James Martinez, Author
Articles
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Audi’s new A5 Coupe is yet to go on sale in many markets but that hasn’t stopped several renderings previewing the convertible version from surfacing. This new rendering gives us another... -
Cadillac hires new global design directorCadillac has appointed Clay Dean as its new global design director, who’ll be spearheading the design of several new Cadillac models over the next several years. Dean has been working for GM since 1988 and has been employed as its design director for small and mid-sized cars since 2004...
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Preview: 2009 BMW Z4 RoadsterThe 2010 BMW Z4 has officially been revealed. Click here for all the details and images. BMW will be introducing the next-gen Z4 in early 2009. Recent spy shots of a prototype testing new Munich showed a car with a familiar shape to the current Z4. Short rear overhangs and a long hood characterized...
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Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 breaks fuel-cell recordThe Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 sedan has entered the record books as the world’s fastest hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle with a record speed of 207.297mph. A small team composed of enthusiasts from Ford, the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Racing...
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Jaguar adds 3.5L engine to XK CabrioJust two months ago we reported that Jaguar was expanding its XK range with a new 3.5L V8 engine that would allow it to lower the entry price to the model significantly. The initial sales results are now in and the model has been so successful Jaguar is expanding it to the Cabrio model. Despite the...
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Base Audi A3 gets new turbo engineAudi’s cheapest A3 comes with a 1.6L engine but this is soon to be replaced by an even smaller 1.4L model fitted with a turbocharger. Despite the smaller capacity, the 1.4L TFSI delivers 125hp and 200Nm of torque (respectively 10hp and 45Nm more than the outgoing engine). With the updated...
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German tuning house Abt Sportsline has released its take on the Audi S3. Dubbed simply the Abt S3, this latest member to the Abt family has received various modifications to its 2.0 TFSI engine... -
Warranty claims cost DCX $6.1 billion last year
One of the key challenges of turning around the misfortunes at Chrysler will be to improve the levels of warranty claims, which last year cost it and German parent Daimler a staggering $6.1 billion. Though the data didn’t separate which carmaker within the group had the highest claims...
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Scott Speed looks for work outside F1Ousted Toro Rosso racer Scott Speed is not pursuing a new job in formula one. It is reported in the Austrian newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten that the 24-year-old Californian, who fell out badly with his team bosses this year before losing his seat, is only pursuing a job for 2008 and beyond in his...
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Official - Bourdais to STR in 2008Toro Rosso on Friday confirmed reports that said Sebastien Bourdais had now signed a contract to race for the Faenza based team in 2008. The multiple Champ Car title winner, Frenchman and former F3000 champion will replace Vitantonio Liuzzi, and be Sebastian Vettel's teammate. "It has been a long...
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Teaser for high-performance Saab 9-3 Turbo XSaab will be showing a new “Turbo X” model of the 9-3 at the Frankfurt Motor Show designed to evoke the iconic Saab 99 and 900 ‘Black Turbos’ with visual tweaks and performance upgrades. Saab originally showed its first turbo model at the Frankfurt show in 1977, so this show...
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Artega To Launch More Models After GTArtega has announced that the first customer deliveries of its new GT coupe will commence by the middle of next year, which is just over 12 months from when the car was first displayed in concept form back at March’s Geneva Motor Show. The car displayed in Geneva was merely an empty shell...
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Audi’s stunning new A5 coupe still isn’t available in most markets yet but the company has already seen fit to expand the model range to include two new six-cylinder engines. The new... -
Chrysler gets new logo and CEOWith the historic sale of Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management concluding last Friday, the born again carmaker will be reverting to its classic Pentastar logo and also gets a new CEO in the process. Stepping in as the new Chief and Chairman is former Home Depot boss Bob Nardelli, who replaces...
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Kicherer tuned Audi R8 TopformAudi’s R8 already delivers stunning performance in standard guise, coming close to rivaling the cars from Ferrari and Lamborghini, but with a little help from Germany’s Kicherer there would be no stopping it. Kicherer engineers have taken the R8 to a wind tunnel and developed new body...
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VW rear-engined minicar and Tiguan to star at FrankfurtAt next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show Volkswagen will be presenting more than fifty different models, eight of which will be making their world debuts. The newcomers on VW’s stands will be the new Tiguan SUV, six new economical BlueMotion models and a rear-engined minicar concept. CEO...
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Swedish consortium eyeing VolvoAccording to latest reports, execs at Volvo are trying to ensure the carmaker goes into Swedish hands should there be a split from Ford’s Premier Auto Group. So far, Ford has denied that Volvo is up for sale but reports have emerged claiming there are several potential suitors eyeing Volvo...
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Renault-Nissan CEO still open to Detroit 3 tie-upRenault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has once again expressed interest over a possible a tie-up with one of America’s Detroit 3 carmakers. News of Ghosn and his US alliance dreams first surfaced a year ago when it was revealed that Renault-Nissan were conducting talks with General Motors...
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Updated: The owner of the GAZ car group, Russian Machines, has released a statement denying claims that it’s interested in acquiring Land Rover and Jaguar.
Original: The latest bidder reported... -
Bentley reports record profits and salesBentley has reported an increase in its global sales volume for the fourth straight year in a row, with turnover and operating profits also reaching record levels. Back in February we reported that Bentley was easily outpacing rivals Maybach and Rolls-Royce in the sales race and official data...
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Aston Martin offers lifetime Sirius Satellite radio in USAston Martin and Sirius have announced today that satellite radio will be available on all US delivered V8 Vantage and DB9 models starting from August. All future Astons sold in the US will also get the Sirius service, which comes with a lifetime subscription for those who can afford the exclusive...
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Kia reveals three-door Pro-cee’d hatchKia has released the first preview image of its upcoming three-door hatchback model, which will make its world debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The new hatch will pick up the name Pro-cee’d. Based on the almost identical concept car displayed at last year’s Paris Show...
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Fiat 500 sold out in 3 weeks, prompts extra productionFiat’s recently launched 500 minicar is proving so popular that management has decided to increase production. According to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, annual production for the 500 will expand to 140,000 from the current 120,000 level starting from next year. It’s hard to imagine that...
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Mercedes’ DiesOtto engine does 39MPG in a S-classMercedes is attempting to beat rival Volkswagen to the market with the world’s first mass produced petrol engine that combines the torque and fuel economy of modern diesels with cleaner emissions. Efficient features that have been added to the engine include direct injection, turbocharging...
James Martinez