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[Comic-Con 2009: The Green Hornet's Black Beauty looks ready to roll]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/25/comic-con-2009-the-green-hornets-black-beauty-looks-ready-to-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/25/comic-con-2009-the-green-hornets-black-beauty-looks-ready-to-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/25/comic-con-2009-the-green-hornets-black-beauty-looks-ready-to-r/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The Green Hornet's Black Beauty - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Frankly, we're a little concerned about whether funnyman Seth Rogen will be able to pull off the action-star thing when he takes the lead role in next year's big-screen adaptation of The Green Hornet . Then again, we remember thinking Michael Keaton would utterly tank as Batman in 1989, but that experiment in casting against type wound up working extremely well, so we'll sit back and hope for the best. As with Tim Burton's Batman, a car will feature prominently in The Green Hornet, and in this regard, things are looking very good indeed.

As reported earlier this week, Comic-Con served as the backdrop for the unveiling of the film's Black Beauty -- the Hornet's signature ride -- and now we have a new set of photos from our resident camera Jedi, Drew Phillips. As with the original TV car, the silver screen variant appears to be based on a 1966 Imperial Crown 4-door hardtop (there's a distinct '65 flavor to those headlamp surrounds, however, so we might be wrong on that).

In addition to the grille- and bumper-mounted weapons and gadgets of the original, Rogen's Green Hornet will also have a pair of hood-mounted gatling guns at his disposal. Neat detail alert: check out the hornet center caps on the Beauty's Torq-Thrust-style wheels. Regardless of how the movie winds up being, one thing's indisputable: The Black Beauty is way badass. That Rogen and co. went with another Imperial in the 21st-century update is a testament to just how great-looking those old cars were... and still are.


Gallery: Comic-Con 2009: The Green Hornet's Black Beauty


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Comic-Con 2009: The Green Hornet's Black Beauty looks ready to roll originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009black beautyBlackBeautyComic-ConComic-Con 2009Comic-con2009featuredgreen hornetGreenHornetsan diegosan diego comic-conSanDiegoSanDiegoComic-conseth rogenSethRogenthe green hornetTheGreenHornetSat, 25 Jul 2009 19:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Comic-Con 2009: The Batpod makes a field trip]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/25/comic-con-2009-the-batpod-makes-a-field-trip/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/25/comic-con-2009-the-batpod-makes-a-field-trip/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/25/comic-con-2009-the-batpod-makes-a-field-trip/#commentsFiled under: ,


The Batpod at Comic-Con 2009 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The San-Diego Comic Con is now in full swing, and amidst all the panels and personal appearances, there's no shortage of static displays to check out either. Our man Drew Phillips strolled through the halls to see what's what and sent back some photos of the wheeled attractions dotting the floor. First up? The Batpod, natch. As you can see, The Dark Knight's ride is roped off to keep it protected from the rabble, but at the show's conclusion, we think its minder should put those cannons to good use by blasting a hole through the San Diego Convention Center's wall and riding out in style. And he ought to wear these, too.

Gallery: Comic-Con 2009: The Batpod


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Comic-Con 2009: The Batpod makes a field trip originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009batpodComic-ConComic-Con 2009Comic-con2009san diegosan diego comic-conSanDiegoSanDiegoComic-conSat, 25 Jul 2009 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog visits the San Diego Auto Museum, Part II - The Bikes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/31/autoblog-visits-the-san-diego-auto-museum-part-ii-the-bikes/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/31/autoblog-visits-the-san-diego-auto-museum-part-ii-the-bikes/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/31/autoblog-visits-the-san-diego-auto-museum-part-ii-the-bikes/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for more motorcycles from the San Diego Auto Museum

Today we continue our photographic tour of the San Diego Auto Museum. Despite the fact that the building is dedicated to four-wheelers, there are actually more motorcycles there than cars. That's alright with us, as the bikes on display are some of the coolest machines that history has to offer. Starting with some of the earliest cycles powered by rudimentary engines, it's easy to see just how far we've come in just about one-hundred years or so of mass production. Take a gander at some of the first motocross bikes, land speed record racers, rotary-powered cycles, modern choppers and scooters (including one from Harley-Davidson) in our gallery below. Our personal fave? That would be the 1951 Vincent Black Shadow.

Gallery: San Diego Auto Museum Motorcycles

Autoblog visits the San Diego Auto Museum, Part II - The Bikes originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click the 1948 Tucker above for more from the San Diego Auto Museum

While on a recent trip to San Diego to ride some dirtbikes, we decided to check out some the sights that the city had to offer. Of course, being the car-obsessed nerds individuals that we are, it didn't take too long for us to end up at the San Diego Automobile Museum. Tomorrow, we'll bring you the best of what we saw on two wheels, but today is devoted to the cars. From some of the earliest four-wheelers (and three-wheelers) right on through to some Italian exotics from the '60s, '70s and '90s, there was plenty there to keep our interest. Our favorite has to be the rear-engined Tucker from 1948 -- very cool. We've assembled a gallery of pics below and have captioned them where appropriate. Enjoy!

Gallery: San Diego Auto Museum Cars

Autoblog visits the San Diego Auto Museum, Part I - The Cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic car picturesclassic carsClassicCarPicturesClassicCarssan diegosan diego auto museumSanDiegoSanDiegoAutoMuseumtuckertucker carTuckerCarSat, 30 Aug 2008 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Who's your caddy? Buick offering Tiger Woods for a day]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/whos-your-caddy-buick-offering-tiger-woods-for-a-day/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/whos-your-caddy-buick-offering-tiger-woods-for-a-day/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/whos-your-caddy-buick-offering-tiger-woods-for-a-day/#commentsFiled under: ,

Our favorite 32-year-old Buick ambassador, Tiger Woods, wants to carry your clubs. That's right, the world's greatest golfer wants to be your caddy. The humbling act is all part of Buick's new "Tee-Off with Tiger" online contest kicking off today.

Each time Woods plays a PGA tournament, entrants will attempt to guess his score for each of four 18-hole rounds. The person who guesses closest will win his actual tournament Buick (it will be slightly used, as Tiger will have put a few miles on it between the hotel and the greens - let's just hope his cleats were clean) for that event. At the end of the season, the top 10 closest entrants from each tournament will be placed in a pool, and a single winner will be chosen for the Grand Prize. The lucky individual, and a companion, will enjoy coach class airfare to La Jolla, California to play at Torrey Pines where Woods will serve as a personal caddy for nine holes.

You have to be 18 years of age and hold a valid driver's license to enter, though you need not possess any golf skills. Says Tiger, "I'm looking forward to sharing some golf tips, maybe a few jokes and certainly a lot of laughs." Nevertheless, we're sure by day's end the greatest golfer of all time (yeah, we said it) will tire of hearing the word "mulligan" and watching plumes of sand erupt from the traps.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Who's your caddy? Buick offering Tiger Woods for a day

Who's your caddy? Buick offering Tiger Woods for a day originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BuickGolfLa JollaLaJollaSan DiegoSanDiegotee-off with tigerTee-offWithTigerTiger Woodstiger woods buickTigerWoodsTigerWoodsBuickTorrey PinesTorreyPinesTournamentMon, 10 Mar 2008 15:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan cutting back North American design team]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/21/nissan-cutting-back-north-american-design-team/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/21/nissan-cutting-back-north-american-design-team/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/21/nissan-cutting-back-north-american-design-team/#commentsFiled under: ,

It was late 2005 when Nissan announced it was packing up operations in Southern California and moving to Tennessee. If you didn't choose to move east of the Mississippi, and many didn't, you were looking elsewhere for a new job. Some of the lucky few who dodged the axe worked for Nissan Design America, the North American design team split between sites in Farmington Hills, MI and San Diego, CA. Now, it seems those workers may have lost their immunity, too.

Citing streamlining in the automotive design process, Nissan execs are saying they just don't need the size staff they required in the past. Where it used to take four years to design a new model, now it just takes half as long and a smaller group of employees can readily manage the shorter design cycle. If there is a bright side to this news, it is that the layoff is quite small for the automobile industry--less than one dozen employees are expected to take the voluntary severance package.

[Source: Detroit News]

Nissan cutting back North American design team originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Design AmericaDesignAmericaFarmington HillsFarmingtonHillsLayoffNissannissan layoffsNissanLayoffsSan DiegoSanDiegoThu, 21 Feb 2008 07:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Transporter full of VWs drives into San Diego Bay]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/31/transporter-full-of-vws-drives-into-san-diego-bay/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/31/transporter-full-of-vws-drives-into-san-diego-bay/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/31/transporter-full-of-vws-drives-into-san-diego-bay/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Volkswagen doesn't make amphibious cars, but it may want to consider them in the future. On Saturday, a trucker hauling a load of new VWs from San Diego to Los Angeles drove off a pier and into the ocean.

Local authorities say the driver apparently "suffered from some kind of medical emergency", causing him to black out and lose control of the truck. The cab careened into the San Diego Bay at a National City marine terminal, plunging into the water. The trailer stayed on the pier, but three cars fell into the bay.

The teamster regained consciousness underwater, escaped from the tractor and swam some 13 feet to the surface where he was evacuated in reportedly good condition to a local hospital.

[Source: 10News.com via All Cars, All the Time]

Transporter full of VWs drives into San Diego Bay originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bayharborharbourpiersan diegoSanDiegotruckunderwatervolkswagenMon, 31 Dec 2007 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford aids California wildfire recovery effort (GM, Toyota, Honda and Chrysler too)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/ford-aids-california-wildfire-recovery-effort-gm-too/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/ford-aids-california-wildfire-recovery-effort-gm-too/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/ford-aids-california-wildfire-recovery-effort-gm-too/#commentsFiled under:


Ford maintains a large operation in Irvine, California, which happens to be an area greatly affected by the recent Southern California wildfires. While Ford's facilities are out of danger, many Southern Californians have lost their homes and are in need of assistance. Ford has sprung into action with a relief effort, much like automakers did immediately following the disaster that was Hurricane Katrina. The Blue Oval is donating 11 F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks and nine Expeditions to the fire and rescue departments within the ravaged areas. In addition, the automaker is also contributing $100,000 to the San Diego Red Cross. Employees of the company are being encouraged to volunteer their time to the relief cause, as many of them no doubt have friends and family whose lives are now permanently affected by the wildfires. Finally, those Ford owners who need time to recover from the disaster can also defer up to two vehicle payments. Follow the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Ford]

UPDATE: General Motors has also pitched in to help the relief effort. Here's what GM has offered.
  • $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross (ARC)
  • The ARC already operates a fleet of donated HUMMER H3s
  • Matching employee donations to the ARC through Nov. 30
  • Free Crisis Assist service for OnStar subscribers in designated areas
  • GM Goodwrench will replace air filters free of charge in designated areas
  • Work with customers on case-by-case basis concerning vehicle payments
UPDATE 2: Toyota has announced that it's donating $2 million to the American Red Cross, one of the largest donations the ARC has received thus far for the wildfire relief effort.

UPDATE 3: Honda has announced that it's donating $250,000 to the American Red Cross, as well as assessing the need for donating additional vehicles, Honda generators and other supplies.

UPDATE 4: Chrysler LLC and Chrysler Financial have announced that they're donating $100,000 each to the wildfire relief effort for supplies that will be distributed by the Rescue Task Force.

Continue reading Ford aids California wildfire recovery effort (GM, Toyota, Honda and Chrysler too)

Ford aids California wildfire recovery effort (GM, Toyota, Honda and Chrysler too) originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CaliforniaFordRed CrossRedCrossSan DiegoSanDiegoWildfireFri, 26 Oct 2007 10:58:00 EST<![CDATA[The 9th Coronado Classic Speed Festival]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/09/the-9th-coronado-classic-speed-festival/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/09/the-9th-coronado-classic-speed-festival/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/09/the-9th-coronado-classic-speed-festival/#commentsFiled under: ,




The Coronado Classic Speed Festival was held in San Diego this weekend and we had people on hand to cover it for you. Part of the General Racing Ltd. historic racing series, it featured over 200 of history's top racecars. All racing within a few feet of the thrilled fans. This type of racing is so incredibly fun. Seeing some of the greatest vehicular icons in motorsports being driven the way they were intended to be instead of in a static display at some concours or museum. And that's what vintage racing is all about. The series comprises The Wine Country Classic in Sonoma, the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca, the Rolex Vintage Festival at Lime Rock, and this weekend's finale in Coronado. The emphasis in this series is on period correctness rather than outright speed, so the cars are pretty much the way they would have been in their prime. Twenty regular classes and the occasional Trans-Am, Can-Am or F1 race for good measure.

This was the 9th Speed Fest held on the same temporary 1.6 mile road course that uses the runways and taxiways of NAS North Island with Navy aircraft and ships in the background. Makes it easy to see the whole track and those backdrops are perhaps even more spectacular than the cars themselves. The vintage racecars in this series are chosen to compete on the basis of their historical significance and certified authenticity. So every one of the cars is period correct. In addition to the racing action this weekend, spectators could tour Vendor Village, the Meguiar's Car Club Corral and the New Car Dealers Association Classic Car Collection. A new feature, the SRT division of Chrysler was added as a major sponsor this year, and hosted the First Annual Speed Fest Car Show to benefit the Navy's Moral Welfare Recreation. More great action shots after the jump. Photos courtesy of Drew Phillips at Fast-Autos.net.

Continue reading The 9th Coronado Classic Speed Festival

The 9th Coronado Classic Speed Festival originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Oct 2006 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Can-AmChryslerF1General Racing LtdGeneralRacingLtdLaguna SecaLagunaSecaLime RockLimeRockMonterey HistoricsMontereyHistoricsMoral Welfare RecreationMoralWelfareRecreationNavyRolex Vintage FestivalRolexVintageFestivalSan DiegoSanDiegoSonomaSRTThe Coronado Classic Speed FestivalThe Wine Country ClassicTheCoronadoClassicSpeedFestivalTheWineCountryClassicTrans-AmMon, 09 Oct 2006 09:07:00 EST