Alex Kaufmann, Author
Articles
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IMSA Tuning isn’t as widely recognized as fellow German rivals such as MTM, EDO Competition and Brabus, but the performance workshop has released a number of brilliant power upgrades over the... -
Jaguar Trademarks Reveal Plans For New C-XE And C-XJThere have been plenty of rumors circulating about Jaguar planning a new lightweight sports car to rival the likes of the Porsche 911 but until recently we haven’t had any substantial evidence that officials were even contemplating launching a new car. Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show back...
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Dutch buyer sets sights on final VeryonThe 300th Veyron will be the final car built, as was always the plan with the limited-edition hypercar. A Dutch buyer, Harrie van de Moesdijk, will buy the final car to complete his collection of three - one in each color of the Dutch flag. Owning three Veyrons is a unique status symbol in its own...
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Honda says no to plug-in hybridsHonda has always been at the forefront of the eco-technological wave, being one of the first to the market with a mass-produced hybrid vehicle with the original Insight hatch and then breaking new ground once again with the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity. Despite this penchant for innovation, the...
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Driverless podcars to revolutionize urban transport?Futuristic depictions of the 21st century in classic films often showed sprawling metropolises with flying cars, expansive urban development and any of a number of fanciful mass transit systems. The reality of the situation is that our transport systems have evolved to be bigger, faster and...
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Peugeot reveals 908 HY diesel hybrid Le Mans race carPeugeot's current Le Mans competitor, the diesel-powered 908 HDi FAP, has been taking on the likes of Audi's R10 diesel racer among others, where it has met with some success. Previously we reported on Peugeot racing a hybrid-diesel car in the 2009 Le Mans 24 hour endurance race, and now the French...
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The 2010 Lincoln MKT crossover has officially been revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Click here for all the details and images.
Ford surprised show goers at last January’s Detroit Auto... -
Fed loans will help roll-out electric vehicles says ChryslerCongress is currently deciding whether to provide Detroit’s carmakers with new loans that could top $25 billion as part of a greater package to help them ride out the storm that is CAFE. The new regulation will force carmakers to improve their fleet-wide fuel economy levels to 35mpg...
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Hybrid cars still three years away for GM EuropeGeneral Motors has announced on several occasions that its ground-breaking Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid car will be launched to the public in late 2010, but this will be only for the North American market. In Europe, the Volt won’t be available until sometime in late 2011 or even 2012...
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Chrysler planning nine model product offensive for 2010Last month Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli hinted that several “unexpected” models could be launched as early as next year to help meet shifting consumer trends, and now the company’s vice chairman Jim Press has stated that another eight or nine new models could follow in 2010...
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Honda opts out of EV production until batteries mature
While Japanese manufacturers such as Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Subaru all work feverishly to get their electric vehicles on to the market, Honda Motors has decided to stay above the fray, arguing that battery development is too premature to make electricity logical for automotive use. The...
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Report: Nissan considering plug-in hybridsBoth Toyota and General Motors are committed to launching a new generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles over the next two years but they are far from being the only carmakers in the race to develop the ultra-efficient vehicles. A Nissan official has today revealed that his company has already...
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Audi has teamed up with an expert in computer graphics, California’s Futuremark, to develop new technology for its future dashboard display systems. The two companies have developed an... -
Microsoft working on cheap and reliable Wi-Fi for carsMicrosoft has teamed with the Universities of Massachusetts and Washington to develop a new wireless internet system designed exclusively for cars. The technology, which is currently being tagged as Vi-Fi (short for Vehicle Wi-Fi), aims to provide motorists and their passengers with cheaper and...
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eBay watch: Ultra-rare pre-production Ford GT owned by Steve SaleenAnother rare Ford GT has come up for sale on popular Internet auction house eBay just days after a 1000hp (746kW), 235mph (376km/h) Hennessey-tuned Ford GT appeared on the site. This time, the Ford GT in question is a pre-production Ford GT that was owned by Steve Saleen, of Saleen fame. The car is...
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City of Flint grants multi-million dollar tax break for GM engine plantGeneral Motors has been granted a multi-million dollar tax break by the officials of the Flint city council in Michigan in order to build a new engine manufacturing facility for the upcoming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. The new facility, slated to start production in early 2010, will build the...
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Report: Arab investors interested in acquiring HummerDespite continual denials from General Motors that any official talks over the sale of Hummer have even taken place, a new report claims that investors in the Middle East are now interested in acquiring the ailing brand. Hummer’s Middle East chief has revealed that at least two separate...
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Full RWD lineup ruled out for PontiacPontiac has suffered in the past becuase of its ties with General Motors' other subsidiaries, giving the brand a mixed image. On one hand, it offers sporty, RWD vehicles such as the Pontiac G8 and the 2009 Solstice Coupe (pictured), and on the other hand it often borrows vehicles from its sister...
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A survey conducted by the University of Michigan to determine customer satisfaction levels among the major automotive brands has revealed that the Detroit 3 have slipped slightly after last... -
Pininfarina-designed Rolls-Royce Hyperion revealedNamed for a Titan in Greek mythology, the Pininfarina-etched Hyperion is designed to evoke memories of cars from the 1930s with its long majestic bonnet, short rear overhang and low rooflines. Based on the Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, the changes needed to create the Hyperion include the removal of...
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Lexus to launch LS 460 AWD at Moscow Motor ShowLexus currently sells an AWD version of its LS flagship in the form of the range-topping LS 600h but the carmaker is planning to add the same AWD set-up in the LS 460. Set to make its world debut at next week’s Moscow International Motor Show, the new LS 460 AWD will eventually go on sale in...
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Ford confirms 2010 Lincoln MKT production plans
The 2010 Lincoln MKT crossover has officially been revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Click here for all the details and images. Following through on its promise to deliver more attractive, efficient and yet still powerful vehicles as it pushes to rejuvenate its once-stagnant Lincoln brand...
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Next-generation Ford Ka stars in new Bond filmWhile most Bond fans will be salivating over the Aston Martin DBS in the new Bond film, the oddly named Quantum of Solace, fans of the Blue Oval can look out for the appearance of the next-generation Ka subcompact. As expected the diminutive hatch won’t be 007's primary mode of transport...
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GM remains open to Proton tie-upMalaysian carmaker Proton has been linked with a number of international carmakers including the likes of General Motors, Volkswagen, and PSA Peugeot-Citroen for the past several years over the possibility of a tie-up. However, in June of last year, the carmaker with the best chance of securing a...
Alex Kaufmann