Autoblog

Infographic: Ford 6.8L V10 to tow world's largest float

Chris Shunk — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:29:00 EST

The Rose Bowl - The Grandaddy Of Them All, as they say - is one of the most storied bowl games in college football, and the pre-game parade is a big part of the pageantry of the event. Last year, Natural Balance broke the record for the world's largest float with an 84,300-pound rolling display, but the pet food company seems thirsty for more world-record glory.

For 2012, Natural Balance is building a 100,000-pound monstrosity that is 116 feet long and contains a 65-foot wave pool built specifically for one Tillman the Dog. Tillman will be surfing the waves on the float, which sounds impressive if you didn't already know that this super dog is also an avid skateboarder.

To tow this massive float, the folks at Natural Balance are counting on power from the tried-and-true Ford 6.8-liter V10. The 362 horsepower mill, which boasts 457 pound-feet of torque, is completely stock. The same can be said for the six-speed automatic transmission, save for a custom gear reduction setup behind the output shaft to get the float moving. The beefy 10-pot was pulled directly from an F-650, but we're guessing the 28-foot long truck won't be getting a 100,000-pound tow rating anytime soon.

Hit the jump to check out the entire infographic for yourself. You'll learn that the float is larger than 2,000 Tillmans, and you'll also catch a glance of the custom rig that will house Ford's big V10.

Continue reading Infographic: Ford 6.8L V10 to tow world's largest float

Infographic: Ford 6.8L V10 to tow world's largest float originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bimmerfest 2011 invades the Rose Bowl

Michael Harley — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Performance, Etc., BMW, Luxury

Bimmerfest 2011 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Started more than a decade ago as a small get-together for enthusiasts at a Santa Barbara BMW retailer, Bimmerfest celebrated its eleventh anniversary at a much larger venue this weekend: the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The largest BMW gathering in North America draws participants from all over the country thanks to a very active online membership in its Bimmerfest forums. As has traditionally been the case, most attendees meet up early in the morning to caravan hours to the Southern California event.

Despite unseasonably gloomy weather, there were more than 3,000 BMW vehicles on display. BMW North American brought its big rig with several cars including the new 2011 1 Series M Coupe. There was an excellent showing of E31 8 Series models, including an 850CSi (powered by a S70B56 5.6-liter V12 with a six-speed manual gearbox). We spotted plenty of E30 M3 models, several Z3 Coupe variants and an E23 745i (the gray market sedan features a turbocharged inline-six). The Nitto Tire both held the GSR Autosport Z4R, competing in the 2011 Formula Drift series with a 600-plus horsepower turbocharged S54 engine. Other notable BMWs in attendance included a race-bred M1, several sinister X6 M SAVs, and a spectacular 1972 E9 3.0 CSi Coupe - this year, we'll call that one our show favorite.

There is good news for BMW owners on the East Coast. The event organizers have announced a second North American event, to be held in early August in Aberdeen, Maryland. BMW owners, start polishing your cars now.

Bimmerfest 2011 invades the Rose Bowl originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Laurence Fishburne tapped to be new voice of Cadillac

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Cadillac, GM, Celebrities

Cadillac is no longer focused on having actress Kate Walsh ask us whether our car turns us on. Instead, the automaker is moving in a new direction and that requires a new voice. General Motors has just signed on Laurence Fishburne to become the new voice for Cadillac.

The first commercial with ~~Morpheus~~ Fishburne is set to run on January 1 during the Rose Bowl telecast. The new advertising campaign with which he'll be a part of is called "Red-Blooded Luxury."

With a title like that, we can only hope the focus will be on that pretty red 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon we recently got the chance to drive. We're fans of Fishburne and eager to see where this all goes, but we can't help but wonder what Caddy's marketing campaign would've been like had Samuel L. Jackson been a bit closer to his phone. Check out the official press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors | Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty]

Continue reading Laurence Fishburne tapped to be new voice of Cadillac

Laurence Fishburne tapped to be new voice of Cadillac originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bimmerfest 2010: The Rose Bowl hosts North America's largest BMW gathering

Michael Harley — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, BMW, Specialty, Design/Style, Racing

Bimmerfest 2010 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Bimmerfest is billed as the celebration of being a BMW enthusiast - but to most it is simply the world's largest BMW event held in North America. After starting as a small get-together at a BMW dealership in Santa Barbara just over a decade ago, the show has outgrown all of its venues... until now. The 2010 show, its 11th annual event, was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena this weekend. Thanks to strong online forum support for Bimmerfest, this year's show was packed with thousands of BMW models covering decades of production and dozens of vendors peddling accessories. If you have a Roundel on your hood, it's worth the trip (some drove from as far as Alaska and Florida just to attend).

The best part of Bimmerfest - and the reason we enjoy the show so much - is that nearly every single BMW at the show is privately owned. Sure, BMW North America brought some cars to display (among them an X6 M and a 7 Series Alpina B7), but the diversity and customization of the owned cars meant no two were alike. We weaved our way through hundreds of freshly detailed 3 Series and 5 Series models to find dozens of real gems. Our favorites included the race-bred E30 M3 models, a sweet BMW Z8, and a rare BMW 850CSi six-speed manual. Check out our gallery to find some of your favorites.

Gallery: Bimmerfest 2010

Bimmerfest 2010: The Rose Bowl hosts North America's largest BMW gathering originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You Thought Structural Rigidity Was An Issue Before: Seven-seat Chevy TrailBlazer cabrio

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, SUV, Etc., Chevrolet, GM, Specialty

Chevrolet TrailBlazer convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery

We can't think of many convertibles that you could safely take off road or haul a trailer with (save the Jeep Wrangler with its removable roof panels, of course), but in the seemingly endless world of possibilities that exists in the land of the aftermarket, anything - anything - is possible. This, for example, is a fully stocked 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, complete with four-wheel drive, a tow package and more cowl shake than your mother's Toyota Solara. And the best part? It's for sale!

Apparently originally used in a Rose Bowl parade, this TrailBlazer convertible only has 29,500 miles and can be yours for $15,000 (or best offer). Aside from the obvious modification of removing the roof, the customizers have smoothed out the side body panels, removing the rather unattractive plastic cladding fitted to TrailBlazers of that era, and a new set of bling-tastic wheels have been added. The one big red flag, though, is that there's no folding convertible top, or even removable cover, but we're sure the aftermarket world could remedy that problem for a fee.

Have a look through the gallery below to see this one-off gem for yourself. Interested in buying? Click over to Motorz TV to get the full details. Now, if only this were an SS...

Gallery: Chevrolet TrailBlazer Convertible

[Source: Motorz TV]

You Thought Structural Rigidity Was An Issue Before: Seven-seat Chevy TrailBlazer cabrio originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3rd Annual Los Angeles Concours

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above image for huge high-res gallery of pics from the LA Concours

The 3rd Annual Los Angeles Concours d'Elegance took place on Sunday, June 1, once again bringing classic cars and exotics together in the shadow of the Rose Bowl. Held annually in Pasadena, California to benefit the Assistance League of Southern California, this young concours is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the better ones on the circuit. Not surprising considering the fact that there are tons of championship quality machines in the area, both from private collections and top-notch museums like the Nethercutt and Petersen. Close to 300 cars were displayed in 40 categories ranging from horseless carriages to 1990 and newer Ferraris. Along with thousands of spectators, we were on hand with cameras clickin', capturing some of the day for all of you who couldn't be there.

Click through the gallery and you will see Porsche 356es, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Mercedes, Triumphs, MGs, vintage race cars, Rolls-Royces, muscle cars, Alfas, Lancias, Packards, Fords, Cadillacs, go-karts, Cobras and Jaguars. There was also an assortment of cars most of us have never heard of like the EMF, Amilcar, Autocar, Kissel, Margrette, and Tahis. Personal favorites included the 1953 Rita Hayworth Cadillac Ghia Coupe, 1925 Amilcar boattail, 1937 Talbot-Lago, Ferrari Lusso and Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato. Check out the gallery to pick out your favorites as well.

Gallery: 3rd Annual Los Angeles Concours

3rd Annual Los Angeles Concours originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda's Rose Parade float a transformer

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Honda

click above image to view more high-res res pics of the Honda float

And you thought you were going to have to wait until next summer for the Transformers sequel. Well, thanks to Honda, you only have to wait until the Rose Bowl Parade to see shape-shifting-mechanical-flying things. Honda, long a sponsor of the parade, will be entering a float called "Passport to the Future." The trick: it turns from float into flying machine.

A huge, flower-covered Honda Ridgeline-type truck will sit atop a bed of multi-colored flowers. At the appointed time, the engine bay will turn into a cockpit, the sides will become wings, jet engines will emerge from the bed, and it will tuck its wheels and take flight in a cloud of steam. At the wheel will be a replica of Honda's personal robot, ASIMO.

Steve Morikawa, assistant VP of American Honda, said the company "is committed to creating products that give people mobility -- on both two and four wheels, and soon, in the skies. This year's float takes a fun and imaginative look at what the future of mobility might hold." If that means robots flying floral Ridgelines, it's going to be an exciting future indeed.

Thanks for the tip, Jonathan!

[Source: Street Import Online]

Gallery: Honda Rose Bowl float

Honda's Rose Parade float a transformer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Dec 2007 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EC vs WC: 2007 Los Angeles Concours d'Elegance

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:06:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Aston Martin, Bentley, Cadillac, Ford, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

click above for a HUGE gallery of concours entrants

For the second year in a row, the Assistance League of Southern California (ALSC) presented a pretty exceptional Concours d'Elegance for the greater Los Angeles area right in the shadow of the historic Rose Bowl. While Greenwich needed two days to present all of its automotive gems, LA managed to pack its 300 or so cars onto a golf course adjacent to the Bowl and made it a one day affair. Last year's featured marque, Ferrari, was again well-represented with an alloy 275 GTB/4, a trio of 330 GTCs, Dinos, Daytonas, a Lusso, Boxer, 308, and a familiar 375 MM to name a few. Rolls and Bentley had a strong showing that included a jaw-dropping custom Hobbit-door Roller that is owned by the nearby Petersen Museum.

Sports and GT cars from Porsche, Jaguar, Lotus, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Morgan, Austin Healey, Jenson, Facel, Mercedes, Renault, Lancia, Fiat, Maserati, AC, and Lamborghini lined the fairways and greens. There were plenty of Woodies and other American and European classics from the '40s, '50s and '60s with their full figures and exaggerated fins. Even a few dream cars from Desoto and Hudson showed up. American muscle also had a decent turnout that included the mandatory Corvettes and Mustangs, as well as an AMX, Chevelle, and whole flock of Cobras among others. A stellar display of race cars really makes this show a standout. A fleet of go-karts, tons of midgets and sprint cars, an LSR motorcycle, Keke Rosberg's F1 car, a March GTP car, a Trans-Am Benz, and something from just about every other form of racing was on display.

But the concours circuit really thrives on the classic and vintage cars. Packards, Delahayes, Bentleys, Duesenbergs, Cadillacs, Lincolns, Model Ts, Auburns and the like were particularly well-represented with examples plucked from some local private collections and museums, many of which have appeared at Pebble Beach over the years. Although not quite on par (despite the golf course setting) with top-tier shows like Pebble, Meadowbrook and Amelia Island, for such a young show, the cars and people they have managed to attract are first-rate. The show's official site is available by clicking here.

Gallery: 2007 LA Concours d'Elegance

EC vs WC: 2007 Los Angeles Concours d'Elegance originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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