It looks like you won't be getting any custom luggage or wallet with your new Aston-Martin anytime soon. The rumors that LVMH, the $14 billion dollar conglomerate that owns such notable brands as Moet & Chandon champagne, Glenmorangie scotch, TAG Heuer watches and the Louis Vitton fashion label, will purchase Ford's Aston-Martin are in the company's words, "pure rubbish."

A company spokesman states that LVMH will not be the name announced when Ford finishes assessing the four serious bids for the automaker that are currently on the table. When the price was announced, nearly $800 million US, LVMH felt that was way too high and ended any serious consideration to purchase Aston-Martin.

The denial by LVMH is confirmation of part of the Motor Trend report that was published on the magazine's blog last Friday. MT's sources say that the buyer is a private investment firm.

Rumors are also circulating that the real reason is that current Aston-Martin boss Ulrich Bez was not interested in selling the company to a party without any automotive background. Couldn't he provide the automotive direction required to continue the resurgence at AM? We were really looking forward to AM-branded accessories, champagne, scotch and DB9-edition Tag Heuer.

[Source: Autocar}

LVMH says Aston purchase is pure rumor originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Feb 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Produced for only two years, 1992-1993, the GMC Typhoon is still a relative unknown to those outside of the high performance community, but if you own or have ever raced one of the 4,697 unleashed on the street, you will remember what to watch out for.

This example found on eBay looks like one of the few that was not modified and driven to within an inch of it's life; a survivor if you will. The turbocharged and intercooled 4.3 liter V6, probably underrated at 280 horsepower, appears to be unmolested save for the requisite K&N air filter. Many of these trucks have topped 300 horsepower when dyno'd in stock configuration, and acceleration numbers vary from the high 4's to the low 5's in runs to 60 mph, continuing on to a high 13-second quarter-mile.

Check out what a Typhoon does to a C4 Corvette in the video after the jump!

[Source: eBay]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day II: Bone stock 1992 GMC Typhoon

eBay Find of the Day II: Bone stock 1992 GMC Typhoon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Betting on the success of the new Tundra in the insanely competitive full-size truck market, Toyota has loosely announced that they will not limit themselves to having only a half-ton pickup. A company spokesman says, "It would be safe to say" that a three-quarter ton truck is under strong consideration and would be in the market in 3-4 years.

Toyota won't confirm the rumors officially, but as the current marketing campaign is being unleashed to assault our senses and sensibilities about how the new Tundra proves that bigger is better, it seems like a natural progression of the program into bigger and even more capable trucks. Can a diesel be far behind?

[Source: Automotive News (sub req'd)]

Toyota confirms even bigger Tundra on the way originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After wading through video entries submitted by 820 teams from 230 schools, Chevrolet selected five teams totaling only 11 students to come to Detroit in late October. The candidates would have the chance to sharpen their advertising skills and work with industry professionals before presenting their final commercial submissions for Chevy's Super Bowl ad contest. When all the votes were in, 19-year old Katie Crabb from North Prairie, Wisconsin was the winner. Katie was the youngest participant in the competition, as well as the only solo finalist

Crabb, who entered the contest as an assignment for her freshman journalism class at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, will see her commercial run during tonight's Super Bowl telecast. The cost to run the 30-second commercial is somewhere around $2.6 million dollars. This is a big deal for Katie, as her work is being debuted during an event that's often watched as much for the commercials as it is for the actual game.

As a part of her prize, Katie will intern at Chevrolet's ad agency, Campbell-Ewald, but she says she will also keep her job at Applebee's until she graduates. At that point, Campbell-Ewald gave her a standing offer to start full-time with the firm, but Crabb says she'll just have to see what happens.

See the entire video after the jump!

Thanks for the tip Nellie Lide

[Source: Palm Beach Post via AP]

Continue reading Winner of Chevy Super Bowl college ad contest announced

Winner of Chevy Super Bowl college ad contest announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Feb 2007 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

[Source: techblog]

Continue reading Forget AAA: How to unlock your car with a tennis ball

Forget AAA: How to unlock your car with a tennis ball originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Feb 2007 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ford has a full-time staff that is tasked to pursue the manufacturers and resellers of these parts, but admits that legal action is very difficult to enforce outside of the US and Mexico. Other companies included in the survey included Merck & Co., New Balance, Xerox Corp, and Bendix, all of who experience similar issues with counterfeiting.

Next time you buy those knock-off parts for your ride, take into consideration that you are not only putting your life on the line, but also the countless other drivers on the road around you. Spend a few more bucks and get the right parts, right from the source or else a legitimate substitute.

[Source: MSNBC]

Ford loses $1b due to counterfeit parts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So you think that car salesman and dealerships have overcome their oft-deserved reputation for being sleazy? After reading this story, our semi-restored faith in the process of buying a car has been decimated.

Eleven dealership employees at the Huling Brothers dealership in West Seattle took part in an elaborate scam to take advantage of a 60-year old man with obvious mental deficiencies. When the man, soaked in his own urine, entered the dealership and told the car salesman that he had over $100K in cash in his home, the wheels of the scam machine went into full-gear and he left the dealership with an expensive truck . Needless to say, the man winds up with no money and no truck at the end of the story. Check out the details of this sad tale after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, Yvo.

[Source: KOMO TV]

Continue reading Seattle dealership rips off disabled man

Seattle dealership rips off disabled man originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a report that won't be made public until next week, Traffic STATS found that women are far safer drivers than men. As a matter of fact, according to the assembled data, men have a 77% higher chance of dying in a car accident than women.

In the study complied by Traffic STATS, there are loads of statistics that disprove many perceptions that have long been treated as facts in the ongoing battle of the sexes behind the wheel. As the report proves again and again, many of these myths have been based on information gleaned from short-sighted and closed-minded acknowledgement of the hard numbers. The study states that some of the reasons women are less likely to be involved in a car accident are that men drive faster, take more risks, and drink and drive much more than women. The author of the research believes his findings so much that he now lets his wife drive whenever they are in the car together. Wives of the world will no doubt use this to their advantage for decades to come!

See some interesting facts from the report after the jump

Thanks for the tip, emulous!

[Source: Yahoo]

Continue reading Traffic study reveals the ladies are safer behind the wheel

Traffic study reveals the ladies are safer behind the wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click on the image for a gallery of high-res images of the Worlds Fastest Street 'Cuda

After nearly 15,000 hours spent creating the beast, the "Worlds Fastest Street 'Cuda" crossed the auction block as lot #1290 at the 36th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event this weekend, fetching a well-deserved $550,000. Our favorite custom at the show, this Cuda always had a crowd around it. Every single detail on this is perfect. All that carbon fiber and mean-looking go-fast hardware had us staring at it for hours.

The car was created by Alan Johnson and the team at Johnson's Hot Rod Shop and is a classic example of a resto-rod. The car maintains the classic 'Cuda shape and proportions, but updated with modern mechanicals. Powered by a 572 inch dry-sump all-aluminum Hemi featuring a one-off Hogan EFI setup and a two-stage Holley direct port nitrous setup, this monster puts 870 horsepower through a 6-speed transaxle and has been tested at speeds above 200 miles per hour by championship racer Scott Pruitt.

Read the press release after the jump

[Source: Frank Filiponio via Barrett-Jackson]

Gallery: 2007 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale: Worlds Fastest Street 'Cuda

Continue reading 2007 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale: Worlds Fastest Street 'Cuda Sold at $550,000

2007 Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale: Worlds Fastest Street 'Cuda Sold at $550,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Jan 2007 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Toyota recalls another 553,000 Tundra and Sequoia models originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On 11/15, we reported about the expensive flights on Ford's corporate jet that Mark Fields was taking every weekend from Detroit to his home in Florida. Today, Mr. Fields announced to the workers at Ford that he would forgo the perk, guaranteed to him as a part of his compensation package, and make the weekend flights home on a commercial airline.

Fields has been asked to relocate several times throughout his career at Ford Motor Company, and felt that this arrangement would avoid yet another disruption in the life of his family. He uses the time at home with his family to relax from the brutal schedule he keeps during the week as one of the significant players in the revitalization at Ford. Fields will continue to fly home to Florida on the weekends, but felt that the issue was becoming a distraction to the team and made the decision on his own, with the company's full support. See you on Southwest, Mark!

[Source: Detroit News via Jalopnik]

Mark Fields gives up his flying perks originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ice is one of those things that people can never seem to figure out. For some reason they just keep on driving, no matter what the conditions might be. These Portlanders, apparently, are no different than the rest of us. They learn the hard way that when everything is frozen, the laws of physics rule and a low coefficient of friction leads to wrecked cars. Lots of 'em.

The first vehicle in this video offers us the best example of a driver making an accident much, much worse than it otherwise would be. If you listen closely, you can hear that the accelerator remains depressed in a desperate attempt to regain control. This single vehicle manages to impact with its surroundings eight times in a scant 40 seconds. You'll have to watch the video for the rest of the fun... at least everyone heeds the warnings from the rooftop videographers and no one gets hurt.

[Source: YouTube]

Thanks for the tip, John!

VIDEO: Adventures on ice in the Pacific Northwest originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For sale in the Auto Trader in England is this 1985 Chrysler Town and Country wagon, essentially a K-car woodie, that was a St. Valentine's Day gift to Ol' Blue Eyes from his wife in 1985 and is likely the last car he ever drove. It is listed at about $40,000, or about 40 times it's trade-in value, just for being associated with Frank Sinatra.

Frank, excuse me, Mr. Sinatra owned the car for six years and used it for "incognito trips" taken by the Sinatra family. It is believed that the Sinatra's drove the majority of the 77,777 miles during those first six years. Vehicle history shows that the car was then registered to Keaton Webb for about 10 years until being put into a charity fund in 2001 and finally purchased by a collector at a Palm Springs auction in 2004, who took the car to the UK where it currently resides.

Other notable Sinatra vehicles that have been sold in the past are in keeping with the Chairman's image and include a 1989 Jaguar XJS that sold in August of 1998 for $352,000 US, and a 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400S that sold in June of 2003 for $296,000 US.

[Source: Luxist]

Thanks for the tip, Todd!

You can buy Ol' Blue Eyes' last ride: a 1985 Chrysler Town and Country wagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here is the first of the five videos released by Audi that show not only the enviable driving prowess of the Audi R8, but a cool video on how the car is built and some great information on the engine and powertrain. Just the sound of the engine alone is worth the time it takes to watch all of the videos.

We all want one, or at least to drive one. This is as close as you can get right now...ENJOY!

watch the remaining four videos after the jump

Thanks for the tip Fabrizio!

[Source: mobilemag]

Continue reading VIDEO: Audi releases official footage of the R8

VIDEO: Audi releases official footage of the R8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you drive a 2004 or 2005 Honda Accord, you might want to be a little more careful than usual. According to a letter sent to NHTSA on January 9, the sensor on these vehicles that detects the driver's position in the seat was potentially attached in the wrong place and also potentially over tightened, as well. The real issue is that the wiring to the sensor could break and cause the sensor to fail, illuminating the airbag warning light and causing the bag, in a crash, to inflate at full pressure. This could increase the risk of injury from the airbag for smaller drivers in a frontal crash.

If you own one of these cars, watch the mail for more information on how to get it repaired under the recall. If your airbag warning light is currently illuminated, you should probably take it to your local Honda dealer ASAP.

Read the NHTSA text of the recall after the jump

Thanks for the tip, silverboosted!

Continue reading 81,000 Honda Accords recalled

81,000 Honda Accords recalled originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CarFax is becoming an increasingly popular tool used by both buyers and sellers of vehicles as a way to verify a vehicle's history. Unfortunately, the internet-based service outfit has had to settle a class-action lawsuit that accuses the company of misleading customers into thinking that its reports contain more information than they really do. Despite the settlement, CarFax admits to no wrongdoing.

If you purchased a CarFax vehicle report anytime before October 27, 2006, you now have to decide weather or not you want to take advantage of the settlement offer from CarFax. It is offering eligible customers either free or reduced price reports or $20 towards a vehicle inspection at a technician of their choice.

Read the entire settlement letter after the jump

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading CARFAX agrees to settlement in class-action lawsuit

CARFAX agrees to settlement in class-action lawsuit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What will people do to get attention these days? The answer to that question can be found in two distinct places: YouTube or eBay. This insane piece of automotive engineering can be found for sale on eBay for a starting bid of $30,000.

The ad is very simple. All it states is that it is a 1991 Toyota MR2 that gets its motivation from (2) T58-3 General Electric jet engines with afterburners. Doing a little research takes you to www.toyjunkies.com, where the car is also listed for sale. There you can find a little more info and a few pictures.

The scariest part of the car to us are the aerodynamics. The car sports a stock spoiler on the rear and one of the wildest looking splitters ever built under the front bumper. The super size splitter appears to be designed to generate enough frontal downforce/drag to either keep the front end planted at any speed above 5 mph or to aerodynamically assure that the car will never go any faster than that at all. Oh, and the eBay ad also states that it is ready to race and shows a picture of a magazine article of unknown origin featuring the car.

If any of you have ever sold cars, you've no doubt heard the addage that "there is an ass for every seat." If the dual-jet powered MR2 sells for anything close to the asking price, we'll all know it is true.

[Source: eBay]

Thanks for the tip, Doug!

eBay Find of the Day: DUAL jet-engined Toyota MR2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Recently announced as the next Pontiac G8, Holden says that the Commodore model is in need of a diet.

According to Holden chairman and executive director Denny Mooney, the Commodore doesn't need to get any smaller and is sized appropriately for both the Australian and American markets. It could, however lose a few pounds, as the large-car segment leader in Australia has gained over 1000 lbs. since the original Commodore in 1978; nearly 220 of them added in the most recent generation alone. It has also gained in nearly every other dimension as well, adding 19cm in length, 18cm in width and 10cm in height. The current 3.6 liter V6 is also a huge increase in grunt over the 2.8 liter unit used in the first Commodore, producing a whopping 181% more power.

We hope that the current version of the Commodore comes to us here in the US as close to the current car as can be, maybe with some Lutz magic under the hood. The American car market could use an injection of some full-size fun again...how about an LS7 with a manual transmission option? Who says we can't deal with a little extra poundage?

[Source: drive.com.au]

Holden putting the Commodore on a diet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

[Source: Nihon Car and Bike via CarScoop]

Retirement Village Rally Car: 4/5-scale Mitsubishi EVO X originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After what seemed to be just another great luncheon at the Ford Plantation in celebration of the holiday season, the nine employees of their dental practice got a little more that they expected after dessert. The employees were always anxious at the party, as the dentists try to "do something big" for them each year; but this is about as big as it gets. Instead of the usual array of cakes and pie, they were served with a tray of keys.

Each set started one of the 9 new Chevy HHR's, adorned with the dental office logo, in the parking lot. They were escorted outside and presented with their new cars for Christmas. Not a bad deal for everyone involved. The employees get a fantastic gift for Christmas and the dentists get to take the write-off for advertising. Everyone comes out a winner.

[Source: WTOC tv via GM Inside News]

Dental assistants have something to smile about: Boss gives HHRs as Xmas gifts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.