Alex Kaufmann, Author
Articles
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Swedish video game entrepreneur Bo Stefan M. Eriksson has pleaded no contest to embezzling two supercars and being a felon in possession of a firearm. You may recall that Eriksson, who has already...
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Chrysler cancels Pacifica replacement?Rumors are circulating that Chrysler has decided to stop work on a replacement for the Pacifica, originally due in 2009. Auto industry sources told the Detroit Free Press that they had been told to stop work on the new car, codenamed CT, and that some were even forced to lay off workers on the...
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VW considers new performance modelsIt seems the aftermarket tuning world is too hard to resist even for Volkswagen, the company famous for “unpimping” their autos. Showing up to the mother of all aftermarket tuning conventions, SEMA, VW trotted out two highly modified versions of its Golf hatch aimed squarely at the raft...
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Audi's Mini fighter coming in 2009Audi’s boss of Marketing and Sales, Ralph Weyler, has confirmed that the automaker is working on the A1 and that it’ll bring the fight to BMW’s MINI in 2009. The new car will be built using underpinnings from the previous Golf and current Polo, and is expected to cost around...
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Mistrial Declared In Stefan Eriksson CaseThe trial of former Swedish video games executive and ex-mafia boss Stefan Eriksson has progressed with the announcement of a mistrial for charges of fraud and grand theft. You may remember that Eriksson was originally arrested after crashing a Ferrari Enzo during a drag race with a McLaren SLR...
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Volvo developing DSG-style automaticsVolkswagen’s DSG gearbox has won accolades for its slick shifting, efficient power delivery, and fuel economy ratings, and there have been reports that other carmakers are trying to build their own version of DSG. Volvo has announced it’s also working on developing a DSG style...
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Bristol Cars is a manufacturer of hand-built luxury cars based in Filton, near Bristol in the U.K. Their annual output is less than 150 cars per year, but the company has made some fiery models in... -
Pontiac Solstice Club Sport Z0K & GXP-R at SEMAThere were two highly tuned Solstice’s at this year’s SEMA auto show that managed to catch our attention. First there’s the Club Sport Z0K, a fun little weekend track car, followed by the GXP-R, perfect for those Sunday drivers who wish they could be down at a track. The Club...
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Possible S-Class convertible renderingMercedes Benz could be working on a convertible version of its S-Class saloon, and the car may even make a showing at the Detroit Motor Show in January. Car and Driver magazine has put up a possible rendering of the new convertible and mentioned that if it does go into production, it'll be in...
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Saab 9-7X Aero Concept Debuts at SEMASaab has teamed up with Los Angeles customizer DUB, to give the slow selling 9-7X SUV some much needed attention. Highlights of the package include the 24-inch custom propeller style wheels that look almost identical to the wheels from Saab’s Aero X concept, new fenders with side vents and...
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The Boss is back in townFord will be releasing a modern version of the legendary Boss 302 V8 engine that it’ll sell as a crate engine after its debut at the SEMA Auto Show this week. Although the new motor will be sold under Ford Racing, the Boss name will also be carried over to a new V8 engine codenamed Hurricane...
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Auto makers find it hard selling efficient carsRising oil prices haven’t deterred US buyers from purchasing full-size pickups despite numerous reports stating that buyers were moving away from such vehicles in droves. Full-size pickups continue to be the most popular vehicles in America for the first nine months of the year, although...
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India’s largest car maker, Tata Motors, is planning to launch a new Minicar in 2008 priced at just over $2,000. Production numbers are estimated at close to a million units per year to satisfy...
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OEM contracts rule out Nissan MinicarsNissan won’t be introducing any of its own minicars as long as contracts with original equipment manufacturers remain. Reported by Australia’s Drive, this latest news comes directly from Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who stated that "as long as we can have a solid contract with an OEM...as...
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Million Dollar McLaren F1 Goes Off RoadOn their way home from a tour of Northern Montana, the owner of a McLaren F1, one of the most desirable supercars in the world, and his wife, came across some major road-works reconditioning the normally glass-smooth Montana highways. After spending an appropriate $1.2 million on the car itself...
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Pimped out chrome Lexus IS250 at Aussie Motor ShowLexus’ stand at this week’s Australian International Motor Show will be dominated by a show stopping IS250 finished in Mirrachrome. The shiny exterior was developed by the Lexus After Sales Division, and has been in production the past several months. The creators were inspired by a...
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Caterham updates Seven RoadsterCaterham, famous for its specialist lightweight sports cars, has released details for the updated Caterham Seven model. The roadster is now running Ford’s Sigma motor, and has increased torsional rigidity by 12 percent thanks to a new manufacturing process . The new range will start...
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Car makers worried about new roof standardsCar manufacturers in the US are lobbying the government to substantially change a proposal to increase the strength of car roofs, to make the rules more forgiving. Most of the manufacturers including the Big Three are facing nearly $100 million in higher annual costs for vehicle redesign over the...
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Several Chinese auto makers are determined to establish themselves in the US, namely the Geely Corporation who plans to sell vehicles over here by as early as 2008. The company is expected to make a... -
Video: São Paulo commute in a F1 car
To tie in with the dramatic Brazilian F1 race, we decided to post this video of one of the Red Bull Racing cars driving through the busy streets of São Paulo on a rainy day. Watch out for the stunned spectators and the doughnut at the end.
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Production ready EVO X revealedImages of a production ready Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X have turned up, revealing that the final version will stay true to its concept’s form. The scan was taken from the latest copy of Autocar magazine, which went on to reveal crucial details about the new car including the fact that...
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Video: Alfa Romeo Visconti concept by Italdesign
Our friend Gunnar Heinrich over at Automobiles De Luxe managed to dig up a video of the 2004 Alfa Romeo Visconti concept. Almost five metres long and featuring coupe-like styling, the Giorgetto Giugiaro designed coupe was way ahead of its time.
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New changes for 2007 Formula One seasonSeveral major changes for next year’s F1 season will see strategies change and evolve from this year's season. To begin with, teams will no longer be allowed to run three cars during practice sessions. Instead, the current one hour Friday practice sessions will be extended to 90 minutes while...
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The HUMMER GT - ugliest modification yetCrazy European tuner Geiger Cars has just unveiled its most hideous vehicle yet. The HUMMER GT is a modified H2 complete with gullwing doors, giant 30-inch wheels, and a 556hp (409kW) supercharged engine. The conversions include a custom light blue/orange paint job, engine upgrade with stainless...
Alex Kaufmann