Alex Kaufmann, Author
Articles
-
It seems that almost every month some rich playboy/plutocrat/sheikh crashes his million dollar Ferrari Enzo. In this case, a yellow Enzo was crashed in Abu Dhabi, presumably by a rich sheikh that... -
Toyota to overtake Ford in the USToyota may overtake Ford’s position as the number two carmaker in America as early as January. A report from the New York Times states that internal Ford projections show that Toyota’s rapidly increasing marketshare will be higher than Ford’s shrinking sales next year. Ford is...
Alex Kaufmann -
Camaro convertible could pave the way for a soft-top MonaroWe reported a while ago that GM would be displaying a soft-topped Camaro at the Detroit Motor Show. A concept of the soft-top Camaro was shown last year at Detroit and was approved for production using the Zeta rear-wheel-drive platform, the same platform that is used in the latest Holden VE...
Alex Kaufmann -
Hamann Ferrari 599GTB with 673 bhpAs if the Ferrari 599GTB wasn’t already perfect enough, Hamann has decided to offer a power upgrade and bodykit for the V12 powered car that makes it even better. The extra power is produced by fitting an Hamann high-performance sports header, including racing catalytic converters, to...
Alex Kaufmann -
Mercedes Rumored To Be Buying Out McLaren GroupAfter months of ‘will-they-won’t-they’ between McLaren and Daimler Chrysler’s Mercedes-Benz, it appears that a merger is finally close to taking place. F1 Racing magazine is claiming to have sources that are “absolutely certain that a sale is taking place.” The...
Alex Kaufmann -
Elfin gets new owner, eyes export opportunitiesIt’s rare for us to get two stories about Australian sports cars in the same month, let alone the same day, but today we got news that the Joss supercar is for sale, and now we can report that Elfin has been bought by Walkinshaw Performance. The company is run by Scotsman Tom Walkinshaw and...
Alex Kaufmann -
An airbag maker is developing special seats that can detect an imminent side impact and push the seat further into the middle of the car to reduce passenger injuries. Side-mounted radar would be used... -
Finally, Maserati’s Quattroporte AutomaticWhen it comes to big luxury saloons, our favorite has always been the Quattroporte. Not because it’s got the most gadgets or it’s the most expensive, but because it’s incredibly fun to drive and feels more special than the usual German sedans. The only major problem is the...
Alex Kaufmann -
Peugeot unveils 207CC cabrioAfter the seemingly endless flurry of spy shots and videos of the 207CC test mules in action, Peugeot has finally taken off the wraps for one of the most beautiful convertibles in the world. The hardtop roof can open and close in around 25 seconds after lowering all four windows, and is built in...
Alex Kaufmann -
Lotus US spec Sport Exige CupThe Lotus Sport Exige Cup is a track-ready edition of the Exige roadster that runs a more powerful version of the engine from the supercharged Exige S. Power is up to 252hp at a lofty 8000rpm and torque is 179lb-ft at 7000rpm. Those rpm figures may seem high, but the Toyota sourced four-cylinder...
Alex Kaufmann -
Nissan adds 200HP SE-R Spec V to Sentra lineupNissan will be selling new versions of its Sentra starting from March next year in SE-R and the more powerful SE-R Spec V trims. The original SE-R launched in 1991 helped establish the concept of a "sport compact" car, and now the new model will help lift the bar further for cars with sports...
Alex Kaufmann -
Platinum Series Cadillac XLR, STS and DTSCadillac will be launching its new limited edition Platinum Series range of cars at this week's L.A. Auto Show, with cars that feature even more luxury and quality than the label's regular models. Just as Cadillac’s V-series extended the brand's credentials into the performance arena, the...
Alex Kaufmann -
Despite the millions of dollars spent on drink-driving deterrents each year, the number of drivers being caught intoxicated behind the wheel hasn't declined significantly. There’s now a push... -
Maserati To Present Track-Only MC12 Versione Corse At BolognaMaserati will reveal its MC12 Versione Corse for the first time at next month’s Bologna Motor Show. The Versione Corse is a track-only car derived from Maserati's MC12 GT1 race car, and is aimed at well-heeled track enthusiasts. The Versione Corse features a modified version of the 6.0-liter...
Alex Kaufmann -
Millions of vehicles may lose OnStar serviceThe subscription-based OnStar monitoring and tracking system, best recognized for its ability to bail out motorists in traffic accidents via an automatic call to emergency agencies, is about to leave millions of customers out on their own. Operators will soon be signing off for some of...
Alex Kaufmann -
First images of the VW Neeza conceptThe wraps have finally come off the Volkswagen Neeza concept car at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. Touted as a crossover meets sports coupe, the Neeza study involved both Chinese and German designers and signifies the future of new models from Shanghai Volkswagen. Produced with...
Alex Kaufmann -
Saturn Vue making its debut at L.A. Auto ShowGeneral Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has outlined key details about the Saturn brand and more specifically its Vue crossover. Lutz tells us that the vehicle will be launched later this month at the L.A. Auto Show and that it will be very similar to the PreVue concept (pictured above) that was...
Alex Kaufmann -
Cadillac building stretched DTSCadillac will unveil a long-wheelbase version of its full-size DTS sedan at the Los Angeles auto show later this month. Labelled the DTS-L, the new sedan will hit showrooms early next year and will be powered by the same 275hp 4.6L Northstar V8 from the standard version. Key changes are the extra 8...
Alex Kaufmann -
We previously reported that Ferrari was working on an "Insertable” 4×4 system that’s designed to send drive through the front wheels during slides and loss of traction. The optional... -
GM's intelligent new key fobGM will introduce a remote-control key fob next April that provides drivers with information about their car’s tire pressures, odometer and fuel levels, whether the doors are locked and even the ability to change the radio station, all remotely. The device will cost $150, and will initially...
Alex Kaufmann -
Volkswagen Neeza concept planned for BeijingVolkswagen will be displaying its new Neeza concept at the Beijing Motor Show later this month, which could form the basis of a new crossover model similar in size to its Touareg SUV. The concept car will feature rear-opening suicide doors and side mounted cameras in place of rear-view mirrors...
Alex Kaufmann -
Big plans for GM’s small Gamma platformLike Ford, General Motors is starting to realize the benefits of using a truly global platform in high volumes. AutoWeek is reporting that both a GM source and one of its supplier’s has mentioned that the General is developing a new platform for small cars that it will share across its global...
Alex Kaufmann -
Scion limiting production to remain hipToyota’s youth-focused Scion brand has been doing so well that the label is planning to scale back its output in an effort to remain popular. Scion is on track to beat its forecasted sales of 150,000 cars by an additional 25,000 units for 2006, but will limit its output as part of its...
Alex Kaufmann -
The legend that is Carroll ShelbyCarroll Shelby, the name is synonymous with motorsport and high performance Ford Mustangs, and has been a mainstay in the automotive world since the 1950’s. Shelby first entered the limelight in the 1950s and early 1960s as both a performance tuner and race-winner with his famous win at Le...
Alex Kaufmann