Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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Holden’s VE Commodore, which went on sale just two months ago, has failed to meet expectations and is facing a 12-year low for sales of large cars in its homeland. Conversely, the Commodore is... -
Airbag and ABS safety in the spotlight againA university research team has found that antilock brakes and airbags don’t actually reduce accidents or injuries, because motorists are prone to drive more aggressively thinking they are safe in their vehicles. The findings come from a Purdue University study of vehicle accidents in...
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End of the road for the Ford TaurusFord will stop production of the Taurus next week, putting an end to a nameplate that’s been around for 21 years and featured on nearly 7 million cars. The Taurus was the best-selling car in the United States between 1992 and 1996, eventually losing the title in 1997 to the Toyota Camry - one...
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VW CEO Doubts He Could Find A Buyer For SEATVolkswagen won’t be dropping its SEAT unit anytime soon, despite the poor financial results from the Spanish car maker. Part of the reason is the difficult VW would endure in acquiring an actual buyer. CEO of VW, Bernd Pischetsrieder, was even quoted as stating that he doesn't believe that...
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Bertone Inducted Into The Automotive Hall Of FameLegendary automobile designer Nuccio Bertone, who completed designs for the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Alfa Romeo, has finally been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. A commemorative plate with his signature has been placed at the Detroit institute amongst other important auto...
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Fujitsu Ten’s new onboard cameraMade famous by television shows featuring footage caught on squad car’s onboard video camera, personal vehicle cameras may become a common feature in many cars. Fujitsu Ten is set to release its DREC1000 drive recorder that's aimed at the general public. The original version was developed for...
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Spy photographers Automedia are claiming that Maserati is working on not one coupe as was previously reported, but three! According to their sources, Maserati will build a Quattroporte-based 2+2... -
Report: US car makers take longer to sell carsIf you want an indication of just how much trouble US carmakers are in, you just need to take a look at the number of days it takes them to sell a car. The big 2.5 are struggling to keep up with consumer demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, and this is playing straight into the hands...
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2007 Volvo XC90 features DivX playbackVolvo’s 2007 XC90 SUV will feature DivX playback with its optional Rear Seat Entertainment System. Sourced from Visteon, the new player will be the first factory installed unit to support the DivX certification and allows you to play all your downloaded videos, legal or not. DivX is a video...
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Speed sign monitoring system stops you from speedingSiemens VDO has developed a Traffic Sign Recognition system that’s set up to alert drivers if they’re driving too fast. A camera is installed that constantly monitors the road ahead and can recognize speed limits on traffic signs. Information is then relayed to the driver, warning them...
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Cleaner diesel fuel is here and nowGas stations across the country are serving a new ultra-clean diesel fuel with 97 percent less sulfur than the old formulation it replaces. Thanks to the delivery of the new fuel over the past week, most gas stations across the country are ready to serve the fuel as of Sunday the 15th of this...
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DIY gadgets for your carSometimes, doing things yourself can be extremely worthwhile and fun as well. Nowhere is this truer than when it comes to tinkering with your car. Nowadays, there are a multitude of cheap electronic gadgets that you can install in your car, and most of them can be done over a single weekend. One of...
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German magazine Autobild is reporting that BMW may be working on a shooting brake version of its best-selling 3-series range. They’re claiming BMW will release such a model in 2008 and that it... -
In car telematics allow cars to communicate with driversA car that communicates with you isn’t that far away. We've already reported about Seat’s intelligent León concept that monitors you whilst you’re driving and can even block incoming calls to your mobile if it wants to. Now there’s talk of an in car system that can warn you...
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An interview with BMW's Adrian van HooydonkBusinessWeek has an interview with one of the most controversial men in design today, Adrian van Hooydonk, who heads up BMW’s design divisions along with the infamous Chris Bangle. Despite Bangle’s notoriety for being the man behind BMW’s design revolution, van Hooydonk is just as...
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Thieves steal secrets on German Chancellor’s armored limoSecurity companies that modify vehicles into armored bulletproof bombshelters on wheels are always very tight-lipped surrounding even the most minor details of their cars. It must be very disappointing as well as frightening to the companies involved and the German people to hear that thieves have...
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911 Turbo technology coming to a car near youThe benefits of turbocharging have been well documented, yet still today the technology is not as common as one would expect. Perhaps it’s because until now the price of fuel was not such a major issue and manufacturers could satisfy the demand for power with higher displacement engines...
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Man goes to town in his 7.5t tankA 42 year old UK man has shelled out £14,000 on a 1974 Sabre light reconnaissance tank that he uses in daily traffic, according to a report from the UK's Daily Mail. Down the roads near his home in Winsford, Cheshire, owner Stephen Ellison can reach speeds of up to 40mph in the tank that...
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Images of Hyundai’s upcoming Veracruz full-sized SUV have been leaked onto the Internet before its official unveiling pegged for October. Initial sales will start in its homeland, South Korea,...
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Exclusive: The Two-Door Porsche CayenneWhat do you get when you take a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, chop off two doors, revamp most of the exterior, and create a luxurious new interior with the latest technology? The DC STAR, a concept vehicle created by Indian coachbuilders DC Design and available through custom order for around...
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Carlsson's 435BHP CK50Carlsson has turned the already intimidating Mercedes-Benz GL500 SUV into a monstrous beast with its latest CK50 package for the big Merc. Engine work on the naturally aspirated V8 produces 435bhp (320kW) over the standard car’s 388bhp (285kW), and torque tops out at 600Nm peaking at just...
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Spy Shots: 2008 Volvo V70A completely undisguised version of Volvo’s upcoming V70 was caught by spy photographer just outside Volvo’s factory in Sweden. The particular model caught was a white V70 T5 AWD that’s set to debut officially at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year. From the revealing images...
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New Superbus may revolutionize public transportWe have been given a glimpse of the future of land transport with the news of the Superbus project. Unlike high-speed trains, the Superbus offers the benefits of travelling at speeds of up to 250km/h but with the flexibility of travelling on existing road networks. The creation of Dutch professor...
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Spy Shots: 2008 Jaguar S-typeJaguar is relying on its replacement for the S-type sedan to help turnaround its low sales results that the company has been experiencing. Parent company Ford will keep the ailing British marque despite Jaguar ending up as the worst performer in its Premier Auto Group. This S-type test mule was...
Ralph Hanson