Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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Diesels are the number one choice among new car buyers in Europe but the oil burners have been slow to take in the US despite their torque and fuel-economy advantages over regular petrol models.... -
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione goes on saleThe new Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione will be the first car from the Italian label to be sold in the US since the brand disbanded operations in the world’s biggest car market, but it's not expected to arrive until late 2009. However, the car will officially go on sale in Europe following this...
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AC Schnitzer GP3.10 gas powered V10 coupeCommitted to upstage its rival G-Power, AC Schnitzer has developed a BMW 3-series coupe powered by the M5/M6 V10 running on LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). The new car is scheduled to be unveiled at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show and is in keeping with the show’s theme of power through...
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Mitsubishi planning 3 Tokyo Motor Show conceptsWith all the excitement surrounding next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, we were a little surprised to see this announcement from Mitsubishi revealing its lineup for next month’s Tokyo Show. Mitsubishi will have three new concepts on show, the first being a new electric vehicle labeled the...
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Designers look to tires to save fuelCar companies spend millions of dollars trying to improve the fuel efficiency of their cars but one of the simplest and most effective methods often overlooked is the addition of low-rolling resistance tires. Designers are just waking up to the fuel-saving tire, with brands like Volkswagen, Audi...
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Audi improves quattro AWD with new sport differentialAudi has developed a new performance differential for its quattro AWD cars available from next year onwards. The new system distributes torque from the engine independently between the rear wheels, improving traction beyond that of the current AWD set-up. According to Audi, the tendency of its AWD...
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Porsche will unveil a new version of its Cayenne SUV called the GTS at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the Cayenne S, the new model will feature a 405hp (302kW) V8 engine, a lowered... -
First look: Volvo ReCharge ConceptIt seems going green is one of the leading themes of the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show with nearly every manufacturer debuting some new green technology or hybrid concept. Volvo, however, has not yet produced a hybrid vehicle. That's all about to change. Volvo's plug-in hybrid ReCharge Concept...
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Fisker developing plug-in hybrid sports carFisker Coachbuild today announced the formation of a partnership with Quantum Technologies to develop a new eco-friendly plug-in hybrid sports car. The California-based coachbuilder currently sells modified versions of BMW’s 6-Series and Mercedes’ SL-Class roadster but plans to develop...
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More details on Ferrari’s FXX Mille-Chili conceptFerrari surprised many of us back in June when it pulled the covers off its new eco-friendly FXX Mille-Chili concept car. Here was a concept that was shaped like the Enzo supercar but constructed from plastic and cardboard, and represented the carmaker’s future strategy for improving its...
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SAIC and Nanjing merger to go aheadFollowing their letter of intent to discuss “comprehensive cooperation,” two of China's biggest automakers, SAIC and Nanjing Auto, have announced the start of a merger agreement expected to be finalized by October 1. SAIC will gain 100% of Nanjing Auto in exchange for a share of SAIC...
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VW sets 10 year goal to catch up to ToyotaVolkswagen Group has given itself ten years to catch up with Toyota in terms of productivity and profit as part of CEO Martin Winterkorn’s pledge to close the gap in performance between the two carmakers. The timeframe is backed by Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking, who sees Toyota’s...
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The styling of Jaguar’s new XF has been a letdown when you consider how stunning the original concept version looked. This latest video of the car out on the road shows it in a much better... -
Europe to get Smart ‘clone’ despite legal threatsThe Chinese built Smart Fortwo replica, Shuanghuan’s Noble minicar, will go on sale in Europe despite threats of legal action from Mercedes-Benz. Officials from Mercedes have threatened the European importer of the Chinese vehicles, Martin Motors, who says the cars will still go on sale as...
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Mercedes launches Search & Send downloadable mapsIn a bid to compete with BMW and its own Google Maps-based ConnectedDrive navigation package, rival Mercedes-Benz today announced that it has teamed up with both Yahoo and Google Maps to deliver an easy to use in-car navigation system. The system will be available on The C, CL and S-class models...
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GAZ unveils Chrysler-based Siber at InterautoRussian carmaker GAZ Group has unveiled its new Siber mid-sized sedan at the Interauto Show in Moscow. The new car is based on a Chrysler platform that GAZ acquired the rights to back in April. The rest of the car’s engineering was developed with the help of another firm, British UltraMotive...
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Bowers and Wilkins sound system debuts in new XFBritish audio company Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), reputed for their high end loudspeakers, has designed its first premium car sound system to debut on Jaguar’s new XF. This system, which was developed alongside the XF concept, makes up of 14 specially designed speakers, and makes use of advanced...
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Mitsubishi Concept cX coming to FrankfurtMitsubishi has released the first images of its new Concept cX, a new AWD concept car that it’s planning to unveil at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. Part of its new ‘Environment Initiative Program 2010,’ the Concept cX will showcase the carmaker’s latest Euro 5-compliant...
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Infiniti is considering expanding its lineup with a new small car, a high-end coupe and possibly a minivan, and the automaker is also considering smaller engines. Despite fuel prices heading...
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VW: No Golf R36 in productionVolkswagen’s Golf performance range has been hugely successful for the company, but rumors that they're planning to expand it to include a top-of-the-line R36 model with a 3.6L V6 engine are unfounded. That’s the claim made by a VW spokesman, who said the Golf R32 is perfectly placed...
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Stolen Lamborghini Gallardo tracked with LoJackTwo car thieves got more than they bargained for when the Lamborghini Gallardo they’d stolen from the east coast of Italy turned out to be equipped with the latest LoJack vehicle recovery system. The tracking device uses radio frequency technology to help pinpoint the location of stolen...
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Tata confirms interest in Jaguar and Land RoverThe boss of Indian carmaker Tata Group, Ratan Tata, has confirmed his company is interested in acquiring the Jaguar and Land Rover labels from Ford. "We certainly have some interest in it," he said during a television interview with CNBC TV18 but refused to give a further comment. Earlier this...
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Aston Martin DBS challenges the DBR9 at the NürburgringAston Martin’s recently unveiled DBS supercar has come face-to-face with the Le Mans-winning DBR9 racer at an exclusive test day at the Nϋrburgring this week. The DBS was in Germany for a final sign-off drive at the circuit at the same time as the DBR9, which was undergoing a test...
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Jacques Villeneuve to launch NASCAR careerJacques Villeneuve is about to take his first step towards a new career in the world of NASCAR racing. The 1997 world champion, who lost his BMW-Sauber seat last year, is scheduled to test a Toyota pick-up truck in Chicago on Monday for the team Bill Davis Racing, according to American media...
Ralph Hanson