Siddarth Raja, Author
Articles
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When the EuroNCAP (European New Car Assessment Program) was established back in 1997 the achievement of a five star rating in any of the categories seemed almost impossible. Just over ten years... -
IMSA Tuning Audi RS6 Avant with 650HPIMSA Tuning isn’t as widely recognized as fellow German rivals such as MTM, EDO Competition and Brabus, but the performance workshop has released a number of brilliant power upgrades over the past 12 months, including this latest kit for the new Audi RS6. Based around the Avant model (the RS6...
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Spy shots: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL faceliftThe current C216 Mercedes-Benz CL was first introduced at the end of 2006 and didn’t appear in most markets until early the next year, however, engineers are already hard at work testing prototypes for an updated version of the car. Given the lack of modifications to the exterior of this...
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Jetstream SC250 roadster enters productionFollowing in the lines of cars like the Caterham Seven and Ariel Atom comes a new British sports car that has been designed primarily for the track but is still fully road legal. The car is the new SC250 from Jetstream and it’s now in production after being revealed for the first time at last...
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GM to sell Volt plug-in hybrid as an Opel in EuropeGeneral Motors’ Opel division is working on two new plug-in hybrid vehicles based on the same E-Flex architecture that’s set to debut in the Chevrolet Volt, but the Chevy will also make it to Europe, although not until late 2011. The car will initially be sold as an Opel but will...
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China set to overtake Germany as Volkswagen’s biggest marketThis year could see China overtake Germany as Volkswagen’s biggest market for the first time, with sales in the country already at record levels and managers forecasting more than 1.05 million sales in China for the year’s total. VW is the current leader in China, commanding a 19.1%...
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Ford’s new EcoBoost engine technology is heralded by the company as the key to finding a balance between power and economy, but buyers will have to wait more than a year for the first... -
B&B Tuning Audi RS6 with 715HPThe sheer number of tuning packages for the new Audi RS6 offering more than 700hp (522kW) that has turned up almost overnight just goes to show how much potential the standard car’s 5.0L V10 has. Already we’ve seen such monstrous tuning kits from MTM and ABT Sportsline, and now we have...
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Bernie Ecclestone keen to launch low-cost GP3 seriesBernie Ecclestone is working on a coup to scuttle fellow F1 powerbroker Max Mosley's plans for a low-cost 'formula 2' feeder series. Already in the driving seat of the official support category GP2, it is rumoured the F1 chief executive is in talks to fashion a third tier to his empire - 'GP3'...
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Report: Volvo considering cheaper cars, higher volumesVolvo executives have stated as recently as last month that the carmaker is looking to position its future vehicles further upmarket and into segments dominated by the likes of Germany’s luxury marques. This was to help Ford, which still owns the Swedish carmaker, to keep a foot in the door...
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Update: New sedan to take Acura to ‘tier 1’ statusUpdate: Acura's plans for its future lineup are ambitious and bold - two necessary qualities for a Japanese company seeking to enter the luxury car market and beat the Germans at their own game. To do so the carmaker has its sights set on a radical revamp of its current lineup as well as the...
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Toyota reveals 99% nosedive in North American operating profitLast week saw Toyota announce its first profit drop in nine years, with the carmaker revealing a 39% decline in its global operating profit the quarter ending in June this year. The industry juggernaut has now revealed an even worse result in percentage terms for its North American unit, with...
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Abu Dhabi group eyes stake in DaimlerThe Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has expressed an interest in purchasing a large stake in Daimler, according to new reports from Germany. The ADIA is wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi Government and is purported to be one of the largest wealth funds in the world, with estimates for the fund...
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Cadillac reveals U.S. pricing for 2009 Escalade Hybrid: 20MPG city economy for only $3,600 premiumUpdate: Cadillac has finally released pricing information for its new 2009 Escalade Hybrid SUV, which will start appearing in showrooms across the U.S. this month with a price tag of $71,685 – a premium of only $3,600 over a comparably-equipped Escalade. For the extra cash, buyers can expect...
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London admits congestion charge failureTraffic levels in London are the same today as they were five years ago when the city’s controversial congestion-charge (c-charge) was first introduced. This has prompted officials to admit that the scheme is a failure as it has not significantly reduced traffic levels or journey times as...
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Lexus Rates Highest In Latest J.D. Power Dependability Study, Followed By Mercury And CadillacLexus has once again taken top honors in the annual J.D. Power and Associates vehicle dependability study, a position it’s held for the past 14 years. Last year, however, saw Buick sharing the top spot but in the latest study the GM division has slipped to sixth place. The annual study looks...
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Toyota announces 39% profit drop for last quarterHit hard by falling sales of large SUVs and pickups in the United States as well as the effects of rising fuel prices and a worsening economy, Toyota has announced that its operating profit dropped 39% for the quarter ending June 2008. Key reasons cited for the poor result include slowing sales...
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Jaguar's iconic XJ is turning 40 this year and to mark the occasion the carmaker is organizing a number of celebrations including a classic car Grand Prix run by the Automobile Club of Germany at the... -
Survey reveals 71% of Brits would switch to EVsA survey conducted by esure car insurance has revealed that almost three-quarters (71%) of British motorists would consider driving an electric car to help combat ‘green’ issues. The survey revealed the differing opinions between younger and older motorists, with those aged under 25 the...
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Audi reveals pricing for U.S. A4 Sedan and AvantAudi of America today released pricing for two of its newest entries, the 2009 model year Audi A4 sedan and A4 Avant. Pricing for the base sedan, which comes with a 211hp (157kW) 2.0L TFSI engine, starts at $32,700, while the A4 Avant will start at $34,500. First deliveries will start in September...
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Report: GM in talks with Indian, Chinese and Russian firms over Hummer saleLess than two months after General Motors first announced that its Hummer brand was up for review, reports have emerged claiming the U.S. carmaker is in talks with firms based in India, China and Russia. India’s Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), which has previously expressed interest in developing...
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Rear-wheel-drive Lamborghini Murcielago LP710-2 by Edo CompetitionGermany’s Edo Competition is an expert when it comes to modifying ultra-rare exotics so who better to tune one of Lamborghini’s fastest and most hardcore cars ever produced – the limited edition Murcielago LP640. Squeezing more power from the car’s highly strung V12, where...
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Saab 9-3 Concept could appear at Paris Motor ShowSaab is set to present a new offroad version of its compact 9-3 model, dubbed the 9-3X, at this year’s Paris Motor Show but according to latest reports the car could be joined by a concept version of the next-generation model. The new show car will be the third concept car from the Swedish...
Siddarth Raja