Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ferrari's Prancing Horse voted most iconic badge [w/POLL]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/ferraris-prancing-horse-voted-most-iconic-badge-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/ferraris-prancing-horse-voted-most-iconic-badge-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/10/ferraris-prancing-horse-voted-most-iconic-badge-w-poll/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The people have spoken. (Well, the British anyway. But they're people, too). And according to a public opinion survey, Ferrari has the most iconic badge among exotic automakers.

The poll in question was conducted by European telecom company Orange for the MPH Top Gear Live show, a sort of live-action performance car show held in car-crazed England. Ferrari was identified far and away as the most recognizable of car logos, garnering nearly half the votes. Aston Martin came in second with a quarter of the votes, edging out Lamborghini, Bugatti and Porsche, while Maserati, Spyker, Lotus, Koenigsegg and Pagani rounding out the rest of the top ten with small shares of the votes.

The numbers go to show that while the Prancing Horse is still king, England's own Aston Martin has grown to eclipse some of the biggest power houses in terms of brand recognition. We wonder how long it will take McLaren's Nike-like tick logo, which appears as a motif repeatedly in the design of the new MP4-12C supercar unveiled today, to rise up the ranks, too. We also wonder how American car fans would vote differently from our former colonial masters, and we're wondering if the survey takers were given a limited number of choices, or if the poll specifically targeted performance marques. After all, aren't workaday emblems like Ford's Blue Oval or Chevrolet's Bowtie more recognizable, or even Blighty's own Rolls-Royce's Double R logo?

In any case, we've started a performance badge poll of our own and thrown in the Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Viper sub-brands (together with McLaren) for good measure. Follow the jump to cast your vote and read the press release with full figures after the jump.

[Source: MPH]

Continue reading Ferrari's Prancing Horse voted most iconic badge [w/POLL]

Ferrari's Prancing Horse voted most iconic badge [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgeferrariiconlogomphprancing horsePrancingHorsetop gear liveTopGearLiveThu, 10 Sep 2009 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz celebrates iconic centennial with special CL550]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/mercedes-benz-celebrates-iconic-centennial-with-special-cl550/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/mercedes-benz-celebrates-iconic-centennial-with-special-cl550/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/23/mercedes-benz-celebrates-iconic-centennial-with-special-cl550/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mercedes-Benz CL550 "100 Years of Mercedes-Benz Edition" - Click above for a high-res image gallery

While so many other automakers have reinvented their logos over the years, Mercedes-Benz has stuck with the same one for 100 years now. One century ago, Daimler-Motoren-Gesselschaft went down to the local patent office and registered the Three-Pointed Star, the logo everyone knows and recognizes today. Just a few weeks later, August Benz & Cie did the same with their logo, the Benz name encircled by a wreath. These two icons later became integrated when the two companies banded together, but to celebrate the anniversary of their registration, Mercedes-Benz has announced a new special edition of one of its most upscale coupes.

The CL550 4Matic features a number of special Designo and AMG touches inside (light tan perforated leather with contrasting stitching and grey accents, gilded brass emblems on the center console) and out (special dark gray paint, new aero kit, and five-spoke 20-inch anthracite wheels with silver brake calipers) to differentiate itself from its more common counterparts. The special edition is available on either the rear-drive or all-wheel-drive 4Matic models around the globe, but since Benz made 4Matic standard equipment on the CL550 in the States, we'll only get the grips-at-all-paws variety.

No word on American-market pricing, but the package commands a hefty €17,850 ($23k USD) premium in Europe. Nobody said celebrating came cheap. Details in the press release after the jump.


Gallery: "100 Years of Mercedes-Benz Edition" CL550


[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz celebrates iconic centennial with special CL550

Mercedes-Benz celebrates iconic centennial with special CL550 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100th100th anniversary100thAnniversary4maticanniversarybadgebenzcentenarycentennialclcl500cl550cl550 4maticCl5504maticiconlogomercedesmercedes clmercedes cl550mercedes-benzmercedes-benz cl500mercedes-benz cl500 4maticmercedes-benz cl550mercedes-benz cl550 4maticMercedes-benzCl500Mercedes-benzCl5004maticMercedes-benzCl550Mercedes-benzCl5504maticMercedesClMercedesCl550Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[High Roller: STRUT announces five new wheel designs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/07/high-roller-strut-announces-five-new-wheel-designs/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/07/high-roller-strut-announces-five-new-wheel-designs/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/07/high-roller-strut-announces-five-new-wheel-designs/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for high-res gallery of new STRUT wheel designs

If you're a STRUT fan, then New Year's is starting off right. The maker of jewelry for your car has released five new wheels in the Icon line: the MS, 11, M, V, and X join others like the Icon D and the Icon 10. The forged aluminum wheels are available in 2- or 3-piece designs, and have five available finishes: chrome, brushed satin, pinstripe, two-tone and carbon fiber. You can even get deep lip versions. But don't even pick up the phone if you can't go at least 20 inches -- the wheels start there, and end at 26. Oh, and they also start at $6,000. It costs money to STRUT, don'tcha know... Strut through the gallery of high-res images to see for yourself.

Gallery: New STRUT Icon Wheel Collection


[Source: STRUT]

Continue reading High Roller: STRUT announces five new wheel designs

High Roller: STRUT announces five new wheel designs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftermarketiconicon wheelsIconWheelslifestylerimsstrutstrut wheelsStrutWheelswheelsWed, 07 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SEMA Preview: Lexus reveals four tuned IS Fs, IS 350 and LX570]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/29/sema-preview-lexus-reveals-four-tuned-is-fs-is-350-and-lx570/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/29/sema-preview-lexus-reveals-four-tuned-is-fs-is-350-and-lx570/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/29/sema-preview-lexus-reveals-four-tuned-is-fs-is-350-and-lx570/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click any image for a high-res gallery

Lexus decided that its presence at SEMA should revolve around its most tuner-friendly models, specifically its range of IS sedans. So in addition to the Five Axis IS F that's been making the rounds since late last year, Lexus has tapped some notable names in tuning, along with a few magazines, to create a handful of bespoke vehicles to populate its booth. But the IS 350 and four tweaked IS Fs won't stand alone. They'll be joined by another Five Axis creation built around the GS 460, along with an LX 570 SUV created by the crew at Icon 4x4 Design.

Click here for our take on each model, along with official details on each IS F, the Lexus' F-sport-tuned IS 350 and the big 'ute.

Gallery: Lexus at SEMA 2008

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Lexus reveals four tuned IS Fs, IS 350 and LX570

SEMA Preview: Lexus reveals four tuned IS Fs, IS 350 and LX570 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>0-60artisan performanceArtisanPerformancef-sportfox marketingFoxMarketingiconimport tunerImportTuneris 350is fIs350IsFlexuslx570motorworldhypemotorworldhype.comsemasema 2008Sema2008teinWed, 29 Oct 2008 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[UK: Mazda MX-5 achieves Icon status]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/29/uk-mazda-mx-5-achieves-icon-status/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/29/uk-mazda-mx-5-achieves-icon-status/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/29/uk-mazda-mx-5-achieves-icon-status/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click image for photo gallery

To celebrate the fact that the Mazda MX-5 accounts for a quarter of all new sports car purchases in the United Kingdom, the automaker has unveiled a new special edition paint and trim package dubbed "Icon." The Icon can be had with either the 1.8L engine mated to a 5-speed manual or the sprightlier 2.0L matched with a six-speed. Naturally, Icon badging will adorn the car's exterior, which can be coated in a choice of red, white or blue paint -- to match the Union Jack, natch. Inside, the Icon logo is embroidered onto the car's black leather seats and carpeted floormats. Climate control is also included as one of the standard features in the Icon package, which will be limited to 875 1.8L MX-5s and 375 of the 2-liter cars.

Additional details can be found in the press release pasted after the jump.

[Source: Mazda UK]

Gallery: Mazda MX-5 Icon (UK)

Continue reading UK: Mazda MX-5 achieves Icon status

UK: Mazda MX-5 achieves Icon status originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 May 2007 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iconmazdamx-5UKUnited KingdomUnitedKingdomTue, 29 May 2007 13:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Presto Change-o: Fiat switching badges...again]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/25/presto-change-o-fiat-switching-badges-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/25/presto-change-o-fiat-switching-badges-again/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/25/presto-change-o-fiat-switching-badges-again/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fiat's been changing badges like Williams.F1 changes engine suppliers (and drivers, and management, and sponsors, and tires...). Now apparently the Italian auto giant is considering swapping logos yet again, for the 16th time.

Apparently Fiat's design chief saw the sun reflecting off the sign at the factory and was inspired to draw up this new badge. The design seems to retain a little bit of Fiat's considerable heritage in the lettering, while incorporating more modern shapes and shading. The shape of the inner section even seems to hint slightly at what's becoming the automaker's new corporate grille, first seen on the Grande Punto, ostensibly showing up on the new Linea sedan, and now carrying over to the new Bravo hatch on which the new logo is to make its debut.

While a new emblem is a quick way to refresh a brand's image, there's something to be said for a constant icon to consistently represent the marque.

For a gallery of historic Fiat badges, click here.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Presto Change-o: Fiat switching badges...again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgeemblemfiaticonimagelogoWed, 25 Oct 2006 18:03:00 EST