Nelson Ireson, Senior Editor
Articles
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Although UAW members still have to give their final approval to the strike settlement deal, GM's offer to end the American Axle strike is expected to pass through smoothly. Once it does, GM will be... -
Ford cuts pickup and SUV production as demand dropsAs GM moves to boost production to recover what was lost to the American Axle strike, Ford is cutting back its output of pickups and SUVs in the face of rising fuel prices in the U.S. Sales of the spacious and functional yet very thirsty vehicles have dropped sharply and consumers and businesses...
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Lithuanian coachbuilder unveils custom BMW 6-seriesBuilt by BMW as a tastefully elegant and not-too-vicious sports tourer, the 6-series has not historically been the first choice of the tuning crowd, in Europe or elsewhere. But one mad coachbuilder in Lithuania decided to turn his efforts toward the car, and the result is an overly aggressive coupe...
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Small cabrios unsafe in rollover testsIt may seem like common sense that small convertibles are less than ideal vehicles in which to perform rollovers and expect safe passage, but testing by Germany's ADAC bears that out with real-world data. When the dust settled, it turned out that none of the cars tested are really safe, though some...
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Mercedes considering Romanian plantAs it looks for new ways to grow its business, expanding into new markets and moving existing models to markets it already inhabits, Mercedes-Benz is including Eastern Europe in its plans. The latest reports have the company eying production in the western Romanian county of Timis. Production at...
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Hybrid cars may not be as eco-friendly as they seemReal-world tests have shown hybrid cars fall well short of their claimed emissions and fuel efficiency figures, raising the question of whether the technology has so far been anything more than a very effective marketing gimmick. Some diesel-powered cars also received bad marks in the review...
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Already known for its wide range of hybrids, Toyota has committed to producing 18 new or reworked models in an effort to decrease its fleet average carbon dioxide emissions. The move will help the... -
Opel reveals new logo to accompany brand refreshJust like its corporate cousin Vauxhall did earlier this year, Opel is set to unveil a new logo in time for the addition of the Insignia to its ranks. The all-new sedan is the first of a series of new cars that will replace the aging line-up with a fresh design language and a new commitment to...
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Kelley Blue Book names best road trip carsDespite the rising cost of fuel, road trips are one of the defining elements of summer, and as the Northern Hemisphere heads into the hottest months, Kelley Blue Book has named its top 10 road trip vehicles. Although many are solid choices, one stands out from the crowd, and not just because it's a...
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Carmakers to promote fuel-efficient drivingDriving in a fuel-efficient manner is often a matter of common sense, but it's still not a common practice. To increase awareness of things motorists can do to improve their car's fuel efficiency a coalition of auto manufacturers and private businesses are launching a campaign centered around a...
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Nissan begins EV push with joint venture, test projectWe've been covering Nissan's plans for an all-electric car since 2007, but until now there has been little tangible progress, at least in the public eye, aside from the concept debuted at this year's New York Auto Show. A joint venture with NEC to mass produce advanced lithium-ion batteries and the...
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Designer envisages a modern Bizzarrini P538A legendary name in sports car circles, Giotto Bizzarrini's work, both for his own brand and for others, has contributed to some of the sexiest, fastest and most desirable designs of all time. Now a new take on a Bizzarrini classic, the 1966 P538S, is due to be unveiled next month, with a...
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Already Ford has announced its plans to bring the global Fiesta small hatch to the U.S., and the Focus is now also slated to join its littler sibling. Alongside those two, due in 2010 and 2011...
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Honda could boost U.S. car prices in response to climbing materials costsEarlier this month Toyota announced it would be raising prices across its U.S. line-up, and now it seems Honda may be following suit. The cause is a confluence of factors, with a weak U.S. dollar, high raw materials costs and the global downturn in sales conspiring to make the price rises...
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Techart wins Tuner Grand Prix at HockenheimIt's one thing to turn out extravagant, flamboyant modified supercars, but it's something else entirely to put those cars on the track and race them for best times around a famous Grand Prix circuit like Hockenheim, but that's exactly what the contenders at the Tuner Grand Prix did last weekend in...
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Smart signals to solve traffic snarlsWe're all aware of how technology has been employed to make driving and cars safer and yet faster, and even how lasers might be used to display ads at traffic lights, but so far not much has been done to solve the single biggest problem of driving in a heavily populated area: traffic. The Aldis...
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UAW, GM anxious to end American Axle strikeThe ongoing readjustment period in the U.S. auto industry has thus far been a tough one for both the companies and their current and former employees. Workers at American Axle & Manufacturing, now in their 12th week on strike, are being urged by both GM and their own union representatives to accept...
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Ferrari 599 GTB goes up in flames on delivery driveIt was just another day in Martin Bullen's rather fortunate work life - driving a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, and getting paid to do it. Of course, he was driving it to the repair shop, but still, there are worse ways to make a living. And then, while stopped at a traffic light the car made a noise...
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Though the new Audi A6 is still at least a year away from being shown in concept form and two years from its production debut, details about its construction and platform technology are already... -
After two year slump, Jaguar posts sales increaseSales of the attractive and modern XF sedan along with new confidence in the brand's future are the driving forces behind Jaguar's first sales rise since July 2006 as Jaguar and sister company Land Rover change hands to new owner Tata Motors. The company sees a strong year of continued sales on the...
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IDEA unveils Era concept for 30th anniversaryRacing barchettas of the 1940s have spawned many an artist's (and child's) flight of fancy, but this time the car has become reality, after a fashion. Though IDEA's Era is just a design model, and therefore essentially a shell with seats and a wheel, the company does have ideas for possible...
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U.S. Senate to consider state-by-state emissions lawsSpearheaded by California Senator Barbara Boxer, a coalition of 17 states are seeking the ability to control vehicle emissions regulations within their borders as they see fit. The central point of contention is a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency last year that refused to allow the...
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Subaru Legacy STI S402 released in JapanThe new Subaru STI has only been on sale for a few months or less in most parts of the world, but already the company has a special-edition STI version of the Legacy due to hit Japanese streets in just over a month. Carrying on a long tradition of special-edition Legacy models, the STI S402 takes...
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CAW forms tentative agreement with GM, ChryslerLike all good compromises, it seems none of the parties is really happy with the outcome, but General Motors, Chrysler and the Canadian Auto Workers have reached a tentative labor agreement. Involving both continued production at some plants and job cuts all around, the deal will keep both sides on...
Nelson Ireson