Siddarth Raja, Author
Articles
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In this classic clip from Top Gear, "The Queen of the Nurburgring" Sabine Schmitz takes a Ford diesel transit van around the 'ring, challenging Jeremy Clarkson's time in a Jaguar S-type.
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EU to standardize driver's licenses by 2013
The European Parliament agreed on a new law that would standardize all 110 licenses currently in use by drivers in the European Union. Under the ‘old’ system, it was possible to exploit a loophole and gain a license in a country even after your license had been revoked in another...
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GM: We overused the SS labelIt’s rare to hear a company so openly admit it was wrong, but that’s what GM is saying when it comes to its use of the “super sport” label. In recent years it has applied the moniker to the undeserving Malibu sedan, which only gets minor feature and visual updates. "Not...
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The Bugatti remixed BentleyIf you can’t want a few more years for the rumoured Bugatti sedan, LEW Design of Germany will build the next best thing – out of a Bentley Continental GT. The LEW “Big Bang” (silly name, that) gains a front design with the famous Bugatti grille, Touareg-esque headlights, and...
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Mitsubishi unveils all-new LancerMitsubishi has released pictures and information of its next-generation Lancer sedan before its official unveiling at the Detroit auto show in January. The 2008 Lancer is based on the Concept-X shown by Mitsubishi in 2005 and features a more aggressive look compared to the previous model. The 2008...
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Volvo's low speed accident prevention systemDon’t you hate it when you’re stuck in a traffic jam, only to move further up and see that it was caused by a couple of drivers that weren’t paying attention? Volvo’s just developed a system that aims to minimize exactly that by forcing the car to brake when it senses an...
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Acura has unveiled probably one of the ugliest concept cars at the Los Angeles Auto Show today. The creation of the company’s Los Angeles-based advanced design team, the Advanced Sedan Concept... -
Jaguar to call the new S-type the XFJaguar’s make or break next generation S-type will be called the XF to reflect the monumental changes that the company is making for the new model. Jaguar hopes to drop the old chairman-style image of its previous models and instead portray a brand that’s dynamic and sporty. Now...
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Skoda’s new Roomster ScoutSkoda has launched its new Roomster Scout MPV, which joins its Octavia Scout sibling in the Czech brand’s crossover lineup. Based on the standard Roomster hatch, the Scout grows in all dimensions and rides on unique 16in alloy wheels as standard. Other visual enhancements include the plastic...
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Alfa's 159 is going on a dietAlfa Romeo’s 159 sedan is one of our favorite cars at the moment. It has the right blend of character, styling and dynamics to make it the best in its field, and has charmed motoring journalists across the world. However, the more potent AWD V6 version weighs a considerable 200kg more than...
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Cadillac launching European assaultCadillac has had a dog of a time selling the uninspiring BLS sedan to the European market. The car was a hack-job based on the Saab 9-3 and never really encapsulated the image that Caddy stands for. Europe already has a negative image towards American cars and we hope the BLS hasn’t further...
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GM may follow Ford and dump minivansThe decline in popularity for the minivan, down 50% this year, has led to rumors that General Motors will be dropping all minivans from its future lineup. An inside source from GM commented to The Detroit News that the company has no immediate plans to build minivans after the upcoming closure of...
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Three out of every four Chinese built cars have developed at least one defect within the first six months of use, according to a survey conducted by the Chinese Association for Quality. Worse still,... -
Next generation Corolla set for Helsinki Motor ShowToyota has already launched its new Corolla for the Japanese domestic market, but the European version of everyone's favorite car/appliance will make its premiere at Helsinki Motor Show at the end of this month. The car will be offered in sedan versions initially, but will arrive in hatch and wagon...
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Ferrari Panamerican 20,000 ends at Wall StreetFerrari’s Panamerican 20,000 has come to an end with the two cars, a pair of 599 GTB Fioranos, crossing the finish line at the New York Stock Exchange. The cars started off on the 24th of August in Brazil and completed the trek in 15 stages and with 50 different international journalists...
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Limited edition JDM MR-S marks the end of the MR-2Toyota will mark the end of its production of the MR-S (MR-2 Spyder) with a run of 1000 limited “V Edition” vehicles. The cars will go on sale from the 9th of January 2007 in Japan only, with actual production expected to end at the end of that same month. The current model MR-S was...
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Video: Fifth Gear test of the Volvo C30Here’s Fifth Gear’s review of the C30 hatch from Volvo, and initial thoughts of the new car seem promising. Get the low-down on the key safety features and gadgets, as well as the car’s on road dynamics.
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GM Claims Fuel Cells Will Be Commercially Viable By 2010General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] recently announced that it was planning to build hybrid-electric cars in China by 2008, with drivetrains co-developed with DaimlerChrysler and BMW. However, the company is still fully backing hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles and has announced today that it could...
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Automotive research firm CSM Worldwide has looked into its crystal ball and forecast that worldwide vehicle production including cars and trucks will jump to 78 million units for 2012 from the 2005... -
Mercedes is back on trackChrysler Group may be in the thick of it but its parent, DaimlerChrysler, is enjoying its best results in years. The company saw operating profits jump 127% to 1.2 billion for the third quarter despite Chrysler loosing $1.5 billion over the same period. Sales are up 9.3% this year and according to...
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Chevrolet's Prisma Y ConceptChevrolet has revealed a new concept car based on the recently launched Prisma sedan, and is targeting the hip youth market with this new sporty crossover. The “Y” tag, which stands for youth, emphasizes the design direction that was taken by its Brazilian designers in developing the...
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Alé aims for Automotive X-PrizeThere’s no end to the wacky designs that are being displayed at SEMA this year, and the Alé high-mileage car from Fuel Vapor Technologies (FVT) is probably the strangest one this side of Jay Leno’s EcoJet. Created by inventor George Parker, the Alé concept has been in development for...
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Gravana tuned Saturn Sky at SEMAGravana Tuning has collaborated with GM Design to create a turbocharged Saturn Sky concept for SEMA. Gravana is a highly regarded supplier of aftermarket accessories, and the company has added several high-end accessories to push the Sky’s 2.4L Ecotec engine beyond 300hp. The addition of a...
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Foose designed Fords in showrooms by 2007Ford has done a deal with Chip Foose’s design studio to create a range of special edition models to be sold in Ford dealerships across the country in 2007. Ford officials weren’t willing to comment on how many of the Foose designed cars would be up for sale, but if Foose’s past...
Siddarth Raja