Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
-
Two days ago we saw Ferrari launch its F2008, and yesterday McLaren Mercedes unveiled its MP4-23 at the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart. Lewis Hamilton was on hand for the launch, and it being his... -
Ford Explorer America focusing on fuel savingsOil topped $100 per barrel in America just the other day and fuel conservation is now a hotter topic than ever. Some pundits are predicting gasoline prices in excess of US$4 per gallon before the end of Q1. Sure, these prices are pretty tame by the rest of the world’s standards, but Americans...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford delivers first Escape plug-in hybrid SUVFord’s first Escape plug-in hybrid vehicle is ready to start real-world testing along with electric utility South California Edison. Ford today delivered the first of the 20 research vehicles, which use high voltage lithium-ion batteries and have a fuel-economy figure of 120mpg. Full charge...
Ralph Hanson -
Official pics: Mercedes GLK revealed ahead of DetroitAlthough we’ve already seen what is almost certainly a production-trim Mercedes GLK in both pictures and video, we can now bring you official, high-res shots of Mercedes’ GLK Freesider ‘concept’ in advance of its reveal at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show in less than two...
Ralph Hanson -
New F1 rules to improve the sport - HeidfeldA new set of rules could have an immediate impact on the 2008 formula one championship, according to BMW-Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld. The German driver told his website that he is “anxious” to see the effect that the ban on driver aids including traction and launch control will have...
Ralph Hanson -
2008 Mercedes CLS facelift leakedHot on the heels of the new Mercedes SL facelift leak we have pictures and information on the facelift for the new CLS class. The pictures are for the AMG 63 model - itself only introduced in 2006 - however some of the basic changes will also appear on the non-AMG models. Compared with the current...
Ralph Hanson -
Global warming has become quite an issue of late with carmakers constantly looking at new ways to reduce emissions. Toyota has shown hybrid technology to be of great use in this area and has achieved... -
Ford to scuttle TwinForce brandingFord’s upcoming TwinForce technology, which debuted in the Lincoln MKR, will likely be introduced to the market under a different moniker after the company realized that the name could cause some confusion. The technology was originally dubbed TwinForce to indicate two things, performance and...
Ralph Hanson -
Audi confirms ’stunning’ concept car for DetroitAudi will be using the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit to show off a ‘stunning’ new concept car. The German luxury brand also plans to have a world premiere of a new model. Both these cars will be unveiled during Audi’s press conference at the show...
Ralph Hanson -
Euro NCAP results: Mazda 2 and C-Class gain 5-starsIndependent new car assessment organisation Euro NCAP released the results for six more cars today: the Daihatsu Materia, Mazda 2, Honda Civic, Mercedes Benz C Class, Renault Laguna and the Volvo V70. The Mazda and the Volvo had been previously tested, but had experienced issues with airbag...
Ralph Hanson -
Tata Motors $2,500 car coming in JanuaryPoised to purchase Jaguar and Land Rover, the Indian conglomerate Tata Motors is also eyeing a very different segment of the car market. Previous reports had placed the price of Tata’s ‘1 lakh car‘ around $2,200, but reports today indicate the price will be closer to $2,500. The...
Ralph Hanson -
Nissan Forum Concept: official pics and detailsThe Forum’s unique ‘turntable’ seating streaked across the web last week, as did news of its built-in microwave oven and extensive entertainment systems. The Forum has been likened more to a mobile living room or lounge than a grocery-getter, and the comparison is apt. Today...
Ralph Hanson -
The Bugatti Veyron’s monstrous W16 engine is one of the most sophisticated powerplants currently in production, integrating two narrow-angle V8 engines on a single crankshaft and feeding this... -
Mercedes planning more models based on E and S-ClassRising demand for premium cars in emerging markets is forcing luxury labels to churn out more models than ever before. Because of this, Mercedes-Benz is now considering offering several new versions of its current model range including new SUV, cabrio and long-wheelbase vehicles. Speaking with Auto...
Ralph Hanson -
Mini SUV to be called ‘Crossman’In keeping with its naming practice of labeling all its cars with names that start with the letter C, Mini will be calling its latest model the ‘Crossman.’ The fourth model in Mini’s lineup will be a new SUV variant and will arrive on the market in 2010, according to Mini CEO Kay...
Ralph Hanson -
Project Kahn Bentley Continental GTSProject Kahn’s latest custom kit is the new GTS styling package designed specifically for the Bentley Continental GT ultra-luxury coupe. When creating the new kit, designers were looking to improve on the sporting image of the GT but at the same time conserve the bespoke look of the car. The...
Ralph Hanson -
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class by WaldWe’re used to seeing plenty of modified Mercs from the German tuners, but rarely do we see a Japanese customizer give the Teutonic saloons and coupes the aftermarket treatment. Wald International is one such tuner that specializes in the modification of some of Europe’s finest, cars...
Ralph Hanson -
Mazdaspeed (MPS) Mazda6-Atenza Concept pics leakedWord has been circulating for several months now that the Mazdaspeed Mazda6 will not be returning to U.S. showrooms once the current model is sold out. Whether that holds true remains to be seen, but it looks like Mazda is at least planning to sell a Mazdaspeed (MPS) version of the car in non-U.S...
Ralph Hanson -
Excluding old-school Volvos and early shooting brakes, the Mercedes-Benz Estate can be considered one of the first luxury station wagons. German tuner company Lorinser was founded in 1977, the same... -
Jaguar and Land Rover sale in Q1 2008?The ongoing saga of the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover continues, although it seems now a real end may be in sight. Ford’s concern with the process is that the brands are sold to a buyer that wants to continue to build upon their legacy. The previous deadlines for the sale of the two brands...
Ralph Hanson -
Ford Mustang Confirmed As New 'Knight Rider' KITTFor the remake of the Knight Rider series, an updated sequel that will air as a two-hour movie on NBC, a Ford Mustang will star as the famous car KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand). In fact, there will be three different versions of KITT, all based around the Shelby GT500KR muscle car. The...
Ralph Hanson -
NACOTY 2008 Finalists namedThe North American Car of the Year (NACOTY) finalists were named today, and the winner will be revealed at the NAIAS in Detroit January 13th, 2008. Not surprisingly the re-worked American entries are climbing to the forefront this year, beating out German and Japanese competition to make the list...
Ralph Hanson -
Updated: Suzuki ‘A-Star’ concept official detailsSuzuki and its Indian partner Maruti will use the upcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi to launch a new concept car dubbed the A-Star. The concept was developed jointly by Maruti and Suzuki and is the precursor to a new global compact model. Concept cars often do not become production models, being more...
Ralph Hanson -
Nissan Forum to feature ‘turntable seats’Interior car design has historically been relegated by exterior design, possibly because most people only get to see other people’s cars from outside. But that seems to be changing, and a clue of that is the Nissan Forum minivan concept car, to be displayed at the next Detroit Motor Show. The...
Ralph Hanson