium, but...
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Industry fighting new customs rulesThe concept of 'just in time' (JIT) shipping of parts, relying on the supply chain's timeliness instead of a massive - and expensive - warehouse of parts, is a fairly recent one, but it has found a home in most major industries thanks to its efficiency. New regulations in the U.S. Customs and...
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eBay Watch: 235mph Hennessey Ford GT1000 up for auctionBarrett-Jackson, Pebble Beach and other big-name auction events routinely handle exotic and celebrity-owned supercars, but this time the auction house is eBay. Chosen by the seller and builder of the car, Hennessey Performance Engineering, the online auction site will handle the sale of the 1,000hp...
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Chrysler's new design head envisions fresh aestheticChrysler's new head of design, Ralph Gilles, will officially step into his new position September 1, but already he's brimming with new ideas for the brand's future look. A more natural and fresh theme will dominate, while the 'Edge' look of the current vehicles has been declared dead. Not that...
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Update: 2009 Honda Fit priced at $15,220 in the U.S.Update: The 2009 Honda Fit, or Jazz as it's known outside the U.S. will be arriving in dealerships early next month, priced to start at $15,220. While that's a $600 increase over the 2008 model, it covers a brand-new design plus a better package of features and technology. Equipped with a...
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In an effort to help salvage the residual values of its fleet of certified used cars, General Motors is adding new warranty coverage. Good for twelve months or 12,000mi (19,200km) from the time of... -
700HP Kicherer-tuned Audi RS6 AvantThere is no shortage of uber-tuned Audi RS6 variants, with MTM, Abt Sportsline, B&B Tuning, and possibly even Audi itself offering even more high-powered models. The latest entry is the Kicherer RS6, which fits in with the existing cars almost spec-for-spec, rated at 700hp (522kW) and capable of...
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Honda unveils 2009 Civic and Civic HybridSmall, stylish and efficient cars are rapidly becoming favorites in the U.S., where bulky SUVs and pickups have long reigned. The Honda Civic in particular has been near the top of the sales charts this year, with its handsome design and solid value placing it in many buyers' driveways. Now the...
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Ford: Escape beats Toyota and Honda in safety, efficiencyA constant climb up the quality rankings, even as other U.S. carmakers fall behind, and a renewed focus on efficiency in the face of high fuel costs has put Ford in the position to call out Toyota and Honda on efficiency and safety grounds - no mean feat, considering the Japanese carmakers'...
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Budget cuts spell end for GM Style eventKicking off the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) - one of the most important car shows of the year - with its own 'Style event', populated with celebrities, haute couture and hot cars, has only been part of General Motors' pre-show routine for two years but it is already coming to an...
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Continental designs accelerator pedal to warn of dangerNissan's force-feedback ECO Pedal accelerator pedal, touted as a 'green' driving aid that pushes back against the driver's foot when accelerating too briskly, is actually a derivative of a new pedal system developed by Continental. Called the Accelerator Force Feedback Pedal, or AFFP, by its...
Nelson Ireson