Autoblog

Lexus transforms Roosevelt Hotel into 3D billboard

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 06 May 2011 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Lexus, Toyota

Lexus advertising goes 3D with the 2011 CT 200h - Click above to watch video after the jump

Not every 3D project requires cumbersome glasses and a $20 IMAX ticket. Hot Wheels showed us an innovative way to advertise its product using a large projector and some imagination. Now, Lexus is using the same style to tout its CT 200h, and it's using a Los Angeles landmark to play background duty.

First opened in 1927, the Roosevelt Hotel is a piece of classic California situated right on Hollywood Boulevard. It's said that Marilyn Monroe's ghost haunts one of the hotel's mirrors, and we can't help but wonder what she'd think of the 2011 Lexus CT 200h running wild on the side of the Roosevelt. We also wonder what you think of Lexus' three-dimensional advertisement, so follow the jump to watch the clip then sound off in the comments.

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Lexus transforms Roosevelt Hotel into 3D billboard originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 May 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MasterImage working on 3D screens for cars

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

With 3D technology slowly making its way into homes and onto portable game consoles, it was just a matter of time before the tech filtered its way into cars. MasterImage, one of the companies that has pioneered glasses-free 3D screens, is reportedly on the verge of signing a deal with a handful of automakers and airlines to bring its wares to the transportation industry.

Roy Taylor, MasterImage's executive VP, declined to tell the Hollywood Reported which OEMs and airlines it was in talks with, but confirmed that its patented displays could reach certain planes and cars in the coming years.

However, don't expect your next sat-nav to get all Minority Report just yet - the 3D screens by MasterImage will be used for rear-seat entertainment, allowing passengers to download movies and games using next-generation mobile broadband technology to keep the kiddies distracted while on the road.

[Source: Hollywood Reporter]

MasterImage working on 3D screens for cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videos: New Mini commercials crank up the weirdness

Zach Bowman — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Mini, Humor

Mini vs Monster Teaser - Click above to watch video after the jump

Brace yourselves, friends. Things are about to get a little strange. Mini has set about creating a 3D film titled Mini vs. Monster about, well... we don't know what it's about. We assume there's probably a Mini in there somewhere, and there's a pretty good chance that a monster of some variety plays a role, too. But beyond that, our guess is as good as yours. Mini has been so kind as to release three teasers for the films, though none of the trio serve to shed any light on the content of the film at all.

That won't stop us from sharing them with you, though. The good news is that you won't need any pesky 3D glasses to watch the three short YouTube clips after the jump. Supposedly, the trifecta of weirdness use depth of field trickery to give us all an idea of what the 3D flick will bring to the table. Consider us intrigued. Hit the jump to take a look.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Videos: New Mini commercials crank up the weirdness

Videos: New Mini commercials crank up the weirdness originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Buick getting into the cloning business?

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Buick, GM

Virtual Buick tests world's toughest roads - Click above to watch video after the jump

Attack of the clones? Attack of the cloned roads is more apt, as the technical minds at Buick have developed a 3D road-scanning device to simulate some of the world's roughest roads. The scanner takes highly-detailed information about the road and translates it into 1s and 0s. The road is then modeled in a computer program that also features highly-detailed Buick vehicles. The "cars" are driven over the "roads" to see how the vehicles would stand up to the punishment in real life.

The scanner is able to accurately reproduce the road down to one millimeter. The Buicks are subjected to harsh conditions that will easily reveal squeaks, rattles and any other unwanted noises or equipment failures.

One of the preferred test routes is a Mexican road that leads to the Cerro del Cubilete shrine. The road is a rocky, winding stone path that tortures any vehicle driving on it. Buckle your seatbelt and make sure you don't have any loose fillings because we have video of the road, as well as the 3D scanner in action, after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Video: Buick getting into the cloning business?

Video: Buick getting into the cloning business? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula Drift going 3D on DirecTV

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Technology, Racing

2009 Formula Drift Championship Round - Click above for high-res image gallery

Are you a fan of tire-smoking, sideways automotive action? If so, the best way to get your fix is to head to a Formula Drift event and experience it in person. Can't do that? The next best thing is coming to your television, assuming you've already spent your dough on a fancy new 3D TV. DirecTV and Formula Drift have partnered up to produce the first three-dimensional televised drifting event.

DirecTV has a 3D channel, creatively called "n3D," and it will air special segments from Formula Drift's season-ending Round 7 event from the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California.

Gallery: 2009 Formula Drift Championship at Irwindale Speedway

[Source: Motor World Hype]

Formula Drift going 3D on DirecTV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vancouver using 3D optical illusion to scare motorists into safer driving?

Zach Bowman — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Canada

Safety organizations and the District of West Vancouver, Canada are joining forces to build awareness about careful driving during the start of the school year. Thanks the work of the BCAA Traffic Safety Association, drivers motoring down 22nd Street in West Vancouver will be met with a 3D image of a girl chasing a ball across the street. No one is saying exactly how the tech works, but it's meant to be a wakeup call for drivers who may be distracted or otherwise not paying enough attention to their surroundings while driving near school zones.

The display will be installed for just one week and cost a princely total of $14,400 (USD) to operate. According to The Globe and Mail, drivers will be able to see that there is something on the road as they approach the 3D image. Once the vehicle reaches a certain point, the image of the child and her toy will appear. According to the BCAA Traffic Safety Association, September and October are the two months with the highest child fatalities, and this exercise should go well beyond the typical awareness campaign. Here's hoping it doesn't trigger any panic-braking induced accidents in the process.

[Source: The Globe and Mail]

Vancouver using 3D optical illusion to scare motorists into safer driving? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World's fastest 3D film showcases SLS AMG

Zach Bowman — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Celebrities, Luxury

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - Click above to watch video after the jump

We finally know what Mercedes-Benz was up to when Tiff Needel stopped by the Isle of Man to drop in on some sort of high-budget commercial shoot. It turns out that the Silver Arrow wanted to nab the title of the world's fastest 3D film by shooting David Coulthard as he pushed the company's new SLS AMG to 167 mph. The whole shindig was captured by an army of camera vehicles, including at least one helicopter, a boom truck and, fittingly enough, another SLS AMG. The company even talked rally fiend Robbie Head into piloting the lead car ahead of Coulthard.

The full feature will air this coming Sunday on the Sky 3D pub channel, but the rest of us can catch the action when the footage hits Mercedes-Benz dealerships all over the world later this year. Here's hoping they'll hand out some equally classy 3D specs just for the occasion. Hop the jump to enjoy a lengthy teaser of the feature as well as a making of video showing just what goes into creating a film with an extra dimension.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 3D Feature

[Source: Piston Heads]

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World's fastest 3D film showcases SLS AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comin' at ya: Opel launches first Meriva ad in 3D

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Opel

2011 Opel Meriva 3D commercial - Click above to watch video after the jump

Opel wants to put its new Meriva crossover in your face, three-dimensional like. The first commercial for the people-and-baby carrier with the coach rear doors comes with enhanced stereoscopic vision, and there are hugs and balloons and soccer and pelican-looking things and more hugs and a snappy tune. But there aren't any 3D glasses. You'll need to supply those yourself before you follow the jump for the vid. Or you can peep the gallery of high-res photo below, for which your regular human eyes should suffice.

Gallery: 2011 Opel Meriva

[Source: Autoblog.it (translated)]

Continue reading Comin' at ya: Opel launches first Meriva ad in 3D

Comin' at ya: Opel launches first Meriva ad in 3D originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In-car navigation systems set to go 3D?

Chris Shunk — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: I.C.E., Technology

Navigation systems have quickly gone from being an interactive way to direct one from Point A to Point B to massive infotainment centerpieces capable of MP3 player integration, web browsing and wifi. Auto Express is reporting that GPS units could go 3D as soon as next year, because advancements in hardware could make the technology feasible with already available dual image LCD screens (like the one in the 2010 Jaguar XJ).

If you're thinking that you're going to have to wear those goofy paper 3D glasses to find the nearest McDonalds, that's not the case. Faster processors and increased memory will enable the LCD to oscillate between two images fast enough to give the illusion of depth. The incorporation of important landmarks embedded within the 3D image ought to go leaps and bounds towards finding your destination easier.

In the near term, it's likely that the functionality will first be available in aftermarket systems, with OEM models becoming available after the tech becomes a bit more mainstream. Actually, Clarion has been selling a 3D nav system in the UK for over a year and Sony and Panasonic have had the tech available in Japan, so it's more a matter of when, not if, the tech will be available in North America.

[Source: Auto Express]

In-car navigation systems set to go 3D? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kubica's Kanadian Krash -- Now in 3-D

Noah Joseph — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Videos

Spectators, commentators and fans all feared the worst when BMW Sauber's star driver Robert Kubica hit the wall at the end of the hairpin at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on St. Helen's Island in Montreal during this year's Canadian Grand Prix. But as we all know, the Polish driver suffered only a concussion and a sprained ankle, despite the high speeds, high G's and hard impact of the crash. Now he's back in the cockpit, sticking it to everyone this side of Ferrari and McLaren, defending champions Renault included. (Thank God for carbon fiber, eh Robbie?)

The techies over at RTL, the German network that broadcasts the Formula One events, put together this three-dimensional re-creation of the crash, complete with some Matrix-style viewing-angle sweeps. The action is slowed down so you can better see what happened, which makes it all too easy to forget the enormous speeds at which the crash occurred.

Unfortunately, whoever posted it up on YouTube decided to mix in a typically poor soundtrack, but since the original was without sound anyway, offended parties can feel free to turn down the volume completely.

Thanks to everyone who wrote in with the info!
Video after the jump.

[Source: RTL via YouTube]

Continue reading Kubica's Kanadian Krash -- Now in 3-D

Kubica's Kanadian Krash -- Now in 3-D originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3-D Technology to watch for car safety

Joel Arellano — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 15:46:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Technology

Tyzx, Inc., an electronics firm specializing in developing affordable hardware, software, and integrated systems that view the world in all of its glorious three dimensions, will now be applying its 3-D technology to automotive safety.

Auto safety manufacturer Takata has decided to invest the healthy sum of $4 million in Tyzx, Inc., and while no specific technology has yet to reach the drawing board (or screen), safety systems such as sensors that monitor passengers to maximize airbag deployment have been mentioned, as well as technology that monitors surrounding vehicles and even nearby pedestrians. Manufacturers in Europe and Japan are especially interested in that last bit of tech due to new laws requiring that vehicles minimize pedestrian injuries upon impact.

[Source: Tyzx, Inc. via PR Newswire]

3-D Technology to watch for car safety originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Jul 2006 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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