Nelson Ireson, Senior Editor
Articles
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Updated with official video.
With the GT-R's recently lowered Nordschleife lap time set at 7m 29s, a drop of nine seconds from its previous 7m 38s lap, General Motors responded with speculation that... -
APS twin turbo kit pumps Pontiac G8 to 557hpThe performance bargain that is the Pontiac G8 is very nearly unparalleled in the American market. Eschewing the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' maxim for one more adulation-worthy the tuners at APS have seen fit to improve on an already good thing, increasing the output of the Pontiac G8's V8...
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Fuel prices too high for some U.S. pumps to registerWhile the United States has some of the lowest fuel prices in the industrialized world, the rapid advance toward $4 per gallon is outstripping the ability of some older hardware to keep up. As many as 17,000 mechanical dial-based fuel pumps are still in use in America, and none can register a price...
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Volvo announces new 2.5L flex-fuel engine for V70, S80As Europe's emissions restrictions tighten and pollution awareness climbs even higher, many customers are eager to adopt alternative fuel platforms. Ethanol - or at least E85 - is one such fuel, and Volvo has been among the leaders in offering a full line of flex-fuel engines. The new engine for...
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Japanese helping bring down the price of carbon fiberLightweight body panels, engine under covers and other parts can be made from carbon fiber composites to save weight, which saves fuel by decreasing the mass to be accelerated by the engine. The implications for the future of fuel consumption and regulations are obvious. The only major problem...
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As fuel prices rise, hybrids pay off soonerThe price penalty for the added complexity of a hybrid drivetrain has always been a bit of a concern for those looking to not just save fuel, but to save money. In some calculations from a decade ago, popular hybrids would have taken as much as eight or ten years to repay in fuel savings the cost...
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Despite its position at the apex of consumer and motorsport automotive technology, Ferrari has largely shied away from doing serious business via the technological medium of the new millenium: the... -
GM will pay American Axle $200 million to end strikeA lack of supply of key parts has caused GM to stop producing some of its best-selling models, such as the GMC Yukon, Denali, Sierra heavy-duty pickups and others. American Axle's ten-week strike is one of the primary causes for the short supply, and GM hopes this offer will get the strike over and...
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Chinese use fake license plates to avoid speeding ticketsUsing tactics that would make any TV crime boss proud, Chinese drivers are using electrically-operated license plate devices that either cover up the legitimate plate or swap out the plate for a fake one. The driver can activate the device whenever a speed camera is near from the comfort of the...
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Audi reveals R8 production can't keep up with demandJust yesterday we reported the Nissan GT-R's sold-out sales success around the globe. Today Audi revealed its R8 is also being bought more quickly than it can be made, to the tune of several months in backlogged sales. Audi's R8 owes some of its success to a mixture of ingredients that almost...
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Mercedes introduces CLK Grand EditionSpecial-edition takes on aging models are common in the auto industry, helping to speed sales of the soon-to-be-replaced cars to make way for the new model year hardware. The next-generation CLK is due to go on sale late this year or early next year, but until then, Mercedes is offering both the...
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Volkwagen adds AWD to its small-car platformThe Volkswagen Group's small car platform forms the base for the VW Polo, Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza, all of which are currently only available in front-wheel drive. The next generation of the platform will get an AWD option, although not all VW Group cars will employ AWD in their cars. Seat's...
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The German tuners at Hamann are better known for their treatments of high-end hardware from the likes of BMW and Ferrari, but they have turned their talents toward the economy-end of the specturm... -
Hyundai says engine tech can get it halfway to CAFEThe pinch of significantly higher U.S. fuel economy standards is beginning to get automakers talking about how they plan to meet the challenge, and Hyundai has announced a two-pronged approach. Better engine and drivetrain technology will get the company half way to its goal, and the rest will be...
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X-Prize commits $100m in prizes for energy and environmentMany car enthusiasts follow the Automotive X-Prize closely - many of the candidates for the 100mpg production car trophy - like the Loremo, Motive and Aptera entries - look like interesting and possibly even realistic takes on the future of the auto industry. Now the X-Prize foundation has...
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Chrysler on track with restructuring plansChrysler's last few years have been emblematic of the difficulty some of the older portions of the automobile industry are having adjusting to the increasingly mature, saturated and urban U.S. and global automobile markets. But Chrysler isn't counting itself out yet. Repackaging the Chrysler...
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Lorinser tweaks the Mercedes CLS 500The pioneer of the four-door coupe niche, the Mercedes CLS line ranges from luxurious traveler to raging powerhouse - in stock form. The stock CLS 500 slots in between those two extremes, but Lorinser's version closes part of the gap to the range-topping CLS 63 AMG with power upgrades and a...
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Tesla opens first dealership despite production snagsAlthough the first batch of Tesla Roadsters is already on sale - to the tune of 1,000 pre-orders - only four production cars have been built. But that hasn't stopped Tesla from opening its first dealership in one of the busiest sections of Los Angeles. Built at a cost of $2 million, the dealership...
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As fuel economy standards tighten and prices rise, more car makers are turning to forced-induction solutions to improve the efficiency of existing engines. Turbochargers are the most efficient way to... -
Lutz: Buick LaCrosse will look like Invicta, no more badge engineeringBob Lutz, writing today on GM's FastLane blog, discussed the Buick Invicta Concept (pictured) and its relation to the upcoming Buick LaCrosse production car. The GM CEO also gave a look into the future of GM's model-sharing plans, focusing on differentiating cars that share platforms, rather than...
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GM and Mascoma form cellulosic ethanol partnershipRick Wagoner, General Motors' CEO, has recently come out against United Nations research arguing that there is a link between biofuel production and a global rise in food prices, deriding the report as "shockingly misinformed." Perhaps GM's own vested interest in the subject - not just in the form...
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Weber Updates Supercar Concept With 'Faster One'Back in May 2007, we brought you news of the Weber Sportscars 400km/h supercar concept. The odd-looking beast was an intriguing mix of carbon fiber, aluminum and horsepower - with statistics so impressive you could almost forgive the bizarre appearance. Now Weber has updated their challenger for...
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Saleen S5S Raptor 'has the potential for reality'When it debuted at the New York Auto Shot in March, the S5S Raptor bowled over crowds and press alike with its stunning design. At the time, execs at Saleen hinted that the car was more than just a pipe dream, but the latest word from the company's president makes it look like production is a...
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Volkswagen brand posts $718 million Q1 profitDespite the massive losses of early 2008 at GM and Chrysler, other firms, like Maserati and Ferrari are doing quite well - as is Volkswagen. The Volkswagen group's Volkswagen brand generated a $718 million profit in the first quarter, despite essentially unchanged revenues compared to last year...
Nelson Ireson