Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[John McCain tweets plans for next automobile purchase]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/16/john-mccain-tweets-plans-for-next-automobile-purchase/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/16/john-mccain-tweets-plans-for-next-automobile-purchase/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/16/john-mccain-tweets-plans-for-next-automobile-purchase/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're a politician worth your own salt, you apparently have to buy a car that contains both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain is finally getting on the bandwagon and picking up his own little slice of green heaven, as he's announced on his Twitter page that he's buying a Ford Fusion Hybrid.

McCain's decision to go Blue Oval for his hybrid choice is a publicity boon for the Ford Motor Company, as the Arizona Senator's 777,000 Twitter followers have no doubt taken note of the make and model of the war hero's new ride, much like then-candidate Barack Obama did when he turned in his Chrysler 300C for a Ford Escape Hybrid. With his new Fusion hybrid, McCain will be able to patrol the streets of Washington while achieving a best-in-class 41 mpg city. Now... what will Sarah Palin buy next?


Gallery: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid


[Source: Los Angeles Times Blog]

John McCain tweets plans for next automobile purchase originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Being a Democrat or Republican is like being a Ford fan or Chevy supporter. While there are undecideds who might choose a Mustang or Camaro based on their spec sheets alone, most us already know where our allegiance lies and will defend our choice regardless. The analogy between your political party and pony car preference just got a little more interesting thanks to a study by Landor Associates and research firm Penn, Schoen and Berland. They issued a survey asking respondents to compare the top two political contenders with brands in the marketplace, and the results weren't shocking so much as reflective of the prevailing perceptions of each candidate.

Barack Obama, for instance, was associated with brands like Google, James Bond and Target, while John McCain was linked to AOL, Jack Bauer and Wal-Mart. When it came to auto brands, Obama was buddied up with BMW and McCain paired with Ford. We would have gone a bit more granular and pegged Obama as an M3 and McCain a Shelby GT500, as that would certainly be a race more exciting than the one we're watching now.

[Source: Adweek]

Obama a BMW, McCain a Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamaBarackObamajohn mccainJohnMccainmccainmccain fordMccainFordobamaobama bmwObamaBmwFri, 24 Oct 2008 15:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1351552/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/10/24/obama-a-bmw-mccain-a-ford/1351552/article-detail.xml 1351552 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/obamamccain_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/obamamccain_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Seven houses is nothing, McCain owns 13 cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/seven-houses-is-nothing-mccain-owns-13-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/seven-houses-is-nothing-mccain-owns-13-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/seven-houses-is-nothing-mccain-owns-13-cars/#commentsFiled under: ,



A few weeks ago, the press made a big deal about the fact that John McCain had more houses than he could recall off the cuff. Newsweek has taken the next logical step towards providing the all-important TMI by finding out how many cars each candidate owns.

Barack Obama and his wife Michelle make do with just one vehicle; a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid that replaced the senator's un-PC but much cooler HEMI-powered Chrysler 300. McCain takes a more, ahem, liberal approach to vehicle ownership, with 13 cars and trucks to fill his seven garages. If we were wealthy and influential, we too would own a lot of cars. That would give us a tangible link to the Republican nominee, except for the fact that our collection of cars would be a hell of a lot cooler. McCain owns a 2004 Cadillac CTS as his daily driver, and it gets less interesting from there. Rounding out the Maverick's sizable stable is a 2005 VW convertible, a 2001 Honda sedan, a 2007 Ford pickup, a 2008 Wrangler, a 2000 Lincoln, a 2001 GMC SUV, three 2000 NEV Gem electric cars, and a vintage 1960 Willys Jeep. McCain's wife Cindy, who uses drifting as a form of therapy and sits atop a family fortune from her beer distribution company, drives a Lexus with "MS BUD" vanity plates.

Nothing in that crop of rides screams "I'm rich and powerful," but if you have seven houses, it makes sense to have at least one vehicle at each residence. What doesn't make sense is that all of those vehicles are about as exciting as sugar free tapioca pudding.

[Source: NewsWeek, Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Seven houses is nothing, McCain owns 13 cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13 cars13Cars7 houses7Housesjohn mccainJohnMccainMccainmccain carsMccainCarsobamaTue, 23 Sep 2008 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1321950/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/09/23/seven-houses-is-nothing-mccain-owns-13-cars/1321950/article-detail.xml 1321950 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/mccainford_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/mccainford_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Obama a Prius? Palin a Camaro? Politics get revved up]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/08/obama-a-prius-palin-a-camaro-politics-get-revved-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/08/obama-a-prius-palin-a-camaro-politics-get-revved-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/08/obama-a-prius-palin-a-camaro-politics-get-revved-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



We try to stay out of politics here at Autoblog, but sometimes, events obligate us to jump into the fray. The latest event is a Harvard Business School professor's comparison of the two leading presidential candidates to automobiles.

John Quelch said in an interview with Newsweek that he thinks of Barrack Obama as a new Prius and John McCain as an "old Ford F-150." Politically, those two products carry some weighty social symbolism that, as car guys, we're not all that concerned with.

But we do wonder what Mr. Quelch's comments mean to us. The Prius is generally seen as a visually boring, fiscally-conservative choice with little to no fun factor. On the other hand, an old Ford pickup truck isn't exactly exciting to look at and drinks a lot of gas, but it'll carry a lot more furniture on moving day and is way more fun in the mud than the Toyota. Then, in an interview with AdAge, Mr. Quelch says that by choosing Alaska Governer Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain has put a red Chevy Camaro next to his truck.

Hmm. Palin as a Camaro? Next to McCain's Ford truck? Sounds like a house divided to us.

How about it? Is Obama a hybrid Japanese car? McCain a pickup truck? Should Mr. Quelch have said Palin is a Barracuda?

[Sources: AdAge via Newsweek]

Obama a Prius? Palin a Camaro? Politics get revved up originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the wake of GM's Tuesday press conference detailing its plans to have enough cash on hand through 2009, politicians have been eager to voice their thoughts regarding the possibility of a government bailout. President Bush gave the possibility a strong no, but the two guys in line for his job have taken a different route.

Senator Obama has said that he supports automaker's attempts to restructure without outside help, but says he's willing to work with the companies on fuel saving tech. Republican Senator John McCain took an even stronger pro-automaker stance, saying "if it looks like it is approaching that, everyone has to consider every option." The Arizona Senator and presumed Republican nominee has stated in the past that he wouldn't support a buyout, but would instead provide tax breaks and infrastructure support to create more fuel efficient vehicles. McCain's "every option" comment may not sit well with his party, but it could sound good to Detroit automakers. McCain is visiting the GM tech center today. Both presidential candidates are working hard to woo Michigan voters, which will be a key state to win in the November election. Even though GM has stated it isn't looking for a handout, Michigan residents would love to know that the automaker would get one if it really needed it.

[Source: CNN Money, Image: Getty/Bill Pugliano]

If GM's situation worsens, McCain open to "every option" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamaBarackObamabushChryslerFordGMmccainFri, 18 Jul 2008 13:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1259891/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/07/18/if-gms-situation-worsens-mccain-open-to-every-option/1259891/article-detail.xml 1259891 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/81979054_450op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/81979054_450op.jpg <![CDATA[Sen. McCain proposes $300m prize for a better battery]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/23/sen-mccain-proposes-300m-prize-for-a-better-battery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/23/sen-mccain-proposes-300m-prize-for-a-better-battery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/23/sen-mccain-proposes-300m-prize-for-a-better-battery/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Petroleum prices are making electric vehicles and engines which run on biofuels look more and more attractive with each passing day. That's why its likely to be a hot topic this election season as each presidential candidate sets out his own unique proposals to ease the country into a new era of lower fuel consumption. Biofuels may be the quickest path to lower petroleum usage, but it's electric vehicles which present the biggest step forward in clean auto technology looking forward.

Both biofuels and battery technology are getting some love from Senator John McCain, who's set to propose a prize of $300 million for the first company who can build a better battery. That's a large sum of money, but it won't be easy to tap considering that the goal is for a battery with "the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars." Oh yeah, and do all that with a seventy-percent reduction in cost. That shouldn't be a problem, right?

[Source: The Detroit News]

Sen. McCain proposes $300m prize for a better battery originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery technologyBatteryTechnologybiofuelbiofuelscar batteryCarBatteryelectric car batteryElectricCarBatteryhybrid batterieshybrid batteryHybridBatteriesHybridBatteryjohn mccainJohnMccainmccainMon, 23 Jun 2008 14:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1233454/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/06/23/sen-mccain-proposes-300m-prize-for-a-better-battery/1233454/article-detail.xml 1233454 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/mccain_john_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/06/mccain_john.jpg <![CDATA[Poll: Auto execs favor McCain by 70%]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/02/poll-auto-execs-favor-mccain-by-70/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/02/poll-auto-execs-favor-mccain-by-70/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/02/poll-auto-execs-favor-mccain-by-70/#commentsFiled under:

As part of the 2008 Global Automotive Survey, the automotive division of law firm Dykema Gossett PLLC surveyed 46 leading automotive executives in America on their opinions regarding the upcoming presidential race and the forecast for the U.S. automotive industry. The picture that the respondents painted in their responses was anything but bright.

Regarding the three leading presidential candidates, 70% favored Republican Senator John McCain. However, the survey indicated that the favor was due less to McCain's record regarding the automobile industry and more in juxtaposition to those of rival Democratic candidates Senators Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, the latter garnering the most opposition with 57% of respondents viewing an Obama administration as having a potentially negative impact on the industry. The survey also addressed the executives' attitudes towards the future of the carmaking industry in America, in which not a single respondent conveyed a positive outlook, while 87% projected a negative outlook with the remaining 13% responding neutrally.

[Source: The Detroit News, Photo by Bryan Mitchell/Getty]

Poll: Auto execs favor McCain by 70% originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Global Automotive SurveyGlobalAutomotiveSurveyjohn mccainJohnMccainmccainmccain automotive industrymccain detroitMccainAutomotiveIndustryMccainDetroitpresident detroitPresidentDetroitpresidential candidatepresidential electionpresidential primarypresidential racePresidentialCandidatePresidentialElectionPresidentialPrimaryPresidentialRaceWed, 02 Apr 2008 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1155188/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/04/02/poll-auto-execs-favor-mccain-by-70/1155188/article-detail.xml 1155188 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/78938543_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/78938543_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Cars and Candidates: GOP prospects stop by the Detroit Auto Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/15/cars-and-candidates-gop-prospects-stop-by-the-detroit-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/15/cars-and-candidates-gop-prospects-stop-by-the-detroit-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/15/cars-and-candidates-gop-prospects-stop-by-the-detroit-auto-show/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click image for a gallery of politicos at the Detroit Auto Show

Last night, on the eve of the Michigan presidential primary, the NAIAS show floor played host to some political VIPs on hand for photo ops with the Detroit automakers' new concept and production vehicles. Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, who's stumping for John McCain, stopped by Ford, as did Mitt Romney, who was apparently given a tour the new F-150 by the mulletted one himself, Mark Fields. Over at Chrysler, we snagged Mike Huckabee as he was given a rundown on its trio of EV concepts by Jim Press. John McCain also stopped by, but we didn't catch the Arizona senator out on the show floor. Naturally, green and alternative fuel technologies were of primary interest to the candidates, and Mike Huckabee even went so far as to don a green necktie for the occasion. As far as we know, none of the presidential hopefuls stopped by to check out the Bio Fuel Ferrari, though. Oh well. Their loss. The Wall Street Journal was part of the phalanx of reporters following the candidates around the show, and we've embedded a video of their coverage after the jump.

UPDATE: Check out this video at carlist.com of Sen. John McCain, who we missed at the show, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman at the 2008 NAIAS.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: Cars and Candidates

Continue reading Cars and Candidates: GOP prospects stop by the Detroit Auto Show

Cars and Candidates: GOP prospects stop by the Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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