Autoblog

The Other Neff: AutoWeek writer escapes harm after rogue tire takes out her Fiesta

John Neff — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Safety, Hatchback, Ford

2010 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Much has been said about the new Fiesta that will soon anchor Ford's line up in the U.S. For all of the praise that its driving dynamics and killer sense of style have earned, we still don't know how safe it is in an accident. That's an important consideration for cars this small that may meet the business end of a Hummer grille one day. Well, one person knows how safe they are: AutoWeek Road Test Editor Natalie Neff (no relation, seriously, just a coinkydink).

Her metallic green Fiesta media vehicle was recently attacked by a tire that had removed itself from an Oldsmobile Cutlass in oncoming traffic. As the story goes, the rampaging radial crossed the highway median and bounced up 20 feet in the air before it landed on Neff's windshield as she emerged from an overpass going 75 mph. Thankfully she's okay, or rather, thanks to the Fiesta, she's okay.

The tire left a skid mark on the Fiesta's hood and proceeded to transfer its kinetic energy to the windshield and roof of the car. Much destruction resulted and Neff says that she's still flossing bits of tempered glass from her teeth, but the use of ultra-high-strength boron steel in the Fiesta withstood a safety test that goes far beyond what NHTSA and IIHS has in store for the European import.

Gallery: Ford Fiesta in NYC

[Source: AutoWeek]

The Other Neff: AutoWeek writer escapes harm after rogue tire takes out her Fiesta originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoWeek going bi-weekly, won't change name to AutoBiWeekly

John Neff — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Lifestyle

AutoWeek has announced that it's switching to a bi-weekly distribution schedule for its print magazine, which it claims in the press release after the jump will benefit readers. We think it will benefit AutoWeek in that the once-weekly rag will save a bunch on paper and distribution costs. In return for receiving half as many issues over the course of a year, AutoWeek promises to up its page count per issue and do more "comprehensive editorial features and vehicle reviews". This isn't the first time AutoWeek has changed its distribution schedule, either. It started in 1958 as a bi-monthly motorsport newsletter called Competition Press, and in the '60s added "AutoWeek" to the title and began publishing every seven days. If the economy gets even worse, maybe it'll switch back to bi-monthly, but chances are they'll still call it "AutoWeek".

[Source: International Business Times via TTAC, Photo by cindy47452 | CC2.0]

Continue reading AutoWeek going bi-weekly, won't change name to AutoBiWeekly

AutoWeek going bi-weekly, won't change name to AutoBiWeekly originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marketing 101: Make stuff up, make it visible - BMW's subtle 1-Series shilling

Dan Roth — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:47:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Marketing/Advertising, BMW

Marketing campaigns are always in search of a new hook, and BMW's gotten creative to help keep the 1-Series on boil. Readers of the March 24th edition of Autoweek were treated to a smattering of tiny-Roundel factoids at the bottom of the mag's pages. Some of them might be true, while others seem entirely made up. The hard facts are naturally spot-on, but subjective impressions like back seat comfort, desirability, and a link to the 2002 are all tenuous at best. The effort is charming in its cleverness, even if we're not entirely sold on the idea that we're going to regret it if we neglect to buy a 1-Series.

[Source: AutoInsane.com]

Marketing 101: Make stuff up, make it visible - BMW's subtle 1-Series shilling originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoWeek picks Best of Show and honors others from Detroit

Dan Roth — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Truck, Supercars, Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford

Here's a way to create content long after an auto show has ended, dream up a list of editorial favorite picks. Well, what the hell, we might as well be meta and report on the anti-news. Here we go blithely. AutoWeek handed out its Editors' Choice awards for the North American International Auto Show at its Design Forum on Wednesday. We can debate the relevance, but we'd rather just talk about the cars. The four vehicles that AutoWeek thought were the bee's knees are as follows:

Most Fun: Audi R8 V12 TDI
Best Concept: Cadillac CTS Coupe
Most Significant: 2009 Ford F150
Best of Show: 2009 Corvette ZR1

As Linda Richman would say: discuss.

[Source: AutoWeek]

AutoWeek picks Best of Show and honors others from Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoweek to host teen driving summit Aug. 28th

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:34:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, First Drive

After the success of the Autoweek's Teen Driving Report last year, the publication has decided to bring together groups of educators, advanced driving schools, legislators, parents and their kids for a day-long event on August 28th at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.

The Teen Driving Safety Summit will be split into two parts, with the morning session comprised of a series of seminars and lectures, while the afternoon will take attendees to the track, where they'll be coached by a team of professional drivers from the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Naturally, the goal is to increase awareness of the number one killer of teenagers, while equipping both new drivers and their parents with the skills needed to navigate the roads.

The full press release from Autoweek and Dodge is after the jump, and you can register for the event (and download Autoweek's Teen Driving Report) here.

[Source: Autoweek]

Continue reading Autoweek to host teen driving summit Aug. 28th

Autoweek to host teen driving summit Aug. 28th originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Embargo this! First Silverado test drive

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 10:13:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., GM, GMC

As we're sure you're well aware, automakers put press embargos on their latest and greatest, and if certain automotive news outlets break the street date, the fiery hand of Zeus bolts through the heavens and strikes the offending journalist dead.

But what if the vehicle in question is simultaneously on dealer lots and the date the embargo will be lifted is still a month away? If you're Autoweek's Bob Gritzinger, you mosey on down to your local GM dealer and take their newest truck offering for a spin. There's nothing wrong with that, right?

Hell no! But the article itself, humbly entitled, 'World Exclusive First Drive' (except for the guy that just bought one down the street) is much of the same information we've all read since the new Silverado and Sierra made their debut. Until a journo has a few good days with any vehicle, they aren't very well equipped to give it a thorough review and a quickie from a dealer just isn't gonna cut it.

Still, we salute Mr. Gritzinger's fortitude and wish him the best of luck when dealing with GM's PR team in the future.

[Source: Autoweek]

Embargo this! First Silverado test drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Nov 2006 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So who broke Honda's embargo?

John Neff — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 14:39:00 EST

Filed under: Honda

Though Honda did have an embargo on the release of the CR-V until September 1st, some have made the valid point that Motor Trend technically broke the embargo first when copies of its October 2006 issue featuring an article on the 2007 Honda CR-V hit mailboxes this past week. At that point, AutoWeek needed only to "bend the rules" in order to justify publishing photos and information on the web that had already reached the eyes of readers thanks to Motor Trend.

Motor Trend, however, didn't intentionally release its October issue early to get the scoop on the rest of us. The magazine likely has had Honda's press material in hand for weeks and weeks. It produced the October issue, which technically is supposed to be released on September 1st, and sent it out. Having worked for a print mag, I can tell you that once your issue has been sent out you have no control over when it arrives. Would Motor Trend have sent out its October issue early just to be the first with news of the new CR-V? Doubtful. We're sure the CR-V's nice and all, but it didn't even get a mention on MT's cover so why would the magazine advance its production schedule for it?

Also, MT didn't publish any material on the 2007 Acura MD-X, nor did any other outlet of which we're aware, yet AutoWeek published material on that vehicle, too. We're assuming that the MD-X was, indeed, part of Honda's embargo along with the new CR-V and Civic Si sedan. If so, while AutoWeek might be able to argue it wasn't the first (nor the third) to publish embargoed material on the new CR-V, it can't make the same argument for the new MDX. So what justification did AutoWeek have for breaking the embargo on the MD-X if it hadn't yet appeared anywhere else first?

Continue reading So who broke Honda's embargo?

So who broke Honda's embargo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Aug 2006 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2007 Acura MDX unveiled early, too

John Neff — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 03:39:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Honda

AutoWeek followed up its "unapproved" online debut of the 2007 Honda CR-V with the unveiling of the 2007 Acura MDX, as well. Heavily inspired by the MD-X Concept that was unveiled at the 2006 New York Auto Show, the new MD-X sports an all-new design that differs sharply from the well-received looks of the current model. The new design works well too, especially the bold front grille treatment and gently bulging fender flares. The new interior also has been completely overhauled to be more "driver-oriented". A new 3.7-liter V6 will be powering the MDX and produces 300 horsepower and 275 ft-lbs. of torque, about 40 hp and 25 ft-lbs. more than the motor it replaces. Sport, Technology and Entertainment packages will encompass all the options available for the MDX and include such items as active dampers, a DVD nav system and rear-seat entertainment system. Though pricing has yet to be confirmed, AutoWeek guesses it will range from $41,000 to $48,000.

(Interior pic after the jump)

[Source: AutoWeek]

Continue reading 2007 Acura MDX unveiled early, too

2007 Acura MDX unveiled early, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Aug 2006 03:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Premature release: 2007 Honda CR-V debuts a bit early

John Neff — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 01:31:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Honda

AutoWeek decided to pull back the curtain early on the 2007 Honda CR-V and publish pictures and details of the new CUV that the automaker had placed on embargo until September 1st. We've seen this happen so many times before, and not just by small blogs and websites who don't know any better, but by big media outlets like AutoWeek, that at this point we find it hard to believe they did it without permission directly from Honda. Automakers are getting more and more savvy about building buzz that it just wouldn't surprise us, that's all. We had a call into Honda this afternoon as well, and we weren't that surprised when no one called back.

Anyway, official shots of the CR-V had already been leaked onto the internet about five days ago, and undisguised spy shots have been floating around for even longer, so the new CR-V's skin is anything but surprising at this point. The gaping void below the front grille and the severely sloping outline of the rear side windows are still polarizing design elements whose acceptance will now be at the mercy of the market.

What we do know now that we didn't before is that the CR-V will have a base price of $21,400 when it goes on sale in October. Option up the CR-V with a satellite navigation system and 270-watt stereo and the sticker will approach $28,000. The sole powerplant remains Honda's 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder, albeit upgraded for 2007 to produce an additional 10 horsepower (now 166 horsepower/161 ft-lbs. of torque), and no manual will be offered this time around, just a five-speed automatic.

Though the CR-V's styling hasn't made the best first impression on us, we will say that Honda could be making a very shrewd move by not following the trend of dropping a powerful V6 into its tiniest of utes. The CR-V's 2.4-liter four will no doubt produce commendable gas mileage and operate at the typical level of Honda four-cylinder refinement. That combination could lead to big sales for the CR-V in these lean and green times.

(Interior shot can be found after the jump)

[Source: AutoWeek]

Continue reading Premature release: 2007 Honda CR-V debuts a bit early

Premature release: 2007 Honda CR-V debuts a bit early originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Aug 2006 01:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen's GX3 to be nixed because of legal concerns?

Stuart Waterman — Sun, 14 May 2006 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Government/Legal, Safety, Volkswagen

Sadly, Volkswagen looks ready to pull the plug on its GX3 project, which only weeks ago looked set to put the three-wheeled star of this year's L.A. Auto Show in U.S. showrooms by 2007. AutoWeek reports that concerns about U.S. liability laws have driven a stake through the heart of the project, which, although not officially dead, is at best on life-support.

Although the trike would have been classified as a motorcycle, with safety standards vastly different than an automobile's, it sounds like VW lawyers are concerned that the GX3 was just too car-like for (their) comfort.

We really can't blame VW, but we'd sure like to blame somebody... a few staffers are ready to hold a candlelight vigil in hopes that the German automaker will have a change of heart.

[Sources: AutoWeek; Volkswagen]

Volkswagen's GX3 to be nixed because of legal concerns? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 May 2006 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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