Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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These are the latest photos of the new Mondeo, which is due for release next year. The current model has been on sale since 2000 and is long overdue for an update to compete with other cars in its... -
BMW to release 7-series hydrogen carsBMW is prepping a fleet of hydrogen capable 7-series limousines to go on sale in 2007. In 2000, BMW showed off its first 7-series concept using a zero-emission system called CleanEnergy that allows the cars to use either hydrogen or petrol. The V12 engine is expected to develop 231hp and can switch...
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Mercedes Weltrekordwagon with a 44.5L V12 (no, that's not a typo)It seems that while the Nazi's were quite a busy lot during their reign, they weren't too busy to try and break some world speed records. They maneged to build the sinister looking beast below - the 1939 Mercedes-Benz T-80 Weltrekordwagen. The ‘car’ features the largest engine that...
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The BMW 3-Series from past to presentThis 22 minute long video outlines the entire history of the BMW 3-series - from its beginnings as a mid-sized sedan for the upper crust to its meteoric rise in becoming more ubiquitous than the Ford Mondeo in some countries. In just 22 minutes you can see how the Germans managed to create and...
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Renault unveils the NeptaPreviously we reported that Renault will unveil their latest concept car (code named Z20) today, in preperation for the Paris Motor Show. Today, they released details about the Nepta concept car, a four-seater cabriolet with a low-slung body shape and a spacious interior combined with massive...
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Bill Ford replaced by Alan Mulally as CEO of FordHenry Ford descendent, Bill Ford, has stepped down on Tuesday from his position as CEO and is replaced by 61-year-old Alan Mulally. The former executive VP of Boeing is intent on turning around Ford’s misfortunes, which included a $1.4 billion dollar loss for the first half of the year. Bill...
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Audi’s understated A8 limo may receive the V-12 TDI powerplant from the Audi R10 race car that won this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Displacing 5.5 liters, the monster...
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Intelligent parking system launches in MunichGone are the days when parking stations had to rely on wires and underground sensors to advertise vacant spots. A new system developed in Munich uses GPRS technology, similar to that used in mobile phones, to transfer parking availability information between 25 inner-city stations. The system was...
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Bentley starts production of Continental GTCProduction of the Continental GTC began this week at the car maker’s factory in Crewe. The GTC is the convertible version of the mammoth GT coupe and features the same twin-turbo 552hp (412kW) W12 engine. A third spin-off in the form of an off-roader, perhaps carrying the Cross Continental...
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Bombardier’s EXIT quad bike conceptWith the amount of interest behind events such as the X Games and extreme sports receive from today’s youth; it was only a matter of time before manufacturers realized the potential that a vehicle aimed at the generation would have. Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) has created an...
Ralph Hanson -
Full carbon-fiber bodied Z4 coupeThis is probably the most extreme a modified Z4 coupe can get. Featuring a complete wide-body carbon fiber shell, the entire car weighs only 2780 lbs (1260kg) – a saving of 500lbs over the original. Combine this with the 342hp (255kW) inline six, and you’re left with one blistering...
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The first episode of Extreme TV's Gumball 3000 2006
Here's the hilarious first episode of this year's coverage on the Gumball 3000 rally. It gives you an insight in to the Gumball lifestyle and the crazy things that happen out there.
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Pit-stops during Formula One or NASCAR races are one the most time crucial situations in any field. A matter of seconds can determine whether a team succeeds or fails, and is similar to the stressful... -
Designer Labels Looking To Buy Aston MartinNow that the Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] has confirmed it’s dropping Aston Martin from its Premier Automotive Group, the only question is who else is at the table? It appears the exclusive brand may be sold to one of two competing luxury goods consortiums, which include the companies behind...
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Forbes lists America's best driving roadsThe guys over at Forbes have put together a list of some of the most enjoyable driving roads across the US with the help of motoring personalities, Danica Patrick, Chrysler boss Tom LaSorda, Aston Martin’s John Walton and GM’s Bob Lutz. Not surprisingly the majority of top sites are...
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Ferrari May Build Dino, 'Son Of Enzo'Rumor has it that Ferrari [NYSE:RACE] is planning a new entry level V-8 coupe that will be positioned below the F430 and may carry the Dino nameplate. In a report from Automotive News, the new car is said to feature a folding metal roof and is scheduled to arrive in European showrooms by 2008 and...
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New Formula hybrid competition set for 2007Formula One is already set for some drastic changes regarding its engine technology as outlined in our earlier post. The latest rumour is that one day the high-revving, naturally aspirated V8s will be replaced by either fuel cell or hybrid powerplants. We’ve already had comments from FIA...
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GM does the right thing by sat-nav ownersIn a sign of goodwill from GM, the ailing car giant will offer two free update discs for its sat-nav systems starting with all its 2006 models. Owners will receive an upgrade for the first two years after purchase of their vehicles and will receive a notice from GM in the mail.
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Subaru’s risky gamble with the bold propeller face for its popular Impreza has failed to attract buyers. The heavily criticized model facelift has been slammed by both media and consumers alike... -
Spyker bidding for Midland F1 team?Our favorite Dutch car manufacturer, Spyker, has announced that it’s leading a consortium to try to take over the Midland F1 team. Spyker is currently in negotiations with the owners of the team but no deal has been announced yet. There’s also no word on whether the team would remain as...
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Toyota builds bumper that detects rear crashesThe new bumpers use radar to detect a possible rear crash and can position the headrests to help reduce injury from whiplash. The system also sets off hazard lights to warn the driver about a possible crash. The first car to be equipped with rear crash detection will be the top of the line Lexus...
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The Sultan And His 5,000 CarsThough we can't confirm its legitimacy, below you'll find a list of just some of the vehicles registered by the Sultan of Brunei. We suspect that the list is several years old now because it doesn’t include some of the more recent supercars we know would be on the Sultan’s wish list...
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Update: Official images of the VW IROC ConceptHere are the official images from Volkswagen of the IROC concept car that will appear at next month's Paris Motor Show. The car showcases the design trend that will shape the forthcoming Scirocco coupe, which is planned for sale in 2008. The concept car will feature a TSI engine mated to VW's DSG...
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Spy Shots: Updated version of the STS-VThis STS-V with unique LED tail-lights and an Escalade-style grille was caught while in preparation for a European auto show for modified cars. Inside, the car is said to feature labels and instrumentation in full Arabic and is powered by a 600hp supercharged V8. The big news is that this car...
Ralph Hanson