Kenneth Hall, Author
Articles
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Chrysler LLC launched into a new segment in Latin America today, with the introduction of the new Dodge Trazo at the São Paulo Motor Show. The Dodge Trazo C1.8 will be offered as a low-cost... -
Lamborghini may launch special edition model to mark 45th anniversaryTomorrow will mark the 45th anniversary of Lamborghini's first foray into the automotive world, the 350GTV. Speculation over exactly how the company will celebrate the occasion has led to talk of a possible special edition Murcielago - perhaps even the long-rumored SV. Just last week a test mule...
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Official details for Fiat's FCC II 'Bugster' ConceptBrazil is a burgeoning automotive market, home to both intensely rural and highly evolved metropolitan environments. The unique influence of this setting has brought about an appropriately unique concept called the FCC II - a sort of buggy/roadster mashup with a helping of ecological consideration...
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Caterham unveils new Superlight R300 and Roadsport 175Small-scale British sports car manufacturer Caterham has officially released details about its new Superlight R300 two-seater, as well as its touring-focused Roadsport 175. As per its name, the Superlight 300 is focused on agility and minimalism - its extremely light weight of 515kg (1,135 lbs)...
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Renault reveals Sand’ Up Concept at Sao Paolo Auto ShowRenault has taken the covers off a new concept car at the Sao Paolo Auto Show in Brazil. The new concept is the Sand’ Up buggy and is loosely based on the French carmaker’s Sandero line of budget cars. In Brazil the Sandero is known as the Stepway and it is set to be updated, with...
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KTM X-Bow 'Race' Released For Private Sale, Priced At 82,900 EurosAs if the standard X-Bow weren't track-ready enough, KTM has decided to release its ex-works X-Bow 'Race' models from FIA GT4 competition for private sale. Sold as ready-to-race privateer cars, the new X-Bows aren't monstrous, V8-powered fire-breathers, but rather finely tuned and honed cars for...
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General Motors will temporarily suspend matching payments into its employees’ 401(k) accounts as it struggles to raise liquid cash. The suspension of matching contributions will come into effect on...
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Chrysler confirms plans to discontinue Aspen and Durango hybrid SUVsChrysler has announced that it will discontinue its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango full-size hybrid SUVs less than a year after first revealing them and only two months into their full-scale production. The main reason behind the move is the closing of the Delaware plant where they are made...
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Report: Toyota's slumping sales will lead to first loss ever in U.S.While most of its rivals all reported significant losses through the first half of 2008, Toyota managed to increase market share to 16.8% and post a $3.8 billion profit for the second quarter. Despite this, both analysts and the carmaker itself are predicting a drop in year-on-year sales volumes...
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Rolls-Royce CEO: electric Phantom 'would be ideal'Old-world charm, resolute styling and blue-blooded buyers may not be the first things one mentally associates with electric-powered cars, but Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves thinks the combination makes perfect sense. Instantaneous torque, quiet operation and urban propriety all work in favor of an...
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Australia next to join project Better PlaceIsrael and Denmark have already started work to build the first nationwide infrastructures designed to support electric cars. Now Better Place has announced Australia will become the third - and most geographically challenging - nation to join the program, at an estimated investment of $676...
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Microcar releases the M.GO electric city carFirst sighted at the Paris Motor Show earlier this month, the Microcar M.GO Electric is an all-electric city car with the proportions of the Toyota iQ or Daimler Smart ForTwo, but offering up to 87mi (140km) of driving range on batteries alone. Powered by a rechargeable battery pack that takes less...
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Aston Martin is already one of the most bespoke and prestigious labels on the planet but the company is seriously considering positioning its next-generation models further upmarket to make way for... -
Chrysler cancels Getrag dual-clutch contractJust as Chrysler was preparing to begin bringing a dual-clutch transmission to its North American fleet, a dispute with Getrag has sent plans for yearly production of up to 700,000 of the units up in smoke. Earlier this month Chrysler brought a lawsuit against Getrag, and now the German gearbox...
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Chinese government allegedly bans Hyundai-Kia importsThe Chinese government has reportedly suspended the majority of vehicle imports from South Korea following a complaint made by several Chinese dealers that Hyundai-Kia is backing its own dealer groups at the expense of independent firms. The decision comes after the filing of a petition against...
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Opel Insignia saloon tuned by IrmscherGerman tuner Irmscher is a specialist when it comes to modifying Opels, having worked with the brand for more than 40 years and previously installing a V8 engine in the compact Opel GT. Not surprisingly, it's one of the first companies to work on the new 2009 Insignia sedan, and has now released a...
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French Grand Prix canceled as organizer drops backingWhen the FIA released the 2009 Formula 1 calendar, the only notorious absence was the Canadian Grand Prix. Now, financial circumstances have forced the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA) to issue a statement dropping its support for and sponsorship of the 2009 French Grand Prix...
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WedsSport unveils IS350-based D1GP drift carJapanese tuning house WedsSport has been racing a specially tuned Lexus IS350 in the Japanese Super GT since early in the current season, but now the performance workshop has turned its attention to the growing world of drifting. Sticking with the Lexus IS model, WedsSport has created a special...
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In the wake of reports of a possible merger between Chrysler and General Motors, the company has begun looking for partners to build its mid-size platform. The new car will replace the... -
Chevrolet starts trials for WTCC Cruze race carThe all-new Chevrolet Cruze is an important model for General Motors globally, so from the start of its development there have been plans to eventually enter it into the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). The international race series competes in Europe, Africa, South America and the...
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Acura boasts NSX will be faster than Nissan GT-RHonda is pulling out all the stops for its replacement for the Acura NSX supercar, confirming it will be powered by a new V10 engine and boasting that it will be faster than Nissan’s GT-R. Expected to be sold exclusively under the Acura brand, the new model is scheduled to arrive in 2010 for...
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New MINI Crossover Won’t Be Called ‘Crossman’Mini recently revealed a concept version of its upcoming crossover model at the Paris Motor Show but didn’t go so far as to give it a name. Until now most sources, including this one, reported that Mini’s new crossover will be called the ‘Crossman,’ however the...
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AMG boss confirms mild-hybrid modelWith AMG no longer focused on chasing big horsepower numbers, efficiency could quickly become the new performance benchmark for the Affalterbach-based tuner. Currently in development is a range of new diesels, advanced lightweight materials and construction methods, as well as a hybrid system for...
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Tiny Secma F16 Roadster offers unique French take on track-day toyIt shares its name with a famous American fighter jet for the obvious connotative reasons, but the resemblance ends there. A sports-roadster on the scale of a Smart ForTwo, the Secma F16 offers a bare-bones take on the sports car. Gullwing doors, a retractable top and the overall vibrant look make...
Kenneth Hall