Autoblog

Lego creates six mini Ferrari kits for Shell

Chris Tutor — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Ferrari, Toys/Games

The best way we can think of to get customers into your gas stations is by offering complimentary fuel. The next best way? Lego Ferraris. For a limited time, Shell gas stations are offering six tiny Lego Ferrari kits when you fill up your tank.

Unfortunately to take advantage of the offer, you need to gas up in Hong Kong. Though we don't yet have official word from Lego or Shell, there doesn't seem to be a plan to make a similar offer here in the States.

But you can virtually build and drive the six models on Shell's Website. Choose from the Scuderia Ferrari Truck, an F40, 150° Italia, 458 Italia, FXX, or a 250 GT Berlinetta. If virtual Lego building isn't enough for you, these should materialize on eBay soon enough.

Check out Shell's promotional video of the deal below. A transcript provided by Shell is also available.

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Lego creates six mini Ferrari kits for Shell originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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De Nysschen headed to Nissan, will run Infiniti from new Hong Kong HQ

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: China, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Infiniti, Nissan, Luxury

After abruptly resigning on Friday after 19 years at Audi, former CEO Johan de Nysschen's future has come more clearly into focus today. Nissan has announced that de Nysschen will be joining the company effective July 1. His official title will be Senior Vice President of Nissan Motor Company in charge of the Infiniti division.

Nissan just opened a new global headquarters for its luxury brand in Hong Kong, where de Nysschen will be stationed. Its new boss will be expected to lead Infiniti's expansion in China, the brand's second largest market. Infiniti has said it intends to more than triple global sales to 500,000 by 2016.

De Nysschen is no stranger to lofty sales targets, as his former employers at Volkswagen have made no secret about their desire to become the largest carmaker on earth. To de Nysschen's credit, Audi had been recently holding its own, especially in China, where sales have been killing it, even besting BMW and Mercedes in April.

Scroll down for the full press release.

Continue reading De Nysschen headed to Nissan, will run Infiniti from new Hong Kong HQ

De Nysschen headed to Nissan, will run Infiniti from new Hong Kong HQ originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And Then There Were 76: Aston Martin One-77 wrecked in Hong Kong

Zach Bowman — Tue, 29 May 2012 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, China, Etc., Aston Martin, Luxury

It was only a matter of time before we heard word of a deceased Aston Martin One-77. Reports kicking around the web suggest the owner of one of the 700-horsepower supercars got just a bit too close to a curb at a high rate of speed in Hong Kong, sending ultra-rare bodywork scattering across the landscape. Details are scarce at the moment, but reports suggest the owner is from mainland China and the accident only involved the Aston Martin. Even so, reports suggest the car looks as if it was being driven without license plates, which may mean the owner was operating the One-77 without insurance or registration (or simply that the plates were removed after the crash to avoid embarrassment).

Given the supercar's carbon fiber chassis and the significant amount of damage on hand, this One-77 could be the first to head to the scrap pile, but we suspect someone with really deep pockets will revive it, even if it's not the owner. The machine is currently headed back to Aston Martin headquarters for evaluation.

And Then There Were 76: Aston Martin One-77 wrecked in Hong Kong originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10-year-old Hong Kong boy crashes dad's Maserati, out on bail

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Maserati

The song that made Will Smith famous - this is when he was The Fresh Prince who rapped and not acted - is called "Parents Just Don't Understand." In it, he takes his mom's Porsche for an unauthorized spin while his parents are on vacation, unintentionally picks up a 12-year-old runaway and then gets busted by the cops for doing 90 mph and not having a driver's license. The point of it all? Kids will do the darndest things.

Need another example? The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a ten-year-old kid in Hong Kong may have been been channeling his own fresh prince when he took his dad's Maserati GranTurismo for an unauthorized, license-less drive. He couldn't even get out of the building's parking lot without hitting another car, but kept on driving out and down the street until someone noticed him and called the police. He was arrested, and is now out on bail.

Due back in court this month, he potentially faces a seven-year prison sentence for theft and driving without a license, although no one expects that to happen. In the classic Will Smith jam, our hero gets a tag-team whipping in the car when his parents retrieve him from jail. The ten-year-old should hope his parents, and the Hong Kong judge, are just as understanding.

10-year-old Hong Kong boy crashes dad's Maserati, out on bail originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti to locate global headquarters in Hong Kong

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: China, Infiniti, Nissan

You'd expect a Japanese automaker to be based in Japan, right? You might think so, but one such brand is relocating the headquarters for its global operations to Hong Kong.

That brand, as you might have guessed, is Infiniti - the luxury division of Nissan, which will also be centering its marketing communications (among other corporate functions) in the same Hong Kong facility, the location of which has not yet been disclosed.

The move reflects the growing importance of the Chinese market to the global auto industry, particularly for luxury automakers. All-in-all, the Infiniti and Nissan facility will encompass some 100 employees, reporting back to Nissan's principal headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. Details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Infiniti to locate global headquarters in Hong Kong

Infiniti to locate global headquarters in Hong Kong originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mini Coupe makes its motion picture debut

Chris Shunk — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mini

2012 Mini Cooper Coupe in action - Click above to watch the video after the jump

The 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe is hot off the presses, with unique sheetmetal, upgraded power numbers and a promise to become the fastest production Mini on the market. We can live with that, and Mini is hoping coupe shoppers can, too.

To kick of the latest ride in the Mini stable, the advertising team came up with a fun little video with the tagline "Another Day. Another Adventure." The 49-second video shows the Mini Coupe as it travels (in a spirited fashion) through Iceland, Rio and Hong Kong. The idea, of course, is that the fresh-faced coupe + a willing co-pilot = fun anywhere the open road takes you.

Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself. You won't hear any voice-overs and the sales pitch is definitely set to low, but you will see plenty of gorgeous shots of the Mini Coupe on twisty roads.

Continue reading 2012 Mini Coupe makes its motion picture debut

2012 Mini Coupe makes its motion picture debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi TT, Audi RS4, Audi R8, Audi... mooncake?

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:02:00 EST

Filed under: China, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Audi

Click the image above for more shots of the Audi mooncakes

Audi has given their customers in China and Hong Kong something they can sink their teeths into. The Mid-Autumn festival, celebrating the maiden in the moon, is accompanied by tasty pastries called mooncakes that people give to each other during the holiday. Audi has baked up a set of treats topped with model names like A6, S5, and R8. If they're as good as they look, it's a nice way to give props to the moonwoman. The festival is on September 14 this year, so if you're an Audi-phile and want to get a piece of R8 mooncake, there's still time... Be sure to check out the gallery below for more photos. Thanks for the tip, Denis!

Gallery: Audi Mooncakes

Audi TT, Audi RS4, Audi R8, Audi... mooncake? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Largest order ever of Rolls Royce Phantoms delivered

Alex Nunez — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:06:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Rolls-Royce

Click to enlarge

The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong has been shuttling guests to and from the airport and around town in Rolls-Royce automobiles since 1970, when it took delivery of a then-record seven Silver Shadows. Thus began a tradition that saw the hotel place the single largest order for Rolls-Royce automobiles several times through the intervening decades (breaking their own order-size records along the way). Today, the Peninsula outdid itself, taking delivery of fourteen long-wheelbase Phantoms built to custom specifications through RR's Bespoke program.

Each car is finished in Brewster Green with a tan stripe, and has been customized with Bespoke features such as Peninsula Hotel sill plates, an enlarged trunk, a coolbox to store chilled towels, compartments for used towels in the doors, MP3 jacks for the rear seats, relocated rear-seat climate controls, repositioned and enhanced lighting, and even "No Smoking" plaques. Those (and more) are in addition to the already-opulent standard equipment list that includes 12" LCD screens in the rear seat snack trays, a high-end 420-watt sound system, privacy curtains, and the Great Intangibles: that signature grille and the iconic flying lady on the hood.

The size of the purchase, the cars themselves, and the hotel that' serves as their home can only be described as impressive. And to think, we're happy when the hotels we stay at send a branded Econoline to whisk us away from the airport...

(Press release, additional photos after the jump)

[Source: Rolls-Royce]

Continue reading Largest order ever of Rolls Royce Phantoms delivered

Largest order ever of Rolls Royce Phantoms delivered originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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