Nelson Ireson, Senior Editor
Articles
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Tuners - perhaps especially the German-car tuners - seem to leave no stone unturned in the search for more performance and sportier looks. Abt's latest creative burst brings us this new take on... -
Hyundai may replace Tiburon with Veloster-based coupeThis year is the last for the Tiburon two-door hatch, though Hyundai is quick to point out it's not being replaced by the new Genesis coupe due to hit dealerships in early 2009. Its replacement - another small FWD coupe - will most likely be based on the sexy Veloster concept from the Seoul auto...
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2008 International Engine Of The Year Nominees ChosenThere are many publications, organizations and companies that hand out awards to the automotive industry for its various technical and design achievements, but few are so lauded as the winner of the International Engine of the Year competition. Judged by a panel of 62 of the world's top automotive...
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Roewe releases new pictures of 550China's auto design industry has been lambasted for being everything from farcical to downright plagiaristic, and it has largely deserved the criticism. Nevertheless, makers like Roewe - the Chinese owners of what used to be MG Rover - soldier on, producing cars that look vaguely like the...
Nelson Ireson -
New LED tire valve cap monitors pressure for youNew valve-caps, called P-eyes, which monitor the air pressure of the tire they're attached to have hit the market. Pitched as a handy tool for commercial fleet owners, we don't see why the tire-pressure monitoring caps wouldn't work equally well on your personal vehicle. The caps use LEDs combined...
Nelson Ireson -
Beijing bans car painting and repairs ahead of OlympicsAlready athletes around the world with gold medal hopes are wondering if their stay in Beijing will permanently damage their respiratory systems. The intensely polluted Chinese city is aware of the concerns about its air quality, and is taking every step it can to reduce the problem before the...
Nelson Ireson -
We were treated to a preview of the next-generation Honda Pilot at this year's Detroit auto show, and now that the official production variant has been released, we see how accurate a preview it was.... -
Electric parking brake works with the push of a buttonParking brakes are often overlooked, less-than-glamorous parts of most cars. After all, most of us live in areas that hardly justify their use, especially on automatic transmission cars. But pressure in the industry to drive prices ever-downward means no part can be overlooked when it comes to...
Nelson Ireson -
Video: Volkswagen promos show new Scirocco in actionHotly anticipated since the first Iroc concept broke cover back in 2006, Volkswagen's newest take on the Scirocco made its production-form debut at this year's Geneva motor show. Now VW has released a pair of promo videos that show the new car in action, inside and out. The first is a...
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Cadillac working to build image with new modelsOver the last few decades the American auto industry - including Cadillac - has seen brand image slide steadily lower, both at home and abroad, while rivals in Germany and Japan have been becoming progressively stronger. It looks like we may already be seeing the pendulum swing back toward...
Nelson Ireson -
Hennessey Lexus IS-F and Nissan GT-R in the worksPerhaps most famous - or infamous - for its even more over-the-top take on the already outrageous Dodge Viper, Hennessey Performance is considering expanding its collection of custom cars to include more foreign makes and top of its list at the moment is the new Lexus IS-F saloon and the Nissan...
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Volkswagen Golf GTI Pirelli EditionClick here for all the official information and pictures for the 2009 Volkswagen Golf Mark VI If you're the type that can't get enough of special UK-edition Volkswagens, the Golf GTI Pirelli is just the fix you're looking for. Bringing back the GTI Pirelli edition 25 years after it first hit the...
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A month ago news of Chrysler's impending two-week North American summer shutdown sent ripples through the automotive press. Speculation of tough times and drastic fixes ran amok. Today word from... -
SAIC-Nanjing acquires European rights to MG nameChinese automaker Nanjing purchased much of the MG brand while then-rival SAIC took ownership of other names under the MG umbrella, including several Rover models. Not included in either deal, however, were rights to distribute under the MG trademark in Europe. That has been rectified, however, for...
Nelson Ireson -
Update: New York State blocks congestion chargeUpdate: Despite passing a City Council vote earlier this month, New York’s proposed $8 congestion charged has been axed after it was voted against by state legislators yesterday. Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver in Albany announced the plan wouldn’t be taken up because it was deemed an...
Nelson Ireson -
UK Nissan GT-R sales stronger than expectedOffering supercar performance for high-end sports car prices is a winning formula for obvious reasons. The GT-R's recipe for success has been so well-received around the world that the car's limited supply is being snatched up almost as soon as it's available. UK buyers placed orders for nearly 700...
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Update: Production Volt scale model caught on videoThe final design has been selected, markets have been chosen and production targets established - even if the car loses money for GM. Starting this month, the propulsion systems will begin road testing, bringing the Volt another step closer to reality. Some have doubted either GM's willingness or...
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Gemballa GT380 911 aero kitFor a lot of people, adding performance to a Porsche 911 is just unnecessary - it's already blazingly quick. But to make it look unique, that's something worth spending some time on. Cue Gemballa's GT 380 appearance package. Replacing the front skirt, the bonnet, the side and rear skirts, the rear...
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Incredible demand has created a waiting list for buyers trying to get their hands on a Smart ForTwo in its first year of official U.S. sales. Strong fuel efficiency, easy urban maneuverability and a... -
CSM forecasts global auto market rebound in 2009Drawing on a host of statistics, trends and no small share of black arts, the industry analyst group CSM Worldwide has announced a forecast for the auto industry that shows a slow 2008 followed by a robust 2009, ramping up to 17.7 million units worldwide by 2014. CSM also sees growth returning to...
Nelson Ireson -
Unique Performance victims sue Carroll ShelbyJust days after the liquidation of the shady car customizer's assets, Carroll Shelby has been served with a suit brought by the former customers of Unique Performance, the Texas company that engaged in title-washing and other scandalous behavior that eventually led to its bankruptcy and criminal...
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Oil industry under fire in WashingtonAs oil companies rake in record profits and pump prices soar ever higher, Democrats in Washington are asking why the industry is fighting so hard to keep massive tax breaks. The answer - simple supply and demand - seems to fall a bit short. But it's one thing to see the problem, and another...
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Update: Lamborghini LP560-4 priced to boost salesUpdate: Lamborghini set records for sales in 2007, more than doubling its profit from the year before - itself a banner year. The record mark was set largely on sales of the popular Gallardo. With the new, lighter and more powerful Gallardo LP560-4 on the horizon, Lamborghini expects to push sales...
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Mitsubishi fits SST dual-clutch gearbox to Outlander SUVAlready heralded as one of the first high-performance dual-clutch gearboxes to be put into an affordable car, Mitsubishi's Sport Shift Transmission (SST) will also see use in the company's Outlander SUV. This is the first implementation of a dual-clutch gearbox in an SUV and is another step towards...
Nelson Ireson