Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Editor
Articles
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CSM Worldwide, an outfit that provides automotive market forecasting, is predicting that 2009 will be the worst year for the auto industry since 1982, with just 11.5 million vehicles expected to be... -
Ford refuses to comment on talks with Chinese firms over Volvo saleEarlier this week reports emerged that Ford was in talks with Chinese carmakers Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and Changan Auto over a potential sale of Volvo. The Blue Oval has now confirmed that the struggling Swedish carmaker is up for sale but refused to comment on whether...
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Report: UAW seeking seat on GM boardThe UAW is reportedly seeking a major stake in General Motors as well as a seat on its board in return for making concessions under the carmaker’s latest restructuring proposal presented to Congress last week. The latest news contradicts statements from UAW president Ron Gettelfinger, who...
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European launch for Chevrolet Cruze on track for April 2009While General Motors’ financial strife may be putting many of its development plans on the back burner for now, a statement from Chevrolet's European Executive Director confirms that the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze will remain on schedule for its debut in the European market in just a few...
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Panerai releases ‘Ferrari California’ Flyback ChronographFamed watch company Panerai, whose timepieces were once favored by Italian navy commandos for their superior performance, has now released a new chronograph to celebrate the launch of the Ferrari California convertible. Known as the Ferrari California Flyback Chronograph, the new watch will be...
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Ward’s Auto reveals '10 Best Engines' list for 2009As we approach the next Detroit Auto Show, one of the events mainstays for the past 15 years, the Ward’s Auto 10 Best Engines awards, has once again been announced. The list, which is the North American auto industry’s only award for powertrains, is selected by Ward’s editors, who...
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General Motors has confirmed that it will cut an additional 2,000 factory jobs at three of its North American plants early next year, while at the same time asking Congress for a federal bailout... -
Four-cylinder Toyota Highlander pricing starts at $25,705Shifting demand for smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles around the globe, but especially in North America, has hit carmakers hard. Even industry leader Toyota is feeling the pain, announcing shocking profit results for the past quarter on the back of flagging sales for its SUV and pickup...
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Chrysler founder’s great-grandson rallies public support for ailing carmakerThe great-grandson of the founder of Chrysler has publicly declared his support for the company, attending a rally in Baltimore to help the carmaker campaign for a federal bailout package. Frank Rhodes, great-grandson of Walter Chrysler and furniture maker, stated that he wants to "see them...
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2010 Mazda3 Hatchback makes its debut at Bologna Motor ShowMazda has held the world premiere of the new Mazda3 five-door Hatchback at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy today, ahead of its sales launch planned for early next year. The second-generation Mazda3 Hatchback follows on the heels of the four-door sedan, which was revealed recently at the Los Angeles...
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Ford CEO to drive Escape Hybrid to Congressional hearingsLast week we reported that executives from the Detroit 3 plan to drive down to Washington for Congressional hearings in some of their most fuel efficient models, rather than taking their expensive corporate jets as they had done for the last round of hearings. Ford has now announced that its CEO...
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Preview: Audi R8 ‘Spider’ convertibleThe convertible version of Audi’s R8 supercar has been spotted testing in Germany without a hint of camouflage material. These images of a prototype, plus a new computer generated preview, reveal that the convertible will gain a conventional fabric roof but misses out on the R8’s...
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Ford's drive for a new-generation of 'global' vehicles will receive a boost with the unveiling of a new model at next month's Detroit Auto Show, which will reportedly showcase the company’s... -
Rumored full specs for Nissan GT-R Spec-VNissan execs have confirmed the existence of a Spec-V GT-R, a lighter and more powerful version of the already extreme Japanese supercar, and we now have what is rumored to be final specs for the car based on information revealed at this weekend’s 12th annual Nismo Festival in Japan. The...
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Mini unveils Mark II Cooper CabrioMini has released the first details about its second-generation Cabrio model, which is set to go on sale in the first half of next year in both Cooper and Cooper S trims following a world debut at January's Detroit Auto Show. Equipped with a new suspension set-up, more powerful and efficient...
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Nissan reverses decision to pull out of Chicago Auto ShowAuto shows are generally where carmakers like to 'wow' their future customers and show off their new models to both industry rivals and the press. But with the current economic crisis affecting the automotive industry so severely, many companies are choosing to forgo attending the current lineup of...
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Volkswagen shows off new Mark VI Golf 'TwinDrive'A few months back Volkswagen revealed its intentions to enter the race to build and market ultra-efficient plug-in hybrid vehicles with the unveiling of the original Golf TwinDrive. The concept car, based on the Mark V Golf, featured a twin powerplant design with an electric motor designed for city...
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ABT Sportsline joins growing list of VW Scirocco tunersThere is no shortage of tuners taking Volkswagen's handsome new Scirocco to pieces and rebuilding it to be a track monster, and the latest to join the grow list is Germany’s ABT, which has unveiled its second take on the sporty Scirocco. Hans-Juergen Abt, the current manager of tuning firm...
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Volvo's plans to move upmarket have been known for some time now, but the carmaker's new European boss Stuart Kerr has said that a couple of important factors are holding back the brand from reaching... -
Design for C3R Chevrolet Corvette Stingray project updatedWe first reported on the C3R Chevrolet Corvette Stingray project at the start of this month, and now we can confirm that the original design has been updated slightly to give it a more aggressive and planted stance. The new C3R is a retro-styled homage to the 1969 Corvette Stingray, but unlike many...
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Mitsubishi pulls out of Detroit Auto ShowAuto shows are generally where carmakers like to 'wow' their future customers and show off their new models to both industry rivals and the press. But with the current economic crisis affecting the automotive industry so severely, many companies are choosing to forgo attending the current lineup of...
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BMW insider reveals details about ‘green’ supercar based on M1 HomageDespite BMW not having built a true supercar for 30 years since its original, limited-edition M1 model, a "high ranking insider" at the firm insists management is trying to reinvent its performance image with a new 'green' supercar based on the wild M1 Homage concept revealed earlier this year. BMW...
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Nissan 370Z official details, prices start at $29,930Earlier this month Nissan released the first official image of the upcoming 2009 370Z Coupe, which made its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, and now the company has released official details for the car. In the first full redesign of the iconic Nissan Z since its re-introduction...
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Porsche confirms 2009 February launch for Cayenne Diesel in EuropePorsche is only a few months away from launching its first ever diesel model with the carmaker announcing today that it will launch an oil-burning Cayenne SUV in Europe in February next year. The sports carmaker claims the decision was taken in response to changed legal regulations especially in...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran