Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[NASCAR ponders life without support of Detroit automakers [w/poll!]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/10/nascar-ponders-life-without-support-of-detroit-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/10/nascar-ponders-life-without-support-of-detroit-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/10/nascar-ponders-life-without-support-of-detroit-automakers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Car and Driver's April Fools' Day joke about President Obama ordering the Detroit 3 automakers out of stock car racing has apparently got NASCAR officials pondering the ramifications of such a mass exodus. Suffice it to say, they are not laughing. Jeff Burton, driver of a Chevrolet-badged racecar for Richard Childress Racing, said, "I think the climate that we're in today, it would be poor business to not look at the worst-case scenarios." Of course, he's right.

So, what would happen if one or more of the American automakers were to pull their official support from NASCAR? According to NASCAR itself, "the results would be far from debilitating." While none of the teams or tracks want to see funding from General Motors or Chrysler go away, it's not the only source of income to be tapped. Plus, Ford and Toyota are in no immediate danger of going belly up, and they haven't given any indications that they are planning to withdraw from NASCAR. Of course, if GM and/or Chrysler's revenue stream for the series dries up, we could see the remaining parties balking at sponsorship costs...

Be sure to cast your vote on whether you expect to see one or more automakers exit NASCAR this season in the poll below.

View Poll


[Source: NASCAR.COM | Photo: Wayne Whaley]

NASCAR ponders life without support of Detroit automakers [w/poll!] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april foolsAprilFoolsCar and driverCar DriverCarAndDriverCarDriverGMnascarnascar fundingnascar sponsornascar sponsorshipNascarFundingNascarSponsorNascarSponsorshipFri, 10 Apr 2009 16:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Oldsmobile Redux: The rest of the story...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/05/oldsmobile-redux-the-rest-of-the-story/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/05/oldsmobile-redux-the-rest-of-the-story/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/05/oldsmobile-redux-the-rest-of-the-story/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fake OldsmobileEarlier this week, in an example of cross-magazine synergy, both Automobile and Car and Driver ran April Fool's gags trumpeting the return of a rejuvenated, Toyota-owned Oldsmobile. The pubs even shared the same images, which depicted Oldsmofied versions of the Toyota Sequoia (Oldsmobile Super 88) and 4Runner (Oldsmobile Intrigue). It was goofy fun, and we all had a laugh and moved on. It would appear that not everyone caught the joke, however, and this is where things get substantially more amusing.

Continue reading Oldsmobile Redux: The rest of the story...

Oldsmobile Redux: The rest of the story... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april fooleryapril foolsAprilFooleryAprilFoolsoldsmobilepaul harveyPaulHarveyron chapmanRonChapmanSat, 05 Apr 2008 07:28:00 EST<![CDATA[April Foolery: Toyota resurrects Oldsmobile in its own image]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/april-foolery-toyota-resurrects-oldsmobile-in-its-own-image/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/april-foolery-toyota-resurrects-oldsmobile-in-its-own-image/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/april-foolery-toyota-resurrects-oldsmobile-in-its-own-image/#commentsFiled under: ,



We've been trying to keep a straight face today as we report all these April Fools jokes, but this one from Car and Driver is so ridiculous that we must forego all the winks and nods and state plainly that it is not real. C&D concocted an alternate universe in which General Motors forgot to renew its copyright on the Oldsmobile name, a gaff that Toyota exploits by purchasing the rights to the dead brand's storied name. The Japanese juggernaut plans to place Olds between Toyota and Lexus in much the same way it played the middle child between Chevy and Cadillac when it was under domestic control. Toyota also knows that there's no better way to build an Oldsmobile than to rebadge a cheaper vehicle and charge a higher price, but this time it will be a brand comprised entirely of SUVs sporting revered Oldsmobile nameplates from the '80s and '90s like Intrigue and Bravada. The flagship model of the new Olds will be the Super 88, a rebadged version of the Toyota Sequoia with the iForce V8 and 8-speed automatic transmission from the Lexus LS.

Sigh... Oldsmobile just can't get a break, even in the afterlife for automotive brands. Thanks for the tip, Brad!

[Source: Car and Driver]

April Foolery: Toyota resurrects Oldsmobile in its own image originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april foolsAprilFoolscar and driverCarAndDriveroldsmobile super 88OldsmobileSuper88super 88Super88toyota oldsmobileToyotaOldsmobileTue, 01 Apr 2008 13:21:00 EST<![CDATA[April Foolery: Kia introduces the KEE_wii sans steering wheel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/april-foolery-kia-introduces-the-radical-new-kee_wii-sans-stee/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/april-foolery-kia-introduces-the-radical-new-kee_wii-sans-stee/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/01/april-foolery-kia-introduces-the-radical-new-kee_wii-sans-stee/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click the image above for a host of high-res images of the Kia Kee.

When we initially laid our eyes on the Kia KEE concept last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, we were a bit underwhelmed, referring to the sporty coupe as "a Korean-sized speed bump at an otherwise awe-inspiring show." We would not say such things if Kia were to reintroduce the concept as the KEE_wii, which is rumored to be as powerful as two Gamecubes duct-taped together. Be sure to read the press release, pasted after the break, which not only informs us that Kia demands driving entitlement for children as young as eight, but it also introduces us to a few future driving technologies, such as Dynamic On-Road Kinetics (DORK), Full Orthopedic Operating Logic (FOOL) and, of course, Independent Driver Input Operating Technique (IDIOT).

KEE_wiiAccording to Franz Josef-Hicks, head of the Advanced Propulsion Research Institute and Laboratory (APRIL) in New Zealand, the radical new technology allows the ability to drive the vehicle from either side of the car as well as the back seat using a hand-held controller sourced from the Nintendo Wii, hence the car's name. Citing the fact that many people don't pay attention when they are driving anyway, Hicks suggests that the lack of visibility from the back seat should not be a problem. With logic like that, how could we disagree? Kia expects that the first production application of this new technology should be ready on April 1, 2009. We can hardly wait.

Gallery: April Fools: KIA KEE_wii


Gallery: Kia Kee Coupe Concept


[Source: Kia]

Continue reading April Foolery: Kia introduces the KEE_wii sans steering wheel

April Foolery: Kia introduces the KEE_wii sans steering wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april foolsapril fools dayapril fools'april fools' dayapril-fools-dayAprilFoolsAprilFools'AprilFools'DayAprilFoolsDaykiakia keekia kee_wiikia-keekia-kee_wiiKiaKeeKiaKee_wiiTue, 01 Apr 2008 06:59:00 EST