Autoblog

Watch this doggone hilarious VW Golf ad

Zach Bowman — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Humor

We've had some pets with some pretty strange proclivities. There was the long-haired dachshund that preferred climbing trees and riding skateboards to chasing cars, the doberman with a penchant for Krystal hamburgers and the border collie that loved herding cats more than chasing them, but we've never seen anything quite like the pup in the video below. The latest ad for the new Volkswagen Golf in the Netherlands features a one very confused little dog as it harries its owner over the course of a normal day.

From strange behaviors to an unusual series of barks, it would seem this particular dog was raised in the garage. You can take a closer look at the video below to see just what we mean. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to go train our cats for a new range of tricks.

Continue reading Watch this doggone hilarious VW Golf ad

Watch this doggone hilarious VW Golf ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Zealand SPCA teaches rescue dogs how to drive a Mini

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Crossover, Mini, Humor

No, this isn't an April Fool's joke or some sort of wacky car commercial. It's the SPCA Auckland (located in New Zealand) coming up with an innovative way of proving that it's possible to teach a rescue animal new tricks. Monty, Porter and Ginny are all dogs rescued by the SPCA Auckland, and each was taught the ability to drive a Mini Countryman around a track.

After being strapped into the driver's seat, the dogs are able to use their paws to start the car, steer it and work the gas and brake, which have been modified similar to a car setup for a special-needs driver. These dogs aren't being trained to drive on the street as any sort of driving-eye dogs, rather it is just a demonstration of how smart and docile rescue dogs can be regardless of how they ended up there. Porter was found wandering the streets, Ginny was abused by her owners and seized by the SPCA and Monty was surrendered by his owners to the rescue. Ironically, Porter and Ginny initially got carsick during the exercises, but have since gotten over this.

Think it's a joke? Scroll down to watch four videos showing the dogs in action and another to see what mods were made to get the Mini ready for canine duty. In the first video, you can also see that Porter does a better parking job than most humans!

Continue reading New Zealand SPCA teaches rescue dogs how to drive a Mini

New Zealand SPCA teaches rescue dogs how to drive a Mini originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VW Jetta ad suggests keyless entry is not always convenient

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Volkswagen

"My dog ate my homework." That excuse might not have worked in grade school, and as Volkswagen proves in its latest ad for the Jetta sedan, telling your boss "my dog ate my keys" is no excuse for being late to work, either.

In this clever new 30-second commercial, a frantic Jetta owner struggles to find his keys before realizing that man's best friend has, in fact, digested them. No problem, though - with keyless entry, the fob only needs to be within a certain proximity of the vehicle to do everything from locking and unlocking the doors to rolling up the windows and closing the sunroof. It's a clever ad (bonus points for the Johnny Cash "Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog" soundtrack), and all we can say is, let's hope that fob can withstand a good washing after it, um, presents itself again.

Scroll down to see the VW spot in its entirety.

Continue reading VW Jetta ad suggests keyless entry is not always convenient

VW Jetta ad suggests keyless entry is not always convenient originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Dog rescued from inside car grille after highway hit

Zach Bowman — Thu, 27 May 2010 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, South America

One lucky pup - Click above to watch video after the jump

If you live in a rural area, odds are you've had that heart-sinking feeling that comes along with hitting an animal with your car. Be it a squirrel, opossum, snake or skunk, no one likes killing another being while driving, an it's made a million times worse by smacking someone's pet. A Chilean driver was recently busting down the local highway when a dog ran out in front of his car. After hearing the thud, the driver apparently realized that the chances of survival were pretty slim and took his ride to a local body shop to survey the damage.

Believe it or not, the technicians found one very scared, slightly roughed-up pup nestled behind the broken front fascia. Workers then set about removing the necessary bodywork to get the dog out and to a vet. So far, there's no word on how the dog's doing or if the owner was located, but we're hoping for the best. Hop the jump to see a remarkable video of the pup getting extricated from the grille of the car.

[Source: YouTube via Carscoop]

Continue reading Video: Dog rescued from inside car grille after highway hit

Video: Dog rescued from inside car grille after highway hit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments