Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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Along with the Bullitt Mustang and the new Shelby GT500KR, Ford will be offering a new version of its coupe with a factory-installed glass roof as part of its Mustang 45th anniversary year. This... -
GM opens design center for future electric vehiclesGeneral Motors is opening a new studio dedicated to the carmaker’s next generation of electrically-driven vehicles. The newly renovated studio is located within GM’s Advanced Design Center, which was responsible for the Chevrolet Volt concept (pictured) revealed back at January’s...
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Video: Inside look at Porsche’s Leipzig factoryEarlier this month we showed you a video of the production line for Nissan’s mighty GT-R, and now we get a look at how things are done at Porsche. This latest clip shows the inner workings of the German carmaker’s Leipzig plant but sadly we don’t get to see the production line as...
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Ferrari exec denies SUV rumorsRumors of an SUV model from the likes of Lamborghini and Ferrari are rife but according to top officials there’s no chance of it seeing production anytime soon. The rumors concerning such a model from the traditional performance brands arose because of the success Porsche has had with its...
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FIA ratifies ten-year F1 engine freezeThe FIA’s World Motor Sport Council on Friday ratified an immediate ten-year freeze on formula one engine development. Between next year and 2017, each team may only use a 2007-spec engine design that is to be “delivered (to the FIA) no later than 31 March 2008″, a statement...
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Alfa Romeo CEO Baravalle steps downThe Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione - what a breath of fresh air, an example of what Alfa could do if it wanted to. Wait - why doesn’t it want to? Why limit the production of the 8C and build as many wallowy, underpowered (albeit quite sexy) Breras as possible? Well, the man responsible for those...
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A rise in the fuel economy standard to 35mpg for cars and trucks by 2020 (40% higher than current levels) has today been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a wide-ranging energy... -
Video: Vauxhall VXR8 test driveIf you’re still unfamiliar with the Vauxhall VXR8 (Holden HSV R8), think of it as a Pontiac G8 with a 414hp (307kW) V8 under the hood, upgraded brakes and suspension, plus a go-fast bodykit, because that’s essentially what it is. In the latest episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson likens...
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Japanese makes are more satisfying says Consumer ReportsAlthough the American makes have been re-focusing their vision of what makes a good car this year, they didn’t get it done in time to influence Consumer Reports‘ Car Owner Satisfaction Survey in any meaningful sense. Only seven spots on the list belonged to American cars. The Japanese...
Ralph Hanson -
Updated: Audi A3 Cabrio video and galleryAudi has taken the wraps off its all-new A3 Cabrio ahead of its official sales launch planned for February next year. The car comes with a folding fabric top, which opens or closes automatically in just nine seconds. The hood is available in semi-automatic and fully automatic versions, in the...
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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster by BrabusThe Mercedes SLR is one car not in need of an upgrade but that hasn’t stopped the guys at Brabus from increasing the car’s performance to the level of the world’s top supercars. To minimize lift on the front axle, designers developed a front spoiler that attaches to the production...
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Abt Audi R8 at the Essen Motor ShowWe’ve covered many of Abt’s tuned and modified cars in the past, including an R8 modified with a supercharger. The R8 shown by Abt at this year’s Essen show will not sport any power-boosting forced induction, but is a handling and appearance tuner extravaganza. A wrap-around...
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The Opel GT (Saturn Sky) platform is one the most stylish roadsters on the market despite its budget connotations and combined with a turbocharged powerplant you’d think it would be one of the...
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Volkswagen investing €9.5 billion by 2010Volkswagen will be going on a huge spending spree in coming years to help reach its target of ten million vehicle sales by 2018. Already we’ve reported about the carmaker’s strategy to reduce its vehicle architectures to four main platforms, and now we have news of a €9.5 billion...
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New Aston Martin race series for Asia in 2008Aston Martin is launching a new one-make race series for Asia. This follows the announcement of two new Aston Martin dealerships in Shanghai and Beijing, the first time the brand is being sold in China. Called the Aston Martin Asia Cup (AMAC), the series starts in 2008 and will consist of 12 races...
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GM still open to Proton tie-upLast week the ongoing talks between Volkswagen and Proton came to an end, leaving the door open for GM to step in and pick up where it left off. GM, as well as PSA Peugeot-Citroen, was initially in talks with Proton but VW quickly emerged as the most likely company to form an alliance with the...
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Forbes announces its ”Ten Turkeys of 2007”A few weeks ago we covered TTAC’s 2007 “Ten Worst Automobiles” list and were a little surprised that only vehicles from Detroit made the list. Being somewhat wider in scope, the “Ten Turkeys” list from Forbes shares the hate with cars from all over the globe...
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Chinese carmaker starts production in EuropeIn a big step forward for Chinese automakers, Chery Automobile has had its first European-assembled car roll off the production line at a brand new €11.8 million factory in Italy. The Chery Tiggo 3, a mid-sized SUV, is being assembled from kits imported by DR Motor from Chery to be sold in...
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The ZR-1 has been spotted in near-production trim turning hot laps at Laguna Seca. Power figures have been public knowledge for months. But the monster under the bulging hood has so far stayed hidden... -
Radical To Unveil Updated SR8 At Autosport InternationalRadical Sportscars is a UK-based carmaker and motorsports company famous for building a range of open-cockpit track cars, which also happen to be street-legal. One of its cars, the SR8, currently holds the record for the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a street-legal car with a blistering time of...
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Rolls-Royce Phantom Tungsten editionRolls-Royce has used this year’s Middle East Motor Show in Dubai to announce the launch of a limited edition version of its already exclusive Phantom saloon. The new car is called the Phantom Tungsten and it wears many of the dynamic styling features of the 101EX concept car. First up is the...
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Spy Shots: 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLKMercedes Benz has lost ground in the premium coupe segment against its main rival BMW and its more recent E92 3-series coupe, so it comes as little surprise that engineers are rushing to complete development of the all-new 2009 CLK. A near production-ready CLK test mule was recently spotted...
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Volvo R-Design goes on saleVolvo’s R-Design performance styling packs are now available for the C30, S40 and V50 models, although the range will be limited in some markets. Before you get all excited with the return of the ‘R’ title, note that the latest designation represents just a bunch of add-on styling...
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Dubai skyscraper to be named after SchumacherMichael Schumacher is set to lend his name to a skyscraper in Dubai. In an article to appear in Sunday's edition of Arabian Business, the managing director of German company ACI is quoted as saying construction of 'Michael Schumacher Business Avenue' will begin in the next three months. A German...
Ralph Hanson