Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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American Suzuki has followed the lead of Chrysler and is offering its customers three months of free fuel as well as zero percent financing on retail purchases of all new 2007 and 2008 vehicles.... -
Cadillac prepping hybrid motorbike for L.A. Auto ShowThe Los Angeles Auto Show is still half a year away but already we have details of what is likely to be one of the event’s standout attractions. In a recent interview, Cadillac boss Jim Taylor revealed plans to showcase a new motorbike concept fitted with a hybrid drivetrain containing an...
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Spy Shots: Final shape of Ferrari 2+2 revealedFerrari’s upcoming 2+2 GT has been spotted once again by spy photographers and this time without the heave camouflage masking the car’s rear canopy. We finally can see the shape and proportion of the car and what appears to be a cut line on the roof, leading to suggestions the new...
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Vauxhall VXR8 upgraded with LS3 V8With both the Pontiac G8 GXP and Holden Commodore HSV range already being offered with GM’s new LS3 V8 engine, it was only a matter of time until their European cousin, the Vauxhall VXR8, got the new powerplant. Along with the added power and performance, the VXR8 is also available with...
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Ford becomes first carmaker to join Climate RegistryFord has taken a significant move in the climate change arena by becoming the first carmaker to join 'The Climate Registry' (TCR). The group is a non-profit organization established to measure and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions using a single reporting standard across industry sectors...
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Honda open to F1 test for Danica PatrickThe chief executive of Honda's F1 team, Nick Fry, has offered to open talks with Danica Patrick about a test drive in the near future. The 26-year-old American said late last month she was "dead set" on eventually joining the grand prix circus, following her recent breakthrough win in the IndyCar...
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Yesterday, GM’s European chief Carl Peter Forster confirmed that €9 billion ($14 billion) would be invested in Opel between now and 2012 to help regain lost market share and of this... -
Official: Nissan GT-R laps Nurburgring in 7m 29sIf you thought the GT-R’s previous recorded lap time of 7m 38s at the Nurburgring was shockingly fast get ready to be stunned again as Nissan has confirmed today that its latest supercar has achieved a blistering lap time of just 7m 29 seconds - making it one of the fastest ever production...
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Mazdaspeed (MPS) Mazda6 and '2 on the wayMazda’s new Mazdaspeed (MPS) range offer performance levels comparable with much more expensive cars and has quickly become the bang for your buck standard in many segments. Now the range is set to expand with two new models in works – performance versions of the recently revealed...
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California man generates electricity from passing trucksA man in California has devised an innovative method of generating ‘green’ power from passing trucks that drive up and down busy highways the world over. Inventor Terry Kenney came up with the idea of using the kinetic energy of a truck barreling down a highway to compress a tank of...
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GM posts $3.3 billion first quarter lossGM today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2008, revealing a $3.3 billion loss over the period – down from a modest loss of just $42 million one year ago. Revenue for the first quarter was $42.7 billion, down slightly from $43.4 billion in the year-ago quarter. This was...
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Magna to launch plug-in hybrid vehicleMagna International is a global auto parts supplier and independent vehicle manufacturer and now the company is considering launching its own branded car. Magna is planning to develop and launch its own plug-in hybrid vehicle and is predicting a prototype will be on the roads and testing as early...
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Hybrid, fuel-cell and all-electric vehicles are viewed by many as the future of the motoring world but there is a growing fear that the flow of electrical current from the motors that power such... -
Video: Gran Turismo creator takes the GT-R to 193mphFor many, the Gran Tursimo series (a racing simulator renowned for its lifelike graphics and accurate physic models) was their first introduction to Japan’s legendary supercar, the Nissan GT-R. Previous generations of the car were sold in limited numbers to only a handful of markets outside...
Ralph Hanson -
Nissan Murano concept with X-by-wire technologyX-by-wire technology, a feature that uses wires and electrical impulses to replace mechanical linkages for the control of major systems such as steering, braking and gear changes, has been used in the past by Mercedes-Benz and Toyota but has never really taken off because of safety concerns and the...
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Saleen offers 302 V8 crate engine for the first timeSaleen is offering for the first time its high performance 302 cubic inch (5.0L) premium V8 engine for sale as a standalone crate engine through its SpeedLab Aftermarket Division. The engine will be available in either short block or long block varieties and in either naturally-aspirated or...
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Sportec SP600 based on Porsche's 911 Turbo CabrioSportec has announced the details of its latest incarnation, based on the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet. While the picture may make it seem more like a body-kit job than anything else, there are actually some stunning mods under the skin that turn the already fiery 911 Turbo Cabriolet into a...
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Faulty pumps overcharge consumers as fuel prices soarAs fuel prices continue to skyrocket to record highs, more and more consumers are increasingly becoming wary of just how much they are paying at the pump. But new reports in the U.S. claim faulty fuel pumps can be partly blamed for the rising cost of fuel and consumers are being overcharged without...
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Late yesterday GM revealed official power ratings for its Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 supercar – 638hp (476kW) and 819Nm (604lb-ft) - and now we have a video showcasing the potential of the car. GM... -
North American 2009 Mazda6 official detailsMazda is planning an August launch for its all-new Mazda6 midsize sedan in North America, almost a year after the car was first displayed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Part of the reason for the delay is because the new car has been specifically designed for North America and includes a larger...
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Report: Bigger but lighter cars found to improve crash safetyOne of the most effective methods of improving fuel-economy is reducing vehicle weight but the challenge for car designers is how to reduce weight while keeping costs down and safety standards up. Modern safety features such as passenger cells and complex airbag systems add significant weight to a...
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Update: VW narrows U.S. plant location to three statesUpdated: Volkswagen’s U.S. chief Stefan Jacoby has confirmed the carmaker is looking at securing a location in either Michigan, Alabama or Tennessee for its new North American plant and expects a final decision to be made by the middle of the year. Key considerations for the decision include...
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VW offers 3 years free service on 2009 models in U.S.Volkswagen’s U.S. division has confirmed it will offer free scheduled servicing for its entire 2009 lineup under its new ‘Carefree Maintenance Program.’ The new program covers owners for up to three years or the first 36,000 miles and includes three scheduled maintenance intervals...
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Cadillac CTS D3 styling kitImproving on the sharp lines of the all-new Cadillac CTS is no easy task but American tuner D3 has managed to design a new performance exterior package for the car that doesn’t mess up the edgy styling of the original. The parts have been designed to be functional as well, increasing...
Ralph Hanson