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[Trouble in U.K. TelevisionLand: Has <i>Fifth Gear</i> been canceled?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/19/trouble-in-u-k-televisionland-has-fifth-gear-been-cance/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/19/trouble-in-u-k-televisionland-has-fifth-gear-been-cance/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/19/trouble-in-u-k-televisionland-has-fifth-gear-been-cance/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


News coming out of the U.K. today suggests that everybody's second-favorite British motoring television show may be facing the axe. According to the Daily Mail, Fifth Gear, which has never quite mustered the following of rival Top Gear, has been put on ice. Or has it?

A quick check on FinalGear.com indicates that the report from DM may not be entirely accurate. Fifth Gear's own Jonny Smith has fired off a series of Tweets from his personal Twitter account, and he suggests that reports of the show's demise are somewhat exaggerated, saying that "nothing is official."

For what it's worth, while we do prefer to burn an hour watching the antics from the rival crew at Top Gear, we also find Fifth Gear's brand of vehicular commentary worth watching. Even if Clarkson and Co. are more entertaining, at least some Autoblog staffers find Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler-Henderson's driving impressions to carry more authority. If nothing else, we find Fifth Gear vastly superior to U.S. motoring shows like PBS' MotorWeek, which appears to be perpetually stuck in 1985. Where's the justice in that? Thanks for the tips, Sylvester and Eddie!

[Source: Daily Mail]

Trouble in U.K. TelevisionLand: Has Fifth Gear been canceled? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5th gear5thGearcanceledfifth gearfifth gear canceledFifthGearFifthGearCanceledMotorweekTiff NeedellTiffNeedellTop GearTopGearVicki Butler-HendersonVickiButler-hendersonMon, 19 Oct 2009 14:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago 2009: <i>MotorWeek</i> Drivers' Choice Best of the Year Award goes to VW Jetta TDI]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/chicago-2009-i-motorweek-i-drivers-choice-best-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/chicago-2009-i-motorweek-i-drivers-choice-best-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/11/chicago-2009-i-motorweek-i-drivers-choice-best-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Each year, MotorWeek uses the Chicago Auto Show as an outlet to release its annual Drivers' Choice Awards, and we often have reason to question their rankings. This year, though, Television's Original Automotive Magazine manged to compile a list that mostly meets with our approval. Best of the Year (and, not surprisingly, Best Eco-Friendly) went out to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, which makes our compadres at AutoblogGreen wonder if there's any award that the oil-burning German sedan can't walk away with.

Other choices we can't argue with include the Honda Fit as Best Small Car, the Mazda6 as Best Family Sedan, Hyundai Genesis as Best Luxury sedan and the Cadillac CTS as Best Sport Sedan. Affordable supercars like the Nissan GT-R and Corvette ZR1 are also represented. In total, 13 vehicles walked away with honors from the TV show, and the next show (check local listings here) starting this Friday will be all about these winners.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI


[Source: MotorWeek]

Continue reading Chicago 2009: MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Best of the Year Award goes to VW Jetta TDI

Chicago 2009: MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Best of the Year Award goes to VW Jetta TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>award showAwardShowchicago 2009chicago auto showChicago2009ChicagoAutoShowmotorweekmotorweek drivers choice awardsMotorweekDriversChoiceAwardsWed, 11 Feb 2009 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago 2008: MotorWeek announces 2008 Drivers Choice Awards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/chicago-2008-motorweek-announces-2008-drivers-choice-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/chicago-2008-motorweek-announces-2008-drivers-choice-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/chicago-2008-motorweek-announces-2008-drivers-choice-awards/#commentsFiled under: ,

Last year, we were surprised by Motor Week's choice for its 2007 "Best Of The Year" , the Honda Fit. This year, we were simply shocked that its choice for 2008 is the Scion xB. It's not that the xB is a bad car, it's that there are so many better choices. In fact, peruse the list below of winners in other categories. Almost any of the other cars on the list would be a better choice, save for the Sebring Convertible and possibly the minivans. Lexus makes fine vehicles, but its LS 600h L does not belong on a "Best Dream Machine" list.

  • Best Small Car - Scion xB
  • Best Family Sedan - Honda Accord
  • Best Minivan - Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country
  • Best Convertible - Chrysler Sebring Convertible
  • Best Luxury Sedan - Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  • Best Sport Sedan - Cadillac CTS
  • Best Sport Coupe - Infiniti G37
  • Best Performance Car - Volkswagen R32
  • Best Small Utility - Nissan Rogue
  • Best Large Utility - Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
  • Best Crossover Utility - Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook
  • Best Pickup Truck - Ford F-Series Super Duty
  • Best Eco-Friendly - Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid/GMC Yukon Hybrid
  • Best Dream Machine - Audi R8/Bentley Continental GT Speed/Lexus LS 600h L

We can agree with a few of the choices, like the Audi R8, the Cadillac CTS and even the R32, although the new Evolution or STi might have been a better choice. These types of lists are never easy, but MotorWeek seems to have gone out of its way to make this one irrelevant.

[Source: MotorWeek]

Continue reading Chicago 2008: MotorWeek announces 2008 Drivers Choice Awards

Chicago 2008: MotorWeek announces 2008 Drivers Choice Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chicagochicago 2008chicago auto showChicago2008ChicagoAutoShowdrivers choice awardsDriversChoiceAwardsmotor weekMotorWeekscion xbscion-xbScionXbThu, 07 Feb 2008 09:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago Auto Show: MotorWeek Drivers Choice Awards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-motorweek-drivers-choice-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-motorweek-drivers-choice-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-motorweek-drivers-choice-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

We must admit that we were a bit surprised that MotorWeek's award for "Best Car of the Year" went to the Honda Fit. But, we suppose that it, uh, fits. We know, that was way too easy - feel free to mock us in the comments, we can take it. Here is the complete list of winners:
  • Best of the Year: Honda Fit
  • Best Small Car: wait for it... Honda Fit
  • Best Family Sedan: Saturn Aura
  • Best Minivan: Hyundai Entourage/Kia Sedona
  • Best Convertible: Volkswagen Eos
  • Best Luxury Sedan: Lexus LS
  • Best Sports Sedan: Infiniti G35
  • Best Performance Car: Ford Shelby GT500
  • Best Small Utility: Honda CR-V
  • Best Large Utility: Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
  • Best Crossover Utility: GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook
  • Best Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra
  • Best Eco-Friendly: Toyota Motor Corporation
  • Best Dream Machine: Jaguar XKR, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Porsche 911 Turbo
We can't say that we agree with many of these choices, but we didn't choose them, MotorWeek's editors did. We just typed them for your benefit, 'cause we're cool like that.

Chicago Auto Show: MotorWeek Drivers Choice Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chevrolet SilveradoChevroletSilveradoEntourageFerrari GTB FioranoFerrariGtbFioranoGMC AcadiaGMC SierraGmcAcadiaGmcSierraHonda CR-VHonda FitHondaCr-vHondaFitHyundaiInfiniti G35InfinitiG35Jaguar XKRJaguarXkrKia SedonaKiaSedonaLuxus LSLuxusLsMotor WeekMotorWeekPorsche 911 TurboPorsche911TurboSaturn AuraSaturn OutlookSaturnAuraSaturnOutlookShelby GT500ShelbyGt500Toyota MotorToyotaMotorVolkswagen EosVolkswagenEosWed, 07 Feb 2007 19:58:00 EST