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[LeBron James gets free Kia for being NBA MVP, gives it away]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/lebron-james-gets-free-kia-for-being-nba-mvp-gives-it-away/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/lebron-james-gets-free-kia-for-being-nba-mvp-gives-it-away/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/05/lebron-james-gets-free-kia-for-being-nba-mvp-gives-it-away/#commentsFiled under: ,



I'm from Cleveland and the city will stop doing whatever it's doing tonight at 8PM EST to watch the Cavs take on the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 - Round 2 of the team's 2009 NBA Playoff run. Yesterday's news that LeBron James won the league MVP award added yet another nugget of pride to an already large pile of pride nuggets assembled by our beloved Cavaliers this season. Along with a super spiffy trophy that will look great on his mantel, James was also given a brand new Borrego SUV by Kia, sponsor of the MVP award and an NBA partner.

As it turns out, NBA MVP winners always get a free car, and they always turn around and immediately give it away. Some players have endorsement deals with automakers, so the league usually asks what charity they'd like to donate their prize to beforehand. Both James and this year's Defensive Player of the Year, Orlando's Dwight Howard, don't have any auto endorsement deals, but that didn't stop them from tossing the keys to their favorite charity. Howard gave his car to the Orlando Day Nursery and James donated his Borrego to the Akron Urban League. Don't cry for The King, though. He arrived amidst a police escort to the MVP award ceremony, which he requested be held at his alma mater - St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, in his custom Ferrari with vanity plates that read "W1TNES".

[Source: Kicking Tires, ESPN]

LeBron James gets free Kia for being NBA MVP, gives it away originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 May 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kialebron jameslebron james kialebron james mvpLebronJamesLebronJamesKiaLebronJamesMvpmvpnbaTue, 05 May 2009 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Kia asks for the rock, buys its way into NBA]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/11/kia-asks-for-the-rock-buys-its-way-into-nba/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/11/kia-asks-for-the-rock-buys-its-way-into-nba/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/11/kia-asks-for-the-rock-buys-its-way-into-nba/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Close your eyes for a moment and picture the typical form of transportation for an NBA baller. We're assuming that none of you envisioned a Kia, but that's exactly the association that the Korean automaker wants people to make in the future. To that end, it's paid an undisclosed amount of money to buddy up with the NBA and become its official supplier of cars. This paid honor means that Kia can run promotions at the biggest NBA events of the year like the playoffs and the draft, and in return Kia will give cars to the charity of choice for the players named MVP, defensive player of the year, most improved and best sixth man. While we likely won't see any all-stars rolling in an Optima, Kia's affiliation with the NBA is a big advertising victory, even if the "official car" title cost the company a fortune.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Kia asks for the rock, buys its way into NBA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>KiaNBAOfficial sponsor of NBAOfficialSponsorOfNbaOptimaSorrentoFri, 11 Jan 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[LeBron's infamous HUMMER gets makeover on SPEED]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/lebrons-infamous-hummer-gets-makeover-on-speed/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/lebrons-infamous-hummer-gets-makeover-on-speed/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/lebrons-infamous-hummer-gets-makeover-on-speed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click image above for high-res version

As many of you know, I hail from Cleveland, OH where only two things I know to be certain: the Browns will forever suck and LeBron James will forever be king of the smallest big city in the U.S. We weren't always sure he would become our king, however. James' mom presented him with a HUMMER H2 on his 18th birthday, which caused the Ohio High School Athletic Association to investigate the matter to ensure the SUV wasn't an inappropriately accepted gift. The turmoil surrounding the SUV almost prevented our dribbling deity from entering the NBA.

LeBron still drives that HUMMER, although it has received a makeover by Unique Autosports of Long Island for the season premier of Unique Whips on SPEED. The HUMMER got a new paint job, new grille, new wheels and a custom interior with enough gadgets and technology to make a West Coast Customs guy cry. James already received the redone H2 at his home somewhere in the "Heart of it All" Ohio, but you can watch the transformation of this infamous ride in the premiere of Unique Whips on Feb. 21st at 10PM EST on SPEED (check your local listingsv - isn't that what they always say at this part?).

Check out the full press release after the jump.

[Source: Unique Autosports]

Continue reading LeBron's infamous HUMMER gets makeover on SPEED

LeBron's infamous HUMMER gets makeover on SPEED originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>H2HUMMERLeBron JamesLebronJamesNBASPEEDUnique WhipsUniqueWhipsWed, 31 Jan 2007 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Ssangyong Rexton II introduced in Madrid]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/29/ssangyong-rexton-ii-introduced-in-madrid/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/29/ssangyong-rexton-ii-introduced-in-madrid/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/29/ssangyong-rexton-ii-introduced-in-madrid/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Admittedly, to North American ears, 'Ssangyong Rexton II' sounds like the sequel to some kind of science fiction monster movie. The reality is that it's the oven-fresh replacement for... wait for it... the Ssangyong Rexton, a popular if ill-styled SUV. Alberto Ballestin (aka 'Our Man in Madrid') was at the Madrid Auto Show press conference for Autoblog Spanish, and he came away with a few snapshots and impressions.

Powered in the market by a 2.7-liter Xdi diesel giving 165 horsepower and a stout 250 lb.-ft. of twist, the new Rexton was introduced with the assistance of Spanish NBA baller Pau Gasol, who will be the new 'face' of the brand in Spain. Aesthetically, one might be hard-pressed to call this Ssangyong 'attractive,' but it is a marked improvement on the original, and leagues ahead of other company offerings like the Musso and Rodius, the latter of which has been dubbed the 'Ugliest of them All' by UK publication Pistonheads.

Critically, Alberto informs that peculiar design or no, "...the quality/price is nearly unbeatable, and this has propelled the sales to a gigantic 210 percent last year (in Spain)," so this is obviously a package to be taken seriously.

Although Ssangyong didn't provide any English language press packs, interested parties are advised to click here to learn more about the Rexton II.

Ssangyong Rexton II introduced in Madrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 May 2006 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DieselmussoNBAPau GasolPauGasolRextonrodiusSssangyongXdiMon, 29 May 2006 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[New Garmin StreetPilot geared toward North American Asians]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/14/new-garmin-streetpilot-geared-toward-asian-americans/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/14/new-garmin-streetpilot-geared-toward-asian-americans/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/14/new-garmin-streetpilot-geared-toward-asian-americans/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Garmin, the well-known maker of portable GPS systems and other devices, has announced it will start offering a version of its popular StreetPilot c330 (pictured) that will provide directions in five different Asian languages. The 'StreetPilot c330 Asian Americas', which goes on sale in May, is the first in the North American market to offer such capability. Garmin had developed it in response to census data showing that over six million Asians live in Canada and the U.S.

Languages offered include Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese and Thai. Garmin will use NBA star Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets as the c330's spokesperson.

[Source: Kansas City Star]

New Garmin StreetPilot geared toward North American Asians originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Asian AmericanAsianAmericanGarminGPShouston rocketsHoustonRocketsnavigationNBAsat-navsatellite navigationSatelliteNavigationyao mingYaoMingFri, 14 Apr 2006 16:05:00 EST<![CDATA[NBA's Carmelo Anthony to go open-wheel racing with help from KISS' Gene Simmons]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/17/nbas-carmelo-anthony-to-go-open-wheel-racing-with-help-from-kis/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/17/nbas-carmelo-anthony-to-go-open-wheel-racing-with-help-from-kis/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/17/nbas-carmelo-anthony-to-go-open-wheel-racing-with-help-from-kis/#commentsFiled under: ,

In news that just about pegged our automotive weirdness meter, USA Today reported Thursday that Denver Nuggets superstar Carmelo Anthony is getting into bed with KISS singer Gene Simmons and the Indy Racing League.

Before you get any crazy ideas, we're quite sure the truth is bizarre enough: the 21-year-old NBA basketball phenomenon has become co-owner of the Hemelgarn IRL team, a deal brockered by KISS icon Simmons, who owns the marketing firm now promoting the series.

To be driven by rookie P.J. Chesson, car No. 91 has been dubbed "Car Melo." The blue-and-white Dallara is set to feature the mug of the young Nugget himself.

[Source: USA Today]

(Thanks for the tip, Tom!)

 

NBA's Carmelo Anthony to go open-wheel racing with help from KISS' Gene Simmons originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Mar 2006 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Carmelo AnthonyCarmeloAnthonyChessonDallaraDenver NuggetsDenverNuggetsGene SimmonsGeneSimmonsIndy Racing LeagueIndyRacingLeagueIRLKISSNBAFri, 17 Mar 2006 11:30:00 EST