Autoblog

Video posted after the jump

Ahh, YouTube: the equivalent of morning cartoons for us grown-ups, only now we drink coffee with our Fruity Pebbles. The post title pretty much sums this up. As more people get their hands on SRT8 Dodge Challengers, more videos of wanton tire massacre will surface. Today's round comes via MyRide, which set about tagging the tarmac at Willow Springs with a silver example. When the Camaro finally comes out, we expect to see approximately one bajillion videos exactly like this, with at least half sporting the inevitable Dead Milkmen soundtrack. Thanks for the tip, David!

[Source: YouTube via MyRide]

New York 2008: Hyundai Genesis Coupe doing power slides

The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is the new rear-driver that enthusiasts have been waiting for, and the automaker showed the assembled mass of media just how fun its hot new ride is. Hyundai pulled out all the stops at its press conference, including hiring a couple of Hollywood's finest female stunt drivers to unveil what is perhaps its most exciting vehicle ever. Above is video of an impressive array of spin-outs, burnouts and power slides in V6 (Silver) and turbo-four (Red) flavors. This thing is completely hot. Check it out.

UPDATE: Video of actual press conference with execs talking after the jump.

Chrysler has released some video of the Challenger zooming around on some desert tarmac. We think that this video is from the same shoot that produced the teaser pics we all salivated over before the Challenger was officially unveiled. With that, on to the video, after the jump. Hit the gallery for more stills, while you're at it.

[Source: Chrysler]

Oh, what fun, a luxury sport sedan advertising smackdown. Lexus has returned a volley after Audi made a shot across their bow with a TV spot swiping at Lexus and implying that a self-parking car is for non-driving drivers. Like that kid in class who never knew quite how to shoot back a response, Lexus has produced a couple of spots that are almost, almost badass. The spots, titled "Etiquette" and "Doughnut" juxtapose imagery of the GS 460 partaking in power oversteer antics to a soundtrack of operatic aria. That's cool, the Lexus 4.6 liter V8 does have a muscular snarl, and the GS can at least keep up with the pack. What's uncool is the snooty tagline, admonishing "just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should." Yeah, nannying is such a come-on to purchase. The tagline for "Doughnut" is even worse - "Yes, you can. And no, you shouldn't." Doesn't that just makes the "screw you" center in your brain light up? To create spots with badass imagery and hooligan undertones, only to soft-pedal the tagline and shroud it all in some sort of veil of "that's beneath us" does not sound the klaxon for enthusiasts. The car itself looks to be fun, if they've managed to put some discipline into the suspension, a real manual transmission, and dial back the electronic joy-killers.

[Source: Brandweek]

UPDATE: Our friends at Year One graciously hooked us up with the latest version of this video - embedded after the jump.



"Bandit you're reckless and you live much too hard..."

We feel a full-fledged late 1970s lovefest coming on soon. Not that it'd be any worse than the resurgence of 1980s pop culture among those that didn't live it. Let's just say it was bad the first time, and hasn't improved with age. One thing that is better this time around are the Bandit T/A recreations from Year One. We reported on these a while back, and since we're all hot for the darn thing, here's some more eye candy. Looks like Sheriff Buford T. Justice finally has his day in the sun at the end of this short promo video, which we've embedded after the jump.

[Source: Year One]

click on image to enlarge

Upon perusing our October 2006 issue of Motor Trend, we ran across the mag's review of the new 2007 Lexus LS460 and a pair of pictures caught our eye. Before us on the printed page was a bright silver LS sedan doing a burnout and... (gulp) drifting! The Japanese luxury carmaker's relentless pursuit of perfection has always been so categorically opposed to having fun while driving that the images seemed from another world altogether.

But indeed they are not. You see, the 2007 Lexus LS460 is the first LS sedan ever that allows its stability-control system to completely turned off. Once the big lady lets her guard down, the 4.6-liter V8 producing 380 hp and 367 ft-lbs. is totally and utterly at the mercy of your right foot, which makes burn outs and drifting possible for the first time in a Lexus LS sedan. In fact, we'd venture to guess that Angus Mackenzie and company over at Motor Trend are the first to perform this feat in a Lexus LS sedan, if not the first to record it on film, though they certainly won't be the last. And to think, the even more powerful hybrid LS600h is still yet to arrive.

Special thanks to Motor Trend for furnishing us with these pics, and to photographer Mark Bramley for capturing the moment.

[Source: Motor Trend - Oct. 2006, subscribe here]

Monday's contribution to Autoblog from the online treasure trove that is Streetfire.net comes in the form of a civilian demonstration of the Shelby GT-H's burnout abilities. The 325-horse rental-only 'Stang certainly gets the job done, laying down an appropriately thick wall of smoke as the driver put on a show for his neighbors.

We know rental cars are subject to a fairly high level of abuse, and in the case of the GT-H, the car practically begs for it. It's likely that the people renting them are more than happy to oblige -- much to the chagrin of the cars' rear tires.

Of course, this video also illustrates why ordering a retail Shelby GT might be a better play than waiting to buy a former Hertz car -- collectability be damned. With a GT-H, you'll never know just how many people abused the car before you took possession of it. With a Shelby GT, at least you'll know that the only yahoo strapping in behind the wheel is the one looking back at you in the mirror.

[Source: Streetfire.net]