Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VW to reveal new global Beetle in two weeks on MTV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/04/vw-to-reveal-new-global-beetle-in-two-weeks-on-mtv/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/04/vw-to-reveal-new-global-beetle-in-two-weeks-on-mtv/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/04/vw-to-reveal-new-global-beetle-in-two-weeks-on-mtv/#commentsFiled under: , ,

New Beetle Spy photos
2012 Volkswagen Beetle spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

You think Volkswagen is interested in generating buzz in the next generation Beetle? The automaker teased (and gave away) The People's Car on Oprah in the fall, Followed by a pricey but clever Super Bowl commercial back in February. We heard a couple weeks back that VW planned to follow up on the considerable Beetle buzz with an unveil in Shanghai, but that's only part of the story.

Volkswagen has announced that it will unveil the 2012 Beetle on April 18 in a whirlwind tour of three continents. The kickoff will occur in China, followed by reveals in Berlin and New York City. The entire event will be covered by MTV, with special guests planned for each event. Here in the States, the event will be headlined by The Black Eyed Peas while the Germans will kick it with Belgian duo 2manydjs.

Luca de Meo, Director of Marketing, Volkswagen Group, touts the marketing partnership of Beetle and MTV as a pair of icons working together. The marketing boss believes that the 2012 Beetle's "one-of-a-kind styling combined with the latest technology will be very well received by customers."

Stay tuned to Autoblog as we gather the latest 2012 Beetle intelligence in advance of the bulbous hatchback's global reveal, and feel free to peruse our spy photo gallery of the prototype Beetle below, then hit the jump to look over VW's official press release.


Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots

2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots2012 Volkswagen New Beetle: Spy Shots

[Source: Volkswagen | Images: KGP Photography]

Continue reading VW to reveal new global Beetle in two weeks on MTV

VW to reveal new global Beetle in two weeks on MTV originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 volkswagen beetle2manydjsbeetleblack eyed peasmtvnew beetleshanghai 2011shanghai motor showvwvw beetlevw bugMon, 04 Apr 2011 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19901945/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/04/vw-to-reveal-new-global-beetle-in-two-weeks-on-mtv/19901945/article-detail.xml 19901945 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/2012-vw-new-beetle-spy-2-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/2012-vw-new-beetle-spy-2-opt.jpg <![CDATA[VW Beetle makes a bold bet on <i>Skins</i> [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/26/vw-beetle-makes-a-bold-bet-on-skins-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/26/vw-beetle-makes-a-bold-bet-on-skins-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/26/vw-beetle-makes-a-bold-bet-on-skins-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,

vw black beetle
Volkswagen's Black Beetle Commercial - Click above to watch video after the jump

Companies prefer spending ad dollars on TV shows that people are actually going to watch. Sometimes, it's simply a matter of buzz; if a lot of good or bad things are being said about a program, people are likely to tune in out of curiosity. Volkswagen is aware of this, and the automaker is betting that folks are going to tune into watch MTV's controversial new show Skins.

Declared too racy by some critics, Skins was a high-school drama that showed drug use and sex amongst teenagers. It was also apparently quite terrible, judging from the reviews found around the Internet.The show aired its season (and possibly series) finale this past Monday, and VW was on board with some advertising airtime.

The initial backlash against Skins was enough to send some top-tier advertisers running. Volkswagen was willing to gamble that enough hype had been generated and people would tune in to the season-ender. Able to grab more airtime than usual, the automaker double-dipped on its new Black Beatle commercial, which was first seen during Super Bowl XLV. Smart move for VW? Well, the Skins finale drew 1.2 million viewers, the most the show had since February 7, for whatever that's worth.

Click past the jump to watch Volkswagen's Black Beetle commercial, and you don't even have to sit through an episode of Skins beforehand.

[Sources: The New York Times, YouTube]

Continue reading VW Beetle makes a bold bet on Skins [w/video]

VW Beetle makes a bold bet on Skins [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbeetleblack beetle commercialcommercialmtvmtv skinsskinsvideovolkswagenvolkswagen beetlevolkswagen black beetleSat, 26 Mar 2011 17:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19888459/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/26/vw-beetle-makes-a-bold-bet-on-skins-w-video/19888459/article-detail.xml 19888459 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/vw-ad-630-1296502949_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/vw-ad-630-1296502949.jpg <![CDATA[Xzibit broke, needs someone to pimp his checking account?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/xzibit-broke-needs-someone-to-pimp-his-checking-account/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/xzibit-broke-needs-someone-to-pimp-his-checking-account/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/30/xzibit-broke-needs-someone-to-pimp-his-checking-account/#commentsFiled under: ,

Xzibit

Is Galpin Auto Sports hiring? Because rapper/actor Xzibit is broke. During his Pimp My Ride days on MTV, X was raking in the dough - in 2007, he earned $497,175 from the crazy custom car show. The very next year, after the show was canceled, he earned a decidedly un-Hollywoodesque $67,510... an income drop of nearly 86 percent. According to public records, Xzibit now owes $959,523 in delinquent taxes.

Filing for bankruptcy twice in 2009 didn't get him anywhere, since both filings were dismissed. As of July 2009, Xzibit's assets were listed at $739,433, yet his debts totaled around $1.4 million. The assets are primarily attribute to various homes owned in California and New Mexico.

[Source: The Detroit News via Jalopnik | Image: Xzibit.com]

Xzibit broke, needs someone to pimp his checking account? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>galpingalpin auto sportsmtvpimp my ridexzibitxzibit bankruptcyThu, 30 Dec 2010 15:43:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19781777/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/30/xzibit-broke-needs-someone-to-pimp-his-checking-account/19781777/article-detail.xml 19781777 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/xzibit_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/xzibit.jpg <![CDATA[MTV goes car crazy: Trick it Out joins final season of Pimp My Ride]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/mtv-goes-car-crazy-trick-it-out-joins-final-season-of-pimp-my-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/mtv-goes-car-crazy-trick-it-out-joins-final-season-of-pimp-my-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/mtv-goes-car-crazy-trick-it-out-joins-final-season-of-pimp-my-r/#commentsFiled under: ,



Looks like MTV wants to shake things up a bit on Sunday nights. They are set to pit two customizers against each other in a new series that will join a longtime favorite in the lineup. Out-going classic "Pimp My Ride" will follow the freshman series "Trick It Out" starting at 10pm ET/PT. Check your program guide though, because the site has it listed as airing on Thursdays instead of Sundays. There's a full press release after the jump that explains what the new series has to offer, but in brief, "Trick It Out" will be more of a competitive show, where cars will be customized by different specialists who want to one-up each other and show off their mad skillz. Set in L.A., the show will visit some of the top mod shops to see who can "trick out" their vehicle the best.

It will be two four-member teams each week starting out with similarly beat up rides and identical budgets of 15 grand(!). In just 10 days, the teams have to turn their "worn-out clunkers into the most badass looking rides imaginable." To keep the shops from repeating their favorite tricks, there will be a different theme each week. RJ Devera, who you may remember in the first Fast and the Furious as the guy playing Gran Turismo in his car before the first big street race, will be the judge who decides which team gets not only bragging rights for the build, but also both the winning and losing rides.

It sounds worth a watch, especially if the teams figure out how to get to the judge. We're guessing this might be a knock-down, drag-out fight in the works. And for "Pimp" fans who might be feeling withdrawal symptoms, MTV says shows are now available at the iTunes Store, Amazon Unbox, and the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Of course, they could always pick up one of the show's creations for themselves instead.

Full release after the jump.

[Source: MTV]

Continue reading MTV goes car crazy: Trick it Out joins final season of Pimp My Ride

MTV goes car crazy: Trick it Out joins final season of Pimp My Ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MTVPimp My RidePimpMyRideTrick it OutTrickItOutWed, 01 Aug 2007 20:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/955510/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/08/01/mtv-goes-car-crazy-trick-it-out-joins-final-season-of-pimp-my-r/955510/article-detail.xml 955510 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/08/281x211_logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/08/281x211_logo.jpg <![CDATA[MTV to pimp out a '65 Impala with 800hp biodiesel for Earth Day]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/14/mtv-to-pimp-out-a-65-impala-with-800hp-biodiesel-for-earth-day/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/14/mtv-to-pimp-out-a-65-impala-with-800hp-biodiesel-for-earth-day/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/14/mtv-to-pimp-out-a-65-impala-with-800hp-biodiesel-for-earth-day/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Next week on MTV, it's a "Very Special Edition" of Pimp My Ride. In honor of Earth Day coming on April 22, the crew of the popular MTV show that proves on a regular basis that having a large budget in no way guarantees good judgment will be updating a 1965 Chevy Impala. Generally, the best way to have a 65 Impala help the environment would be to tow it to the nearest car crusher and then melt it down to make new cars.

That, however, wouldn't be nearly as entertaining as the approach taken by the crew at Galpin Auto Sports, and it certainly wouldn't merit inclusion here. Instead, they've tossed the old pre-EPA engine that was in the Impala. GM provided the team with a brand new Duramax diesel V-8 as is used in the automaker's full size trucks and SUVs, and after a few minor tweaks, it was installed in the Impala. Result: the GAS crew took the engine from 360hp to 800hp running on biodiesel! Stay tuned for more on the veggie oil special later this week.

[Source: MTV]

MTV to pimp out a '65 Impala with 800hp biodiesel for Earth Day originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Apr 2007 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earth dayEarthDaymtvpimp my ridePimpMyRideSat, 14 Apr 2007 17:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/872064/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/04/14/mtv-to-pimp-out-a-65-impala-with-800hp-biodiesel-for-earth-day/872064/article-detail.xml 872064 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/65-impala_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/65-impala.jpg <![CDATA[VIDEO: Cruisin' Monte Carlo with Jay-Z, Dale jr. and Danica]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/18/video-cruisin-monte-carlo-with-jay-z-dale-jr-and-danica/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/18/video-cruisin-monte-carlo-with-jay-z-dale-jr-and-danica/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/18/video-cruisin-monte-carlo-with-jay-z-dale-jr-and-danica/#commentsFiled under:

It's not often that we post video footage from BET, but Jay-Z's latest music video for "Show Me What You Got" makes us wonder if we haven't been missing something.

The video puts some hip-hop flava' on the James Bond theme, set in Monaco with Jay-Z cruisin' the streets of Monte Carlo, ridin' the Mediterranean waves in a speed boat, layin' down some cards and cash at the casino and kickin' it at a seaside party.

The best part is right up front in the first minute, with Jay-Z riding shotgun in a Ferrari F430 Spider with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at the wheel, racing Danica Patrick in a Pagani Zonda Roadster down Monaco's unrestricted countryside roads. Whether you like rap music or not, this video's not to be missed.

[Source: Jalopnik]

VIDEO: Cruisin' Monte Carlo with Jay-Z, Dale jr. and Danica originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Oct 2006 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betdaledanicaearnhardthip-hopjay-zmonacomonte carloMonteCarlomtvmusicpatrickrapshow me what you gotShowMeWhatYouGotvideoWed, 18 Oct 2006 14:24:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/686974/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/10/18/video-cruisin-monte-carlo-with-jay-z-dale-jr-and-danica/686974/article-detail.xml 686974 <![CDATA[GM supplying MTV with fleet of custom E85 vehicles and Chip Foose Tahoe Concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/24/gm-supplying-mtv-with-fleet-of-custom-e85-vehicles-and-chip-foos/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/24/gm-supplying-mtv-with-fleet-of-custom-e85-vehicles-and-chip-foos/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/24/gm-supplying-mtv-with-fleet-of-custom-e85-vehicles-and-chip-foos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



General Motors has teamed up with the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards to supply the event with a fleet of 60 E85 capable Chevy Tahoe, Avalanche and Suburban vehicles. The fleet will be used to transport "talent" (we use that term loosely) to the event and also get the word out about the first E85 refueling station in New York City that will be announced later this month. Each fleet vehicle is lightly customized with billet grilles, Chevy Accessory wheels and bright kit running boards on the Tahoes only. Designers stopped short of using MTV's Moon Man award as a hood ornament.



To commemorate the event, GM also hired designer du jour Chip Foose to build the Tahoe Concept. The company is billing Foose's creation as the first customized E85-capable vehicle. The Tahoe Concept features Foose details like a black powder-coated billet grille, lowered ride height, custom black wheels and a special two-tone paint job with a thin Tangier orange stripe.

Fuel for the fleet vehicles being used during the show will be provided by Sprague Energy and the vehicles will refuel at the New York City Dept. of Sanitation, hopefully after they've dropped off their pop star cargo at the red carpet. After the VMAs are over, Chevy will sell all 60 "MTV Video Music Awards Chevy E85" vehicles at dealerships in the New York area. That's right, you could own the Tahoe that delivers Ashley Simpson to Radio City Music Hall.

(More pics and GM's press release after the jump)

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM supplying MTV with fleet of custom E85 vehicles and Chip Foose Tahoe Concept

GM supplying MTV with fleet of custom E85 vehicles and Chip Foose Tahoe Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Aug 2006 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AvalancheChip FooseChipFooseE85ethanolMTVSuburbanTahoeVideo Music AwardsVideoMusicAwardsVMAThu, 24 Aug 2006 16:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/658708/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/08/24/gm-supplying-mtv-with-fleet-of-custom-e85-vehicles-and-chip-foos/658708/article-detail.xml 658708 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/mtvchevye85tahoe01_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/08/mtvchevye85tahoe01.jpg <![CDATA[Galpin Auto Sports joins new Pimp My Ride on MTV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/28/galpin-auto-sports-joins-new-pimp-my-ride-on-mtv/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/28/galpin-auto-sports-joins-new-pimp-my-ride-on-mtv/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/28/galpin-auto-sports-joins-new-pimp-my-ride-on-mtv/#commentsFiled under: , ,



West Coast Customs is out and Galpin Auto Sports is in on MTV's new season of the Xzibit-driven car makeover show Pimp My Ride. Galpin is well known for customizing all manner of Ford product for decades and has a rich history as one of the Blue Oval's most colorful dealerships. In addition to the design talents provided by Galpin's own Beau Boeckmann, the new season of Pimp My Ride will also feature a familiar face in Mad Mike, who used to work for West Coast Customs and host the show shotgun style with Xzibit. Check out this page for some examples of Galpin's past work (like the above "deceased" themed F-150) before the new season airs on June 15th.

[Source: Inside Line]

Galpin Auto Sports joins new Pimp My Ride on MTV originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 May 2006 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Galpin Auto SportsGalpinAutoSportsMTVPimp My RidePimpMyRideXzibitSun, 28 May 2006 15:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/622581/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/05/28/galpin-auto-sports-joins-new-pimp-my-ride-on-mtv/622581/article-detail.xml 622581 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/Galpinfordtruck_thumbnail.png http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/Galpinfordtruck.png <![CDATA[West Coast Customs will no longer pimp yo ride]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/29/west-coast-customs-will-no-longer-pimp-yo-ride/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/29/west-coast-customs-will-no-longer-pimp-yo-ride/http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/29/west-coast-customs-will-no-longer-pimp-yo-ride/#commentsOn MTV, anyway. West Coast Customs and MTV have decided to file for divorce, amicably ending a relationship that debuted as "Pimp My Ride" with host Xzibit in 2004.

WCC boss Ryan Friedlinghause cites his company's image as the reason behind the decision, and announced that he will be moving his operations to Corona, Calif., to new digs that will become the set of a new show WCC will do with the Discovery Channel and the producers of "American Chopper" and "American Hot Rod."

The reason WCC is bailing on MTV was no secret, particularly after the shop's Sean Mahaney (or a very convincing impersonator) dropped in on a thread on the Beyond car forums to say, "Most of the MTV people are not real car guys... They pay us to build the cars, so we do what they want even if it sucks."

WCC's show on the Discovery Channel is as-of-yet unnamed, but it will likely extend outside merely the high-end automotive world to profile WCC's work on private jets, helicopters and tour buses.

West Coast Customs will no longer pimp yo ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Dec 2005 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Discovery ChannelDiscoveryChannelMTVPimp My RidePimpMyRideThu, 29 Dec 2005 08:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/575602/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2005/12/29/west-coast-customs-will-no-longer-pimp-yo-ride/575602/article-detail.xml 575602 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2005/12/Pimp_My_Ride_logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2005/12/Pimp_My_Ride_logo.jpg -1 2