Autoblog

Place Your Bets: Dodge Challenger SRT8 takes on... an MD500 helicopter?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Dodge, Humor

Here at Autoblog, obsessively covering the automotive industry sometimes takes us places we'd never have expected. Today is one of those days.

In the video pasted below, you'll see a very nice Dodge Challenger SRT8 - modified in some way if the quoted 490 horsepower figure is accurate - lining itself up on a long, straight stretch of tarmac. Pulling up alongside... or rather, setting itself down, is a McDonnel Douglass MD500 helicopter. Yep, we said helicopter.

So, is this a fair race? We have no idea. For starters, there's no indication as to how long this runway may be, and we don't know the various skills of the pilot or driver. Do we care? No, not really. The race results in a fun video, which you can watch below, and we suggest you keep your eyes peeled all the way through for a little surprise.

Continue reading Place Your Bets: Dodge Challenger SRT8 takes on... an MD500 helicopter?

Place Your Bets: Dodge Challenger SRT8 takes on... an MD500 helicopter? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taco Bell airlifts food truck into remote Alaska town after hoax

Chris Tutor — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos

Pity tiny Bethel, Alaska. First, when they want to "Run for the Border," it's a four-hour trip from the west coast of the state to Anchorage (not by car!). And according to Google Maps, the only restaurants in the entire town are a Subway franchise and something called Sho Gun Restaurant. So when a rumor was started that Taco Bell was going to set up shop in their little town, serious excitement ensued. Then fliers were posted around town heralding the fast food restaurant's pending arrival.

But, again, pity poor Bethel. Because the rumor was nothing more than someone's elaborate, cruel joke. Taco Bell was not coming to Bethel. A population of 6,200 just isn't enough to attract the mexican fast food chain.

But then Taco Bell's creative marketing department decided to turn the hoax into a PR opportunity. Their plan? Taco truck. Loaded with enough fixins to make 10,000 Doritos Locos tacos. Flown in by helicopter.

The townspeople greet the "Operation Alaska" airlifted food truck as if it were U.N. peacekeepers delivering international aid to a war-torn forward area. Kids cheer, adults beam. Taco Bell, if only temporarily, changes life in Bethel.

"This is like Heaven on Earth," one kid says. It's all a little creepy. Watch Taco Bell's new Bethel-based ads below.

Continue reading Taco Bell airlifts food truck into remote Alaska town after hoax

Taco Bell airlifts food truck into remote Alaska town after hoax originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Helicopter crashes in Arizona while filming segment for Korean Top Gear

Chris Shunk — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Celebrities

The Top Gear production team from Korea averted a serious disaster after a helicopter used during filming crashed into the Arizona desert. Amazingly, both the pilot and the camera person escaped the incident relatively unharmed. CNN reports that the pair credit their survival to the thick exterior of the retired military chopper.

Hit the jump to watch the video of the actual crash. The footage only reveals the last few seconds before the impact, but the aftermath video shows a chopper that is wrecked nearly beyond recognition. We're amazed and thrilled that nobody was seriously injured.

Continue reading Helicopter crashes in Arizona while filming segment for Korean Top Gear

Helicopter crashes in Arizona while filming segment for Korean Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley soars over Munich with new Continental GT V8

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Bentley, Luxury

You'd think that lobbing four cylinders off a car's engine would have an adverse effect on its performance, right? But Bentley is out to show that its new Continental GT with the V8 engine can fly every bit as much as the W-12 model. And by fly, we do mean fly.

Not only is the updated 2013 twelve-cylinder model 55 pounds lighter than the one it replaces, but the eight-cylinder model is lighter still. That helps the V8 achieve 40-percent better fuel economy, while still delivering 500 horsepower - 131 hp shy of the W12 - for a 4.6-second sprint to 60.

To drive the point home, Bentley airlifted its new Continental GT V8 over Munich - the hometown of its parent company's arch-rival BMW - and placed it on a rooftop for all to see. If you missed the publicity stunt while driving home from the beer hall, you can scope it out in the video and press release after the jump and the high-res image gallery above.

Continue reading Bentley soars over Munich with new Continental GT V8

Bentley soars over Munich with new Continental GT V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Colin McRae found at fault in his own fatal helicopter crash

Zach Bowman — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Celebrities

A judicial inquiry has found Colin McCrae at fault for the helicopter crash that killed the rally driver, a friend and two children, including Colin's son Johnny McCrae, in 2007. According to The Guardian, McCrae wasn't properly licensed to fly the helicopter, and he had undertaken a number of dangerous maneuvers in the air before crashing into a wooden hillside. The inquiry evaluated evidence related to the crash, including video taken by 36-year-old Graeme Arthur Duncan shortly before the impact. The video showed McCrae buzzing farm buildings at an elevation of 275 feet before banking sharply.

From there, the helicopter descended into a wooden valley before crashing down. First responders said that the aircraft struck the ground with such force that it was impossible to tell what sort of accident had occurred without further investigation.

Despite the finding, the McCrae family say that Colin was a capable and experienced pilot, and that they will never truly know what caused the crash.

Colin McRae found at fault in his own fatal helicopter crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz outfits a luxury Eurocopter

Noah Joseph — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Design/Style, Luxury

Eurocopter EC145 by Mercedes-Benz Style - Click above for high-res image gallery

To many people around the world, Mercedes-Benz and its silver star of glory represents the epitome of luxury and style. Want to be chauffeured around in a limousine? An S-Class or a Maybach is what the doctor ordered. Need a bit more space? A luxed-out Sprinter van is at your service. But if you're looking to soar above the skyline and take that Benz luxury with you, the German automaker's design studio has partnered with Eurocopter for this unique whirly-bird.

Unveiled at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibit in Geneva, this EC145 - a favorite for luxury travel as it is for medevac teams and a myriad other applications - has had its cabin outfitted by the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio on Italy's Lake Como. There, design chief Gorden Wagener oversaw the fitment of the chopper's cabin with all the usual Benz touches, from ambient lighting to wood trim. The cabin has also been arranged in a flexible layout, with seats that can be moved around on rails to seat up to eight passengers or removed to offer extra space for the privileged few.

The project is the first initiative of Mercedes-Benz Style, the automaker's new product-design division, who we expect will be rolling out a number of licensed designs over the course of the coming years. Follow the jump for the full press release, and check out the high-resolution images in our gallery.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz outfits a luxury Eurocopter

Mercedes-Benz outfits a luxury Eurocopter originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Helicopter crashes on Pikes Peak while filming Audi commercial *UPDATE

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Audi, Volkswagen, Specialty

Audi Autonomous TTS Pikes Peak - Click above for high-res image gallery

A helicopter carrying four crew members filming a commercial for Volkswagen/Audi has crashed near the summit of the famed Pikes Peak Highway just west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County. The pilot is reportedly in critical condition, and three passengers are listed as stable.

Due to the location of the crash, a medical helicopter is unable to reach the victims, so crews are attempting to transfer the injured to nearby Crystal Creek Reservoir, which is the closest the medics were able to get. Hazmat crews have reportedly been dispatched to clean up a 150-gallon fuel spill from the crash.

According to KKTV in Southern Colorado, the crew was filming Audi's driverless car as it navigated to the summit of Pikes Peak. Click past the break for a couple videos of Shelley, Audi's autonomous TTS, in action. Thanks for the tip, Mason!

*Update: Audi's official statement on the incident is pasted after the break.

Gallery: Audi Autonomous TTS Pikes Peak

[Source: KKTV Colorado | Photos by jurvetson | CC2.0]

Continue reading Report: Helicopter crashes on Pikes Peak while filming Audi commercial *UPDATE

Report: Helicopter crashes on Pikes Peak while filming Audi commercial *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viper versus Cobra, Top Gear USA style [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:25:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Dodge

Cobra Vs. Dodge Viper - Click above to watch video after the jump

And by Cobra, we mean the attack helicopter, not the FoMoCo-powered roadster. Sightings of the new cast of Top Gear America have been coming out of the wood work ever since the crew was spotted filming on Mulholland. From what we can tell, Tanner Foust and Rutledge Wood hopped on down to Georgia to film a segment involving none other than the mighty Dodge Viper and the mightier Cobra Attack Helicopter. If that sounds like a brawnier interpretation of the same bit the OG Top Gear pulled with a Lotus just a few short years back, you'd be right. Somehow, that doesn't make it any less awesome.

Luckily for the rest of the interwebs, a member of MX5 Atlanta was on hand to catch some of the action. User d.dutton9512 was not only able to see the Viper give besting the Cobra the old college try, but he also got to catch some of the dialogue between Foust and Wood. His verdict? Not half bad.

While we would love to be hearing that TGA is laying down its own mind-bending stunts instead of pulling from the Top Gear UK playbook, we're still happy to see the show actually filming instead of languishing in an NBC grave somewhere. We'll still reserve final judgment until the show actually airs, but for now, we're optimistic. Hop the jump to see some of the videos for yourself.

[Source: MX5 Miata via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Viper versus Cobra, Top Gear USA style [w/video]

Viper versus Cobra, Top Gear USA style [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 May 2010 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog at the 7th Annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors show

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:26:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Work, Misc. Auto Shows, Police/Emergency, Military, Specialty

7th Annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors Expo - Click above for our huge image gallery

This past Sunday was the 7th Annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors Expo at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California, and after our experience there last year, we just had to go back for more. As you might guess from the title, this is more than just another hot rod gathering. Attendees get a chance to see mega horsepower air transport as well as earthbound movers and shakers. Even better, folks can actually get up close and personal with military vehicles, airplanes, jets and helicopters too. It's like an open house for the military, with a few hundred muscle cars thrown in for good measure. Hot rodders (and bikers) tend to be a fairly patriotic bunch, so the combination is a perfect match. Make the jump for our report from the ground.

Gallery: 7th Annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors Expo

Continue reading Autoblog at the 7th Annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors show

Autoblog at the 7th Annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors show originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Colin McRae dies with son in helicopter crash

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:11:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc.

The Times is reporting that former World Rally Champion Colin McRae has died after the helicopter he was piloting crashed into the ground near his home in Strathclyde. Also on board was his five year-old son, an unnamed adult male and child. According to reports, there were no survivors.

People close to McRae assert that he was as adept at piloting a helicopter as he was behind the wheel.

More is available from the Times Online here. We'll update this post as more information is available.

Thanks to all who tipped in.

UPDATE: More information here and here.

BREAKING: Colin McRae dies with son in helicopter crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the man who has everything: Dodge Viper with matching helicopter

Noah Joseph — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Dodge

There's no shortage of crossover between the aerospace and automobile industries, with carmakers regularly borrowing ideas from airplanes. Car manufacturers like BMW, Mitsubishi, Saab and Rolls Royce all have roots in building airplanes, but the Dodge Viper? Sure, Carroll Shelby, on whose Cobra the Viper was modeled, used to be a fighter pilot, as was Bob Lutz, but that's still a bit of a stretch. Aerospace retrofitters Northwest Helicopters took a shot at bridging (or at least flying over) the divide with a big ol' Huey painted to match the company owner's Viper SRT/10 coupe.

The firm was reportedly fixing up the chop-lifter for a show and was looking for a way to get it noticed. After driving around car lots looking for the most vibrant of tints, they decided to go with Viper Racing Yellow, and painted the helicopter to match, complete with silver stripes.

The chopper was apparently a big hit at the show, and the owner is undoubtedly the only one to have matching Huey and Viper. (Sure beats matching luggage.) One big difference between the two, aside from the obvious: take a close look a the picture and you'll notice the M60-D cannon mounted to the side of the helicopter, something you're not likely to see on a Viper (unless, of course, Dodge steps in for Aston Martin in the next Bond film).

Thanks for the tip, Dave!

[Source: DavidPitlyuk.com]

For the man who has everything: Dodge Viper with matching helicopter originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep clips Russian helicopter in unusual late-night accident

Chris Paukert — Mon, 22 May 2006 18:55:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Safety, Jeep

In what is surely one of the more unusual traffic accidents reported in recent days, an unspecified 'jeep' crashed into a helicopter in Russia, close to the town of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski.

So... did some thrill-seeking Russian redneck out for a spot of stunt jumping in his 4WD clip an airborn Chinook? Well, not so much. Truth is, the chopper was being towed on a flatbed at 1:30 am on a fog-shrouded night, and the inebriated jeep junkie misjudged the width of the ground-bound aircraft.

The accident left the 'copter right-side up wrong, while the jeep driver has several fresh bruises to help relay the story to the locals at the corner bar.

Sadly, the make and model of 'jeep' (which doubles as an SUV-generic in many countries) and the helicopter were not reported.

[Source: MosNews]

Jeep clips Russian helicopter in unusual late-night accident originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 May 2006 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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