Alex Kaufmann, Author
Articles
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We’ve reported about Mercedes Benz planning to launch a new shooting brake version of its next-generation CLS but latest reports indicate that a smaller version based on the 2010 E-Class Coupe...
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Opel’s new owner won’t be able to sell cars in U.S. or China
Earlier this week Opel managed to secure a $2.1 billion bridge financing package from the German government to keep itself operating until ownership is transferred from GM to another investor. This new investor will be Canada’s Magna International, which together with Russian bank Sherbank...
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Gemballa adds Carbon Edition to Mirage GT stable
Since 2006, Gemballa has been building custom interpretations of the Porsche Carrera GT supercar, making it perhaps the foremost Carrera GT tuner in the world. For its latest iteration, Gemballa has decided to relax the power output and focus on a simple bi-color design scheme. We first saw this...
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BMW M3 passes 200mph with G-Power supercharger
When it comes to BMW tuning, there is one company that stands head and shoulders above the rest in cranking out the ultimate driving machines. The company we are referring to German outfit G-Power, which has been in the business of creating the world's fastest BMWs for a quarter of a century...
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R8 Spyder convertible rumored for Frankfurt, electric R8 ruled out
Audi currently sells two versions of its R8 supercar, the original 4.2L V8 model and the recently revealed 5.2L V10 version, but there are two more versions in the works, one of which will be unveiled at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The two new versions are the R8 Spyder convertible and...
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Fiat skips Opel talks, Chrysler deal to be finalized today
The future of General Motors’ European division Opel will soon be a lot clearer as a buyer for the brand is expected to be announced within the next week. Up until now, one of the leading bidders for the brand was Fiat but today it has been revealed that the Italian auto giant has walked away...
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Covering over 3,044 miles (4,900km) in three days, driving specialist Gerhard Plattner is gearing up for his next record-breaking attempt as the first driver to reach three continents in just three...
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Warren encouraging GM to move corporate HQ with tax breaks
Detroit has long been the heart of America's automotive industry, but 2009 has been a major period of upheaval for the city, with further shocks expected to come - including the possibility that General Motors will move its corporate headquarters out of Detroit downtown area and into a neighbouring...
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Report: VW working on Polo-based coupe
Volkswagen may already be in the midst of preparing a new three-door version of its 2010 Polo hatchback, but a rumored coupe version due late next year promises to be even more attractive. The car would slot into VW’s lineup as a smaller sibling to the Scirocco coupe, with which it will share...
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Vath boosts C63 AMG Estate to 585hp V63 RS status
Carbon emissions taxes and fuel efficiency requirements are throwing a bit of a wet blanket on the horsepower wars, especially in Europe, but the aftermarket is carrying on the battle with undiminished ferocity. The latest combatant is Vath's V63 RS Estate, a re-interpretation of the already...
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Porsche takes overall victory at 2009 Nurburgring 24-hour race
Porsche has won the Nurburgring 24-hour race for the fourth year in a row, with the first place title going to the Manthey Racing team after its 480hp (358kW) Porsche 911 GT3 RSR managed to rack up 155 laps during the event. Spending time behind the wheel were Timo Bernhard (Germany), Marc Lieb...
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Mercedes holding off on E-Class cabrio, wagon
Announcements of the delays of new car models are almost more numerous than the new cars themselves, and it seems no one is immune to the practice. Mercedes-Benz today revealed it won't be releasing the new E-Class Cabrio (spied here) at Frankfurt this fall, and the E-Class Wagon will be delayed a...
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There was a point in time when Porsche was the veritable king of carmakers, boasting strong sales, record profits and virtually unmatched customer loyalty numbers even while many of its rivals...
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Wal-Mart CEO commissions one-off 'Golden Ferrari' 599
Famed Italian coachbuilder and design house Pininfarina is most widely recognized for designing stunning cars like the Ferrari 599 but the company also dabbles every now and then in the area of coachbuilding special one-off creations for wealthy clients. Back in 2006 we saw the personalized Ferrari...
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VW and BYD sign deal to work together on electric cars
During an informational visit by the Chinese carmaker BYD (Build Your Dreams), company chairman Wang Chuanfu and the CEO of Volkswagen Martin Winterkorn signed a memorandum of understanding in the area of electric mobility. The objective of signing a memorandum of understanding between the two...
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Preview: New Seat Ibiza ST wagon
The once cash-strapped Seat brand is on the verge of developing a range of new models, with no less than four different vehicles planned for production within the next three to four years. The launch of the Ibiza hatch last year was just the tip of the iceberg as the Spanish carmaker is now working...
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New GPS system from BMW steers drivers away from bad weather
We've already heard of GPS systems that can help us dodge traffic jams and get home quicker, but what about a GPS system that can get you home drier? BMW is introducing just such a system, and for those choosing to use it the special GPS unit will help navigate them away from rain and hail and...
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German governor says Magna is best choice for Opel
The contents of the bids for purchase of Opel submitted by Fiat, Magna and Ripplewood Holdings on Wednesday - and BAIC on Thursday - haven't yet been disclosed, but today the governor of the German state where Opel is headquartered said he thinks Magna's plan is the best for Opel. Though Hesse...
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In late 2007 BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer revealed plans for several all-new models including a design study called the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS). Then, at March's Geneva Motor Show, BMW gave us...
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Smart offering free upgrade to fix balky ForTwo transmissions
Questions about safety, affordability, ultimate value and even performance are all well-worn topics for fans of the Daimler-built Smart ForTwo minicar, but to date mechanical problems haven't been a hot topic - aside from balky transmissions. Now Daimler has decided to fix the problem by offering a...
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VW apprentices build 301hp Golf GTI Street
Custom-tuned turbocharged four-cylinder hatches are pretty common fare anywhere in the world. But it's not every day that a handful of young apprentices at one of the world's biggest carmakers turn out a car that turns heads like the Golf GTI Street Built around a heavily modified 2.0L TFSI engine...
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Rats blamed for a Ferrari's fiery demise
Walking the tightrope of packaging, power and technology the way exotic carmakers like Ferrari and Lamborghini do is a delicate act. Sometimes that act comes tumbling down, occasionally in a ball of flame. This week in Moscow, however, it's rats that are taking the blame. Yes, rodents are bearing...
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Brabus-tuned Mercedes E-Class Coupe bangs out 456hp
The brand-new E-Class Coupe may be based on the old C-Class's underpinnings, but it's styled like the new car and is priced aggressively, making it a perfect car to buy and then build on. And that's exactly what Brabus has done. The primary upgrade to the standard E550 Coupe is the addition of a...
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Volkswagen teams up with Garmin for portable GPS navigation system
Carmakers are working closely with electronic component suppliers to develop a new generation of low cost navigation and infotainment systems designed for both vehicle and personal use. Renault recently launched such a system in its facelifted Clio hatch called the Carminat TomTom GPS and soon...
Alex Kaufmann