Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Editor
Articles
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Porsche’s momentum in the sales race shows no sign of slowing, and with the introduction of all new models the once exclusive sports car brand is on the road to becoming mainstream. Current... -
More details on Saab’s new 9-3 plus new twin-turbo diesel and AWD techSaab is celebrating 60 years of manufacturing cars with a series of events and festivities planned for the Swedish town of Trollhättan this weekend. Officials have been getting around town in pre-release versions of the upcoming facelifted 9-3, and there were plenty of fans on call to snap these...
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VW rejects claims of a Proton tie-upMalaysian newspapers are reporting that talks between Volkswagen and state-owned Proton are nearing competition, with the German carmaker likely to take management and equity control of Proton within months. However, Reuters reports that a VW spokesman has disputed the claims and stated “it...
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Ex-Aston designer Henrik Fisker’s new wheelsFormer Aston Martin designer Henrik Fisker, the man behind such beauties as the DB9, Vantage and even BMW’s Z8, has applied his talents in the world of aftermarket alloy wheels. His California-based car company, Fisker Coachbuild, has now released a limited set of alloy wheels styled by the...
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Saleen helping to import Chinese cars to USThe recently retired founder of motorsports company Saleen Inc., Steve Saleen, has taken up the role as CEO of New Jersey-based ZX Automobile Company of North American (ZXNA) to help import Chinese vehicles to the US. ZXNA is a subsidiary of Chamco Auto, a company that plans to launch a Chinese...
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Final Specs For Caparo’s New T1 SupercarDevelopers of the high performance two-seater Caparo T1 are putting the final touches on a near production ready prototype, with the car set to make its debut at this month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in full production trim. The first customer cars are already being readied for the start of...
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Carbon fiber has always been the material of choice when it comes to high-performance auto exotica. The woven synthetic is lighter and tougher than metal, helping to reduce overall car weight and... -
Saab celebrates 60 years of making carsSaab enthusiasts from all over the world are gathering in the Swedish town of Trollhättan this weekend, to celebrate Saab’s 60th anniversary as a carmaker. Saab was originally just an aircraft manufacturer, hence the famous ‘born from jets’ tagline, but in 1947 it launched its...
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BMW signs-off Tritec engine project to ChryslerBack in 1997, the Chrysler Group and Rover (then a subsidiary of BMW) formed a partnership to develop a compact four-cylinder engine for a range of new small cars. The Tritec joint venture was born, which soon saw the development of an engine factory at a site in Brazil. After BMW sold-off its...
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Lexus LS460 By Wald InternationalWe’re used to seeing plenty of tuned autos from the German marques, but rarely do we see a Japanese saloon get the aftermarket treatment. Wald International is a Japanese tuner that specializes in the modification of some of Europe’s finest, cars like the Bentley Continental GT, BMW...
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Ford trumps Toyota in initial vehicle qualityToyota has always been widely regarded as the leader in quality, but new evidence suggest America’s Big Three are catching up and even taking the lead. In an annual study of new vehicle quality, Ford managed to walk away with top honors for 5 categories out of a list of 19. Though Porsche and...
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Preview: Opel and Chevy to launch mini-SUV by 2010GM’s European division will be launching a new mini-SUV based on the Corsa hatch, a vehicle that could be sold as a Chevrolet or Saturn for the US market by the end of the decade. Smaller than the current Antara SUV, which is sold in the US as the Saturn Vue, the new Corsa-based SUV is being...
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Most of you would recognize this car as the official F1 safety car, but to others, the CLK 63 AMG Black Series is one of the most desired Mercedes-Benz models this side of the CLK-GTR. This latest... -
Nanjing Auto considers production of the MG7 CoupeBack in 2004, MG-Rover released a coupe concept based on the Rover 75 sedan but the prototype quickly disappeared when MG-Rover was split up and sold off. Fast forward to today, and UK’s Car Magazine is reporting that China’s Nanjing Auto, the new owners to the rights of MG, is...
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Mercedes developing 35MPG Bluetec diesel S-classMercedes-Benz is reported to be developing a new version of its S-class limo equipped with an ultra-efficient Bluetec diesel engine. With a motor displacing just 2.2L, the new diesel driven S-class should return a fuel economy rating of just 6.6L per 100km, or roughly 35mpg. We should get our first...
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Palumbo M80 hybrid supercar in the worksWe may soon be able to add a new vehicle to the growing list of sports cars equipped with electric motors. This time ‘round we have the American designed Palumbo M80 hybrid car, a two seat, mid-engine sports car utilizing a lightweight spaceframe chassis made of aluminum alloys and advanced...
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Official Details For Renault's New LagunaRenault has revealed details for its new Laguna mid-size sedan and wagon, a model the French automaker's designers claim is significantly better on the inside than anything else in its price range. Inside, occupants are treated to real wood and metal paneling as well as a newly-designed center...
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GM Alpha update, RWD Pontiac G6 due in 2010Despite concerns over the survivability of development plans for a new range of rear-drive models from General Motors, the midsized Alpha project is reported to be well underway with the first model due by the end of the decade. Alpha is the name of GM’s midsized RWD platform, a global...
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The Formula One team of the same name is not under threat despite the financial difficulties of its Dutch road-car making parent company Spyker.
That is the insistence of team boss Colin Kolles,... -
Solar powered PriusCalifornia-based Solar Electrical Vehicles (SEV) has created a unique option for the Prius electric hybrid. The kit consists of a convex solar-panel made from high efficiency mono-crystalline photovoltaic cells, with modules rated at 200-300 watts. The power is used to charge a 3kW secondary...
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Renault Developing New Twingo RSRenault is set to unveil a new performance variant of its upcoming Twingo hatch at next year’s Geneva Motor Show. Aimed directly at potent runabouts such as the Suzuki Swift Sport and Polo GTI, the new sporty hatch should feature around 130hp with sales to start in the second half of next...
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Ford admits its designs are boringFord has been slow to act on the environmental front and with the styling advancement of its sedan range, a mistake senior management, including former CEO Bill Ford, regrets. You only have to look at the boring designs that have gone into its passenger cars to understand how stale Ford’s...
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Smart Fortwo to get stop-start technologyDaimler will be testing the waters with its own automatic stop-start fuel-saving technology when it introduces an updated Fortwo minicar later this year. Already introduced in several BMW models, the system works by automatically shutting down the engine when the car stands still in traffic and...
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F1 in peril, carmakers could quit - MosleyIf Formula One does not act, car manufacturers could quit and the very existence of motor sport could be under threat. That is the belief of FIA president Max Mosley, who in an interview with the newspaper Welt am Sonntag justified his tough stance on modernising the rules for the future. Talks...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran