Autoblog

VIDEO: Turbocharged BMW-powered Yugo highboy has us reconsidering the GV

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Videos, Humor

Vprache BMW six-cylinder turbo Yugo in hoon mode - Click above to watch video

In the beginning, there was a yellow Yugo GV. And when the folks at Vprache Racing cast their eyes over it, they thought it was missing something. So they gave it an 3.5-liter BMW inline six-cylinder transplant and added a turbo besides. And an intercooler mounted on the grille. And a high-rise lift job. Then they took it hooning. And that was the end of the first day.

When that wasn't enough, they added another turbo and fashioned arches to cover the exposed rubber. And then they took it drag racing. And that was the end of the second day. You can check out videos of the car in both iterations after the jump. It's fast. And in a yellow Yugo, you'd want to be.

[Sources: Tampa Sports Car Examiner; YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Turbocharged BMW-powered Yugo highboy has us reconsidering the GV

VIDEO: Turbocharged BMW-powered Yugo highboy has us reconsidering the GV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: How not to behave during a traffic stop

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor

The roadside siren -- Click above to watch video

The prospect of getting a ticket can make you do a lot of things you wouldn't normally do -- beg, plead, be charming, anything goes, really, when it comes to fending off points and higher insurance premiums. Well, not anything, unless you're this woman, who went nuts at the idea of being ticketed. Like, crazy nuts.

We don't know who she is or what she did or what ungodly nightmare she was trying to avoid, but we do know she's got a set of pipes. If anyone can tell us what she's saying, please let us know in the comments. Follow the jump for the video, and keep your hand on the volume knob for this one.

[Source: Live Leak via Ryan O'Keefe]

Continue reading VIDEO: How not to behave during a traffic stop

VIDEO: How not to behave during a traffic stop originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: In Da Club Cherokee? Enterprising kids go all Jeep techno

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor

Jeep Cherokee beatbox - Click above to watch video

If your Jeep Cherokee has been sitting around for a while, it probably makes a few noises. You might not mind, though, if they were noises as well orchestrated as those in the video shown above.

British saxophonist Julian Smith spent a few hours with a Cherokee and an array of friends with rhythm and came up with a number that could be straight out of Stomp. Or an Art of Noise album. Follow the jump to see the vid, and as a bonus, there's another take on car beats with Snob Scrilla and a Toyota Yaris. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: In Da Club Cherokee? Enterprising kids go all Jeep techno

VIDEO: In Da Club Cherokee? Enterprising kids go all Jeep techno originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Nevermind that it's not Halloween, behold the best use for a RHD car ever

Chris Shunk — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Humor

Click above to watch the video after the jump

We're a couple months past Halloween, but this video was just too good to pass up. A gentleman with an old XBox steering wheel, a fake skeleton and a couple black lights managed to scare the holy hell out of some folks by making it look like a glowing blue skeleton was driving his car. How did he do it? The key is to have a right-hand drive vehicle and a little bit of creativity.

The Halloween prankster rigged the steering wheel to his Toyota Sera by propping it up on a 2x4 stand and holding it in place with a heavy bag of pennies. He painted the skeleton white and added a couple black lights in the door jam and attached to the sun visor. He then dressed himself in all black and waited for night fall. The end result is a scary-looking blue skeleton that's ready to send a chill down the spine of the living. Hit the jump to for the full rundown on how it was done - it's worth it to hear the screams emanating from onlookers.

[Source: StreetFire]

Continue reading VIDEO: Nevermind that it's not Halloween, behold the best use for a RHD car ever

VIDEO: Nevermind that it's not Halloween, behold the best use for a RHD car ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: GM commissions Chevrolet Volt dance to go with song. Yes, really.

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Humor, Electric

Chevrolet Volt Dance - Click above to watch the video after the break

"E for electricity, V for Chevy Volt and me..." Catchy little diddly, sure. But we were mostly willing to let the Chevrolet Volt song make the deep, dark trek into obscurity with nary another mention. That is, until today. What made us change our tune, you ask? Boy, are you in for a treat.

Witness the Chevy Volt dance. Yes, it is an official routine apparently commissioned by GM. Showgoers that meandered near the GM area at the LA Auto Show may already be familiar with this little number, but the video's just too good not to share with the rest of the class. We especially like it when the four-person crew stops whatever they're doing to throw us an "E" and a "V."

Trust us. You owe it to yourself to click past the break and watch the video. Here's hoping The General antes up to send these dancers around the country for the rest of the auto show circuit.

[Source: GM-Volt.com]

Continue reading VIDEO: GM commissions Chevrolet Volt dance to go with song. Yes, really.

VIDEO: GM commissions Chevrolet Volt dance to go with song. Yes, really. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Australian Yaris ad gets banned for being raunchy

Noah Joseph — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Toyota, Australia, Humor

"Clean Getaways" - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Controversy's rearing its tawdry head Down Under as a Toyota film contest has got some laughing, others crying foul play. The Clever Film Competition solicited contestants to come up with 30-second commercial clips for the Toyota Yaris, awarding $7000 (well, Australian dollars anyway) to the winning entry. And while the rules stated that the entries cannot be "immoral" or "contain any obscene language," one contestant evidently felt the boundaries ought to be pushed a little. And the judges evidently agreed.

The winning entry - entitled "Clean Getaways" - portrays a young Yaris driver picking up his date and encountering her father at the door. The exchange between them is packed with more innuendo than a porn star's Lamborghini, and though Toyota's local spokesman says they're not distancing themselves from the clip, public outcry has resulted in it being pulled from the contest website. Fortunately, we've got it posted after the jump for your enjoyment... just don't watch it with the boss hovering around. Or the wife, for that matter. On second thought, better watch it when no one's around. But watch it just the same. Cheers to Mark and Oleg for the tips!

[Sources: news.com.au; Toyota via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Australian Yaris ad gets banned for being raunchy

VIDEO: Australian Yaris ad gets banned for being raunchy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mulally and Whitacre gab on phone, what was said?

John Neff — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, GM, Humor

Word has it that Ford CEO Alan Mulally and the new interim CEO of General Motors, Ed Whitacre, had a phone conversation this week. This type of across-the-aisle conversation is not unusual, as Mulally himself placed a call to each of his competitors when he arrived in D-town from Boeing three years ago.

We weren't on the call ourselves and neither CEO has divulged any details of their conversation, so we're left to just guess at what was said. Considering Mulally's success at Ford so far and the quagmire into which Whitacre is stepping at GM, we think it may have went something like this.

Whitacre: Hi Alan, nice to finally talk. I feel like you and I have something in common, being that we both come from companies outside the auto industry.

Mulally: I'm a busy guy, do we have to do this every time General Motors fires a CEO?

Whitacre: I'm very excited about taking GM forward into a bright future.

Mullally: The only thing bright around here is the glare off our Motor Trend Car of the Year award. You might want to draw a shade. Fusion FTW!

Whitacre: Congratulations on that. We're hoping to have a good showing for SUV of the Year.

Mulally: Good luck, I'm sure the Chevy Terrain SRX will do great. Lincoln MKT FTW!

Whitacre: Anyway, congrats on all your success at Ford and I look forward to working together on our shared interests.

Mulally: Just have the next CEO send me an email. The address is KingofKansaz321@ford.com.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Source Image: Bill Pugliano, Getty]

Mulally and Whitacre gab on phone, what was said? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear crew responds to gay audience kerfuffle by bringing on the Village People. Sort of.

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: UK, Celebrities, Humor

What to Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May all have in common with the Village People? Well, nothing really, except for the fact that all of them were present and accounted for at last Sunday's taping of Top Gear in Britain. Sort of... actually, it was four men that the BBC crew hired to dress up like the stereotypically gay musical group of "Y.M.C.A." and "Macho Man" fame.

So, the next logical question: Why? To prove that Top Gear isn't homophobic, obviously. Just last week, word hit the Interwebs that a gay couple had been denied tickets to the super-popular British show due to a rule that TG's cast be made up equally of men and women. The BBC claims it doesn't deny gay people from its audience as long as the 50/50 rule is adhered to.

Never one to back down from controversy, Jeremy Clarkson reportedly said during the taping, "The truth is, we welcome homosexual couples. We particularly like the lesbian sort... I saw a film about lesbians on the Internet once. It looked very interesting." This is sure to smooth over any tensions between the gay community and Top Gear, dontcha think?

[Source: Mirror.co.uk]

Top Gear crew responds to gay audience kerfuffle by bringing on the Village People. Sort of. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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P.J. O'Rourke reviews a book about cars called, "Cars"

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Humor

The holidays are almost here and your gearhead loved ones need presents. Badly. But what to get them? Well, we like tools. Gloves to protect us from grease, too. Oh, and we love models of cars. Of course most spouses we know don't really want tools, gloves or small cars sitting on the coffee table. So what about a nice book?

You're in luck, as there are lots of books about cars, usually filled with lovely pictures that look totally fabulous when displayed proudly in the living room (says us). Speaking of books, one of our favorite authors, P.J. O'Rourke, reviewed a new book for the New York Times called Cars: Freedom, Style, Sex, Power, Motion, Colour, Everything.

If you don't know, O'Rourke is one of our favorite authors because he refuses to pull punches. Like this, "Buy this book, but don't read it." Why would P.J. recommend purchasing a book but not reading it? Well, as he tells it, the pictures are beautiful but the words aren't. As O'Rourke says towards the end of his review of Cars, "I have no idea what he's talking about." Still, the pictures look good.

[Source: New York Times]

P.J. O'Rourke reviews a book about cars called, "Cars" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: Mini owns its inner Bulldog

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:39:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Mini, Humor, Specialty

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

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.

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Texas unveils new vanity plates to raise money for state

John Neff — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Humor

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.

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

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Videos, Celebrities, Humor, Electric

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.

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Dutch Porsche dealership covers new 997 Carrera S in milk chocolate for the holidays

Chris Paukert — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Porsche, Humor

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.

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

Chris Shunk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Bugatti, Humor

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.

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

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:52:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Humor

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.

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

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Celebrities, Humor

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.

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Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Politically Correct Edition

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Volkswagen, Humor

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.

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

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Humor

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.

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Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Serious automotive testing

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Humor

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.

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Total Croc: Porsche suing popular shoe company over naming rights?

Michael Harley — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Government/Legal, Porsche, Humor

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.

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