Autoblog

Goodyear unveils self-inflating tires for big trucks

Zach Bowman — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Safety, Technology, Work

Goodyear has developed a new self-inflating tire for commercial vehicles. The Air Maintenance Technology system uses an internal pressure regulator to determine when the tire is low. When pressure falls below a certain parameter, the regulator opens to allow air into a pumping tube. Here's the cool part: the tube runs around the circumference of the tire, and as tire rolls, it squeezes the tube, effectively forcing air into the tire through an inlet. Once the tire is properly inflated, the regulator closes off the pumping tube and the truck continues on its way without ever stopping or having to rely on an external compressor.

The benefits to an automatic inflation system are obvious. Vehicles with under-inflated tires use more fuel, have worse handling and chew through tread much quicker than their properly maintained counterparts.

Goodyear says implementing Air Maintenance Technology on commercial vehicles was particularly difficult due to the higher-than-normal pressures found on large truck tires. Most commercial vehicles run an average of 105 psi compared to the 32 psi of passenger cars. Check out the full press release below.

Continue reading Goodyear unveils self-inflating tires for big trucks

Goodyear unveils self-inflating tires for big trucks originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Sep 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodyear uses the old "surprise gymkhana road test with stunt driver" routine

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:44:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Humor

It's a familiar tactic: if you want a customer to know what a car can do, you've got to get them in it and take them for a ride. To truly impress a customer, though, you've got to take them, *ahem,* for a ride. It works so well that NASCAR driver Carl Edwards recently did it with Ford engineers in a Taurus SHO - the very sedan those engineers worked on.

So when Goodyear wanted to show off the finer attributes of its Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season tire, it grabbed Ben Conrad, director of Ken Block's last two Gymkhana videos, to choreograph some shenanigans. A Goodyear tire store in California was used as bait - an actor posed as a salesman who got his fellow store helper, professional stunt driver Danny Downey, to take customers for a little demo in a BMW.

We don't know what the conversion rate was, but there were probably a few tires sold that day. Have a look below to watch the videos.

Continue reading Goodyear uses the old "surprise gymkhana road test with stunt driver" routine

Goodyear uses the old "surprise gymkhana road test with stunt driver" routine originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM, Ford place in top 10 on 2012 Fortune 500 list

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, GM, Earnings/Financials

If you're a blue-blooded American capitalist, there's nothing better than leading your company to the top of the Fortune 500 - except for making billions of dollars in profits, that is. But thankfully those two objectives tend to go hand-in-hand, as proven by these two men.

Indeed, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson and Ford CEO Alan Mulally have plenty to smile about when looking at the 2012 Fortune 500 list, as their respective companies are pegged at fifth and ninth. While Ford's profit last year dwarfed GM's, according to the Fortune list, GM's revenue was greater than all but four other corporations: Exxon Mobil, Wal-Mart, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips.

The only other automotive firm to hit the top 100 was supplier Johnson Controls at 67, though plenty of other suppliers made the list, including Goodyear at 126 and Ford spin-off Visteon at 321.

GM, Ford place in top 10 on 2012 Fortune 500 list originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodyear develops new 'Spring Tire' for space exploration

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

Goodyear is getting closer to the next generation "tire" that could be used on wheeled rovers for space exploration. We highlight the word tire because those on the original lunar rover were made of piano wire with treads made of titanium cleats - no rubber, no air. A few years ago NASA began work on a new tire, the project another co-development with Goodyear, which made the originals.

The modern version is called the Spring Tire, so-called for the 800 load-bearing springs that make up its bulk, mounted to a six-spoke metal hub. The springs can conform to the varying terrain of other planets and satellites without transferring undue shock to the vehicle, and a malfunction is likely to damage only a few of them, leaving the tire operable.

See below for more info from Goodyear on the tire, and check it out in the gallery of high-res photos. When it's time for another group of astronauts to go "ridin' dirty," this is likely how they'll do it.

Continue reading Goodyear develops new 'Spring Tire' for space exploration

Goodyear develops new 'Spring Tire' for space exploration originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodyear recalls 41,000 tires for potential tread separation

Zach Bowman — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety

Goodyear is recalling 40,914 Wrangler Silent Armor tires manufactured in 2009. According to the manufacturer, the tread may separate from the rest of the tire under "severe conditions," which could lead to vehicle damage or an accident. The company says that it first recognized an issue with the light truck and SUV tires after an increase in warranty claims in 2010. In 2011, two people in a vehicle equipped with Silent Armor tires died in a rollover crash in Texas.

The company said the tire had sustained external damage prior to the incident, and in most cases of failure, the tires were either underinflated, overloaded or had suffered impact damage.

While 27,000 of the tires are believed to be still in service, Goodyear decided to move forward with a recall on February 16. Owners will be notified of the campaign by March 22, and the company will replace the tires free of charge. Check out the official recall information from NHTSA after the break.

Continue reading Goodyear recalls 41,000 tires for potential tread separation

Goodyear recalls 41,000 tires for potential tread separation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is this the most sexist ad of all time?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos

When there's a woman at the wheel...

Say what you will about political correctness, women's rights, stereotypes and preconceived ideas. None of that matters. What's really important are the tires you choose to mount on your car.

Not that Goodyear was the only company so long ago capitalizing on a man's desire to keep his woman safe, but we have to give the company's advertising agency credit for creating an almost Hitchcockian commercial where the cool platinum blonde is also the protagonist.

Pay special attention to the following: the only setting used in the video is the inside of a car; the tension created by frequently changing camera angles plus the increasing beat of the music and the darkness of the night compounding the act of driving. Impressive stuff, all wrapped up in one 54-second package.

No, she may not be Grace Kelly (but then again, who is?), but we're concerned about her safety all the same. Because she is a woman, and she is driving. Thankfully, her husband had the good sense to equip her car with Goodyear Polyglas tires - otherwise, she may have been in for some serious trouble. See for yourself in the video after the break.

Continue reading Is this the most sexist ad of all time?

Is this the most sexist ad of all time? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodyear "Spirit of Safety" blimp crash claims pilot's life in Germany [UPDATE]

Zach Bowman — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Goodyear Spirit of Safety - Click above to watch the video after the jump

The Goodyear blimp "Spirit of Safety" erupted into flames and crashed on Sunday, claiming the life of pilot Michael Nerandzic. According to reports, the vessel began emitting fuel fumes as it came in to land at the Reichelsheim aerodome outside of Friedberg, Germany. Nerandzic ordered his three passengers, all journalists, to jump from the blimp from a height of around six feet. With the weight of the passengers gone, the dirigible shot approximately 150 feet into the air before bursting into flames and crashing back down.

The ship was filled with non-flammable Helium, though photos and video of the incident show the gondola and engines aflame.

Goodyear leased "Spirit of Safety" from Lightship Europe for advertising purposes along with a second vessel, which has been grounded since the incident. In a statement, the tire manufacturer said that neither it nor Lightship Europe could comment on the possible causes of the accident at this time. Click past the jump to watch a report from Bild.de, one of the outlets aboard the vessel during the incident.

UPDATE: A representative from Goodyear contacted us with the following information: "This airship is not one of our 3 US ships and is a totally different kind of airship. It is owned and operated by Lightship Europe Limited. The airship was one of two chartered by Goodyear from LEL for marketing purposes in Europe."

Continue reading Goodyear "Spirit of Safety" blimp crash claims pilot's life in Germany [UPDATE]

Goodyear "Spirit of Safety" blimp crash claims pilot's life in Germany [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rubber shortage triggering costlier tires?

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials

According to the man who runs the world's largest producer of natural rubber, demand for the gummy stuff will exceed supply for "at least another two years." The drop in production is said to be due to both droughts and heavy rains, but the result for you is an increase in the price of tires: both Bridgestone and Goodyear have raised their prices already.

According to Bloomberg, there was a rubber surplus of 237,000 tons last year, whereas this year there is expected to be a shortage of 60,000 tons. The drop in supplies and inventory has raised the price of rubber, and as investors move to take advantage of the rise in the commodity price, rubber is being pushed to a near-record $4 per kilogram. Climate-hampered tapping seasons in places like Thailand, Indonesia and Russia mean that actual harvests haven't met predictions.

Bridgestone, Goodyear and Cooper Tire raised their prices once this year and have just announced they'll do it again in October. The uncertainty of the economic recovery over the next two quarters could keep more increases from coming soon after, but according to insiders and observers, there will be price pressures on rubber-based goods for some time.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Getty]

Rubber shortage triggering costlier tires? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodyear rolling out multicolor NASCAR tires to support our troops

Zach Bowman — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:39:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Racing

Goodyear Support Our Troop NASCAR tires - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's the Fourth of July weekend, kids. Emergency rooms all across the country are preparing for a myriad of alcohol, barbecue and fireworks related injuries, and coolers everywhere are stocked with the least expensive alcoholic beverages possible. Goodyear is jumping into the celebration by changing the sidewall design of its tires used in all three NASCAR series just for this weekend. A special message of support for our country's troops will join the standard Goodyear winged-foot logo. In addition to the red-white and blue slogan, the tire manufacturer will also donate $20,000 to a leading military support program.

The company also plans to auction off a set of the unique tires, complete with driver logos after the Coke Zero 400 this Saturday. The cash from the sale will be donated to Support Our Troops - a non-profit that focuses on raising morale of American soldiers and their families all around the world.

If you want one of the special tires, head over to Goodyear's website as soon as the race gets started on July 3. Bidding will begin when the green flag drops and will wrap up on July 17.

Gallery: Goodyear Support Our Troops NASCAR Tires

[Source: Goodyear]

Goodyear rolling out multicolor NASCAR tires to support our troops originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodyear posts loss, laying off 5,000 workers

Chris Shunk — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing

When car sales dip like they have over the past few months, in many cases suppliers feel the pinch even more than the automakers. That's the case at Goodyear, where production is down by 19% and losses are beginning to pile up. The tire giant lost $330 million in Q4 2008, compared to a $55M profit in Q4 2007.

To help adapt to challenging times, Goodyear is tasked with reducing its operating costs by $700 million in 2009, and part of that reduction will come from layoffs. 5,000 salaried and hourly workers will be laid off, or 6.7% of Goodyear's global workforce. The workforce reduction comes on the heels of the 4,000 jobs that were already slashed in 2008.

The automotive sales nosedive has accelerated over the past six to eight months, but Goodyear, like the domestic auto industry, has been cutting back for some time. The tire giant has reduced costs by $1.8 billion over the past three years through layoffs, production cuts, and plant closings. Goodyear plans to further cut production by 15,000 to 25,000 tires to better align production with demand.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Goodyear posts loss, laying off 5,000 workers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Goodyear Polyglas - Because so much chauvinism is riding on your tires

Noah Joseph — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:36:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Click above to jump to the 1970's video

Let's face it: Driving can be a scary ordeal. Particularly at night, in the city, with construction detours and spooky lights... when you're a Seventies housewife! At least, that's what Goodyear had to say in this commercial, aired during the first Monday Night Football game in 1970. What made sense nearly four decades ago is good for a laugh today, so make sure the missus is in the kitchen and that the boss lady ain't around before you hit the jump. Female readers may want to get a big ol' grain of salt ready, and remember: When a woman's at the wheel, Polyglas means more than mileage. Thanks for the tip, Robin!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Goodyear Polyglas - Because so much chauvinism is riding on your tires

VIDEO: Goodyear Polyglas - Because so much chauvinism is riding on your tires originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Above the Autoblog Garage: The Goodyear Blimp

Michael Harley — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage

Click above for a high-res gallery.

With excursions in light aircraft, aerobatic planes, commercial jets, and helicopters already under our belt, we jumped on Goodyear's invite to take a flight in one of its three blimps stationed (or should we say tethered) in North America. The world's largest tire company has been flying blimps for more than 80 years. Used as a stable camera platform, or simply for advertising, the giant silver balloons have safely carried countless passengers over the decades. Follow the jump to read Autoblog's first review from the gondola of a lighter-than-air dirigible.

Gallery: Goodyear Blimp

All photos copyright Michael Harley / Weblogs Inc.

Continue reading Above the Autoblog Garage: The Goodyear Blimp

Above the Autoblog Garage: The Goodyear Blimp originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look at those shoes: Goodyear picked for standard Flex fitment

Dan Roth — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Crossover, Ford

They're not very glamorous, but tires make or break our driving enjoyment. Ford wants to soothe drivers of its new Family Truckster Flex, so Goodyear's Assurance ComforTred tires have been specified as the original fitment for the big crossover. The Assurance ComforTred uses a special cushion layer to smooth out road imperfections, the last thing anyone wants with a Flex loaded for bear with the kids, the dog, and a fully stocked refrigerator. The Flex is obviously designed to devour large stretches of interstate without a whimper, and Goodyear seems to think their ComforTred tires share the same appetite for asphalt, backing them with an 80,000 mile warranty and calling the Assurance Goodyear's very best tires. To make the Flex a success, the entire program needs to encompass multiple "very bests;" here's hoping. Press release after the jump

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Ford Flex

[Source: Goodyear]

Continue reading Look at those shoes: Goodyear picked for standard Flex fitment

Look at those shoes: Goodyear picked for standard Flex fitment originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodyear responds to Tony Stewart tongue lashing

Merritt Johnson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Following this past weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup second place finish, Tony Stewart was not a happy camper. When interviewed after the race, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver sounded off on his great dislike for the series tire sponsor, Goodyear. Many other competitors, from the likes of Dale Earnhart Jr. to Jeff Gordon, also made comments on the difficult tire/track combination experienced during the race, but the hot-headed number 20 was the only one to forgo any sugar coating. He hinted that the tire manufacturer's departure from other prominent race series was a move resulting from incompetency. He claimed, "They (Goodyear) don't have the technology and the people that are smart enough to build a tire. This was pathetic today." He also threw out a comment on how he no longer felt safe in anything equipped with Goodyear tires, including street use. When all was said and done, Mr. Stewart delivered the sponsor a severe verbal beating.

On Monday, Goodyear issued a reply to the heated commentary with a rather text book response. It contended that the company's exit from numerous race series was simply due to the high development costs necessary to compete, not technical inability as implied by Stewart. They also defended their choice of rubber compound by pointing out the lack of issues during numerous test events, along with the absence of complaints after the NASCAR Nationwide Series race. They even mentioned that despite driver grievances, in the eyes of Goodyear and NASCAR, the event was satisfactory. Although, as anyone that received a report card knows, satisfactory should not be the ultimate goal. Goodyear will get a second chance when the series returns to Atlanta in the fall. Hopefully Tony Stewart will have to eat his words once a more extensively tested tire compound is developed for the event.

[Source: Speed TV, Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty]

Goodyear responds to Tony Stewart tongue lashing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Out of This World: Goodyear and NASA collaborate on airless tire

Noah Joseph — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

click above image for more views of the NASA Chariot rover

Any good article about space exploration starts with "when I was a kid...". So, when I was a kid, my older brother was working on his college thesis. He cooperated with NASA on designing various devices for use in space, the basic premise being that few of the things we take for granted here on Earth would work in a zero-gravity environment. Everything needed for use in space needs to be redesigned.

Recently Goodyear and NASA announced a collaboration in developing a special non-pneumatic tire to be used by vehicles on the Moon, and potentially, on Mars, in support of a 2004 presidential mandate to further exploration on the celestial bodies. This isn't the first time Goodyear has collaborated with NASA to develop special moon-tires, having spent over ten years developing a piano-wire-mesh tire for the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle in the 1960s. However, the new Chariot vehicle (pictured above) is expected to support ten times more weight and travel 100 times longer than the Apollo, so Goodyear's Akron Technical Center and NASA's Glenn Research Center are developing a stronger version by testing and re-testing the Apollo's wheel and tire set-up to determine where they break down. Better here than out there, because as big a pain as it is to change a tire down here, imagine mounting a spare in space.

The researchers expect to demonstrate the Chariot, with its special tires, a year from now at the Johnson Space Center in Texas, after which, they say, the findings could be applied towards the development of new tires for use here on Earth.

[Source: Goodyear]

Gallery: NASA Chariot

Continue reading Out of This World: Goodyear and NASA collaborate on airless tire

Out of This World: Goodyear and NASA collaborate on airless tire originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodyear racing chief inducted into Hall of Fame

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

American motor racing icon Leo Mehl has been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which finally honors Mehl with due recognition for his contribution to motor racing in America and around the world.

Leo Mehl is known primarily for his role as head of Goodyear's competition activities. He joined Goodyear way back in 1959 and was directly responsible for the rubber company's success in open-wheel racing. He became head of Goodyear's F1 program in 1967 and stayed in that job all the way through 1996, covering nearly 30 years. Towards the end of his tenure at Goodyear, he was placed in charge of all of the company's racing activities worldwide. After that he left the tire business to become Tony George's right-hand-man, assuming the roles of executive director of the newly-formed Indy Racing League and vice-president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Mehl's induction is into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, located in Novi, Michigan - not to be confused with the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame (located in Comstock Park, Michigan) or the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (located in Talladega, Alabama).

Congrats, Leo!

[Source: GrandPrix.com]

Goodyear racing chief inducted into Hall of Fame originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dealership service doesn't seem so expensive anymore

Scott Davis — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 19:54:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Safety, Lotus

Poor guy. After wearing out the first set of Goodyear's on his beloved Elise (not hard to do. -Ed.), he figured where better to take it than a Goodyear dealer, right? Especially since his father-in-law had been the service manager there for 10+ years. What could possibly go wrong?

After reviewing the jacking procedures in the manual with the techs, they assured him the car was in good hands. He and his father-in-law left.

About an hour later, the owner got a phone call informing him that there had been an "accident" and he should come back to the store right away. The picture tells the rest.

Click the read link for the entire story in the owners words.

Thanks to Gil for the tip!

[Source: NASIOC.com]

Dealership service doesn't seem so expensive anymore originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Update on Goodyear Tire strike

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 08:53:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, GM

The latest news out of Detroit is that automakers might run into some tire shortages should the recent walkout by Goodyear workers continue for more than a few weeks. Adding to that problem was yesterday's news of an additional 300 hourly workers being laid off at a North Carolina plant, because of the strike. This plant was not one of those on strike, but they produce wire used in the manufacturing of tires at other affected plants. Goodyear plans to bring these workers back when the strikers return.

As we told you last week, 15,000 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. union workers went on strike after their contract was terminated. The strike has affected 16 North American plants, but Chrysler and GM have both said they had stockpiled a supply in anticipation of the strike. Non-union plants and salaried workers are being used to maintain at least some production. GM has said that it has a 30-day supply of tires on hand, but to put that in perspective, they go through 8 million Goodyear tires every year. Every North American automaker currently uses Goodyear tires.

No new talks are scheduled in this ongoing saga. Goodyear had proposed contract changes that would make the tire manufacturer more competitive by lowering its costs, particularly the costs related to maintaining such a large workforce. Recent notable sore spots like health care and pension funding were at the top of the list of proposed cuts. Worker productivity was sighted in the contract proposals, and the union countered that substantial cuts were already made to wages and other worker's benefits in 2003, and that further reductions were just plain unacceptable. We'll keep you updated on who blinks first.

[Sources: Reuters, Automotive News]

Update on Goodyear Tire strike originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drop that tire: Goodyear workers go on strike

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing

At 1 PM EST yesterday, the United Steelworkers union terminated its contract with Goodyear, causing 15,000 employees to walk off the job and subsequently shut down 16 plants in the U.S. and Canada. The strike came after negotiations between the two parties had stalled after several months of talks.

Goodyear's contract proposal aimed to make the tire manufacturer more competitive in the global marketplace by reducing the costs associated with maintaining a large workforce. Most of the proposed cuts were focused on health care and pension spending, with an emphasis on worker productivity.

The union cited that substantial cuts were made to wages and other worker's benefits in 2003, and that further reductions were unacceptable.

In the meantime, Goodyear has enacted a backup plan that will reduce the harmful effects of the strike on its customers.

[Source: CNN Money]

Drop that tire: Goodyear workers go on strike originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Oct 2006 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodyear launches the Spirit of Innovation

Erin Mays — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

Goodyear's newest blimp, the Spirit of Innovation, was christened Wednesday at Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake Airship hangar in Akron, Ohio. The aircraft, which had undergone testing for the past year only under its Federal Aviation Administration moniker N2A, was named the Spirit of Innovation by Akron-area chemistry teacher Matthew Harrelson, who won Goodyear's "Name the Blimp" contest that ran in April. Despite the fact that it was the first time that a Goodyear Blimp had been named by the public, the company received 21,000 nominations for the judges to sift through.

Here are three names that didn't make the cut:
Girth of a Nation
Blimposaurus
The Blimpernator

A previous blimp, the Spirit of Goodyear (we think), is pictured.

[Source: Goodyear via Autochannel]

Goodyear launches the Spirit of Innovation originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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