Siddarth Raja, Author
Articles
-
Volkswagen has announced that buyers of the Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen in the U.S. are eligible for a $1,300 tax credit that’s normally reserved for hybrid vehicles. The Internal Revenue... -
WaM modified Audi R8German tuning company WaM, short for ‘WheelsandMore,’ is best known for its outrageous wheel designs but the tuner has proven that it can match the big boys like Brabus and Lumma with its latest performance upgrades for the Audi R8. The latest package includes the tuner’s...
Siddarth Raja -
GM in talks with China's ZhongxingGeneral Motors may be looking to expand its links with even more international carmakers, with latest reports indicating the U.S. auto giant is talks with Chinese carmakers Hebei Zhongxing and First Automobiles Works (FAW) Group. Zhongxing is one of the biggest pickup truck manufacturers in China...
Siddarth Raja -
Schumacher signs off on Ferrari California developmentFerrari announced today that Michael Schumacher has completed the track and road development stages of the new California, with the final specifications set and the car now ready for its Paris Motor Show debut in October. Speaking at the final test session, which took place at Ferrari’s...
Siddarth Raja -
Update: Mosley wins sex scandal privacy caseUpdated: Max Mosley on Thursday won his privacy case against the British tabloid News of the World, London High Court judge David Eady ruled. "I decided that the claimant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in relation to sexual activities (albeit unconventional) carried on between consenting...
Siddarth Raja -
KERS - 2009 F1 season start-date may be called offFollowing the problems encountered by teams in the development of KERS systems for 2009, it is now suggested the voluntary debut of the technology might need to be delayed. The highest profile problems experienced by teams include the recent smoke and fume incident at Red Bull's UK factory, and the...
Siddarth Raja -
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, HSV, Holden’s in-house tuning arm, rolled out a concept version of its latest E-series model powered by the Corvette ZO6’s LS7 V8 powerplant at the... -
Toyota develops noise-cancelling system for carsExpanding on the same concept used in noise-cancelling headphones, Toyota has developed a noise cancelling system for its Japanese-market Crown Hybrid that nearly eliminates engine sound within the passenger compartment. The system uses a complex system of microphones, speakers and sensors located...
Siddarth Raja -
Ford's new smart intersection 'talks' with carsFord has started testing a new ‘smart intersection’ traffic system near its main R&D center in Detroit, which relies on GPS and wireless communication technologies to enable traffic lights and street signs to send warnings to approaching vehicles. Ford hopes the technology could...
Siddarth Raja -
Hamann tunes BMW's facelifted 6-seriesGerman tuner Hamann is known for its extensive reworkings of BMW models, as well as other exotica such as the Porsche 911 Turbo and the Ferrari 430. Its latest project is a new-look design for the facelifted BMW 6-series range. Hamann is offering up two aerodynamic kits, including a basic package...
Siddarth Raja -
Mitsubishi confirms Concept-cX for productionMitsubishi has today confirmed that the Concept-cX from last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show will enter production as a new compact crossover model designed to sit under the current Outlander. The new model will feature a constant AWD system and will be the showcase Mitsubishi’s...
Siddarth Raja -
Ultima Projecting Sub-6:55 Nürburgring Lap Time For GTR720The Ultima GTR may not look a world beater but the British-built supercar has racked up a string of first place titles over the years, including being the fastest car to accelerate to 100 mph and back to standstill in a field that included the Bugatti Veyron and Koenigsegg CCX. The GTR was able to...
Siddarth Raja -
Silverstone has been axed as the home of the British Grand Prix after the FIA unveiled plans to move the Formula One race to Donington Park. An agreement has been signed between the FIA and the... -
Supercharged G-Power G4 3.0i EVO III BMW Z4While BMW has opted for a twin-turbocharger system to boost extra power from its 3.0L straight six engine, German tuner G-Power has decided to adopt a new supercharger design for its latest performance upgrade for the Z4 roadster. G-Power is no stranger to drawing big power from BMW engines. The...
Siddarth Raja -
Overfinch Country Pursuits Range Rover ConceptRange Rover tuning specialist Overfinch has developed a new concept vehicle based on the premium Land Rover SUV, which was displayed today at the Salon Prive Luxury and Supercar Show at the Hurlingham Club in London. The modified SUV, dubbed the Country Pursuits Concept, is based on the Vogue SE...
Siddarth Raja -
Indy not giving up on reinstating US GPDespite formula one looking unlikely to organise a US grand prix in 2009, officials of the Indianapolis venue are hoping the sport returns in the near future. F1's provisional calendar for 2009, presented to the FIA World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday by Bernie Ecclestone, did not feature a date...
Siddarth Raja -
New induction system claims 25% fuel economy gainsColorado-based company PRV Performance is claiming to have invented a device that can improve fuel economy figures by around 25%. The device, called a pintle-regulated venturi, or PRV, replaces the traditional intake manifold with a venturi for each cylinder. This allows greater control for the...
Siddarth Raja -
Corvette ZR1 limited to top Chevrolet dealersGM will limit the number of its Chevrolet dealers set to receive the new Corvette ZR1 to just 338 showrooms out of the 3,932 Chevy dealers across the U.S. Only dealers with proven sales records for the Corvette are being included in the new ZR1 project but with most expected to receive just one or...
Siddarth Raja -
Yesterday we saw images of BMW’s next-generation 7-series saloon testing at the Nurburgring and now we have the first shots of its long-wheelbase (LWB) cousin. As expected, the LWB model... -
RWD Chrysler sedans next in line to get hybrid optionChrysler’s first hybrid models, the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs, are about to go on sale but they could soon be followed by even more petrol-electric models in many different segments. The technology could quickly and easily be adapted to more models and is likely to filter into...
Siddarth Raja -
F1 drivers threaten strike over license feesFormula one drivers are threatening to boycott the British grand prix next month, according to reports. They claim the radical increase to the cost of their mandatory FIA superlicenses this year was unfair. Previous to 2008, superlicences cost drivers just 1,690 euros plus 447 euros per point...
Siddarth Raja -
Update: Hamilton denies spending $400,000 on "LEW 1S" number plateLewis Hamilton blankly denied reports he blew nearly $400,000 on a personalised number plate. Reports earlier this week suggested the 23-year-old McLaren driver is now the owner of the plate 'LEW 1S'. At a news conference ahead of the French grand prix, Briton Hamilton said the reports were untrue...
Siddarth Raja -
Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle Enters (Limited) ProductionHonda’s new FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle has finally entered production after the car was first previewed as a concept as far back as 1999 when the FCX-V1 prototype was revealed in Tokyo. Honda’s fuel-cell technology has in fact been in development for more than 19 years and the first...
Siddarth Raja -
Caparo To Debut At 24 Hours Of Le MansCaparo is set to make its first ever appearance at the 24 hours of Le Mans this year, after signing a partnering agreement with the Barazi Epsilon team. The team will be competing in the LMP2 category and will provide Caparo with the opportunity to develop lightweight structures and components to...
Siddarth Raja