The World Touring Car Championship, a popular series in Europe, is planning to come to North America as a book-end to its usual race in Brazil. So far, the location of such an event is undecided. “The West Coast would be better in terms of reaching the public who buy our kind of cars,” said...
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The Sultan of Brunei’s extravagant car collection is something of an urban legend among auto enthusiasts. Most of the evidence surrounding its existence is anecdotal, with a few grainy photos having leaked out over the years on rare occasions. Now, Sports Car Market has published an article by car broker Michael Sheehan detailing the vastness of...
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Some cars, like the Bugatti Veyron, are so expensive that we can’t imagine ever owning one. Others, like the Porsche 911 GT2 RS are so outrageously powerful that we wouldn’t want to drive them, because of the massive disconnect between our own limits and those of the car. With 620 horsepower channeled only through the...
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Purists may scoff at the 4-door MINI Countryman and its betrayal of “brand values”, but BMW’s bean counters are laughing all the way to the bank as the company credits the newest MINI with helping profits surge 15-fold in 2010. BMW’s net income was recorded at 3.23 billion euros in 2010, up from 210 million...
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After 14 months on the job and one IPO, General Motors CFO Chris Liddell is stepping down, and will be replaced by treasurer Dan Ammann. Liddell was viewed as a potential successor to CEO Dan Akerson, but said he wants to move on from his CFO position, after having previously holding the title at Microsoft...
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For all the hype surrounding the Fiat 500, Ford‘s CEO, Alan Mulally, has become one of its most prominent detractors, condemning the car to failure before it’s even launched. Speaking to the Italian language magazine Panorama, Mulally remarked “I do not see large market in the U.S.A. for a smaller car than the Fiesta. Those that tried...
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Toyota‘s plus-sized Prius, the Prius V, has began production, and will start at $28,600 in Japan, roughly $3,700 more than the standard Prius. Many feel that the price will be closer to $27,000 in the United States, although the American-spec Prius V will lack the third row seat. Toyota claims that this feature would not...
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A brigade of drivers for the North Korean military have been arrested for stealing vehicles belonging to the military and selling them off for parts so that the drivers could keep their own personal vehicles running and filled with gasoline. According to the blog DailyNK, the stolen vehicles were used to transport people and cargo...
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Stolen cars tend to be more mundane vehicles which can easily be exported to another country or chopped up for parts. Or both. But celebrity chef Guy Fieri, host of shows like “Minute To Win It” and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” had something a little more exotic stolen from him, and the heist’s execution wasn’t exactly normal...
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Automotive News is reporting that the Chevrolet Corvette sales are on the rebound after being on a steady decline since 2006. At their peak 5 years ago, Chevrolet moved 36,518 Corvettes. By contrast, Chevrolet only sold 12,624 in 2010. The first two months of 2011 have seen a 13 percent sales increase compared to January...
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For all the dismissive attitudes surrounding GM CEO Dan Akerson, his latest machinations seem particularly astute, even if they don’t quite jibe with the tastes of “car guys”. For months, Akerson has been creating a contingency plan for when oil prices rise to $120 per barrel. Akerson is on record stating that “I don’t think...
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While many have expressed their displeasure with Toyota‘s re-design of the FT-86 sports car, fans can rest easier knowing that the changes were made in the name of function rather than form. According to Autocar, the biggest change comes from the A-pillars, which have been moved back a few inches to create a flatter windscreen....
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As if news of the impending launch of the Audi TT-RS wasn’t enough, North American consumers will be treated to an extra 20 horsepower, according to Car and Driver magazine. C/D spoke to Audi representatives at the Chicago Auto Show, where they were informed that Audi is pushing for a total output of 360 horsepower...
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If you want an aggressive looking Mercedes-Benz C-Class but can’t ante up for the psychotically delightful C63 AMG, the 2011 C350 BlueEFFICIENCY equipped with the AMG appearance package might be a suitable bridge between the standard car and the V8 demon lurking at the top of the C-Class food chain. LED running lights and new...
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Saleen Performance Vehicles announced that it will end production of their Saleen Mustang vehicles in order to focus on aftermarket parts. The final vehicle, a 2011 Saleen S302, will end a lineage that stretches back to 1983. Production will end in the third quarter of 2011. Saleen was recognized as the last word in high...
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General Motors is recalling 10,179 Buick Lacrosse sedans and Cadillac SRX crossovers due to a fault defroster. The problem is actually a software glitch rather than a physical defect, but one that prevents the unit from properly clearing the windshield. Should the windshield fail to be clear, visibility problems could arise and result in a...
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The Fast and the Furious has attained cult status amongst car guys for its horrific dialogue, cheese-ball action scenes and technical inaccuracy. The subsequent follow-ups were never met with the same fanfare, but the fifth installment, titled Fast Five might be able to bring back some of the magic, with the return of Vin Diesel...
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Maserati is reporting a sales increase of 20 percent in 2010 and selling 2,000 cars. Not bad for a car company that only a decade ago was a boutique maker of finnicky but beautiful Italian exotics. In a press conference at the Geneva Auto Show, CEO Harald Wester remarked that 2011 should be a banner...
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The perpetual tide of new Chevrolet Camaro variants keeps rolling in, with another new model set to be unveiled at Camaro5Fest. Details are scant but the event, a gathering for members of a 5th generation Camaro forum, should be a venue that will ensure an enthusiastic reception for Chevrolet. The new model will be unveiled...
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The Suzuki Kizashi may have enjoyed critical acclaim (and rightly so) but it’s sales figures have never been stellar. Suzuki is planning to sell the Kizashi in the UK later in 2011, and while Suzuki only plans on selling 500 units, it’s difficult to imagine the car being anything more than a low-volume curiosity. With...
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With most car manufacturers, the different trim levels often signify how well-equipped a vehicle is. But the new Tesla Model S electric car will use them in a different manner, with the three trims carrying different batteries, ranging from 160 to 300 miles. The first cars produced by Tesla will be a limited run of...
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With the positive reception given to the very compact MINI Rocketman concept at this year’s Geneva Auto Show, MINI execs have given indications that the car will be produced sometime in the near future. “We are good at looking at history and interpreting a future for it,” MINI sales and marketing chief Kevin Robertson told...
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Mercedes-Benz is following in BMW’s footsteps and launching an online short film, dubbed an “interactive movie” to coincide with the debut of their new C-Class Coupe. While BMW’s short films featured A-List Hollywood directors and megastar Clive Owen (before he was widely known), Mercedes is taking a different approach, with the artistic side of the...
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Iranian dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sold his 1977 Peugeot 504 at a chairty auction for $2.5 million, according to MSNBC. Ahamdinejad will use the proceeds to fund a low-income housing project meant for families. “President Ahmadinejad’s Peugeot 504 was sold for 2.5 billion tomans ($2.5 million) to an Iranian who took part in the auction,” ISNA...
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