Kenneth Hall, Author
Articles
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The gargantuan Audi Q7 can now be fitted with an updated version of the carmaker’s already frugal 3.0L six-cylinder TDI, promising even greater efficiency than the previous mill as well as more... -
Holden VE wagon and HSV Maloo Ute leaked againThe Sydney Motor Show is just over a week away but already we have images of some of the highlights planned for GM’s Aussie division Holden. Images of the new VE Commodore wagon and HSV Maloo Ute were published by local magazine Motor ahead of their official debut in what’s being...
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VW’s new tagline: ”Das Auto”The marketing types over at Volkswagen want us to think ‘VW’ when we think of cars so they’ve launched a new campaign with the simple tagline “Das Auto,” German for “The Car.” VW used the backdrop of last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show to launch its new...
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Ariel Launches New Atom 3The Ariel Atom is essentially a highly-strung engine bolted to a metal frame with a pair of seats and four wheels attached. There’s no roof, windows or significant safety features but what you get in return is an amazing power-to-weight ratio and an acceleration time for the 0-60mph of just...
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Mazda Unveils Taiki Concept And Next-Gen Rotary EngineOne of the more interesting concepts we’ve seen in a long time has just been revealed ahead of its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. The new concept is called the Mazda Taiki and is the latest in a string of organic-influenced concept cars including the previous Nagare, Ryuga...
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Autobahn could still see speed limitsGermany’s political parties are waging war over a proposal to introduce a speed limit to the country’s world famous autobahn. In one corner is the Social Democrats Party (SDP), which has unexpectedly voted in favor of introducing a top speed of 130km/h (80mph) for the speed limit-free...
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For those of you who thought having your car seized would be bad enough, imagine what it would be like to have it crushed. That's exactly what happened to thousands of motorists in Manchester,... -
BMW X1 To Be Built In Germany, MINI SUV To Be OutsourcedDespite its entry-level positioning, BMW’s upcoming X1 SUV will be manufactured at a plant in Germany because most of its sales are expected to be in Europe. Production plans for larger vehicles like the new X6 and the next-gen X3, meanwhile, have been moved to BMW’s Spartanburg...
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Fifth Gear presenter crashes while drifting vanWhen Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond ended up in hospital after his spectacular crash at 288mph, he could at least boast he was driving an insane jet-powered car at an equally insane speed. The same can’t be said for the presenter of rival motoring TV show Fifth Gear, Tom Ford, who was...
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BMW Group reveals future strategy - CS, X1, Rolls Royce Coupe, and Mini SUV confirmedBMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has spilled the beans on the carmaker’s future plans with the release of a document today outlining its official strategy up until 2020. According to the document, BMW hopes to sell up to 1.8 million vehicles by 2012 and sees increased volumes as the key to improved...
Kenneth Hall -
Nissan GT-R site goes global, brochure details leakedSales people at Nissan will be taking pre-orders for the new GT-R super coupe as of tomorrow, which means there will be official brochures packed with crucial details for would be buyers. Nissan has released a press release with some initial details, the only important piece of info being that the...
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BMW's Reithofer details plan to lead luxury marketLeading its strategy is a shift in production of the X3 to America, where crossovers are likely to become king, and a shift in focus of the Z4 to Europe, where small, sporty cars have long seen great success, according to BMW boss Norbert Reithofer in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport. With...
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One of the more interesting vehicles of 2007, the new Can-Am Spyder, has entered production and the first units have already rolled off their Canadian production line. The three-wheeler is...
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Fiat developing new crossover and compact carsWith its financial troubles now clearly behind it, Fiat is intent on expanding its lineup with a range of stylish new models that were previewed recently at last week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The first of these will be a new B-segment compact car positioned below the current Grande Punto that...
Kenneth Hall -
Infiniti line to expand to ’10 or so’ modelsOf the three major luxury Japanese brands, Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, only Lexus could be considered as a true rival to the more established German premium makes because of the other two’s limited lineup. However, Infiniti is working hard to become a major player in the premium segment as...
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Toyota withdraws performance modelOnly a month after the launch of its first official TRD model, Toyota has been forced to suspend sales following the report of an engine failure last week. The car is the 323hp (241kW) supercharged and FWD Toyota Aurion sold in Australia, and this latest occurrence is a rare blip on the...
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2008 Toyota Land Cruiser Set To Debut In SydneyToyota will be using next month’s Sydney Motor Show as the backdrop for the world premiere for its 200 series Land Cruiser. On display will be two new gasoline and turbodiesel variants, as well as the debut of the Aussie-developed KDSS suspension setup and Toyota’s new...
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Edo Competition 911 GT2 RPorsche’s new 997 GT2 only made its world debut this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show so there’s still plenty of life kicking in the former 996 version. The tuners at Germany’s Edo Competition were given the chance to perform one last major performance upgrade for the 996 GT2...
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We’re used to seeing plenty of highly modified petrol cars but every now and then a tuned oil-burner crops up. This time it’s from the Bavarian-based Abt Sportsline, which has taken the... -
Video: Crash testing old cars vs. new
Car crash technology has moved significantly in the last 15 years, however, the laws of physics still put smaller cars at a major disadvantage compared to larger ones, right? That’s the “common sense” UK’s Fifth Gear aims to debunk by showing how a relatively new five-star...
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VW considers new pickup, planning more minicarsIn its quest to overtake its main rival Toyota, especially in the lucrative US market, Volkswagen is considering developing new pickup truck models to expand its range. In addition to the new utilities, officials are also planning to develop a “family of small vehicles,” as revealed by...
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Volkswagen Polo cabrio concept brings light, spaceBuilt on the sporty VW Polo GTI as a base, the new Polo cabrio concept brings new life to the compact and usually staid car. The car will be developed by Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, producer of 16 different roof systems, including those of the Pontiac G6 convertible, Renault Megane CC, and VW New Beetle...
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Updated: Mercedes S400 and ML450 Hybrids arriving in 2009The luxury labels are finally catching on to the hybrid bug with Mercedes-Benz the latest to announce plans to introduce new hybrid variants of its ML450 SUV and high-end S-Class saloon. Earlier today, BMW revealed its hybrid ambitions with the unveiling of the new X6 Active Hybrid and now Mercedes...
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Jaeger chronograph unlocks the Aston Martin DBSLike something straight out of a James Bond flick, Aston Martin is offering a limited edition Jaeger LeCoultre wristwatch for its new DBS that can be used to unlock the car and fire it up. Available only to buyers of the 510hp flagship, the new watch carries a price tag of €25,000. Remember...
Kenneth Hall