Siddarth Raja, Author
Articles
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Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli revealed yesterday that he expects the carmaker to remain in private hands for the next three years at least and was confident in the decisions being made by current... -
Volkswagen Golf Mark VI to feature stop-start techClick here for all the official information and pictures for the 2009 Volkswagen Golf Mark VI The sixth generation Golf is scheduled to make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in October but a few tantalizing details about the new car were revealed recently in an interview with...
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F1 could spawn new spin-off championshipThe shadowy world of formula one politics has crossed the Atlantic from Paris to Montreal's Ile Notre Dame. The big rumour in the paddock of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve late on Friday was that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is hatching a plot for a breakaway championship. The news is a logical...
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New 7-series to feature high-tech night vision systemBMW will be showing off some new technology in the next-generation 7-series flagship saloon set to be revealed next month. Already confirmed for the future sedan is a new hybrid powertrain as well as an eight-speed automatic gearbox but according to latest reports it will also feature a new...
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Report: Chrysler equals Toyota for efficiencyThe latest report from influential analytical firm Harbour Consulting-Oliver Wyman has found that Chrysler’s Supplier Park plant in Toledo, Ohio, is the most efficient vehicle assembly plant in North America. Not only that, the Harbour Report also found that Chrysler’s overall...
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Ford Flex finally enters productionAfter what seems like an eternity, Ford’s new Flex crossover has entered production at the carmaker’s Ford Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada. The Oakville plant has increased production and is adding 500 jobs in an effort to keep up with the demand for new crossover models...
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Despite fears of a worsening economy, rising fuel prices and shifting demand for smaller cars, Ford won’t be scaling back sales targets for its latest 2009 models such as the upcoming Flex... -
Porsche tops Luxury Institute's brand status surveyThe Luxury Institute is a New York-based research firm that traditionally compiles data based on the opinions of America’s wealthy, solely the top 10% of highest earners. The Institute’s latest study, based on the responses of 1,642 wealthy American consumers with an average income of...
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Ford confirms Mexican-built Fiesta hatch and sedan for North AmericaFord announced today that its next-generation Ford Fiesta will be manufactured at the Blue Oval's Cuautitlan plant, near Mexico City. Production for the small car will begin in early 2010, and Ford has also confirmed that the Fiesta will come in sedan form as well as the sporty Euro hatchback model...
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Honda to save U.S. jobs by shifting productionHonda plans to increase supply of its Civic to meet increased demand for small cars in North America by freeing up capacity at its Alliston plant in Canada to make way for more production of the popular sedan. Honda will do this by moving production of the Pilot SUV and Ridgeline pickup, also...
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Ford to cut up to 12% of salaried jobsHaving already cut close to a quarter of its North American employees in its bid to return to profitability, Ford has told its remain staff that more job cuts are set to come and this time it would be the fulltime salary employees getting the boot. During a meeting with employees from its marketing...
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Rolls-Royce releases official sketches of RR4 sedanRolls-Royce today revealed the first design sketches of its upcoming baby sedan, known internally as the RR4. Due to be launched in 2010, the new saloon will be smaller than the current Phantom and will be powered by a brand new engine. Although the car is expected to share much in common with...
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The worsening exchange rate differential between the strengthening euro and weakening U.S. dollar means importing European manufactured models to North America is now significantly more expensive... -
PanTerra Concept wins Californian Off-Road Machine design compThe PanTerra Concept created by Australian designer Filip Tejszerski has taken top honors at this year’s Californian Off-Road Machine design competition organized by Local Motors. The goal for designers was to create an ‘exciting design for an exceptionally capable off-road vehicle...
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Donkervoort D8 GT Enters ProductionDonkervoort has been building a range of cars loosely based on the Lotus Seven chassis for the past three decades, starting with the Ford-powered S7 back in 1978 and culminating with the new Audi-powered D8 GT. The coupe was first displayed as a concept at last year’s Geneva Motor Show and...
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Ford cutting U.S. output, expects to break even in 2009Ford has announced today that it will cut its North American production for the rest of the year as high fuel prices and falling demand for its trucks and SUVs continue to hurt sales. In a second statement, Ford also conceded that it will run at a loss this year but expects to break only even at...
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Ecclestone - 'No British GP in 2010'Bernie Ecclestone on Wednesday said there are currently no plans to stage a British grand prix in 2010. Quoted by the Daily Telegraph newspaper, the F1 chief executive likened negotiations about a new contract for the Silverstone race, whose existing deal runs out next year, to a "dead duck". It is...
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Fiat needs U.S. partner says CEOWhile Fiat has long ignored the U.S. market, the Italian manufacturer is mulling over a return to the world’s biggest market. The carmaker’s CEO Sergio Marchionne has revealed that distribution, rather than manufacturing, is Fiat's current greatest hurdle to entering the market, but has...
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Audi has revealed an updated version of the open-top TT clubsport quattro at the Wörthersee Tour tuning show in Austria today. The new car was spotted recently by spy photographers and was first... -
Porsche Exec Denies Rumors Of Baby Cayenne And 928 SuccessorPorsche is planning to expand its operations considerably over the next couple of years by hiring up to 2,100 new employees and opening dozens of new dealers in emerging markets such as China and Russia. However, don't expect to see any major model launches as the only car Porsche marketing exec...
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Average speed cameras planned for 20mph zones in UKLast month we reported that the UK government was considering rolling out ‘average speed’ cameras across hundreds of miles of highways in an effort to actively control speeding instead of just measuring it. New reports claim the draconian measure could also be used in residential areas...
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Nissan predicting 30% profit slumpEarlier this week Nissan announced a healthy operating profit of $6.91 billion for the last fiscal year but has warned the road will be rocky and is predicting a profit slump for the current financial year of 30.5% - down to around $4.8 billion. Nissan is blaming unfavorable currency swings, rising...
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Production Chevrolet Camaro to debut at Sept. IndyWith all the excitement of the recently launched Dodge Challenger it’s easy to forget that another American muscle car is just around the corner. Chevrolet’s new Camaro, which first appeared in concept form at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, is finally set to debut in production trim with...
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Audi to follow BMW's lead and adopt ZF 8-speed autoAudi’s top-of-the line models are likely to feature ZF’s new eight-speed automatic set to roll in next year and the carmaker is already testing vehicles fitted with the fuel-efficient gearbox, according to inside sources. BMW has already confirmed it too will adopt the new design for...
Siddarth Raja