Autoblog

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 11.13.09

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:20:00 EST

2011 Buick Regal revealed live at the Hollywood Palladium

2011 Buick Regal live unveiling - Click above for high-res image gallery Last night General Motors' superstar train blew into Los Angeles for a gala event at one of Hollywood's most iconic...

BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011

In a surprise move, Ford has announced that it will pursue the development of an all-new Police Interceptor model. The move comes on the heels of General Motors' announcement that it plans to...

Introduction to Karting - Part 7

WRAPPING UP The leaves have long-since changed and most have fallen off. There's a chill in the air and the odd snowflake, too. The summer motorsports season is at an end, and it's time to think...

Also of interest:

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 11.13.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Orange Crush: KTM to bring entire line of streetbikes to U.S.

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle

2010 KTM 690 Duke R - Click above for high-res image gallery

We'll be honest and say right off the bat that we have a soft spot for KTM. This particular blogger's first real two-wheeler was an old KTM 125 two-stroke that ate piston rings for breakfast, lunch and dinner... but boy was it fast! More recently, the traditionally off-road-focused Austrian marque has made a renewed plans to enter the U.S. market with an exciting line of streetbikes, and that's reportedly set to continue in full force for 2010.

According to the boys at Hell For Leather, KTM plans to bring its entire line of motorcycles Stateside, and that includes the 990 Adventure R, Super Duke R, SMT and SMR along with the RC8 R superbike (finally!) and the full line of single-cylinder 690s. Speaking of which, also new for 2010 is the 2010 690 Duke R that gets firmer suspenders, a bespoke paint scheme and carbon fiber fender and, most importantly, an enlarged engine with 70 horsepower and 51 lb-ft of torque. Hit the jump for a detailed PDF file that contains KTM's full line.

Gallery: 2010 KTM 690 Duke R

[Source: Hell For Leather]

Continue reading Orange Crush: KTM to bring entire line of streetbikes to U.S.

Orange Crush: KTM to bring entire line of streetbikes to U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW defies logic with six-cylinder Concept 6 motorcycle

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Motorcycle

BMW Concept 6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW is known the world over for its excellent brand of inline-six cylinder powerplants. In most cases, those supremely smooth and powerful engines power the German company's cars and trucks. Apparently, that won't always be the case, though, as BMW has just revealed its new Concept 6 motorcycle at the EICMA Show in Milan.

As the name implies, the Concept 6 boasts an engine with six cylinders, and the best news is that the mill is destined for a new production model in the near future. Expect to see a replacement for the long-running LT series of touring bikes, bringing BMW more in line with the standard-setting Goldwing from Honda.

Looking at the actual concept itself, the chassis appears to be heavily based on the current production K-Series unit, and the powerplant is tilted at the same 55-degree angle as the current four-cylinder. Bodywork is suitable for concept duty, with a futuristic take on the old-school Cafe Racer look.

Power? BMW's being a bit coy at the moment, suggesting that it makes as much horsepower as the current 1.3-liter four (over 150, to be sure) and as much torque as any other motorcycle engine in production with a stout 96 lb-ft at 2,000 RPM. With a redline of nearly 9,000... you can imagine that there's plenty of power on tap. Check out our high-res photo gallery below and hit the jump for a video and the press release.

Gallery: BMW Concept 6

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW defies logic with six-cylinder Concept 6 motorcycle

BMW defies logic with six-cylinder Concept 6 motorcycle originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lutz: High-performance Chevy Volt SS a "possibility"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Electric, Electric

2011 Chevy Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

Electric cars are for those who would rather drive slow, boring commuters that don't consume fossil fuels and therefore don't spew pollutants from their tailpipes. Gas-powered cars - and especially those wearing time-honored badges like SS, R/T or GT - are for those who prefer fire-breathing, tire-screeching performance and care much more about nitrous oxide than nitrogen oxide. Right? Not so fast, says Bob Lutz.

When asked whether or not Chevy could shock the performance crowd with an SS version of the upcoming Volt, Lutz said, "I would not discount that possibility." That's as close as you're going to get to an admission of intent this early in the game. Lutz goes on to suggest that the Voltec powertrain will allow for plenty of on-demand power. "[I]f we want to sacrifice a little bit of fuel efficiency in the interest of performance and still get over 200 miles per gallon, we can do that any time."

Following the same logical train of thought, we could certainly see a V-Series of the Cadillac Converj. If you're interested in hearing the news straight from ~~the horse's~~ Lutz's mouth, click past the break for a video.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt

[Source: Fox Car Report via GM-Volt.com]

Continue reading Lutz: High-performance Chevy Volt SS a "possibility"

Lutz: High-performance Chevy Volt SS a "possibility" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not News: South Korean woman passes driving test. News: On 950th try.

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., South Korea

You've just got to admire this kind of tenacity. Earlier this year, we related the story of Cha Sa-soon of South Korea. This 68-year-old woman wanted her driver's license so badly that she had gone to take the written test nearly every single day since April of 2005. Unfortunately, Cha was unable to score the necessary 60-percent score to pass.

Ultimately, Cha ended up taking that same written test about 950 times before managing that 60-of-100 score. Yes, you read that right - this woman took the written test 950 times before earning a passing grade. Like we said, tenacity.

That coveted slip of paper didn't come cheap. All told, Cha spent more than five million won ($4,200) in application fees over the last four years. Please join us in a silent prayer for safety on South Korean roadways.

For what it's worth, Cha's not out of the water just yet - she still needs to pass the actual driving test before being rewarded with a real license. According to local media reports, Cha hopes a driver's license will improve her door-to-door vegetable-selling business. Good luck!

[Source: Associated Press via Yahoo]

Not News: South Korean woman passes driving test. News: On 950th try. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ducati updates Hypermotard 1100, adds new EVO and SP models

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle

2010 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO - Click above for high-res image gallery

Following the release of the $9,995 Hypermotard 796, it was pretty obvious that Ducati would have some updating to do on its bigger 1100cc brother. After all, with a power-to-weight ratio within spitting distance, it seemed tough to justify the price increase for the bigger model. Not surprisingly, then, Ducati has just released all the details on the 2010 Hypermotard 1100, and it's got all the right boxes checked: 15 pounds lighter, five more horsepower and an $11,995 starting price.

The new base 1100 is now called the EVO, and it weighs 379 pounds dry and puts out 95 horsepower and 76 lb-ft of torque. New vacuum-cast engine cases join a magnesium alternator cover, a superbike-spec flywheel from the 848 and rare-earth magnets in the generator assembly help the latest Desmodue engine drop 11.5 pounds. Like the smaller 796, the new EVO eschews the previously-forged chassis bits for lighter pieces without sacrificing performance.

Also new for 2010 is an uprated 1100 EVO SP model for $14,995 that has higher ground clearance, upgraded suspension bits, Brembo Monobloc brake calipers, Marchesini wheels and a few external carbon fiber components. Want to know more? All the sordid details can be found in the press release after the break and we've added a high-res image gallery for your viewing pleasure below.

Gallery: 2010 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO and SP

[Source: Ducati]

Continue reading Ducati updates Hypermotard 1100, adds new EVO and SP models

Ducati updates Hypermotard 1100, adds new EVO and SP models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 11.9.09

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:20:00 EST

First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG straightens up and flies right

AMG's first crack at creating a supercar from scratch proves Mercedes' in-house tuning division isn't just about big engines and powerslides anymore.

First Look: Bugatti 16C Galibier Concept

Bugatti's first modern sedan is enough to make you weak in the knees at first glance, and that's before you get a load of its 8.0-liter W16 and $1.6 million price tag.

Detroit News says GM will build Cadillac Converj

According to a recent report, General Motors will put the Cadillac Converj plug-in hybrid into production, spreading out the costs of its all-new Voltec drivetrain.

Also of interest:

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 11.9.09 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ducati finally unveils 2010 Multistrada 1200 at EICMA

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle

2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200 - Click above for high-res image gallery

After months of rumors, grainy spy shots and leaked information, Ducati has finally pulled the wraps off its 2010 Multistrada 1200. As with the original MTS, Ducati wanted to create a machine with sportbike-level performance that could be attained on nearly any kind of surface terrain. This time, though, the Italian manufacturer started with its latest liquid-cooled Testastretta powerplant as used in the top-level 1198 superbike, athough altered with revised valve overlap for smoother power delivery and a 15-percent improvement in fuel consumption and emissions.

Ducati says the new Multistrada 1200 is "four bikes in one," and has thus bestowed its new motorcycle with four distinct Riding Modes that alter power and traction control levels: Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro. Sport mode offers the full 150-horsepower experience with a low amount of traction control and Touring mode is intended for everyday riding. Urban and Enduro modes tone things down several notches to 100 horsepower - and opting for the latter also raises the suspension and sets the traction control to its least-active setting.

Uplevel S models get a new Ducati Electronic Suspension setup that can be tailored to adjust spring pre-load along with rebound and compression damping with options for rider only, rider with luggage, rider and passenger or rider and passenger with luggage. Ducati says that the Multistrada 1200's 417-pound dry weight is the lowest in its class, though a full 5.3-gallon load of fuel (enough for 186 miles between fill-ups) would certainly raise that a bit. Pricing starts at $14,995 before any options are added. Hit the jump for the rest of the details and check out our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200

[Source: Ducati]

Continue reading Ducati finally unveils 2010 Multistrada 1200 at EICMA

Ducati finally unveils 2010 Multistrada 1200 at EICMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: NHTSA probe opened into Honda airbag recall timing

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Acura, Honda

2001 Honda Accord - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the last year, Honda has recalled roughly 444,000 vehicles to repair overpressurized airbag inflators in certain 2001-2002 Honda Accord, 2001 Civic and 2002-2003 Acura TL models. According to the automaker, there has been one death and multiple injuries stemming from the defect, which can send small metal fragments through the airbag and onto the vehicle's occupants.

For whatever reason, the total recall was announced in two separate increments that were eight months apart - and NHTSA wants to know why. Earlier, Honda had said that the problem was traced back to Takata Corp., which supplied the faulty inflators, and that the supplier had made "incorrect assumptions" about the numbers of parts it had sent to Honda. Says Honda spokesman Chris Martin:

The initial range of recalled vehicles was based on a relatively small sample of problematic airbag deployments...It took some further customer reports of airbag deployments for us to be able to look back and say, these vehicles are not in the lot we identified but have the same problem.

Honda denies any wrongdoing and promises to fully cooperate with the NHTSA investigation.

Gallery: 2001 Honda Accord

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: NHTSA probe opened into Honda airbag recall timing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Officially Official: MV Agusta launches 2010 F4 superbike

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle

2010 MV Agusta F4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here it is. Motorcycle fans the world over have been waiting for the release of the 2010 F4 superbike ever since the new Brutale was unveiled last month, but MV Agusta somehow managed to keep a lid mostly on its range-topper until its official unveiling, which is taking place... oh, right about now. In any case, the Italian manufacturer starts its introduction of the new F4 by asking a question: Can perfection be improved upon?

It's always a dicey proposition to make sweeping changes to a highly-regarded superbike - just ask Ducati, which found that truth out the hard way with the 2003 999 - so it's not particularly surprising that the new bike is instantly recognizable as an F4, though the entire engine and chassis have been completely redesigned for more performance. Overall weight is down by 22 pounds, and the radial-valve, inline-four engine puts out 186 horsepower, a 12-horse gain over the 2009 model.

A Marelli 7BM ECU controls (among other things) the eight fuel injectors, variable-length intake manifolds and traction control, and it also offers multiple Sport and Rain engine control maps. Spent exhaust gases exit via the four expected underseat outlets, but those "organ pipes" are now squared-off instead of round. Suspension bits include a fully adjustable inverted 50mm Marzocchi up front and a remote reservoir rear shock from Sachs. Naturally, Brembo monobloc calipers clamp down on dual 320mm front discs, which are joined by a single Nissan four-piston caliper and 220mm disc out back.

All in all, this appears to be a pretty thorough redesign that will simultaneously offer diehard MV fans something to drool over while being competitive in the hotly-contested superbike marketplace. Want to know more? Click past the break for the full press release and technical specifications and see our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 MV Agusta F4

[Source: MV Agusta]

Continue reading Officially Official: MV Agusta launches 2010 F4 superbike

Officially Official: MV Agusta launches 2010 F4 superbike originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Chrysler disbands ENVI group, EV development will continue

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Electric

Dodge Circuit - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a report from Reuters, Chrysler has disbanded its ENVI program and integrated the group back into its normal product development organization. Former ENVI head Lou Rhodes will now take the title of group line executive in charge of electric vehicle development and will manage that group for both Chrysler and Fiat. Though we weren't exactly expecting this change, the move isn't entirely surprising.

At this point, we don't yet know what this reorganization means for the electric vehicles that Chrysler had previously promised to put into production, the first of which was to be the Lotus-based Dodge Circuit that was hopefully supposed to be on the market by late 2010.

Fiat CEO and newly-appointed head of Chrysler Sergio Marchionne said earlier this week during Chrysler's painfully long new product plan presentation that electric vehicles are still a very tough proposition with current battery technology. In fact, the automaker expects that less than two percent of its lineup will be electric by 2014, which would amount to fewer than 60,000 vehicles per year.

Gallery: Dodge Circuit EV

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Chrysler disbands ENVI group, EV development will continue originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Class action suit filed against Toyota over sudden acceleration claims

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Lexus, Toyota

Following a statement from the DOT and NHTSA asserting that the unintended acceleration issue potentially involving millions of Toyota vehicles is "not closed," McCuneWright, LLP, a law firm in Southern California, has filed a national class action lawsuit on behalf of all Toyota and Lexus owners that claim to have experienced this phenomenon. Representing the class will be Los Angeles County residents Seong Bae Choi (owner of a 2004 Camry) and Chris Chan Park (owner of a 2008 FJ Cruiser).

According to the suit, Toyota has known about reports of unintended acceleration for years and has received over 2,000 such complaints. Citing statistics from Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., the lawsuit alleges that there have been 16 fatalities and 243 injuries from Toyota and Lexus crashes attributed to runaway vehicles. Toyota attributes these accidents to improperly installed or incorrect floormats that prevent the accelerator pedal from returning to its idle position.

Wright, though, said in a statement, "[N]either driver error nor floormats can explain away many other frightening instances of runaway Toyotas. Until the company acknowledges the real problem and fixes it, we worry that other preventable injuries and deaths will occur." Hit the jump for the official press release from McCuneWright.

[Source: McCuneWright, LLP]

Continue reading Class action suit filed against Toyota over sudden acceleration claims

Class action suit filed against Toyota over sudden acceleration claims originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW updates 2010 R 1200 RT with DOHC engine, revised fairing and ESA II

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Motorcycle

2010 BMW R 1200 RT - Click above for high-res image gallery

These days, BMW's most popular line of motorcycles all over the world are its adventurous GS machines, but the Bavarian manufacturer is also well known for its excellent long-distance touring mounts powered by the traditional boxer engine. BMW looks to uphold that reputation with a thorough update to its 2010 R 1200 RT, and it joins its GS sibling in getting new heads with dual-overhead cams.

Though the maximum power output of 110 horses is carried over from the 2009 model, BMW says that torque is boosted a few lb-ft to 88 and that both the horsepower and torque curves are greatly improved. A revised fairing joins a slightly enlarged windscreen that is reportedly more transparent than before as the notable exterior modifications.

The final major updates are made to the suspension and brakes, including the latest versions of BMW's Integral ABS brakes and Electronic Suspension Adjustment. Nine different combinations are available to the rider that adjust front and rear damping along with spring pretension and spring rate up front. Want all the details? Click past the break for the official press release.

Gallery: 2010 BMW R 1200 RT

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW updates 2010 R 1200 RT with DOHC engine, revised fairing and ESA II

BMW updates 2010 R 1200 RT with DOHC engine, revised fairing and ESA II originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NHTSA study indicates hybrids have higher pedestrian crash rates

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:17:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Safety

A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that hybrid vehicles are more likely to be involved in accidents with pedestrians and bicyclists under certain scenarios. According to state-level accident data, 77 of 8,387 hybrid vehicles (that's .9 percent) were involved in crashes with pedestrians and 48 (.6 percent) were found to have been in accidents with bicyclists.

By way of comparison, 3,578 of 559,703 non-hybrid vehicles (.6 percent) were involved in pedestrian accidents and 1,862 (.3 percent) were involved with bicyclists. Tellingly, the NHTSA data shows that hybrid vehicles are twice as likely as non-hybirds to be involved in pedestrian or bicyclist accidents at low speeds when the internal combustion engine is not running.

These statistics are not a complete representation of all accidents nationwide, and NHTSA is quick to point out that additional research is necessary before any final conclusions can be made. Still, this is valuable data that "should serve as a guide when designing future HEV pedestrian and bicyclist crash prevention programs."

[Source: NHTSA - PDF via Consumer Reports]

NHTSA study indicates hybrids have higher pedestrian crash rates originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Triumph and TAG Heuer honor Steve McQueen with special Bonneville

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:22:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle, Celebrities

Triumph Bonneville Heuer - Click above for high-res image gallery

Triumph and TAG Heuer have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind Bonneville Heuer motorcycle. Inspired by Steve McQueen and the Porsche 917 K that the famous actor, racer and motorcycle rider piloted in the classic film Le Mans, the Bonneville Heuer is painted up in the classic Gulf Oil blue and orange scheme and will be used for promotional purposes.

McQueen famously wore a Heuer Monaco watch in the aforementioned silver screen race drama and was a renowned Triumph enthusiast. Says Neil Morley, Triumph's Head of Brand Communications:

We are delighted to play our part in this exciting project. The Triumph Bonneville and TAG Heuer Monaco are both timeless masterpieces, celebrating their respective 50th and 40th anniversaries this year. We also both have a natural connection with Steve McQueen, who famously wore a Monaco watch in the film Le Mans and was renowned for his love of our bikes, making this a very natural collaboration.

As much as we'd like to tell you this will be an optional color choice for the production Bonneville, that's not currently the case. If you like it as much as we do, perhaps a phone call to your local Triumph dealer is in order.

Gallery: Triumph Bonneville Heuer

[Source: Triumph]

Continue reading Triumph and TAG Heuer honor Steve McQueen with special Bonneville

Triumph and TAG Heuer honor Steve McQueen with special Bonneville originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Funny Car Commercial of the Day: Ready for winter?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Humor

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

BMW unleashes 2010 R 1200 GS with DOHC boxer engine

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Motorcycle

2010 BMW R 1200 GS - Click above for high-res image gallery

Anyone who follows motorcycling would likely tell you that BMW's R 1200 GS sets the standard when it comes to building a proper adventure touring motorcycle - and with good reason. As we found out when we threw a leg over the 2009 edition, BMW's big air-cooled mule can pretty much go anywhere the rider points it, and it'll tackle gnarly off-road conditions with just as much aplomb as it attacks paved back roads and long stretches of superslab.

Still, nothing is perfect (we actually sorta prefer the little brother F 800 GS off the road), and BMW saw fit to update its best-seller for the 2010 model year with a revised boxer engine that now sports dual-overhead cams. That's a major modification and it allowed BMW to locate five-percent more horsepower than the previous mill. Those 110 galloping ponies join 88 lb-ft of torque that BMW says is spread more evenly throughout the rev range than before. We'll take it - more power is always a good thing, right?

As you'd expect, there's also an upgraded R 1200 GS Adventure model for those who truly need the most capable bike they can get their grubby mitts on. Updates over the standard model include spoked (not cast) wheels, greater suspension travel and a monster 8.7-gallon fuel tank. See both new models in all their glory in our image galleries below.

Gallery: 2010 BMW R 1200 GS

Gallery: 2010 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure

[Source: BMW]

BMW unleashes 2010 R 1200 GS with DOHC boxer engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments