Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Editor
Articles
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Mitsubishi has finally announced pricing details for its 2009 Eclipse and Spyder after first unveiling the new model back in February. Set to go on sale in the U.S. from next month onwards, the new... -
Chrysler CEO expects U.S. market to slide furtherChrysler CEO Bob Nardelli has repeated statements made by a number of CEOs from rival carmakers including Renault-Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn that the U.S. auto market is likely to slide even further and there’s no prediction of a recovering any time soon. Nardelli expects sales this year to...
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GM exec says car prices will riseAs carmakers face stricter fuel-economy and emissions regulations, shifting demand to smaller and less profitable models and shrinking sales in key markets like Japan and the U.S., GM marketing chief Mark LaNeve says prices for new cars and crossovers will have to rise. This follows previous...
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Audi unveils Q5 S-LineThe new Audi Q5 was revealed less than a month ago but already we have images of the new S-Line package from quattro GmbH for the midsize SUV. The S-Line pack helps to improve the Q5’s handling thanks to the addition of a stiffened suspension kit as well as optional 20in alloy wheels wrapped...
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Auto industry spent record $70.3m lobbying CongressThe auto industry spent a combined $70.3 million lobbying the U.S. government last year, setting a new record for the bill, which came in 19.6% higher than the previous year. The inflated level of spending was driven mostly by new CAFE regulations voted in over the past 12 months. The finding was...
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Mitsubishi Evo X 'MR' and Subaru WRX STI 'Spec C' set to do battleThe Mitsubishi Evo X and Subaru Impreza WRX STI haven’t been on sale for a full year yet but already we have news of hotter performance versions in the works. Mitsubishi will launch a more powerful version of the Evo X with new MR (Mitsubishi Racing) designation. Subaru, meanwhile, will add a...
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Despite losing more than $3.3 billion this quarter, GM plans to invest up to €9 billion ($14 billion) by 2012 to increase the market share of its Opel brand. Of the total investment, €6.5... -
Jaguar XF by Loder1899Although not as dramatic as the Arden and Galpin modified Jaguar XF saloons, Loder1899’s new kit for the car manages to preserve the svelte lines of the original while also adding a sportier edge. Joining the new body alterations is a suspension lowering kit and power upgrade, designed...
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Chrysler's 2007 loss could top $6.8 billionSince Chrysler is under private control it has no obligation to release financial results but according to its former parent company, Daimler AG, its result for the 2007 financial year could be a loss of more than $6.8 billion. Daimler indicated that Chrysler lost roughly that amount in the last...
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Alfa Romeo releases Limited Edition Spider in UKAlfa Romeo’s stylish Brera convertible or ‘Spider’ is already one of the best looking droptops currently on sale but to give its profile a boost just in time for the northern summer UK dealers are now offering a Limited Edition model fitted with a number of new features as...
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Video: IIHS crash-testing the Smart ForTwoEarlier this month the NHTSA revealed concerns about the safety of the new Smart ForTwo minicar after conducting a number of safety tests on it. The results showed that the ForTwo only had marginal passenger safety, and this was if the car was to be hit by a similar size vehicle – a near...
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Electric Bentley Continental DC wins Greenpower raceBentley has shown off its green credentials with a win in the Greenpower Corporate Challenge that took place at a race circuit in Goodwood over the weekend. Bentley’s entry in the challenge was the Continental DC (Direct Current), a small single-seater vehicle built out of carbon fiber and...
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GM will attempt to avoid the same fate as Toyota and reduce production at a number of its plants to prevent an oversupply of vehicles in the stagnant U.S. market. Corroborating with the decline in... -
More details about Chrysler's future midsize platformChrysler is developing a new range of vehicles for one of the most competitive automotive segments in the world, the midsize D-segment, currently dominated by the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Its current offerings, the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, are outsold by its Japanese...
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Shanghai Auto to re-open Longbridge on August 1Shanghai Auto, the Chinese company that bought the rights to MG Rover last December, has revealed plans to resume production of MG and Rover models at the traditional home of MG Rover in Longbridge. Traditionalists will be pleased to know that the cars will be manufactured as they previously were...
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Ford Focus ST styled by TeamRSFord has released a new version of its 2008 Focus ST performance hatch developed by its in-house tuner TeamRS and plan to launch the car in a limited run in the UK from next month onwards. The TeamRS version benefits from new exterior and interior styling changes introduced across the rest of the...
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Report: 5.0L turbo to replace current AMG V8 & V12Now that AMG is no longer focused on chasing big horsepower numbers, efficiency is quickly become the new performance benchmark for the Affalterbach-based tuner. Not even exclusive performance firms like AMG are immune to the effects of stricter emissions and fuel economy standards being phased in...
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Mazda, Mitsubishi and Honda post record 2007 profitWhile Ford is being praised for posting its surprise $100 million first quarter profit, its Mazda subsidiary has shocked just as many analysts with a record profit of $1.55 billion for 2007 – up 2% on 2006’s record level. The jump in profit was on the back of a 7% jump in revenues and a...
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Monaco’s Venturi Automobiles has displayed the latest version of its Fetish electric roadster at today's Top Marques Monaco and revealed new production details about the car, which is due to... -
FIA using Toyota technology to improve F1 & IRL safetyUsually the high-tech world of Formula One is the first to benefit from advanced safety and performance features before the technology eventually filters down into regular road going cars. But with Toyota’s Total Human Model Safety (THUMS) computer simulation system, it was regular production...
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Lexus registers name for new IS coupeMore evidence confirming the development of a new IS coupe has emerged with news today Lexus has registered a number of new names for the forthcoming model range with U.S. and Canadian patent and trademark offices. The new coupe will carry a ‘C’ designation tagged onto the end of the...
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GM debuts 'XFE' green line with 36MPG Chevrolet CobaltFollowing a trend started by a number of European carmakers, GM has revealed a new ‘XFE’ (E)Xtra Fuel Economy labeling system which has debuted on the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. Cars badged with the new XFE logo feature a number of fuel economy improvements and on the Cobalt ensures the car...
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Stile Bertone To Become Independent Design FirmTeetered on the edge of bankruptcy, Italian coachbuilder Bertone and its ‘Stile Bertone’ design house were approved today to be split into two independent factions. This will allow the more successful design arm to separate itself from the downturn that has been plaguing the...
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Preview: BMW 3-series 'Shooting Brake'As premium brands continue to diversify and expand into new segments one bodystyle that appears to be gaining popularity among the German carmakers is the two-door luxury estate – more commonly referred to as the ‘Shooting Brake’. Audi today revealed its own Sportback version of...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran