Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Editor
Articles
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We’ve seen Nissan engineers testing cars at famous race tracks such as the Nurburgring and Laguna Seca but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped using their own private circuits. It... -
Lexus IS F confirmed with 417hp under the bonnetDespite Lexus showing off its new sports sedan back in January at the Detroit Auto Show the company has been surprisingly tight-lipped about the number of horses kicking under the hood. However, today’s Japanese launch of the IS F allowed to officially state the figures as well as other...
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First look: Volkswagen Touareg R50Volkswagen has announced it will show the new high-performance Touareg R50 at the upcoming Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. While the company hasn’t announced final power figures, it claims they will be well above the output of the V10 TDI, which stands at 230kW and 750Nm of...
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Gallery: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X detailsThe new Evo X is unashamedly one of our favorite cars of the year and we suspect it will be at the top of wish lists of many readers as well. Not many cars out there come close to matching the Evo in terms of bang for your buck and it doesn’t hurt that the latest model looks amazing as well...
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Next-gen Corvette to get AWD?Information revealed yesterday in a UAW document outlined GM’s plans to install a dual-clutch gearbox in the C7 Corvette and now we have reports that it might feature an AWD system as well. GM and Sweden’s Haldex have developed a new performance AWD system called XWD that debuted in the...
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Land Rover hoping for 20% emissions reduction by 2012Land Rover and its fleet of SUVs is perceived by many to be one of the worst polluters in the industry but recent announcements to introduce carbon-offset programs and engine stop-start technology shows that it is trying to improve that image. Officials have now set a target to cut average carbon...
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GM's stand at this year's SEMA show will feature an Enclave SUV designed by NBA star Jerome Williams dubbed the Urban CEO Edition. The modified Enclave features the usual oversized wheels, lowered... -
GM planning dual-clutch gearbox for C7 Corvette?More details about GM’s future plans have emerged from the last week’s release of official documents by the UAW outlining plant allocations for its new products. Earlier today we reported that GM is yet to designate a brand for its upcoming Volt plug-in hybrid and now we have news the...
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McLaren confirmed as Prodrive F1 supplier in 2008McLaren and Prodrive are in agreement about 2008 and are merely awaiting confirmation about the 2008 regulations, Ron Dennis said in Japan. The two teams have long discussed a possible collaboration about sharing a chassis-engine package for Prodrive's formula one debut next year. The only...
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Ralf Schumacher quits Toyota F1 teamRalf Schumacher has announced that he will not race for Toyota in 2008. The German veteran, who joined the Japanese giant in 2005 but has particularly struggled this year, said he is seeking a "new challenge" for the future. "I have been waiting years for a competitive car," he said from Shanghai...
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Gallery: More of the 2008 Audi A4The new A4 is an incredibly important car for Audi as it’s not just the largest seller, but also the first all-new A4 for almost eight years. Underneath the skin is Audi’s latest Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLP) that is shared with the Audi A5 and will eventually make its way to more...
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Chrysler to offer alternative-fuel option on every modelAutomotive fuel choices abound, with more new technologies arriving every year. Ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen, electricity, liquid natural gas, and hybrid combinations of each are being experimented with around the world and now Chrysler has announced plans to join the mix by offering an...
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First Volvo unveiled a new blind spot warning system, then Mercedes followed suit and launched its own version, and now Jaguar has announced plans for a new blind spot detection system as well.... -
Chery CEO outlines carmaker’s ambitious futureChery Auto is one carmaker we’ll all be hearing a lot more of in the near future and, with a deal already signed with Chrysler and new partnerships being formed with Fiat, you’re likely to be seeing more of Chery a lot soon than you think. Enigmatic CEO Yin Tongyao has now revealed some...
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Toyota's overseas output passes domesticToyota’s overseas production will exceed output from its Japanese facilities at the end of the year for the first time in the company’s history. Global output for Toyota will top 8.6m units this year, with more than 4.3m cars planned for production in factories outside of Japan. Strong...
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Europeans still choose petrol over dieselDiesels are known for their excellent fuel efficiency and strong torque characteristics so it’s not surprising roughly half of new car sales in Europe are diesel. However, the same can’t be said for the rest world where sales of petrol powered cars still dominate. A new study conducted...
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New Saab crossover to be built in MexicoSaab is one brand whose roots are strongly fixed in its country of origin, Sweden, but, as the effects of globalization take hold, product planners will soon have us driving Saabs born from Mexico. The upcoming 9-4X crossover will manufactured at GM’s assembly plant in Ramos, Mexico...
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Mazda ‘Prestige Edition’ MX-5 roadsterThe MX-5 (Miata) roadster remains one of Mazda’s top performers and it’s set to become even hotter with the release of a new ‘Premium Edition’ styling package in the Japanese domestic market. The lightweight convertible gets fitted with new leather seats and 17in BBS forged...
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Having previously drooled over this hardcore Carrera GT modification we were shocked to discover someone had taken advantage of the company’s extensive individualization program and decided to... -
BMW launches 1-series cabrioBMW has added a new model to its entry-level 1-series range with the introduction of the all-new 1-series cabrio, a stylish convertible that follows in the tradition established by the original BMW 2002 sedan. The new car features a conventional folding softtop, which can go up or down in 22...
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Toyota surges ahead in fuel-cell developmentToyota has reached a new milestone with the unveiling of an upgraded version of its fuel-cell prototype claimed to be 25% more fuel efficient than the current model. The car also has the added benefit of using less electricity to power its onboard equipment than previous versions. After completing...
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MG finally brought back to the roadMonths after its partner SAIC launched the nearly identical Roewe 750, Chinese automaker Nanjing Auto has officially launched its own MG7. Based on the original British built MG ZT, the new Chinese version comes with a choice of two new engines. The first is a turbocharged 1.8L unit producing...
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Rolls-Royce reveals details on new coupeRolls-Royce has confirmed production plans for a new coupe model based on its 101EX (pictured) concept car that starred at the Geneva Motor Show last year. The new production version is set to go on sale next year where it will join the current Phantom saloon and Drophead convertible in...
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Detroit 3 sales still depend on ‘Buy American’ adageThe latest study run by J.D. Power and Associates has found that the desire to ‘buy American’ still has a significant influence in convincing new car buyers in the U.S. to pick a domestic brand over an import. According to the 2007 Escaped Shopper Study, nearly 80% of new car buyers...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran