Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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The Fiat 500 minicar only made its debut this month but there’s already talk of additional variants being developed including a new long wheelbase ‘Giardinetta’ version similar to... -
Fiat profits double in Q2Fiat has reported record profits for the second quarter, with net income doubling for the period compared with last year’s results. Profits topped €593 million for the quarter, up from €280 million for the period one year earlier. The jump in results can mostly be attributed to...
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Australia loses F1 season opening slot for 2008Melbourne will no longer host the opening round of the formula one season after refusing to run the Australian grand prix at night in future. Instead, Bahrain will kick off the 2008 calendar, with the Albert Park event following it in mid-March, Australian organisers revealed on Monday. "Bahrain...
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Mercedes develops new petrol engine with diesel technologyMercedes-Benz is preparing to display several new frugal drivetrain concepts at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the latest being a new ‘DiesOtto’ engine that will be revealed for the first time later this month. The new engine features engine concepts that characterize both...
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New Kuga will be Ford's first hybrid in EuropeFord is set to unveil a concept version of its new Kuga mid-sized crossover at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, which will be powered by the Blue Oval’s latest petrol-electric hybrid technology. The new hybrid drivetrain will eventually flow on to production versions, making it the first...
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GM passes Toyota for Q2GM has surpassed Toyota in global sales for the second quarter of the year but still remains in the number two spot for the first six months. GM managed to regain the top spot despite falling demand for its products in its largest market, the US, and its global sales were up overall by 10,000 units...
Ralph Hanson -
In the tradition of the Hollywood weight loss diet, Mazda has now revealed how it managed to chop 100kg from its new Mazda2 supermini. Considering the fact that cars have been getting heavier due to... -
Hyundai not interested in Jaguar, Land Rover or VolvoThere’s been no end to the list of potential bidders for Ford Premier Auto Group brands - Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. Carmakers such as BMW, Renault and Hyundai were all thrown into the rumor mill as well as equity firms Cerberus, Blackstone and Equity One as suitors but more details are...
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Lexus increasing hybrid productionDespite the findings of a new study that found the popularity of hybrid cars was sinking in favor of diesels, Lexus is pushing ahead with the roll-out of more petrol-electric models and has announced that it will be lifting production of the eco-friendly cars. Lexus exec James H. Colon has revealed...
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Spyker C12 Zagato Production DelayedSpyker will be delaying production of its upcoming C12 Zagato sports car because capacity has been prioritized for the Dutch firm’s other models. The C12 Zagato was styled with the help of Italian design firm Zagato and was eventually set to go on sale at a price of €495,000 early next...
Ralph Hanson -
Renault celebrates 30 years in F1Three decades ago at Silverstone, Renault joined the Formula One league with a new turbocharged racer and a team comprised of a small band of inexperienced enthusiasts. The same day also saw a young Gilles Villeneuve compete in F1 for the first time with home favorite James Hunt win after starting...
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Spy Shots: Fiat’s Abarth Punto And 500 Hot HatchesSpy photographers have spotted the upcoming Abarth versions of the Fiat Punto and 500 minicar, the first of a range of sports oriented models from Fiat featuring the famous Scorpion Abarth branding. Previewed in concept form at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the new Punto Abarth that’s due...
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A new batch of Panamera spy shots has just surfaced, and some of them are the most revealing shots we've come across yet.
Looking at the car’s profile, one can clearly see the shape of the new...
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China develops new electric drivetrainsChina has announced the development of its own electric vehicle technology and has already demonstrated the first working systems using a small fleet of electric buses. The new propulsion systems were developed at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), which now holds the proprietary intellectual...
Ralph Hanson -
Spyker drops Albers from its F1 teamFollowing media speculation, Spyker confirmed on Tuesday that Christijan Albers' contract to race for the Dutch team in 2007 has been terminated with immediate effect. A statement referred to "commercial difficulties" with the pay-driver, while rumours suggest that India's Narain Karthikeyan and...
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Mercedes to roll out hybrid and engine stop-start techDaimlerChrysler is set to follow the lead of BMW by making mild hybrid and engine stop-start systems available in some of its more popular models. At an announcement in London, officials announced that the first car in the DCX fold to feature the eco-friendly tech will be the Smart Fortwo...
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Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz will continue parts sharingDespite having just announced their split, Mercedes and Chrysler will continue to share electrical systems, SUV components and other technology long after the de-merger has been finalized and the dust has settled. A joint operating board will be set up to manage any parts sharing programs with...
Ralph Hanson -
Update: GM’s hybrid Chevrolet Malibu unveiledWell that didn't take long. Only hours ago we reported on some Chevy Malibu spy shots and now GM has come out and unveiled the car at today’s Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. Those wishing for a Prius-beater will be left sorely disappointed – the Malibu Hybrid’s electric...
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Update: Honda admits meeting the pair behind the allegations. Click ahead to find out more.
A third team is being dragged into the Ferrari-McLaren espionage affair - Honda. The German specialist... -
More Details On Gordon Murray’s Next CarGordon Murray, the man behind one of the greatest cars of all, the McLaren F1 supercar, is now heading his own skunk works project, the self titled Gordon Murray Design Limited. He has gathered some of the best in the automotive and engineering design fields and has a close relationship with the...
Ralph Hanson -
Audi reports record sales for first six months of yearAudi has sold just over a half a million cars in the first half of the year, a 9.8% increase over last year and a new record for the luxury brand. Having sold approximately 509,000 units this year, Audi could even reach its 2008 target of selling a million vehicles twelve months early, avowed Audi...
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Radical Launches The 455-HP SR8 LMRadical has launched the updated version of its SR8 track car, now with a more powerful Powertec V8 motor and an all-new Powertec transaxle. Claimed to be the fastest prototype on the club racing scene, the new SR8LM is powered by a 2.8L, 455bhp Powertec RPB motor based on Suzuki’s 1.3L GSXR...
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Mazda2 MPS in the worksMazda’s new MPS (Mazdaspeed) 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 the latest addition to be based on the recently launched Mazda2 hatch. The car is...
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Toyota Prius excels because of unique designThere's no doubt that Toyota’s Prius is the top selling hybrid car in the world. It's already sold more than half a million units, while competitors have struggled and sometimes failed with their own hybrid models. New evidence suggests the reason for the high sales aren't only due to the...
Ralph Hanson