Kurt Ernst, Contributor
Articles
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Honda’s luxury marque, Acura, established itself in the U.S. market largely by selling near-luxury models like the Integra, the RSX and even the TSX, all of which served as gateways to the... -
This Won't End Well: BYD Introduces Remote-Controlled CarAmerica used to be the land of innovation, where progress was limited only by the imagination of engineers. Then corporate attorneys got involved, and most innovation was stamped out by the fear of product liability lawsuits. Technical challenges aside, there’s a reason we’re not all...
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To Deplete Inventory, Maybach Offering Up To $100,000 In RebatesWhen Daimler finally made the decision to kill off the Maybach brand at the end of 2012, the news came as a surprise to no one. Sales of the ultra-luxury brand never managed to meet expectations, and some critics speculated that Daimler actually lost $400,000 on each Maybach sold. Even the...
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Italy's Tax Police Impacting Ferrari And Maserati SalesIn the wake of a highly-publicized crackdown on tax evaders in Italy, domestic sales of luxury sports car brands Ferrari and Maserati have fallen off sharply in the first quarter of 2012. Italians fear the Guardia di Finanza, more commonly referred to as the tax police, after a series of sting...
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Mustang Club Of America Announces 50th Anniversary BashThe 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang is fast approaching, and the Mustang Club of America (MCA) has no intention of letting the event slip by without acknowledgement. In fact, the MCA is planning simultaneous events on both coasts, and they’ll be open to Mustang owners and fans alike...
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It's Official: Audi Really Is Buying DucatiIt’s been the worst-kept secret in the automotive industry, but now it’s official: luxury automaker Audi is buying Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati. While details of the sale haven’t officially been disclosed, Reuters is reporting that Audi paid some 860 million euros ($1.13...
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When Ford sold off Jaguar and Land Rover to India’s Tata Motors for $2.5 billion in 2008, investors assumed the worst and dumped stock as quickly as they could. The joke, it appears, may be on... -
Racer Beccy Gordon To Tackle Pikes Peak In An Electric MitsubishiIf Beccy Gordon’s last name sounds familiar, it should. Brother Robby Gordon is an accomplished racer, having driven in series ranging from IndyCar though NASCAR and even the SCORE off-road series. Father “Baja Bob” Gordon was an off-road racing legend, and sister Robyn was the...
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Mazda Future Powertrain Plans DetailedThe quest for improved fuel economy across the model range will have a big impact on Mazda’s future product plans, but the news isn’t all bad. First and foremost, there’s a glimmer of hope for rotary-engine fans, as Mazda remains committed to the development of a new-generation...
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First Lamborghini Dealership Opens In RussiaThere’s no shortage of Lamborghini automobiles to be found on the streets of Moscow. Like other high-end sports and luxury cars, Lamborghinis are a sign of the country’s relatively-new-found wealth and the accompanying conspicuous consumption. Until recently, those shopping for a...
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Report: Audi's Q1 compact crossover resurfaces as Q2Since 2008, rumors have been circulating about a compact crossover from Audi, rumored to be called the Q1. Reports had it being built on the A1 platform, but production dates always seemed to be far off in the future. Rumors of a compact crossover from Audi are again heating up, and this time...
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MG To Show Icon Crossover Concept In BeijingWhile MG may not have returned to its former glory under Chinese ownership, the brand appears to be both healthy and eyeing future market growth, as evidenced by a new compact crossover concept to be shown at the Beijing Auto Show. Called the Icon, the concept bears a striking resemblance to the...
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Walk into a Cadillac dealer today, and the CTS range is the closest you’ll find to a Euro-brand rival. Available in coupe, sedan and wagon variants, ranging from ample to extreme in... -
MINI Inspired By Goodwood On Display At Harrods Department StoreIf a Rolls-Royce Phantom had an illicit love child with a MINI Cooper, the end result would look a lot like the MINI Inspired By Goodwood special edition that we first spoke of last April. While the MINI Inspired By Goodwood doesn’t get a 6.7-liter V-12 stuffed between its front fenders, it...
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Jeremy Clarkson, On The Bugatti Veyron: VideoIf you’ve watched Top Gear long enough, you’ve probably come to the realization that aside from the Toyota Hilux pickup and most Italian sports cars, Jeremy Clarkson isn’t a fan of many cars built outside of the United Kingdom. While willing to overlook the faults of vehicles from...
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Bentley Announces Global Partnership With Starwood HotelsIn an effort to create a “signature experience” for those who appreciate high-end luxury automobiles and the finest lodging, Bentley has formed a global partnership with St. Regis and The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwod Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Bentley...
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Mercedes-Benz Shows Its New... Furniture Collection?Mercedes-Benz is indelibly linked to luxury in the automotive world, but now the brand is hoping that association pays off in a new market. In cooperation with Italian furniture manufacturer Formitalia, Mercedes-Benz is launching a line of designer furniture at the upcoming Milan Furniture Fair...
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Volkswagen Wants To Give You An Unforgettable Trip To GermanyAre you a fan of Volkswagen? Would you and a companion like to spend a week in Germany, on Volkswagen’s tab, touring its Wolfsburg plant and taking in the sights of Berlin? Would it sweeten the deal if VW threw in two days of performance driving instruction on the Nürburgring and $750 in...
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It’s no secret that Volvo is moving away from larger engines in favor of smaller ones. The Swedish automaker has already eliminated V-8 engines, and will soon begin paring back five and... -
2015 Ford Mustang Styling Details Begin To EmergeSources close to the 2015 Ford Mustang design say the new car will bear a striking resemblance to Ford's Evos concept car.
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Lincoln May Not Use 2013 MKZ Grille Across Model RangeLincoln's freshest design, the 2013 MKZ sedan, may not influence future style of the entire Lincoln brand.
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Mitch Allread's Rolling Sculpture Street Rod: VideoLet’s play a little bit of word association: if we say the words “street rod,” what jumps into your head? Is it a chopped and slammed 1932 Ford Coupe? A 1957 Chevy Bel Air, stuffed with a blown small block Chevy? Perhaps a “lead sled” Mercury? Whatever you envision...
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Acura NSX Roadster Appears At 'Avengers' Premier: VideoThe Avengers is a soon-to-be-blockbuster movie about a group of fictitious-yet-realistically-dysfunctional superheros. The Acura NSX Roadster, for the moment at least, remains as fictitious as the Avengers' Iron Man, Tony Stark (whose character, incidentally, was patterned on Tesla’s Elon...
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Ford And Dow Team To Develop Low Cost Carbon FiberShaving pounds off of new vehicles is essential to meeting upcoming fuel economy standards, and the best way to reduce weight without compromising strength is via the use of advanced materials. Carbon fiber, for example, is both light and incredibly strong; the downside to carbon fiber is that...
Kurt Ernst