Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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Top officials at Chrysler have acknowledged that some models will be dropped but until now there’s been no confirmation of which cars and exactly how many would disappear. Chrysler’s... -
Volvo considering five-door C30Volvo is considering expanding the C30 range by adding a five-door hatchback variant to join the current three-door. The C30 is based on the same P1 platform that underlies the larger S40 and V50 models so building an extended version of the C30 hatch would be straight forward. Such a vehicle would...
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Ferrari Unveils FXX Evolution PackageThe ultra-exclusive Ferrari FXX isn’t just any new model but is in fact a development test-bed for new technologies that will eventually filter across to Ferrari’s future road cars. The new Evolution Package is the latest version of the FXX prototype and represents the culmination of...
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Cadillac CTS Sport starring at SEMACadillac will present a modified version of its still-new CTS saloon at this week’s SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas, developed to emphasize the car’s performance character. For their latest work, Cadillac’s designers have kept the chrome to a minimum and have instead gone with a...
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Honda Accord Coupe HF-S Concept to debut at SEMAHonda will be promoting its new Accord Coupe at the upcoming SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas by taking the covers off a new concept car based on the two-door. Called the Accord Coupe HF-S, the new concept was developed by Honda’s U.S. division as a way to present its new accessory range. A second...
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Updated: New video of Audi’s A1 MetroprojectAudi has prematurely released photos for its stunning new A1 concept car to be displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show in just a few days. Officially called the Audi metroproject Quattro, this small car is designed to take on BMW’s MINI Cooper with its more masculine and upscale design. The...
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With crossover sales up 52% from last year, Ford is hoping to push the boundaries by showing off no less than nine new crossovers in modified form at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas. The... -
Honda to build sport, compact hybrids over next 3 yearsAlthough this round of the hybrid wars has been soundly won by Toyota’s Prius, Honda knows the market will evolve. Accordingly, it is building two new hybrids to complete its line of electric-assisted cars. The sports car hybrid CR-Z (pictured), currently on display in Tokyo, is one of them...
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Saab planning second crossover to join 9-4XGM is likely to produce an all-new Saab model at its Opel plant in Rüsselsheim to help fill capacity at the German site. Officials have already revealed plans to build the new Saab 9-3 and 9-5 models in Rüsselsheim and according to union sources a third Saab variant will join the production line...
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Spyker to be called Force India in 2008Spyker has applied to change its name to Force India for the 2008 season, new team owner Vijay Mallya revealed at Interlagos on Saturday. It emerged from the scene of Sunday’s Brazilian grand prix that Mallya, who recently bought the Dutch squad in conjunction with Michiel Mol, has asked the...
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Volvo will expand green ‘Efficiency’ brandDespite a lack of incentives outside its home country, Volvo has lately turned its focus to biofuels and hybrid technology. We first wrote about the C30 Efficiency (pictured) in August, then Volvo debuted the Re-Charge concept at the Frankfurt motor show. Just a few days ago the company announced...
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Mercedes considers Mini engines for new compact carsGerman reports are claiming Mercedes will use a range of four-cylinder direct injection powerplants in its A and B-class replacements that were designed by France’s PSA Peugeot-Citroen for BMW’s Mini. The reports also claim the next B-class will replace the smaller A by spawning new...
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Audi’s RS4 sedan holds a magical quality for its fans. A unique balance of price, performance, and luxury, the RS4 manages to carve out a unique niche in the tightly competitive luxury... -
Audi creates iPhone cloneOne of the most intriguing aspects of the Audi metroproject concept was the the iPhone-like device that slots inside the dash. Imaginatively titled the “Audi mobile device,” it functions as an access authorization system for the vehicle, mobile phone, navigation unit and audio and video...
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Chrysler could drop up to five modelsNow that Chrysler is in private hands the tough decisions will be coming hard and fast. Already we’ve seen production plans for the Imperial sedan get the can and now we could see five existing nameplates dropped from Chrysler’s lineup within the month. Sources familiar with the...
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Official: Citroën’s new C5 sedan and wagonThese are the first official images of the upcoming Citroën C5 midsize saloon and wagon, which will be shown for the first time at a press event later today. The car won’t officially go on sale until after it makes its public debut at the Brussels Motor Show in January next year where...
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New Focus to highlight Ford’s SEMA rangeFord will once again present one of the biggest displays at the upcoming SEMA auto show with no less than 13 vehicles, nine of which will be based on the not so big 2008 Focus. Ford wants to hit home that it’s no longer a manufacturer of just large SUVs and pickups. According to the executive...
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Lotus plans new high-end supercar and moreThe fact that Lotus will be building a replacement to the Esprit supercar is no secret. However, Lotus USA boss Mike Kimberly has confirmed in a recent interview the Esprit will not headline the model range. Instead, Kimberly said that a new supercar worthy of being the ‘jewel in the...
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Updated: It didn’t take long for more images of the 2008 Nissan GT-R to surface and this time ‘round they’re official and come attached with some of the car’s final specs... -
Video: Tesla Roadster crashes into a wallOne of the greatest difficulties for any niche carmaker in developing a new car is completing the full list of safety checks mandated by regulatory bodies around the world. One of the most important and expensive of these checks is vehicle crash testing, which Tesla had to undergo recently for its...
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Nissan’s Around View eliminates parking accidentsNissan has developed a new parking assists system it calls the Around View Monitor, which will offer drivers a bird’s eye view of their car and surroundings in real-time. The set-up uses four ultrawide-angle resolution cameras mounted on the front, sides and rear of the vehicle, which combine...
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Spy Shots: Production Dodge Challenger spottedThe new Dodge Challenger isn’t set to go on sale until after it makes its world debut at the Chicago Auto Show in February next year - although the first copies will be auctioned off on eBay for charity – but images of the final production car have now turned up on an internet forum. As...
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Ferrari to supply engines to A1GP seriesFerrari and the open-wheeler series A1GP announced on Thursday that they have teamed up. The long term deal, extending from next year through to 2014, involves the supply of Maranello built engines and car design consultancy, according to Ferrari. The introduction of A2GP was also announced today...
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Popular SUVs rate poorly in latest side crash testsSize and safety are the motivations for most SUV buyers but an American study has cast doubt on their safety records. It found that many models perform poorly in side-impact collisions, including top selling vehicles such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet TrailBlazer. The study was conducted...
Ralph Hanson