Autoblog

Georgia man sues state for right to have gay-themed vanity license plates

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:45:00 EST

James Cyrus Gilbert III applied to Georgia Department of Driver Services for three vanity plates for his car: 4GAYLIB, GAYPWR and GAYGUY. All three were rejected, so now Gilbert is suing the department on the grounds that his free speech is being unfairly denied. The denial itself isn't the sole issue, what is also being challenged is the arbitrariness of how the state decides what plates will be approved or not.

Georgia law forbids "profanity, language the community considers obscene or language that ridicules a person, group, or religious belief or being, race or ethnicity" on vanity plates. The question Gilbert's attorneys want answered is why HATERS, BLKBUTI and JESUS4U were cleared, but Gilbert's choices are on a list of more than 10,000 banned plates.

Even the state has admitted that its application of the law is inconsistent and that "viewpoint neutrality... is impossible," and outside legal observers have said that it looks like it will be hard for the state to win the case. Gilbert's lawyers want his plate choices approved and the law defining what is acceptable to be declared unconstitutional.

Scroll down below to watch a video from NBC News on the story.

Continue reading Georgia man sues state for right to have gay-themed vanity license plates

Georgia man sues state for right to have gay-themed vanity license plates originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida bill would create program for special vanity driver's licenses

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Specialty, or "vanity," license plates are nothing new, and pending the governor's signature a Florida bill is about to usher in the age of vanity driver's licenses. Among a deep wade through the arcana of 2012 state bill CS/CS/HB 1223 - Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, one finds the removal of prohibitions on honking your horns on the highway and flashing your high beams, and this: "The department may issue to any applicant qualified pursuant to s. 322.14, F.S., a specialty driver license or identification card upon payment of the $25 fee."

Florida offers a magnificent number of specialty license plates, but its specialty driver's license program would get off to a start with, "at a minimum... state and independent universities domiciled in Florida, all Florida professional sports teams designated in s. 320.08058(9)(a), F.S., and all branches of the United States military." From there it's only a matter of time before there's a hospice service or a manatee helping you rent a car or get into a bar every time you whip out your ID.

The bill passed unanimously in both houses of the Florida legislature. In an odd note, the bill declares that the vanity ID provision will be repealed on August 31, 2016, so get in while the window's open. The bill also redefines what a "swamp buggy" is and adds an additional exemption for dead motorists who have received red light camera citations... because, you know, it's Florida.

Florida bill would create program for special vanity driver's licenses originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California DMV opens door to reissuing classic license plates

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Government/Legal

Like in the UK, California's license plates follow the vehicles they originate on, not the owner, so residents can easily pick out cars that have been in continuous California circulation since way back in the last millennium. A car with yellow tags with black lettering was registered between 1956 and 1962, one with yellow tags with black lettering is from circa 1963 to 1969, and one with blue tags with yellow lettering got them sometime from 1970 to 1982.

State Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill allowing for the return of those plate styles. If the Department of Motor Vehicles receives 7,500 pre-orders between January 1, 2013 and January 1, 2015 for the vintage replica plates, it will begin issuing them for any vehicle for a personalized plate fee of $50. If fewer than 7,500 pre-orders are received in that two-year span, those who submitted $50 payments will have their money refunded. According to the Los Angeles Times, if the program goes through, buyers of the plates will also have to spend a further $40 every time they renew their registrations.

Hemmings has a little history on why the color of one's plate is such a big deal in The Golden State. For those who don't need the lesson, you can check out the press release below for more information on the program and how to order.

Despite some classic car enthusiasts who apparently only want original vintage plates and not these new, so-called "legacy license plates," we have a feeling this one is a done deal.

Continue reading California DMV opens door to reissuing classic license plates

California DMV opens door to reissuing classic license plates originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google allowed to test self-driving car on Nevada public streets

Zach Bowman — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Safety, Technology, Hatchback, Toyota

Nevada has officially granted Google a license to test autonomous vehicles on public streets. The tech giant underwent demonstrations in both Las Vegas and Carson City to prove its vehicles are as safe or safer than those piloted by mere humans. The state requires two people to be in the test vehicles at all times, including at one occupant in the driver's seat and another monitoring the vehicle via an onboard computer. If anything goes wrong, the human "driver" can take over by simply applying the brakes or taking hold of the steering wheel.

As of right now, Google has only applied to license three vehicles. Each one will carry a red license plate with an infinity symbol. According to Bruce Breslow, Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles director, vehicles with autonomous capability could be on the road within three to five years. When that happens, the machines will wear green plates.

Google allowed to test self-driving car on Nevada public streets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kyle Busch loses license for 45 days for speeding in Lexus LFA [w/poll]

Noah Joseph — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Lexus, Celebrities

We said it once, and we'll say it again: it's a good thing racing drivers aren't required to hold a valid driver's license in order to race. We know it sounds funny, but if they did, some of our best drivers would be out of work.

The latest high-profile incident, as you may recall, revolves around Kyle Busch. The NASCAR driver was busted back in May behind the wheel of a yellow Lexus LFA, driving 128 mph in a... well, at those speeds, it hardly matters what the posted limit was, but it was a 45 mph zone. At the time, Busch received a citation, but now he's had his day in court.

So... how did it go for the current Sprint Cup points leader? Not all that well, we're afraid. Apparently instead of taking Busch's proven superlative driving skills into account, the judge opted to throw the book at Busch to make an example of him. The champ had his license revoked for 45 days, was fined $1,000, sentenced to 30 days of community service and put under probation for one year.

Do you think the sentence was fair and proportionate to the crime? Cast your vote in our poll below.

View Poll

Kyle Busch loses license for 45 days for speeding in Lexus LFA [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren boss Ron Dennis' license suspended in court

Noah Joseph — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, UK

As head of the McLaren Group, Ron Dennis has been responsible for some devastatingly fast cars. Like the iconic McLaren F1 supercar, and the new MP4-12C that succeeds it - not to mention countless championship-challenging grand prix cars. Unfortunately for Ron, though, he won't be able to drive any of them. At least not on the road, anyway, and not for the next six months.

According to reports, Dennis has had his license suspended for half a year after exceeding the number of demerit points allowed. The needle that broke the proverbial camel's back was a recent occurrence in which Dennis drove through a red light.

The McLaren chairman reportedly admitted having gone through the traffic light, claiming that he needed to do so in order to avert a collision with a friend's car following behind, but unsuccessfully argued that he needed his license for his work and family life. If only McLaren had any skilled drivers - say, a couple of former world champions, for example - to chauffeur Dennis around until he gets his license back.

[Source: Autosport]

McLaren boss Ron Dennis' license suspended in court originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Most in Iraq drive without licenses as gov't. works to institute new permits

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Middle East

Judging by what we've seen on the web, driving through Iraq is a few notches tougher than dealing with Southern California during rush hour. It appears to be the old "Anything Goes" method when moving from Point A to Point B. Iraqi authorities are looking to change that by introducing a licensing system that aims to instruct drivers on correct procedures while hoping to also cut down the madness seen on the roads around the nation.

According to an AFP report, the number of cars on the Iraq's streets has doubled since Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed. Prior to the 2003 US.. invasion, there were 1.25 million registered vehicles, and now an additional 1.5 million have been imported into the country. With that many new vehicles hitting the road, authorities are working to implement a system to ensure that motorists understand how to legally operate their own vehicle.

Since the program was launched on October 21, some 8,000 drivers licenses have been issued. As the officials get more familiar with the procedures and computer systems, that pace is expected to pick up. The ultimate goal is that in just two years time every driver on the road will be one carrying a legal license to do so.

[Source: AFP via Yahoo! | Image: AFP/Getty]

Report: Most in Iraq drive without licenses as gov't. works to institute new permits originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Government seen backing graduated drivers licenses

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Getting your driver's license can be a tremendous event. It signifies a new-found level of freedom and a chance to go out and explore more of the surrounding world. The privilege of being licensed to drive a car is a wonderful thing, yet not everyone thinks of it that way. A teenager with a learner's permit is eager to make the jump to a full license - even if they might not be totally ready to carry that piece of plastic in their wallet or purse. A bill introduced in the spring of 2009 would make the learning process a bit longer by mandating graduated license programs.

Backed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a graduated license program would require a driver to go through three stages of licensing: learner's permit, intermediate license and full driver's license. The bill also proposes that the legal age to obtain a learner's permit be set at 16, as well as no unsupervised night driving until the driver is 18 years old. All states currently have some form of a graduated program in place, with the exception of North Dakota. This bill would help create harmony amongst the states with regards to age and term limits as some states are more lax than others.

For example, the state of Michigan allows drivers to begin the learner's permit process at just 14 years and eight months of age. Michigan drivers can then graduate to a full license by the age of 17. Is that too young? Perhaps, but it's hard to lump every 17 year old driver into one "you're-too-young-to-know-anything" driving group. Statistics do show that teenage drivers have higher crash rates compared to their older peers.

Perhaps a few more years in a better-thought-out licensing program can help bring that number down?

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: eBaum's World]

Continue reading Government seen backing graduated drivers licenses

Government seen backing graduated drivers licenses originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: California considering digital license plates

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

We've checked various calendars and confirmed the date is not April 1, so we can safely say this is not a joke - it's just another idea from the California idea lab. In order to help close the state's $19.1 billion deficit, a study bill has been introduced that allows the DMV to explore the feasibility of digital license plates. The new tags would display the number when the car is moving, then show ads and public service announcements any time the car stops for more than a few seconds. It isn't clear if the license number would always be displayed or would disappear when the ads come up.

The stated goals are the same as always: a public-private partnership that will bring in revenue and create jobs. We're still a long way from seeing such a thing happen - the private company that owns the technology doesn't yet have a working prototype. The DMV has until 2013 to complete its research, but now that the door is open, we wouldn't be surprised if something, somewhere, came of this.

[Source: NBC San Diego | Image: Brett L.]

Report: California considering digital license plates originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Kansas to cease allowing motorists to have 'duplicate' personalized plates. Wait, wha?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Kansas is revamping the way it issues vanity plates, and it means a lot of residents are going to lose their 'duplicate' personalized plates. They're not really duplicates, though: Unlike most states, Kansas allows people in different counties to have the same alphanumeric combination, so while the tags might appear to be copies, they are registered in different counties and that technically makes them different plates.

According to Kansas.com, the problem with that strategy is that law enforcement officials in hot pursuit have a hard time reading which county a car's "JAYHAWK" plate is registered to, so they have been behind the push to change the policy. The Kansas DMV is in the process of figuring out who registered each of these 'duplicate' plates first, and then it plans to send letters to anyone else with that same alphanumeric combo to let them know they can't renew it.

Just as novel as finding out Kansas allowed multiple copies of a tag in the same state was the list of the top ten vanity plates chosen. It's arguably embarrassing that the number one plate is "HUSKERS," which amounts to cheerleading for a team in another state, like "SOONERS" in the seven spot. The home team, "JAYHAWK" comes in second, followed by Larry the Cable Guy's slogan, "GITRDUN," which is more popular than the Kansas City "CHIEFS" in number four. Ah, Kansas, what are we going to do with you? Hat tip to Dude!

[Source: Kansas.com | Image: Robinrkc - C.C. License 2.0]

Report: Kansas to cease allowing motorists to have 'duplicate' personalized plates. Wait, wha? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Woodward 2009: License plates - They're the original Twitter!

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:54:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Misc. Auto Shows, Humor

Woodward license plates - Click above for high-res image gallery

These days, Twitter is all the rage as a means for the digitally inclined to communicate their thoughts in bursts of 140 characters or less. However, that 140 character limit is positively verbose compared to an older and more established means of short messaging. Drivers long ago realized that certain combinations of letters and numbers could be used to send messages in less than seven characters. One of this blogger's all time favorites was a classic Lamborghini Countach with the plate IXLR8.

While that particular Lambo didn't appear at this year's Woodward festivities, there were plenty of other interesting messages sent out. As far as we're concerned, the best plates are the ones that don't take too much brain power to decipher. Sometimes, the license plate phrase reinforces something about the car's behavior - such as the FASSST plate on one Cobra. Other times, drivers use onomatopoeia like the BRMBRUM plate on another Shelby snake. Still others, such as the LVNGLYF plate we saw on a Lotus Elise, are more descriptive of the car's driver. Check out our entire gallery below of interesting plates from the 2009 Woodward Dream Cruise.

Gallery: Woodward 2009: License plates – They're the original Twitter!

Woodward 2009: License plates - They're the original Twitter! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could Ross Brawn lose his license for speeding?

Noah Joseph — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Celebrities

Are Formula One legends above the law when it comes to driving on public roads? No and that belief hasn't stopped a handful of drivers from getting into their fair share of trouble. Lewis Hamilton, for example, had his license revoked in France. Michael Schumacher, on the other hand, has gotten into an array of amusing fender-benders behind the wheel of "ordinary" vehicles. Now you can add to their ranks on Ross Brawn, the legendary race strategist responsible for countless race wins and world titles for Benetton, Ferrari and now his own championship-leading Brawn GP team.

The British motorsport engineer was reportedly busted by police in his native England going 100 miles per hour in a 70 zone behind the wheel of a Mercedes. He was set to appear in court last Tuesday, but rescheduled for September 4 once the grands prix in Spain and Belgium are done. When he does finally appear before the magistrate, Brawn could stand to lose his license. Just as well, because he can probably direct a chauffeur to drive even better than he can himself. Just ask Schumacher or Button.

[Source: BBC | Image: Paul Gilham/Getty]

Could Ross Brawn lose his license for speeding? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VA driver's licenses going black-and-white to thwart counterfeiters

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Technology

To aid in the fight against counterfeiting, Virginia is combining new tech with old: lasers and black & white photography. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has ceased issuing licenses made from layers of plastic, replacing them with cards that use neither layers nor photographs.

The new licenses have a color background, but the photographs are laser etched in black-and-white since lasers can't yet etch in color. The new IDs also sport a bit of microprinting and a transparent second picture, behind which is the person's name in some squiggly print. It's not the prettiest driver's license in the world, but if it helps you hold onto your identity, that's got to count for something. It also gives someone in the DMV purchasing department a chance to say "I've been looking for a good reason to buy a laser..."

[Source: The Associated Press via NBCWashington.com]

VA driver's licenses going black-and-white to thwart counterfeiters originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huh? Fewer 16-year olds are getting their licenses

Michael Harley — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:32:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, First Drives

Have teenagers gone nuts? The Federal Highway Administration is reporting that the percentage of teenagers with driver's licenses is going down. Yeah, decreasing! What is up with that?

When I was growing up, my teenage years focused on just one objective... driving. All I wanted was to get my driver's license. That little card with your picture on it was the golden ticket. You could borrow your parent's car, fill the tank (and grab a candy bar) for $20, and nobody could reach you until you returned. We didn't have cell phones, text messaging or GPS tracking. A driver's license represented freedom.

So, what happened? Experts aren't blaming unmotivated teenagers. Instead, they point the finger at the environment in which we are raising our kids. In today's world, parents are much more likely to chauffeur their teenagers from place to place. Tighter state laws govern when kids can drive, and in many cases legislation has pushed the driving age limit higher. Fewer high schools are offering driver's education classes, forcing parents to pay for more expensive private instruction, and steeper rates are making insurance cost-prohibitive for the high-risk teen-age category. Top it all off with gasoline at more than three-dollars per gallon, and maybe a driver's license just doesn't represent what it used to.

[Source: New York Times]

Huh? Fewer 16-year olds are getting their licenses originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Improvements in Virginia brought to you by new fines on speeders

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:34:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

So they're not out to break a speeder's bank like Indiana, but Virginia has created a host of civil fines for speeders that will pay for the state's new annual $1 billion transportation package. That means that after July 1, not only will you get a bill from the judge for speeding, you will then get a much larger bill from the state. Fr'instance, drive without a license, pay $75 to the court and $900 to VA. Do 20 mph over the limit, pay $200 to the court, pay $1,050 to VA. We really love this one: if you have eight points on your license and get a speeding ticket, you'll pay an additional $75 for every point above eight, and another $100 for simply having more than eight points. That smacks of double jeopardy to us, but what do we know?

For the record, almost no one -- and not just speeders -- likes it. Court clerks are expecting to face the anger when people find out about the new fees at the courthouse window. Defense attorneys are getting ready for legal challenges. Judges are expecting people to start pleading not guilty to avoid paying the fees. Which means prosecutors will face more trials.

The "abuser fees" are only for "major" infractions, and only paid by Virginia residents. The new revenue will pay for building roads, snow removal, pothole repair, and grass mowing. David Albo, one of the legislative sponsors of the bill, took New Jersey's similar fee system as a template, and called it "a voluntary tax." After all, "if you don't commit a crime ... you don't pay anything."

Thanks for the tip, Josh

[Source: Washington Post]

Improvements in Virginia brought to you by new fines on speeders originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Driving Dutchman goes 67 years with no tickets, no crashes, and no license

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

We're sure that policemen in Holland have seen plenty of strange things. The tiny country gets people from all over the world who can't wait to do all kinds of stuff that they'd never do at home. And we suspect that the Dutch wish they wouldn't do them in Holland, either. This time, though, the noteworthy behavior came from one of their own: at a random police check, an 84-year-old Dutchman admitted that his car was uninsured, that it had never had a vehicle safety test, and that he hadn't had a license for 67 years. The reason he'd never been caught: even though he's been driving since before Pearl Harbor, he's never had an accident or a ticket. So maybe he shouldn't get an honorary license, but perhaps some kind of award is in order...

[Source: Reuters]

The Driving Dutchman goes 67 years with no tickets, no crashes, and no license originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche Cayenne phone looks worse than actual Cayenne

Noah Joseph — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:13:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, China

Even Porsche lovers will readily acknowledge that the Cayenne is far from being the most beautiful creations ever penned by Stuttgart, so why on earth would anyone want to mimic the shape in any form? Someone in Hong Kong evidently thought otherwise and produced this (hopefully) limited-edition Porsche Cayenne mobile phone.

In addition to its unfortunate and ridiculous appearance, this handset packs in dual-band GSM, a micro-SD card slot, and support for video and music playback. It'll cost you less than $200, plus any shred of good taste you might have retained if showing this unfortunate device off to your friends strikes you as a good idea.

This is why automakers license products and have input into their designs. Porsche is reportedly taking legal action against the manufacturer for copyright infringement, and we hope the automaker wins.

[Source: Engadget]

Porsche Cayenne phone looks worse than actual Cayenne originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All your license plates are belong to us: System developed that scans plates on the fly

Dan Roth — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Government/Legal, Technology

Bad guys beware, there is new technology that will hunt you down and have you singing the jailhouse blues faster than ever before. Harnessing the power of computers, the ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition System) allows police to be far more efficient, by no longer relying on just their sharp set of human eyes to spot suspect vehicles.

There are three cameras fitted to a police vehicle -- marked or unmarked. In the video after the jump, the vehicle is unmarked, and by just driving down the road, every plate from oncoming traffic, and cars on the side of the road (or the next lane), is logged and analyzed. There's also a side-facing camera which comes into play when cruising parking lots. The system can handle up to 3,000 plates a day, and by making it a passive activity, it turns nabbing bad guys into something akin to playing the lottery.

The system can be anywhere and everywhere, from stationary systems to car-mounted mobile units, there is no hiding from the long arm of the law. All an officer needs to do is drive around. With the system keeping an ever-vigilant watch on all the plates and comparing them with a database of suspect plate numbers, police time is freed up, so they can go about protecting and serving. Heck, while on their way to another call, they may just get lucky and pass a vehicle that "hits", turning it into a bonus score for the day.

Thanks for the tip, Dave!

Video after the jump

[Source: mobilemag]

Continue reading All your license plates are belong to us: System developed that scans plates on the fly

All your license plates are belong to us: System developed that scans plates on the fly originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One license to rule them all: Euro-wide driver's license approved

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 09:32:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Safety

Yesterday, the European Parliament made way for a new law that would standardize all 110 licenses currently employed by the 200 million inhabitants of the European Union.

The move to issue one license throughout the EU came at the behest of both legislators and safety advocates alike, in an attempt to curtail confusion and eliminate abuses in the current system. A number of problems have arose over the last several years, including the phenomenon of "Driving license tourism", where a person who's had their driving privilege revoked in one country for drunk driving offenses or a medical condition, would then travel to another country to secure a valid license.

This new law would also make staged licensing of motorcyclists mandatory across the EU, where beginners would only be permitted to ride small displacement machines until their competence behind the handlebars was established. The addition of a small microchip inside licenses was also addressed in the new legislation, however such a device would not be mandatory.

As with any bureaucratic endeavor, the status quo will continue for some time, as the law will only go into effect in 2013, with all drivers forced to give up their old licenses by 2033.

[Source: EU Observer, Channel4]

One license to rule them all: Euro-wide driver's license approved originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Dec 2006 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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