Autoblog

While he's shown a certain flair for historical pieces, we sincerely doubt that Clint Eastwood would forego his formidable film-crafting talent to make a documentary about a mid 1970's Ford that can be had for a dollar per pound. Details are scant, but Warner Brothers has targeted December 2008 as a release date for Gran Torino, which Eastwood both stars in and directs. Eastwood is no stranger to the big Ford - he drove a '72 in Magnum Force, the sequel to Dirty Harry, in which he wheeled a '68 Ford Custom. Despite the title we tend to doubt the movie will be terribly car-centric - who'd want to watch that?

[Source: Variety via Inside Line]

Back in September, BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer announced an ambitious plan to increase production to 1.8 million vehicles by 2012 and to 2 million units by 2020. To reach those goals, BMW is planning several new niche models, including what it referred to as a "Progressive Activity Sedan". But while little in the way of details for the PAS were revealed at the time, a video has surfaced revealing a test mule for the car, which will be based on the next 5-Series with a fastback body-style.

The PAS is anticipated to slot between the 5-Series sedan and 5-Series wagon, with five seats and a hatchback rear end. Currently undergoing testing, the PAS is expected to go into production in 2009 or 2010 after an unveiling as a concept either at the Paris show later this year or in Detroit a year from now. Check out the video after the jump.

[Source: Autocar via Carscoop]

Judging from how a generation of thirty-somethings have images of a flying, fusion-powered DeLorean imprinted in their DNA, we'd say that Back To The Future has left its mark. Likewise, Highland Green '68 Mustang fastbacks only look appropriate wearing American Racing Torq-Thrust Ds and flying through the air. Bullitt might not have quite as broad an influence since it wasn't a comedy, but it's touched at least two generations of car nuts and sparked two commemorative edition cars. Because of the cultural significance of these films, they've been named to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for preservation in perpetuity.

BTTF and Bullitt are but two of a total of 25 great films that the National Film Preservation Board and the Librarian of Congress have chosen as "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant." The list this year includes greats from a variety of genres, though it's still a little strange to think of Marty McFly's character being as deep as Humphrey Bogart's lead in fellow nominee "In a Lonely Place." Bullitt's 11-minute car chase was certainly the most talked about aspect of the film, but the tense cop drama was also well acted and has a superb score. Back To The Future's special effects really pushed the envelope, while the underlying story proved portable through two sequels sharing the same basic plot. It's quite a gift to car guys and children of the '80s who've wanted to have a badass green Mustang and a sleek (if not fast) DeLorean parked next to each other in the garage to see these two films topping the list, but the 23 other films named to the register are just as worthwhile. Our Saturday nights will be wrapped up for a while working through the movies named. We'll start with Bullitt, though.

[Source: Library of Congress]

While we get all revved up over the revival of Speed Racer in film form, our funny friends in France are gearing up for the remake of their own children's classic, Asterix. The new film, which opens in French theaters next month, is slated to feature cameos by a number of sports figures, including Ferrari stars Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt.

Set in the ancient Roman era, Asterix is a classic series of French children's comic books which has been translated into dozens of languages around the world. The film which, like Speed Racer, is shot with live actors (rather than animated like the original), is called Asterix aux jeux olympiques ("Asterix at the Olympic Games"). Schumacher appears in a seven-minute segment in the movie as a chariot racer called – you guessed it – Schumix, while Todt gives orders from the pit wall...dressed in red, of course. (Hopefully the German authorities won't give Michael a hard time about driving the chariot this time.)

In addition to the Ferrari champions, several other European sports celebrities make cameos in the movie as well, including French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo, retired French soccer player Zinedine Zidane (of World Cup head-butting infamy) and British footballer David Beckham. This is, of course, the second such cameo Schumacher has made, after his appearance in Disney/Pixar's Cars.

[Source: F1-Live]

Back in June, we brought you news that Toyota was in the process of suing a pornography firm for copyright infringement. Apparently the Japanese automaker didn't appreciate that adult film star Lexus Cash was using its luxury division's handle as her stage name and for her website. Evidently unwilling to stop its litigation campaign, Toyota is now turning its lawyers loose on a gay porn actor who also uses the name Lexus.

According to latest reports, the Japanese automaker's lawyers in DC sent a cease-and-desist letter to EBoys Studios in Switzerland. The EBoys honcho insists that his performer chose the name because of its association with Greek mythology, and not with the automotive brand, and that the company will not cave to the carmaker's demands to recall the two flicks it has produced with the actor using that name.

This has to be the funniest bit of news surrounding Lexus since that peacock had its way with one of their exhaust pipes.

[Source: Inside Line]

Do you like outtake reels? Who doesn't! Do you like Top Gear? Well, if you're the kind of person who reads Autoblog, then chances are you do. In that case, have we got the video for you!

After the jump you'll find six minutes' worth of your favorite telemotive personalities (that's right, we just made up a word) fumbling over their lines, making each other laugh and cursing like longshoremen. Oh yeah, and plenty of breasts, 'cause what would a British men's "programme" be without that? Follow the jump to check out the Top Gear Boobers Bloopers video.

NSFW: If you work in a puritanical office environment, well... sorry for you, but you might want to wait 'till you get home to watch the video on account of the cleavage and bleeped-out naughty words.

[Source: German Car Scene]

Here's what you're doing tonight. You're going to your local big box retailer and walking out with a copy of Michael Bay's CG-extravaganza that was one of last summer's coolest ways to waste a couple hours: Transformers. We've all been inundated by the ad blitz, and now the DVD and HD-DVD are in stores now, still warm and offgassing from the pressing plant. You should do your homework to make sure you get the exclusive edition you want, though. Target's got the coolest, a DVD case that actually transforms into Optimus Prime, but Wal-Mart's got the prequel bundled with the film. If you're really hardcore and you need to have both, you'll end up with two copies of the feature. Or you could just go to Best Buy and get the two action figures and be done with it.

If you're in the Hollywood area, you can actually hang out with Bumblebee as he stands guard over the West Hollywood Gateway shopping center. It's an actual prop from the movie, and we think it's a brilliant idea to send Autobots out to promote their own DVD. After all, the life of unemployed Transformer can be tough (see video after the jump). The Hollywood Bumblebee is huge, you'd need Ironhide to tow it around, but you can also enter to win a Bumblebee Camaro when the model goes live in 2009.

[Source: Cinematical, Slashfilm, FilmSchoolRejects]

Because the first three were such highly regarded cinematic art, The Fast and The Furious franchise may expand to a fourth waste of film movie. Currently, the project is in development by Universal, and nothing for production is nailed down. Rumors will suffice in lieu of real facts, though.

The conjecture machine has characters from the first three movies coming together for another installment of vehicular hijinks. This time, the action will be set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cars will be a mix of old and new, such as a return to the 1970 Dodge Charger used in the original movie, as well as a new Camaro, a South-American Chevrolet Opala, and a Buick GNX may even make an appearance. We can hardly wait, even though we were so rapt watching "Tokyo Drift" that we can't imagine topping that particular masterpiece.

[Source: Inside Line]

Time to stretch your legs! Head to the snack bar and get something to munch on. Suggestions pop up on the screen in case you need some inspiration. The concessions are multitudinous, from sweet candy bars to crispy fish sandwiches (don't they look scrumptious?), you can push your cholesterol way into bad numbers for just a few bucks. If the first horror show got you all wound up, there's even a smorgasbord of cigarette selections to soothe your frayed nerves, just in time to run back before The Terror starts!

Missed Part 1? See it here.

Doesn't it always look so convincing? Star lead actor is frantically sawing at the wheel, and when it cuts back to the wide, damn if that wasn't a perfectly clipped apex, with a tinge of four wheel drift counteracted by just the right amount of opposite lock. Even Steve McQueen couldn't pull it off for Bullitt. The real story behind all those inspiring scenes of cars whipping hither and yon is that they're piloted by stunt drivers who have one of the best car guy jobs ever.

There's a nice little sequel to a sequel quietly making its way to theaters, perhaps you've heard of the Bourne Ultimatum? Besides offering a cinematic venue for Matt Damon to further cement his status as a cross between James Bond and John McClane, its serving as a nice little advertisement for Volkswagen's second generation Touareg. Several of the vehicles were given the General Lee treatment (i.e. a couple were kept nice, a whole bunch were thrashed and trashed) during the 140 days of production. Even the stunt drivers were impressed at how the Touaregs just hunkered down and took whatever abuse they were thrown. To get all those bitchin' shots requires maneuvers that'd make you screw up your face in horror. We're talking about things you wouldn't even do to a rented car.

[Source: Telegraph.co.uk]