Author: autoevolution

Mazda Motor Company has recently announced that it wants to expand its production capacity in China, in order to satisfy the increasing demand in the country, as Bloomberg reports.

We need to expand current capacity when we look into next year and the year after, Chief Financial Officer Kiyoshi Ozaki was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source. However, Ozaki did not provide exact figures for the company’s plan.

Mazda, which is 11 percent owned by Ford Motor Co, has set a China sale… (read more)

Just when peaceful feelings have seemed to settle down between Ferrari and the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the Italian company launched a sequel attack over the ruling body regarding its policy to allow new teams to enter the Great Circus starting the 2010 season.

In a column entitled the Horse Wisperer on Ferrari’s official site, the Scuderia heavily criticized the Paris organization for chasing manufacturers such as Toyota, BMW and Honda in exchange of allowing smaller teams … (read more)

If you started to get bored with your Audi R8, maybe it is time to consider making a change that will visually improve your beloved supercar. The German tuners at Prior Design come to help those that find themselves in this situation and released a new aftermarket aerodynamic package for the Audi R8.

For the front end, the designers at Prior have developed a discreet spoiler with middle fin and two flat openings, and re-engineered car hood with additional carbon inlets. On the sides, the new… (read more)

Last month, we reported the launch of the second generation Opel Movano light commercial vehicle. To celebrate the new vehicle’s arrival on the UK market, Vauxhall (Opels are sold as Vauxhalls in the UK) has introduced a special free equipment pack for all new Movanos sold until July 31 this year.

The Launch Pack gives away optional extras such as air conditioning, a multi-function trip computer, vehicle alarm and Bluetooth connectivity, that would normally cost 1,400 pounds.

In the same… (read more)

Skoda has presented the facelifted version of the Fabia and Roomster ahead of their Geneva debut.

The Fabia hatchback, Fabia estate and Roomster MPV have now adopted the Skoda family identity, introduced by the much-bigger sister Superb. The facelift also includes the Scout model. The most important changes include a new radiator grille and redesigned headlights. The latter have been widened "to highlight the horizontal line of the vehicle’s front". The revised versions ride on fres… (read more)

A very interesting story broke on the Internet yesterday, when ABC news released a video showing how a Toyota vehicle which experiences unintended acceleration behaves. The video shows David Gilbert, an automotive technology professor at the Souther Illinois University ABC’s Brian Ross testing what happens when a Toyota goes berserk.

What is interesting, aside from the video, of course, is that what the two managed to prove is that an electronic fault can cause unintended acceleration. By de… (read more)

A range of sporty individualization products from Mercedes-Benz Accessories will debut at the upcoming auto show in Geneva next month. Under the MercedesSport label, the range will allow customers to retrofit their cat with a number of personal features, while enjoying more sporty handling characteristics.

The MercedesSport portfolio features specially designed light-alloy wheels, a sports suspension and mounted aerodynamic and styling components.

According to Daimler, the highlights in th… (read more)

Although he admitted he doesn’t hold any regret over the period of time he spent at McLaren Mercedes, Spanish driver Fernando Alonso revealed there is certainly one thing that he’s not ashamed of doing while driving the silver arrows. And that’s helping the International Automobile Federation (FIA) get to the bottom of the spying saga between McLaren and Ferrari.

Known as the spy-gate, the aforementioned scandal led to McLaren Mercedes receiving the biggest fine in the history of the sport ($… (read more)

Following several reports coming from the US regarding the financial hole in which US Grand Prix Engineering find themselves at the present time, it’s needless to say that it would take nothing short of a miracle for the Charlotte-based organization to make it to the Formula One grid in 2010.

As we’ve reported to you less than a week ago, it all started when Brian Bonner, the head of business development with US F1, decided to leave the organization and switch focus entirely to B4 Marketing, … (read more)

The latest program released by Mansory will make its public debut at the upcoming auto show in Geneva, the Swiss tuners announced. Based on the Rolls Royce Ghost, the program includes both styling and performance upgrades brought to the luxury model.

Performance wise, the Mansory Rolls Royce Ghost is powered by the standard engine that has been upgraded from 570 hp (420 kW) and 780 Nm of torque to 720 hp (530 kW) at 5,850 rpm and a maximum 1,020 Nm of torque.

These new figures were achiev… (read more)

Russian driver Vitaly Petrov denied the fact that he signed a deal with Renault F1 simply to become a second driver in Formula One. While clearly benefiting from less experience in the series as compared to his teammate Robert Kubica – he is, in fact, a rookie – the GP2 Series runner-up believes only the season will tell who will be the primary driver of the team and who won’t.

The races have not yet begun, so maybe he (Kubica) will be the number two. Every driver is responsible for himself, … (read more)

The Proton Concept, that will be introduced at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show, will be powered by a complex hybrid powertrain supplied by Lotus Engineering, the consultancy arm of the famous British company.

"The hybrid drivetrain of the PROTON Concept is another example of Lotus Engineering’s expertise in electrical and electronic systems and efficient performance engines. The high efficiency Lotus Range Extender engine, which we unveiled to great acclaim at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show … (read more)

The car used by one of the most prolific, well known serial killers in the world, Ted Bundy, has just become a museum piece, displayed for all to see in the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in Washington.

The beige 1968 Volkswagen Beetle used by Bundy during his glory days replaces John Dillinger’s 1933 Essex Terraplane getaway car in the museums’ lobby, the New york Times reports.

Sure, there’s no comparing the two vehicles. While Dillinger’s vehicle evokes a time of "romant… (read more)

After breaking up Azhar Hussain’s TTXGP and launching their own electric bike series, the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) is now offering cash incentive for those considering to enter the 2010 series. The FIM e-Power International Championship will run in direct competition to the TTXGP eGrandPrix, so this announcement is seen more as an attempt of buying riders out of the rival series.

Aside from the fact that no entry fee is required to take part in the Championship, the fi… (read more)

And here’s the moment when the fun begins. Up until now, we’ve heard a lot of things regarding Dacia’s first ever SUV, the so-called Duster, but the big moment will actually happen next week at Geneva where Renault’s Romanian brand will take the wraps off the car. Obviously, everybody expects the car to post a success at least equal to Logan’s, Dacia’s well-known sedan that laughed in the face of the crisis and posted sales increases all over the globe.

According to latest reports, the Duster… (read more)

As the new Formula One season approaches, supremo Bernie Ecclestone is already preparing the 2011 edition of the championship. And the first thing that he needs to take care of when talking about the campaign one year from now is securing a solid tire supplier for the series.

As most of you probably know by now, Japanese tire supplier Bridgestone has already confirmed its intentions to quit Formula One at the end of 2010. They have been sole suppliers for the series between 2008 and 2010, aft… (read more)

The Tengzhong – Hummer acquisition story has been going on for a while and, as you know, the Chinese company’s plan has not been received well by the Chinese authorities. Tengzhong could use an offshore company in its attempt to purchase GM’s Hummer if the Chinese government will not allow the transaction.

According to Reuters, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co, has approached the Chinese regulatory authorities after it had signed a contract with GM in October last year. The par… (read more)

With the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, February 24, all eyes are on Washington and the people who, more or less, will make or brake Toyota in the near future.

The Oversight committee posted on its official website the list of people who will appear in front of the three panels an try to answer the question which titles the entire hearing: Toyota Gas Pedals: Is the Public at Risk?

The witness list includes David L. Strickland, Natio… (read more)

Only a few days left until the 2010 Geneva Motor Show will officially open its doors to visitors and carmakers attending the venue have already announced their goodies to be on display there. However, Koenigsegg is one of the companies that are trying to keep things secret in a move probably meant to stir up interest for its Geneva booth.

No press release, no statement, no details. But the editors over at carsuk.net talked to some people at Koenigsegg and asked them about what’s to expect fro… (read more)

Stefan GP will unfortunately not be able to run their Stefan 01 car in Portimao this week. The cancellation, reported by British publication Autosport, doesn’t have anything to do with the car’s development, but with the team’s inability to secure the necessary Bridgestone tires for the scheduled test.

Late last month, the Serbian outfit confirmed that they will debut the Stefan 01 – formerly known as Toyota TF110, as the team purchased the car and technology from the Japanese manufacturer – … (read more)