Nelson Ireson, Senior Editor
Articles
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China's motor industry has been frequently maligned in the automotive press for its less-than-original designs. And it's certainly true that several of China's more prominently advertised models... -
Does your race determine the kind of car you buy?In a rather bizarre study released today Strategic Vision claims that minorities (full results for Caucasians were not released) have a 'vehicle DNA' that is composed of a 'driver's desires, needs and attribute priorities.' Why they decided to phrase 'vehicle preference' in such a Social Darwinian...
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Edo Competition Audi R8We already saw one of the hottest R8s yet just the other day, thanks to Audi itself, in the form of the R8 V12 TDI. Today Edo Competition brings us a different kind of modified Audi R8 - one that shares a little more in common with the original. In fact, the subtle tuning and tasteful effects added...
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Greener racing from Corvette and ALMSAutomobile racing is probably one of the least 'green' things a person, or company, can do. Driving as quickly as possible just to wind up exactly where you began - it's the definition of waste. But we love it just the same. And thanks to the efforts of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and...
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Updated - Ferrari prepping F430 Spider Bio FuelAlthough Ferrari's concept is not due to drop until later today, news of it has already hit the streets, perhaps because of the hoopla surrounding GM's investment in Coskata, Inc.'s garbage-derived ethanol initiative. Whatever the reason, the fact is that the Prancing Horse is adding some green to...
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Jeep Renegade Concept: Efficient, RuggedRounding out Chrysler's threesome of conceptual goodness is the Jeep division's Renegade. Some say it looks like something out of a video game, some think its cute and others think it's just ugly - but whatever you think of its looks, the Renegade's stat sheet is pretty impressive for a hybrid. A...
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As petroleum prices skyrocket and hydrogen fuel-cells remain in the semi-distant future, more and more auto makers are turning to the electric vehicle as the solution for the present. The futuristic... -
Chrysler ecoVoyager fuel cell concept roams freeWe previewed the three Chrysler concepts coming to NAIAS earlier today, and now we can show you the full story and all the high-res pictures. The sleek and surprisingly powerful ecoVoyager takes Chrysler's hydrogen fuel-cell technology to the next level of application, yielding a spacious...
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Another limited edition Maserati Quattroporte - the Collezione CentoThe Quattroporte saloon has proven to be a great success for Maserati, accounting for the bulk of the record 7,000 cars the company delivered in 2007. In the hopes of an even more successful 2008, Maserati is in Detroit for the NAIAS with a very special, limited edition Quattroporte 'Collezione...
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First look: Chrysler's NAIAS trioThe first part of Chrysler's attempt at a Detroit concept trifecta, the Dodge ZEO is an all-electric 2+2 concept that brings a sexy, aggressive look to an otherwise fairly tame field: electric cars. Sure, Tesla's Roadster is a great looking car, but it's basically an electric Elise. And the Volt...
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GM invests in ethanol production...from garbageThose of us that grew up with the Back to the Future series of movies generally feel a little short-changed when it comes to the innovations promised and not delivered. But GM's doing its best to remedy that by teaming up with Coskata, Inc., a company that has found a way to turn garbage into...
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Volvo launches Powershift twin-clutch gearboxTwin-clutch transmissions are finding their way into many cars these days, from Volkswagens to Mitsubishis to Nissans. Volvo, like other makers that have made the switch to twin-clutch gearboxes, sees benefits to performance, fuel consumption and power handling capability - even in comparison to...
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Whether you're a global warming disciple or a naysayer, the fact that humans generate a great deal of carbon-based pollution is undeniable. Likewise, people all over the world are working to help... -
Volvo building C30-based STCC contenderThe new C30 has been praised for its handling dynamics and good looks since its production launch last year. Now both will be put to the test in the Swedish Touring Car Championship, as the new C30 E85 FIA SUPER 2000 (the car's official name) is replacing the S60 as Volvo's entry in the series...
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Ford launches Mondeo XR5 Turbo in SydneyFord's 'kinetic' design theme has its fans and foes, but whatever one thinks of the theme in general, it does fit the Mondeo well. The newest member of the Mondeo family, the XR5 Turbo, even manages to come across as an aggressive, eager sedan. The forward stance and sleek profile combine to give...
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HSV Maloo R8 Ute launches Down UnderHolden Special Vehicles (HSV) is celebrating its 20th birthday this year at the 2007 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. As part of the celebration, HSV has unveiled the new Maloo R8 Ute. The Thunder from Down Under (the Maloo takes its name from an aboriginal word meaning thunder or...
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Holden Sportwagon debuts in AustraliaHolden's VE Commodore has received a lot of global airtime recently as the basis of the upcoming North American-market Pontiac G8. Europeans already know a spiced-up version as the Vauxhall VXR8. Now the Commodore's home market, Australia, will get a new variant - the VE Sportwagon. The new...
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Mazda3 MPS Extreme unveiled in SydneyWhen Mazda released its Mazda3 MPS (Mazdaspeed3 in the U.S.), hot hatch fans the world over rubbed their hands together in glee. Today is a similarly joyous occasion, as the Mazda3 MPS Extreme has hit the the showroom floor in Sydney at the Australian International Motor Show. Power increases...
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Just days ago, Ford Performance Vehicles revealed the Falcon-based Cobra sedan and ute. Today, at the 2007 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, FPV unveiled its first-ever vehicle not based... -
UAW Strikes Chrysler, some models will feel the pinchJust weeks after UAW's strike on GM, the union is going after Chrysler. A deadline came and went without an agreement this morning at 11:00am US Eastern time. The strike could have devastating effects on the launch of Chrysler's new minivans in the U.S. and Canada. Jeep's four-door Wrangler could...
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Kentucky seeks to make Corvette official state carSince 1953, all Corvettes have been manufactured in only one plant in Warren County, Kentucky. Now a Kentucky State Representative, C.B. Embry, has introduced a bill to designate the Corvette as Kentucky's official state sports car. Embry is aware the move is a controversial one, as Kentucky is...
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BMW's Quandt family to reveal Nazi-era activitiesThe Quandt family, whose members own large amounts of BMW stock, is seeking to clear the air around the family name. Upset by some of the accusations raised against the family, in part by a recent German TV documentary alleging wartime abuses of former prisoners at a Quandt-owned battery plant, the...
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Mercedes-Benz could partner with Fiat for next A and B-ClassIt’s widely reported that Mercedes-Benz is looking for a partner to develop the next range of A-Class and B-Class compact cars but until now it was thought BMW was the only potential target. Latest reports suggest Fiat is also in talks with Mercedes but in a move sure to engender knowing...
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Saab allocating only 175 Turbo Xs for its home marketUnveiled at the recent Frankfurt motor show, Saab's newest 9-3 variant is being produced as a sort of 30th-anniversary celebration. Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated models to issue from the snowy north in recent years, the Saab Turbo X Limited edition is slated for a production run of just...
Nelson Ireson