Kenneth Hall, Author
Articles
-
Late last year BMW retired the straight-six engine used in the previous-generation Z4M, prompting aficionados to start hoping for an even better unit for the 2010 car. Unfortunately however, the...
-
Red Dot design awards winners revealed for 2009
Innovative and interesting designs are rewarded each year with a 'red dot', from world renowned design institution, the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, one of Europe's oldest and most highly reputed design centers. This year a number of interesting entries in the automobile category came away...
Kenneth Hall -
New video provides inside look at Aston Martin One-77 supercar
The era of epic supercars is certainly not over at Aston Martin, with the carmaker confirming the development of a brand new flagship model late last year. A life-size mock up was then put on display at the 2008 Paris Motor Show to tease the public and start building interest for the car, which is...
Kenneth Hall -
Fiat keen to draw SUV know-how from Jeep
Earlier this week Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli mentioned how the proposed $10 billion deal with Fiat could be just what the company needs to bring it back from the brink of bankruptcy. While Chrysler would be gaining Fiat's vast global distribution network, as well as new technology to boost...
Kenneth Hall -
Lewis Hamilton immortalized as Madame Tussauds wax work figure
A lifelike statue of reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton was unveiled by London's Madame Tussauds wax museum today. Unfortunately, he wasn’t on show for the statue’s unveiling as the current F1 World Champion had to fly out to Canada to see a live performance of his Pussycat Dolls...
Kenneth Hall -
Caparo Unveils More Powerful T1 Race Extreme And New Climate Option
Though it's been involved in a fiery incident with a Fifth Gear host, scared the wits out of Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson, and is generally completely impractical, the 575hp (429kW) Caparo T1 still exudes a sort of animal magnetism not many cars can lay claim to. Its close cockpit and semi-open-wheel...
Kenneth Hall -
The British International Motor Show (BIMS) is one of the oldest events of its type in the world, with the first show taking place at London’s Crystal Palace all the way back in 1903....
-
Toyota’s MR2 may return as a hybrid sports car
Toyota's MR2 sports car may have only bowed out of the market less than two years ago but the popular nameplate may soon see a revival, and this time around it could even be sold exclusively as a hybrid. The news comes from Toyota's executive vice-president, Masatami Takimoto, who revealed during...
Kenneth Hall -
Prindiville Prestige leaves no panel untouched when modifying Lamborghini’s LP-640
British tuner Prindiville Prestige specialize in building one-off, bespoke vehicles designed to meet individual client's every whim no matter how demanding they may be. Prindiville Prestige even brags that it can fit out a car’s entire cabin with ostrich hide if a client so desires, but...
Kenneth Hall -
Terrafugia Transition takes its maiden flight
Flying cars have been one of the primary disappointments of the 21st century's expected innovations. The fact remains that nothing approaching what so many enthusiasts had hoped - and been promised - is yet available. We do not fly to work in stylish car-jets, and we do not drive to the shops with...
Kenneth Hall -
Alcoa designs 30% lighter forged aluminum wheels
When it comes to saving fuel, no aspect of a car’s design can be overlooked and one of the easiest and most common methods for carmakers is reducing weight. Whether it’s designing seats with less padding, using more exotic materials such as carbon-fiber or magnesium, or even completely...
Kenneth Hall -
Toyota F1 boss talks about the team's close call with cancellation
Executives of the Toyota Motor Corporation considered following fellow struggling Japanese carmaker out of Formula 1, a top chief of the Cologne based team has admitted. Tadashi Yamashina, team principal and chairman of the marque's motor racing arm Toyota Motorsport GmbH, told a news conference...
Kenneth Hall -
Last year BMW and Fiat first started looking at cooperation over parts and platform sharing and possibly sales and distribution synergies, but with Fiat aligning itself with Chrysler earlier this...
-
Report: Fiat and BMW working on new small car family
Last year BMW and Fiat first started looking at cooperation over parts and platform sharing and possibly sales and distribution synergies, but with Fiat aligning itself with Chrysler earlier this year the scope of its workings with BMW have widened. Though exact details remain scarce, BMW and Fiat...
Kenneth Hall -
Jaguar XF Estate coming to Frankfurt Motor Show?
As we previewed for you last April, Jaguar is rumored to be working on an XF Estate for this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. The car, which would expand on the already highly successful XF range, is expected to be essentially production ready despite its status as a 'show car'. The gang at Auto Motor...
Kenneth Hall -
Ford In-House Tuner Mountune Works Over The Fiesta
Most Blue Oval fans in the U.S. wouldn’t recognize the name Mountune, but over in the U.K. the automotive engineering firm has close links with Ford, especially for the company’s racing programs, and is regarded as its official in-house tuner. Not surprisingly, Mountune was one of the...
Kenneth Hall -
Fiat and PSA Peugeot-Citroen deny merger rumors
Fiat Group, Chrysler and its parent company Cerberus Capital Management in January released a joint statement announcing they had signed a non-binding term sheet to establish a global strategic alliance. The alliance, a key element of Chrysler’s viability plan, would provide the American...
Kenneth Hall -
Think Global planning U.S. production for new electric city car
Think Global is a Norwegian manufacturer of electric vehicles and is the same company behind the original ‘Th!nk’ electric car that went on sale in the U.S. during the late 1990s. Back then, Think was owned by Ford, which sold it in 2003 to Swiss company Kamkorp Microelectronics. In...
Kenneth Hall -
Volkswagen-owned Skoda doesn't get much press in the U.S. but over in Central and Eastern Europe it is one of the most popular automotive brands. Having launched new versions of its mainstream...
-
Lotus planning supercharged, convertible Evora variants for 2011
Europeans are gearing up for the May release of the new Lotus Evora, but already there's something else to look forward to: a convertible version, due to hit the streets in 2011. It's expected to draw even more attention than the hard-top, which has proven a favorite among celebrities around the...
Kenneth Hall -
Ford planning Tri-Fuel Mondeo capable of running on petrol, ethanol and LPG
Ford of Europe will be expanding its flex-fuel vehicle range with the addition of a new variant of the Mondeo capable of running on three different types of fuel. Scheduled to make its debut later this month at the Leipzig Motor Show, the new tri-fuel Mondeo will be able to use petrol, ethanol, or...
Kenneth Hall -
Renault Sport Experience: touring Europe with hot hatches
The best way to make a small fortune in motorsports? Start with a large one. Yes, the old adage is true as ever, but it need not always be, at least in a few cases. The Renault Sport Experience is one way to get some track time on the cheap, and it's getting ready to hit some of the most famous...
Kenneth Hall -
Queen inducts Lewis Hamilton into the Order of the British Empire today
British racing drivers are no strangers to royal honors when they do well, and Lewis Hamilton today finds that out first hand, being inducted into the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. The induction ranks Hamilton at the entry level of the Order, with the title of...
Kenneth Hall -
Early look at BMW’s next wave of EfficientDynamics technology
As manufacturers seek ways to create more efficient cars without compromising power or driveability, eyes are increasingly turning to new technologies and ideas. BMW is looking to electricity generated by exhaust gas heat and solar power to take the electrical load off the engine and thereby...
Kenneth Hall