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[Make it up to the kid with an Alfa Spider]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/make-it-up-to-the-kid-with-an-alfa-spider/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/make-it-up-to-the-kid-with-an-alfa-spider/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/make-it-up-to-the-kid-with-an-alfa-spider/#commentsFiled under: ,


Uh-oh. The big day came and went and you forgot a present for that pint-size kiddie on your shopping list. This is gonna cost ya. We'd charge you for information on the ultimate "stop crying, let me make it up to you" gift, but our lawyers insist it's legally questionable and our life coach says it's "wrong", whatever that means.

So here's what you want to get to make the kid forget the conspicuous and disappointing void under the tree: an Alfa Romeo. Okay, not a real one, but everything is relative and to a child, this will seem just as cool - trust us. These downsized rideable Alfa Spiders are available with a choice of body-styles - 8C Competizione or Brera - and powertrain. A hair under three bills will get pedal-power, or an extra two hundred nets the 6-volt electric version. Shipping's extra if you live outside the UK, and the roadsters are made for kids ages 2-5. Oh, and they're available only in red.

If your kid's passion lies elsewhere than with Alfa Romeo, we'd recommend a better education. In the meantime, don't fret: Turbo Toys has a variety of similar ride-ons, including a Maserati, Audi TT, Jag XK, Porsche, and several Ferraris.

You can thank us later.

[Source: Turbo Toys via Carscoop]

Make it up to the kid with an Alfa Spider originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alfacarchildelectrickidpedalrideromeospiderspydertoyThu, 27 Dec 2007 20:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda puts the kid in the driver's seat]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/23/honda-puts-the-kid-in-the-drivers-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/23/honda-puts-the-kid-in-the-drivers-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/23/honda-puts-the-kid-in-the-drivers-seat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Here at Autoblog our philosophy on early childhood education - yes, we have a philosophy on early childhood education - is that no age is too young to begin teaching the little ones a love for cars. That's why we love featuring kids' toys like Automoblox and slot car racing sets, along with the grown-ups' toys we report on daily, and often behave like little children ourselves. Or at least that's how we justify it to our own kids.

The latest comes courtesy of Honda, who've realized that even the children deserve a shot at getting in on the JDM scene by offering this special Type R child seat. Unfortunately it's only available (at the moment) in Japan, which makes sense when you consider the local availability of the four-door Civic Type R sedan, which has the space to drift the kids around Tokyo.

Related post:

[Source: Carscoop]

Honda puts the kid in the driver's seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>childhondakidrracingsafetyseattypeMon, 23 Apr 2007 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Repairing childhood trauma with Power Wheels Jeep Hurricane]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/repairing-childhood-trauma-with-power-wheels-jeep-hurrican/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/repairing-childhood-trauma-with-power-wheels-jeep-hurrican/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/10/repairing-childhood-trauma-with-power-wheels-jeep-hurrican/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As a child who was a car geek since he was a knee-high to a back bumper, I coveted a Power Wheels electric vehicle over all the other toys in the JC Penny Christmas Catalogue. Power Wheels were magically self-propelled by something called ewectwicitee and cost hundreds of dollars ($8 bajillion in kid money). I never got one and am emotionally scarred because of it, but am waiting for the day I have my own mini-me and can spoil him on his fifth birthday with his very first car.

Power Wheels have come a long way since I was a tike, however. Case in point is the new Jeep Hurricane produced by the Fisher Price division that features Ultimate Terrain Traction. Yeah, you're reading that right. The newest Power Wheels has traction control. The PR language says it all about this "high performance drive system" though skimps on the details:
  • "It powers through places where other battery-powered ride-ons need a push"
  • "Through lush lawns, wet grass, mud, gravel, rough terrain and more"
  • "It's there when you need it - even when you think you don't"
We're not sure what comprises the Jeep Hurricane's Ultimate Terrain Traction, though it's probably not a complicated mess of electronic nannies varying power output to each individual wheel based on tire slip. It could be the simple fact that this Power Wheels has rubber tires instead of slippery plastic ones, but we won't tell the kids that.

The Jeep Hurricane also fixes some proportion issues of past Power Wheels by riding on a much longer wheelbase than past models. If that's not enough, there's also an on-board cup holder (sippy cup approved) and real working FM radio (what, no iPod jack?). The base MSRP for the Ultiamte Terrain Traction Jeep Hurricane is $400.00. There are no options to inflate the price further, but there's also no financing and certainly no incentives. That's a pretty steep price for a child's toy, but it's so cool we think dipping into junior's college fund for this is perfectly warranted.

[Source: Fisher-Price]

Repairing childhood trauma with Power Wheels Jeep Hurricane originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Nov 2006 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>childfisher priceFisherPricehurricanejeepkidpower wheelsPowerWheelstoyFri, 10 Nov 2006 18:25:00 EST