Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry. <![CDATA[LA 2009: Mini owns its inner Bulldog]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/la-2009-mini-owns-its-inner-bulldog/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/la-2009-mini-owns-its-inner-bulldog/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/03/la-2009-mini-owns-its-inner-bulldog/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,

Leashed Mini Cooper S Clubman - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mini may be many things, but stuffy they're not. When your business consists of selling tiny hatchbacks with sports car handling at a near luxury price, you really can't take yourself too seriously all the time. Mini ad campaigns have capitalized on that cheeky spirit to great effect. While at the LA Auto Show this week, we were treated to a preview of some of the newest commercials that will be getting airtime soon. Rest assured, the attitude is still there in abundance.

A good example of that spirited personality is the car you see here. Playing on the old Mini's Bulldog alter ego, the automaker has chosen to put this new Cooper S Clubman on a leash...with a spiked collar. Seriously. And they even went step further with some funny warnings painted into the danger hash marks on the floor around it. We can't think of many other car companies that could pull this off, but on a Mini, that collar actually looks amusingly good. We've got more high-res pics in the gallery that can be unleashed by clicking below.


Gallery: LA 2009: Leashed MINI Cooper S Clubman


Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.

LA 2009: Mini owns its inner Bulldog originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bad miniBadMinibulldogla 2009la auto showLA Auto Show 2009LA ShowLa2009LaAutoShowLaAutoShow2009LaShowleashed miniLeashedMiniminimini bulldogmini cooperMini Cooper Clubmanmini leashedMiniBulldogMiniCooperMiniCooperClubmanMiniLeashed Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:39:00 EST <![CDATA[Texas unveils new vanity plates to raise money for state]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/26/texas-unveils-new-vanity-plates-to-raise-money-for-state/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/26/texas-unveils-new-vanity-plates-to-raise-money-for-state/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/26/texas-unveils-new-vanity-plates-to-raise-money-for-state/#comments Filed under: ,

Texas' new vanity license plates - Click above for high-res image gallery


Every state in the union is facing huge budget deficits and a number have turned to license plates as a way to raise some fast cash. First was New York, which recently unveiled a new "Empire Gold" license plate. The catch? Any citizen who wants to legally drive is required to buy one when his or her current plates expire. And they're more expensive than the old ones to boot.

Speaking of boots, Texas is also planning to raise funds with license plates, but in this case it's totally optional. The Lone Star state recently unveiled a spate of new vanity plates on MyPlates.com that cost between $55 and $195 smackaroos. The selection is as large as the state itself (and its hats) including standard Lone Star plates in crazy colors like hot pink and orange (Texas calls them Lone Star Pink and Lone Star Orange), as well as an Old West-themed plate and other Texassy designs.

Sure, $195 for a vanity plate is a lot, but the money's divided between the state and its two partners in this joint venture: Pinnacle Technical Resources of Dallas and Etech Inc. of Nacogdoches. Regardless of the three-way split, the state is reportedly guaranteed $25 million over five years. Hey, if it'll help keep a few extra public school teachers employed and essential services in tact, then its worth living down the fact that your state now offers a hot pink license plate.



[Source: USA Today via Star-Telegram]

Texas unveils new vanity plates to raise money for state originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> license platesLicensePlatestexastexas vanity platesTexasVanityPlatesvanityvanity platesVanityPlates Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST <![CDATA[<i>Top Gear</i> builds Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust, an ER-EV to answer the Chevy Volt]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/top-gear-builds-hammerhead-eagle-i-thrust-an-er-ev-to-answer-th/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/top-gear-builds-hammerhead-eagle-i-thrust-an-er-ev-to-answer-th/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/top-gear-builds-hammerhead-eagle-i-thrust-an-er-ev-to-answer-th/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

Click above to watch videos after the jump

Many electric vehicle fans out there are constantly complaining about how long it's taking automakers to bring plug-in vehicles to market. We've had commenters on this site claim that automakers should be able to bring EVs to the street in six months. Apparently even six months is too long for the crew at Top Gear.

For those unfamiliar with the format of the show, most episodes involve the producers giving a challenge of some sort to hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. The most recent episode, aired this week on the BBC in the UK, included just such a challenge. The boys were tasked to build their own answer to the extended-range EV Chevrolet Volt.

In a mere 18 hours they transformed a TVR Chimaera (interesting choice since a chimaera is a mythological creature composed of parts of a number of animals) into the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust pictured above. Once the i-Thrust was completed, it was turned over to Autocar magazine for an independent road test. As you might guess based on the photo, the results were not surprising and are a testament to perhaps taking all the time you need when developing a car. You can grab a copy of AutoCar's full road test as a PDF or just watch the entire Top Gear segment and video of the Autocar road test after the jump.

[Source: Autocar]

Continue reading Top Gear builds Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust, an ER-EV to answer the Chevy Volt

Top Gear builds Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust, an ER-EV to answer the Chevy Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> er-evextended range electric vehicleextended range EVextended range vehicleExtendedRangeElectricVehicleExtendedRangeEvExtendedRangeVehicleHammerhead Eagle i-ThrustHammerheadEagleI-thrusttop gearTopGear Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST <![CDATA[Dutch Porsche dealership covers new 997 Carrera S in milk chocolate for the holidays]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/dutch-porsche-dealership-covers-new-997-carrera-s-in-milk-chocol/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/dutch-porsche-dealership-covers-new-997-carrera-s-in-milk-chocol/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/dutch-porsche-dealership-covers-new-997-carrera-s-in-milk-chocol/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,


Porsche Centrum Gelderland's chocolate 911 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back when we were but wee little Autobloggers, Easter was one of our favorite holidays. Not that we were religious, mind, we just really dug finding baskets filled with sugary treats nestled in plastic grass first thing in the morning. As far as we were concerned, you could keep your colored eggs, your jellybeans, your Cadbury creme eggs - heck, we weren't even that excited about those supernaturally yellow marshmallow Peep things - we wanted the Big Daddy - the solid chocolate bunny.

You can imagine our horror, then, when at some point in our childhood, our long-eared cacao friend went on a diet, although we didn't know it right off. Oh, he looked about the same - and he even sported the same jaunty tinfoil jacket. But he weighed much less - he was - *shudder* - hollow. Empty inside like our little crestfallen Easter morning spirits.

Thankfully, these many years later, Porsche Centrum Gelderland appears to be going some way towards healing our childhood wounds and restoring our faith in humanity. Well, if not humanity, at least in the validity of hollow chocolate treats. You see, the Dutch Porsche dealership has apparently taken a brand-new 911 Carrera S and as a sort of marketing stunt, they've gone and covered it in chocolate. According to AB tipster Patrick, in the absence of a giant dipping mechanism, they've used 175 kilos of molten goodness (that's about 385 pounds) to conceal Stuttgart's finest, reserving another couple kilos of white chocolate for detailing like the headlamps.

Why on earth did they decide to do this? It's apparently for a Dutch holiday centered around "Sinterklaas" - Saint Nicholas - who was the Danish inspiration for Santa Claus. As the story goes, the holiday is held in The Netherlands on the evening of December 5, and one of the holiday's most storied traditions is that people buy or make chocolate letters in celebration - hence the milky goodness that is Centrum Gelderland's Choco997.

The dipped Porsche will remain on display until Christmas, at which time we fully expect to see it wheeled into a walk-in freezer until it can to be thawed in time to make an appearance in our Easter basket next Spring. Thanks for the tip, Patrick!


Gallery: Porsche Centrum Gelderland's Chocolate 911


[Sources: Automobiel Management; Autotelegraaf.nl]

Dutch Porsche dealership covers new 997 Carrera S in milk chocolate for the holidays originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> CacaoChocoChocolateChocolatierEasterPorschePorsche 911Porsche 997Porsche CentrumPorsche Centrum GelderlandPorsche911Porsche997PorscheCentrumPorscheCentrumGelderlandSinterklaasStuttgart Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST <![CDATA[Bugatti Bird-gate Update 2: New evidence of mystery pelican, avoidance techniques [w/VIDEO]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/bugatti-bird-gate-update-2-new-evidence-of-mystery-pelican-avo/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/bugatti-bird-gate-update-2-new-evidence-of-mystery-pelican-avo/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/bugatti-bird-gate-update-2-new-evidence-of-mystery-pelican-avo/#comments Filed under: , ,


Click above to watch video after the jump

The case of the ill-fated Bugatti Veyron versus the invisible pelican has had the Internets buzzing for the past week. First we saw footage of the $1.6 million supercar as it was being pulled out of a Texas swamp. The story behind the dastardly crash was that a low-flying pelican caused the (at the time) un-named driver to swerve off the road and ultimately land in over two feet of watery muck.

Then, as if by some sort of miracle, a video appeared of the actual crash, and, quite frankly, we didn't see any pelican. Then we found out that the car was being driven by Andy House, the owner of Performance Auto Sales in Lufkin. PAS, as it turns out, fixes wrecked exotics, making the crash look all the more suspicious. Now, less than a week after the crash, one very patient viewer watched the video frame by frame, and there looks to be some evidence that something white was floating near the Veyron right before the accident. We don't know if the image was doctored and there is no definitive way to verify that the white smear is a pelican, but it certainly has the size and shape of the large and awkward-looking bird. Take a look at the picture above and tell us if you think there is a chance in hell that white blur is a pelican - or perhaps a bit of Photoshop magic.

In the meantime, it appears as though the Internets are beginning to have some fun with Mr. House and his ill-fated Veyron joy ride. First is a can of pelican repellent on sale at the Car Guy Garage website. Price tag? Only $2 million greenbacks. Of course, eBay isn't going to be left out of the sunken Veyron sweepstakes either, as one pioneering auctioneer has come up with the Apple AquaticAvoidanceSystem system for avoiding lakes, marshes, channels, bays and any other body of water. AAS.... very clever. The starting bid price is a far more manageable $800, but you're buying a pair of Apple ear buds so that next you don't blame a hapless bird for dropping your iPhone and driving into a marsh. Happy bidding, Veyron owners!

[Sources: Car Guys Garage; eBay Motors]

Continue reading Bugatti Bird-gate Update 2: New evidence of mystery pelican, avoidance techniques [w/VIDEO]

Bugatti Bird-gate Update 2: New evidence of mystery pelican, avoidance techniques [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> aasandy houseAndyHousebugattibugatti veyronBugattiVeyronpelicanpelican bugattipelican veyronPelicanBugattiPelicanVeyronperformance auto salesPerformanceAutoSalesveyronwrecked bugattiwrecked veyronWreckedBugattiWreckedVeyron Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST <![CDATA[Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Maybe consider taking the bus?]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/14/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-maybe-consider-taking-the-bus/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/14/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-maybe-consider-taking-the-bus/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/14/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-maybe-consider-taking-the-bus/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Maybe consider taking the bus? - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Being the type of people who obsessively cover the auto industry, we generally prefer four-wheeled travel to pedal-for-yourself bicycling. Not that riding a bike is a bad thing... quite the opposite, actually. Getting out, seeing the sights and smelling the fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of the city is a great way to spend some free time and maybe put a dent in the ol' blogger spare tire.

That said, if we've got somewhere to be, like, say, meeting up with some old Italian friends at the local wine bar, we'd certainly opt for the car. After watching the video after the break, though, we wonder if it would be a safer bet to just hop on the bus. Guess it depends on your chosen occupation, eh? Hit the jump to watch the video and check out veryfunnyads.com for more humorous commercials.

[Source: veryfunnyads.com]

Continue reading Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Maybe consider taking the bus?

Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Maybe consider taking the bus? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> funny carfunny car commercialfunny car commercial of the dayfunny car commercialsfunny commercialfunny commercialsFunnyCarFunnyCarCommercialFunnyCarCommercialOfTheDayFunnyCarCommercialsFunnyCommercialFunnyCommercialsvery funnyvery funny adsVeryFunnyVeryFunnyAds Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:52:00 EST <![CDATA[VIDEO: Taylor Swift on the scourge that is bad parent drivers]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/video-taylor-swift-on-the-scourge-that-is-bad-parent-drivers/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/video-taylor-swift-on-the-scourge-that-is-bad-parent-drivers/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/12/video-taylor-swift-on-the-scourge-that-is-bad-parent-drivers/#comments Filed under: , ,

Taylor Swift hosts Saturday Night Live - Click above to watch the video

Allow us to make a couple admissions. It's our opinion that with the notable exception of Celebrity Jeopardy, Saturday Night Live hasn't been funny since Belushi. Before she got upstaged by an apparently off-his-meds Kanye West, we thought Taylor Swift was a dry cleaner. That said, it's understandable that we had extremely low hopes (like, none) for a SNL sketch involving the young Miss Swift to be watchable, let alone funny.

But guess what? Us old dudes was wrong, way wrong! She's not only funny, but apparently installed a camera in our little sister's bedroom circa 1991. Talk about the perfect ensconced in misery, unhappy to be alive 15-year-old girl. And her reaction to the dangers of driving during the birds and the bees speech, well, just watch for yourself, after the jump.

Continue reading VIDEO: Taylor Swift on the scourge that is bad parent drivers

VIDEO: Taylor Swift on the scourge that is bad parent drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Saturday Night LiveSaturdayNightLiveTaylor SwiftTaylorSwiftteenagersTeensTextingTexting while drivingTextingWhileDriving Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Politically Correct Edition]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-politically-correct-edition/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-politically-correct-edition/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-politically-correct-edition/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Volkswagen loves everyone - Click above to watch the video after the break

Nowadays, being politically correct is of the utmost importance to companies the world over, and that includes automakers. Especially Volkswagen, apparently. Judging from the commercial pasted after the break, the German automaker - which just happens to have recently earned the title of World's Largest Automaker - wants you to know that everyone loves it cars, regardless of age, sex, race or color.

Volkswagen is also accepting of any sexual preference, and it doesn't care if you are right- or left-handed. Do you like to drive fast? Slow? It doesn't matter - the Volkswagen New Beetle is the perfect car for you. Or something like that. Click past the break to watch the video and visit veryfunnyads.com for more humorous car ads.

[Source: veryfunnyads.com]

Continue reading Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Politically Correct Edition

Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Politically Correct Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> beetlefunny carfunny car adfunny car commercialfunny car commercial of the dayfunny commercialFunnyCarFunnyCarAdFunnyCarCommercialFunnyCarCommercialOfTheDayFunnyCommercialnew beetleNewBeetlepolitical correctnessPoliticalCorrectnesspolitically correctPoliticallyCorrectvery funnyvery funny advery funny adsVeryFunnyVeryFunnyAdVeryFunnyAdsVolkswagenvolkswagen adVolkswagenAdvw advw advertisingVW BeetleVW new beetleVwAdVwAdvertisingVwBeetleVwNewBeetle Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:56:00 EST <![CDATA[VIDEO: Drag racing Chevy C6 Corvette owner shoulda bought a ZR1]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/video-drag-racing-chevy-c6-corvette-owner-shoulda-bought-a-zr1/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/video-drag-racing-chevy-c6-corvette-owner-shoulda-bought-a-zr1/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/video-drag-racing-chevy-c6-corvette-owner-shoulda-bought-a-zr1/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,


Corvette C6 w/Nitrous Oxide - Click image to watch the video

Or at least a Z06. Now, we're all for drag racing - it's one of the purest forms of sport around - much like World's Strongest Man minus all the steroids. Or is that plus nine billion times the steroids? Either way, little is more adrenaline pumping than watching a nitrous-venting 1976 Chevrolet Camaro run the quarter in 8.5 seconds. Especially when you stop and think about how totally terrible Camaros were when Jimmy Carter took office. *Shudder.*

Anyhow, the reason you can get dirty old Camaros to run so quick are the mods. In fact, a constant, never-ending stream of modifications always makes that next hundredth of a second seem just within reach. Drag racing is the sport of the tinkerer - just ask Don Garlits. You can always shed weight, but then you reach a point where structural integrity becomes an issue.

More power is typically (if not always) the answer. To get there, you got your lumpy cams, bundle o' snakes headers, intake pipes the size of telephone poles, hot lifters, blowers, turbos and, of course, nitrous oxide (N2O). We say "of course" N2O because most drag races are over before you can count to ten. Besides, motors are cheap but Friday night glory at New Jersey's Island Dragway lasts forever, right? In this case, however, the ol' nitrous bottle might be more at home hooked up to another car - might we suggest a '76 Camaro? Find out why after the jump.

[Source: YouTube via Tampa Bay Examiner]

Continue reading VIDEO: Drag racing Chevy C6 Corvette owner shoulda bought a ZR1

VIDEO: Drag racing Chevy C6 Corvette owner shoulda bought a ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> C6C6 CorvetteC6CorvetteChevroletChevrolet CorvetteChevrolet Corvette C6Chevrolet Corvette z06Chevrolet Corvette ZR1ChevroletCorvetteChevroletCorvetteC6ChevroletCorvetteZ06ChevroletCorvetteZr1ChevyCorvetteCorvette Z06Corvette ZR1CorvetteZ06CorvetteZr1Drag RacingDragRacingisland dragwayIslandDragwayN2ONitrous OxideNitrousOxideZR1 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:29:00 EST <![CDATA[Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Serious automotive testing]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-serious-automotive-testing/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-serious-automotive-testing/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-serious-automotive-testing/#comments Filed under: , ,

Serious automotive testing - Click above to watch the video after the break

These days, cars and trucks need to pass a slew of strict testing procedures before they can be certified for sale. Included among these procedures are tests for safety, emissions, performance and reliability. Though they're surely a hassle for automakers and one reason it's so difficult to bring a new model to market, these tests are also why today's cars are better than they've ever been before.

Apparently, things are done a little differently in Europe. While we might have guessed that today's Funny Car Commercial was made by Citroen - quite possibly the quirkiest automaker in existence - the advertisement is actually from French automaker Renault. Though the ad says it's "99% Serious," we kinda think they've got it backwards. Click past the break to see what we mean, and check out veryfunnyads.com for more hilarious car commercials from around the world.

[Source: veryfunnyads.com]

Continue reading Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Serious automotive testing

Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Serious automotive testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> funny carfunny car commercialfunny car commercial of the dayfunny car commercialsfunny commercialfunny commercialsFunnyCarFunnyCarCommercialFunnyCarCommercialOfTheDayFunnyCarCommercialsFunnyCommercialFunnyCommercialsRenault Twingorenault twingo adRenaultTwingoRenaultTwingoAdvery funnyvery funny advery funny adsVeryFunnyVeryFunnyAdVeryFunnyAds Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:29:00 EST <![CDATA[Total Croc: Porsche suing popular shoe company over naming rights?]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/total-croc-porsche-suing-popular-shoe-company-over-naming-right/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/total-croc-porsche-suing-popular-shoe-company-over-naming-right/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/total-croc-porsche-suing-popular-shoe-company-over-naming-right/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

Porsche AG is known for vigorously defending its intellectual property. It's understandable, as the company has spent more than half a century building its performance-oriented automotive brand around design patents, logos, and the company's familiar vehicle nomenclature. Crocs, Inc., on the other hand, is a shoe manufacturer credited with introducing the world to low-cost injection-molded foam footwear. Crocs does not build cars... um, thankfully.

What Crocs did do was name its popular sandal the "Cayman" (pictured at right). Of course, this set off all the alarms at Porsche as that name is already trademark registered by the automaker for its two-seat sports coupe. What followed next was expected... in mid-May, Crocs received a letter from Porsche notifying them of the alleged trademark infringement. At the end of July, Porsche filed a notice of injunction in German courts against the European use of the Cayman name by Crocs.

While we realize that few of our readers would ever confuse a pair of Crocs' Cayman with the Porsche Cayman, one has to wonder if Porsche is taking this a bit too far. Rumor has it that the Cayman Islands in the western Caribbean are monitoring the situation and already working on their own legal defense... Hat tip to Freddy for the lead!


Gallery: 2010 Porsche Cayman


[Source: Deadline Watch]

Total Croc: Porsche suing popular shoe company over naming rights? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> caymancopyrightcopyright infringementcopyright lawcopyright-infringementCopyrightInfringementCopyrightLawCrocs CaymanCrocsCaymanInjunctionLawsuitLaysuitporschePorsche CaymanPorscheCaymanTrademarktrademark disputetrademark infringementtrademark-infringementTrademarkDisputeTrademarkInfringementtrademarks Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:33:00 EST <![CDATA[VIDEO: <i>Top Gear</i> Season 14 returns this Sunday]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/video-top-gear-season-14-returns-this-sunday/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/video-top-gear-season-14-returns-this-sunday/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/10/video-top-gear-season-14-returns-this-sunday/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Jeremy Clarkson returns for Top Gear Season 14 - Click above to watch video after the jump

Guess what boys and girls? Everyone's favorite car-related show is coming back for a fourteenth season! That's fantastic news for gearheads everywhere, especially considering that at the end of last season there was some speculation that Top Gear wouldn't be coming back at all. But of course, here they are.

What adventures will JC, May and and Hammond (and let's not forget Stiggie!) get up to this season? We're glad you asked. A few months ago we told y'all about how the boys got caught in Romania driving some very precious metal (Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder, Ferrari California, Aston Martin DBS Volante) up in the Carpathian Mountains on a very special highway known as the Transfagarasan Road. And that's what we get at the very end of the preview trailer.

What other adventures do the boys get up to during the very short teaser trailer? Season 14 looks to be more of the same, thankfully. You got a delivery van race, some sort of cheapo challenge where's Jezza's car catches fire, a hot hatch speeding through a drainage pipe and a homemade tank/Hummer H1. We also tracked down a late night, second bottle of whiskey type screed from one of TG's producers, but we can't make heads or tails of it. Anyhow, make the jump to watch the trailer.

[Source: BBC 2]

Continue reading VIDEO: Top Gear Season 14 returns this Sunday

VIDEO: Top Gear Season 14 returns this Sunday originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> James MayJamesMayJeremy ClarksonJeremyClarksonJezzaRichard HammondRichardHammondStigThe StigTheStigTop GearTop Gear 14Top Gear Season 14TopGearTopGear14TopGearSeason14 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:58:00 EST <![CDATA[Turn the Dodge Viper logo upside down and guess who appears...]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/turn-the-dodge-viper-logo-upside-down-and-guess-who-appears/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/turn-the-dodge-viper-logo-upside-down-and-guess-who-appears/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/turn-the-dodge-viper-logo-upside-down-and-guess-who-appears/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,



Stonehenge, Rosebud, The Wizard of Oz and Pink Floyd - all have confounded us with their hidden meanings. And to that list we now add the logo for the Dodge Viper. Somehow it has eluded us for years that, when turned upside down, the Viper logo turns into what appears to be... Daffy Duck. Or, as some other folks have mentioned, perhaps it's Duck Dodgers, or Darkwing Duck. Someone else thought it was "a gator with a volcano in the background," but we have no idea how that happened...

Regardless of which name that foul goes by, it's quite a revelation to make this late into the Viper game. If there were any meaning intended from the inversion, we'd expect it to be a swan, not a duck. But what does it all mean? History might know. For now, it's just another one of those quirks that is the Dodge Viper, and yet another reason we'll miss it when it departs in 2011. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: Bits & Pieces via Boing Boing | Image: Micihi1308 via Wikimedia Commons]

Continue reading Turn the Dodge Viper logo upside down and guess who appears...

Turn the Dodge Viper logo upside down and guess who appears... originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Daffy DuckDaffyDuckdarkwing duckDarkwingDuckdodgedodge viperdodge viper logoDodgeViperDodgeViperLogoduck dodgerDuck DodgersDuckDodgerDuckDodgersetcSRT-10SRT10viperviper logoViperLogo Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:38:00 EST <![CDATA[VIDEO: Bacardi, Maserati, and Michael Schumacher get shaken, not stirred]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/video-bacardi-maserati-and-michael-schumacher-get-shaken-not/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/video-bacardi-maserati-and-michael-schumacher-get-shaken-not/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/video-bacardi-maserati-and-michael-schumacher-get-shaken-not/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


Click above to watch the video after the jump

After seven Formula One World Championships and more records than your local second-hand vinyl shop, Michael Schumacher has proven incredibly adept at driving a point home. Now that he's semi-retired, well...he's still making more money than most of the active drivers in F1 (or any other form of motorsports for that matter), thanks in part to an endorsement deal with Barcardi, the Bermuda-based rum distillery with whom Schumi drives home another kind of point entirely.

To prove the point that drinking and driving don't mix, Schumacher takes once again to the wheel of a Maserati GranTurismo. Only this time he's brought along one Salvatore Calabrese to ride shotgun. Sounds straightforward enough, but the world-renowned bartender known as "The Maestro" isn't coming along just for the ride: while Schumi does what Schumi does best, Calabrese tries to do the same, to highly amusing and illustrative effect. Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Bacardi via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bacardi, Maserati, and Michael Schumacher get shaken, not stirred

VIDEO: Bacardi, Maserati, and Michael Schumacher get shaken, not stirred originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bacardibartenderdrink drivedrink mixerdrink mixingDrinkDrivedrinking and drivingDrinkingAndDrivingdrinkmasterDrinkMixerDrinkMixingmichael schumacherMichaelSchumachermixologistmixologyrumSalvatore CalabreseSalvatoreCalabreseschumacherschumacher bacardiSchumacherBacardi Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:31:00 EST <![CDATA[For an Imperfect World: The Official Rules of Shotgun]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/08/for-an-imperfect-world-the-official-rules-of-shotgun/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/08/for-an-imperfect-world-the-official-rules-of-shotgun/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/08/for-an-imperfect-world-the-official-rules-of-shotgun/#comments Filed under:



In a perfect world, we'd all have our own wheels. But as we all discovered in our childhood years, we don't live in a perfect world. That's where the time-honored tradition of the Shotgun comes in.

Calling Shotgun is a practice as old as the automobile itself. Older, actually, dating back to the Old West, when a rider would sit with a firearm next to the driver to ward off bandits. That little bit of history may be common knowledge to many, but a whole system of rules and regulations has formed over the years to determine who gets that most coveted of passenger seats, whether in mom and dad's car or when riding with friends.

So the next time you get into a friendly dispute with your traveling mates, you can pull out your own copy of The Official Shotgun Rules Pocket Reference Guide, or study the regs enumerated on the website after the link.

[Source: The Official Shotgun Rules via Holy Kaw! | Image: Chaplin/Getty]

For an Imperfect World: The Official Rules of Shotgun originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:46:00 EST <![CDATA[VIDEO: Mind the pole, please]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/07/video-mind-the-pole-please/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/07/video-mind-the-pole-please/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/07/video-mind-the-pole-please/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Spectacular pole mishap - Click above to watch video

Spending all day blogging from the comfort of our mothers' basements and/or top-secret Dr. No-style lairs, we sometimes forget that there's a world out there filled with people who engage in truly questionable things. And then we get a video like this and we wonder, "Is that really what's going on outside?"

We're not sure what this driver was trying to do, but when he or she decides to kill a pole, they do a commendably thorough job of it. Follow the jump for the security camera footage.

[Source: StupidVideos.com]

Continue reading VIDEO: Mind the pole, please

VIDEO: Mind the pole, please originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> humorparkingsecurity camerasecurity videoSecurityCameraSecurityVideovideo Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST <![CDATA[Laptop steering wheel desk is real. And real funny.]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/07/laptop-steering-wheel-desk-is-real-and-real-funny/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/07/laptop-steering-wheel-desk-is-real-and-real-funny/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/07/laptop-steering-wheel-desk-is-real-and-real-funny/#comments Filed under: , ,

Laptop DeskYou know, when we're driving along, eating buffalo wings and trying to manage a Super Slurpee while playing Cooking Dash on the iPhone, it sure would be helpful to have a place to keep all that stuff organized. Thankfully, there's the Laptop Steering Wheel Desk, which accomplishes all of the above AND finally gives us a place to keep our bleu cheese and celery sticks, to boot. (You see, our cupholders are already occupied by french fries.) This "Why didn't I think of that?" stroke of genius slides right around your steering wheel, which it uses as an anchor for your much-needed flat surface.

Listen, steering is overrated anyway, right? Actually, the official product description on Amazon.com says, "For safety reasons, never use this product while driving." But come on, we're excellent drivers. We're pretty sure we can handle this. Based on the user reviers, others have found this device to be exceedingly convenient. Some of the user-submitted photos suggest that the Laptop Steering Wheel Desk may indeed be troublesome in the hands of less experienced drivers, but we remain skeptical. We think we'll put one in the shopping cart with that Three Wolf Moon T-Shirt we've been eying. Then, when it arrives, we're hunting for a drive-thru pizzeria. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: Amazon.com]

Laptop steering wheel desk is real. And real funny. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> buffalo wings are awesomeBuffaloWingsAreAwesomecompletely safeCompletelySafedistracted drivingDistractedDrivinglaptop steering wheel deskLaptopSteeringWheelDesksteering wheel deskSteeringWheelDesk Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST <![CDATA[SEMA 2009: What we didn't get to cover]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/sema-2009-what-we-didnt-get-to-cover/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/sema-2009-what-we-didnt-get-to-cover/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/sema-2009-what-we-didnt-get-to-cover/#comments Filed under: , , , , , , , , , ,


2009 SEMA Show Las Vegas - Click above for high-res image gallery

Every year at SEMA, we fill the week with posts featuring special vehicles and products that we felt were important enough to share. Generally, they are the most newsworthy projects and new model introductions, but sometimes they are just things that caught our eye. When all is said and done, we think we've given all of you a good taste of what's on offer here in the desert.

Of course, there are always things we see and shoot that don't make it into the regular posts from the days we are here. We end up with a few hundred photos of random weirdness and cool stuff that just didn't make it into a dedicated post. That's what this post is for. It's basically a chance to dump some of that random wackiness and wonder that is SEMA into one big bowl and invite you all to take a sip. Click on the gallery below and you'll see race cars, hot rods, muscle cars, motorcycles, wheels and more. None are labeled, but all should provide a unique look at what we saw at SEMA 2009.


Gallery: SEMA 2009: Random sightings


Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.

SEMA 2009: What we didn't get to cover originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> aftermarketcarcarscustomcustom carcustom carsCustomCarCustomCarslas vegasLasVegasSEMAsema 2009Sema showSema2009SemaShow Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST <![CDATA[Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Ready for winter?]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-ready-for-winter/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-ready-for-winter/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/funny-car-commercial-of-the-day-ready-for-winter/#comments Filed under: , ,

Ready for Winter? Click above to watch the video after the break

As someone who happened to have grown up in snowy climes of the Great Lakes States for the first 25 years of life, this author knows exactly how nasty it can be in the morning to walk out of your nice, toasty house on a cold and blustery winter day. It's even worse when you need to drive somewhere and your car is covered in a hard-as-rock coating of ice and snow.

Having since moved to the sunny state of Arizona, however, dealing with the scenario particular situation isn't on this blogger's agenda any time soon.

That said, it is in the forecast for many Autoblog readers, and so we've decided to dig up this oldie-but-a-goody Statoil commercial to get you in the mood. Click past the break to watch the video and check out veryfunnyads.com for more gut-busting ads from around the world.

[Source: veryfunnyads.com]

Continue reading Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Ready for winter?

Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Ready for winter? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> funnyfunny carfunny car commercialfunny car commercial of the dayfunny car commercialsfunny commercialfunny commercialsFunnyCarFunnyCarCommercialFunnyCarCommercialOfTheDayFunnyCarCommercialsFunnyCommercialFunnyCommercialsstatoilvery funnyvery funny adsVeryFunnyVeryFunnyAds Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST <![CDATA[VIDEO: Ford press conference yields surprise $650 car announcement]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/video-ford-press-conference-yields-surprise-650-car-announceme/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/video-ford-press-conference-yields-surprise-650-car-announceme/ http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/video-ford-press-conference-yields-surprise-650-car-announceme/#comments Filed under: , ,

Ford makes surprise $650 car announcement - click above image to watch the video

Between the hysteria of this week's SEMA Show and Chrysler's never-ending (and partially baffling) revelations yesterday, a shocking announcement by Ford Motor Company has been nearly drowned out. But rest assured, your Autoblog team never rests (even after huffing down 9,000 calories apiece at Vegas' Wynn Buffet!) and have tracked down this astounding piece of news. Ford has taken a long, hard look at the state of the American automotive scene and has decided to do the (almost) unthinkable - sell us a car for $650.

Now, there are no doubt naysayers amongst you that will point to a $650 Ford and cry, "Malarkey!" And with good reason. After all, under cutting the Tata Nano by a full $1,350 is no easy feat. However, times are tough. And with a nearly 10% national unemployment rate, a $650 car makes sound, economic sense. But don't take our word for it. Make the jump to watch Ford VP Daniel Grossman introduce Ford's new entry level car.

[Source: O-SPAN6]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ford press conference yields surprise $650 car announcement

VIDEO: Ford press conference yields surprise $650 car announcement originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> cheap carCheapCarFordFord TaurusFordTaurusPrimusTata nanoTataNanoTaurusThe OnionTheOnionused carsUsedCarsworlds cheapest carWorldsCheapestCar Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST