Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
-
As Alfa Romeo approaches its centenary the company is facing one of the busiest periods in its storied history. With a handful of new models, a possible switch from front-drive to rear-wheel-drive... -
Rolls Royce builds limited edition 'Peony' PhantomDue to popular demand, Rolls Royce has commissioned a new special edition Phantom saloon under its official ‘Bespoke Programme’ that has been designed specifically for United Arab Emirates customers. The limited edition model is called the ‘Peony’ and it features a two-tone...
Ralph Hanson -
Aston Martin & Jaeger LeCoultre release second DBS inspired watch with integrated keyTo celebrate the launch of its DBS supercar last year, Aston Martin together with Swiss watch company Jaeger LeCoultre released a chronograph watch with a built in transponder that could unlock the car and fire up its engine. The two luxury marques have now released a new version of the watch...
Ralph Hanson -
Volkswagen Passat CC Gold Coast Edition debuts at Pebble BeachThe special edition Volkswagen Passat CC Gold Coast was unveiled over the weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and is set to arrive in U.S. showrooms towards the end of the year. The car comes with a special grille and premium tri-coat paint finish with a mix of gold, brown and...
Ralph Hanson -
Cadillac reveals 2010 CTS 'Sport Wagon' at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, confirms diesel optionCadillac has used this week’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California to give a preview of its new 2010 CTS wagon, which is set to go on sale in the first half of next year. Based on the CTS sedan, the new wagon features several unique elements and will be available with a new...
Ralph Hanson -
Citroën C6 Office concept by Intersection magazineCitroën has partnered with automotive fashion magazine Intersection to create a special, one-off concept car based on the C6 sedan. The concept is set to appear at a number of fashion and entertainment events over the next couple of months. Dubbed the C6 Office, it's been designed to suit...
Ralph Hanson -
Update: The first vehicle of Ford’s future global lineup has entered produciton today at the company’s Cologne assembly plant in Germany. The car is the new-generation Fiesta hatchback,... -
Suzuki introducing two new models in revamped lineupSuzuki is set to revamp its lineup following its decision to drop GM Daewoo as its partner and forge a new partnership with Nissan. Two models from its current lineup that bear GM-Daewoo DNA, the Suzuki Forenza and the Suzuki Reno, will be dropped from Suzuki's range, and replaced with two new...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford plan will use premium small cars to boost marginsWhile the American auto market shifts towards smaller vehicles, manufacturers are struggling to make large profit margins on their compact cars, which traditionally have been supplementary to truck and large car business. Ford has a plan to increase profit margins on small cars, however, by...
Ralph Hanson -
Drag racer avoids jail sentence for crash that killed sixAustralian drag-racing driver Troy Critchley, who was the centre of a media furore recently following the death of six spectators at a charity motoring event in the U.S., will avoid incarceration following consent from the victims' families to lower felony criminal charges to misdemeanor assault...
Ralph Hanson -
ACS3 Sport BMW M3 Cabrio by AC SchnitzerDespite its M3 moniker, the BMW M3 Cabrio isn't the pure-performance beast its hard-top brother is. This is mostly due to the chassis stiffness disadvantage spawn from its roofless design as well as the necessary weight gain from the added reinforcements that attempts to overcome this. Still an...
Ralph Hanson -
Improved efficiency and performance for 2009 Audi A6 faceliftJoining the new RS6 Sedan at this October’s Paris Motor Show will be the 2009 model year facelift for the standard A6 Sedan and Avant models. Among the list of updates planned for the new lineup is a range of more efficient engines, significant suspension refinements, the addition of a number...
Ralph Hanson -
Volkswagen's Jetta TDI is already eligible for a $1,300 tax credit courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service, thanks to its clean diesel engine. Now, the IRS has also extended this to certain... -
Ford vows to beat Toyota in compact car build qualityFord is already touting its segment leading fuel-economy for vehicles such as the 2009 Flex crossover and North American Focus, but now the carmaker is also boasting that it will be the leader in quality for compact vehicles when its all-new Fiesta range goes on sale later this year. In a direct...
Ralph Hanson -
Peugeot's 'Blue Lion' identifies greenest carsPeugeot has launched a new standard for identifying the 'greenest' cars in its range as a nod towards increasing concerns over the environmental impact of cars and rising fuel prices. Dubbed the 'Blue Lion' standard, the initiative is a little late to the party, with Ford having launched its...
Ralph Hanson -
EU lays groundwork for vehicle-to-vehicle communications systemThe European Union has taken the first major steps to establishing a next-generation vehicle-to-vehicle communications system by passing a motion today to reserve an EU-wide frequency band for vehicle applications. With a targeted goal of reducing road accidents, today’s motion aims at...
Ralph Hanson -
2009 Acura RL receives IIHS Top Safety PickThe new 2009 Acura RL sedan has won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award in the Institute’s latest round of testing. To qualify, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of 'good' in the institute’s front, side, and rear tests and be fitted with...
Ralph Hanson -
Update: Mitsubishi i-MiEV to begin testing in CaliforniaUpdate: Mitsubishi is planning to begin testing of its i-MiEV electric cars in cooperation with power company Southern California Edison (SCE). The tests will be used to gauge how electric vehicles will connect to the future electric grid and 'smart' meters being developed by SCE. In addition, the...
Ralph Hanson -
Suzuki has released the first image of its all-new Alto minicar, which the carmaker plans to debut at November’s Paris Motor Show before a global launched pegged for early next year. As... -
Flagging Lexus sales force Toyota to axe 800 workersEarlier this week reports emerged citing an announcement made by Toyota that it was cutting up to 800 jobs at one of its plants in Japan. The decision was made in response to declining sales of SUV models in North America, in particular the Lexus RX mid-size SUV, which the plant is responsible for...
Ralph Hanson -
High oil prices driving up cost of carbon fiber by 10-30%Two of the world's largest suppliers of carbon fiber are planning to raise costs of the already expensive material, largely due to higher costs of crude oil - a key component in carbon fiber's manufacture. Toray Industries and Mitsubishi Rayon Co. have announced that carbon fiber prices will rise...
Ralph Hanson -
Update: Volkswagen Golf Mark VI official detailsVolkswagen’s sixth-generation Golf, the latest iteration of the carmaker’s most successful model to date (with more than 26 million sold), has been revealed ahead of its world debut planned for October’s Paris Motor Show. The European market launch will begin that same month, and...
Ralph Hanson -
Chrysler reports $1.1 billion profit for first half of 2008Chrysler has bucked the trend of its fellow Detroit 3 carmakers by announcing an operating income of $1.1 billion for the first half of 2008. This is the first time that Chrysler has revealed its financials since being bought by Cerberus Capital Management, and comes as speculation rises that the...
Ralph Hanson -
Toyota 'Winglet' personal transport assistance robotToyota today unveiled the “Winglet”, a personal transport assistance robot ridden in a standing position. The Winglet, still currently under development, is a compact everyday transport tool that is easy to operate and allows users to expand their range of mobility. The concept was...
Ralph Hanson