Autoblog

Autoblog drives to the Arctic Circle

Chris Paukert — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Truck, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, New Car Reviews, Diesel

In Which Mercedes' Sprinter Becomes A Long-Distance Sherpa

In the wintery wilds of northern Alaska, even the cute little critters want to kill you.

As I am about to nod off on my long leg flight from Minneapolis to Anchorage ahead of driving to the Arctic Circle, the friendly twenty-something Alaskan knitting furiously in the seat next to me pauses and says, "When you're driving up there, don't open your windows." In the dead of winter? I hadn't planned on cruising alfresco, but her warning to keep the glazing snugged against the weatherstripping is one I would take to heart. She continues: "If you leave 'em open, a fox is liable to jump right in. There are lots of rabid foxes up there, and they leap into your car and just Go. To. Town." And here I was, thinking that a curious bear or maybe an ill-placed moose in the road was going to be my biggest potential four-legged threat. In the wintery wilds of northern Alaska, even the cute little critters want to kill you.

Bedraggled after two flights and a long layover, I reach my hotel room nursing a toothache and a suddenly metastasizing cold. I manage to down half a reindeer burger from room service and a sleeping pill, and with a cute red fox taking the place of the killer rabbit in that scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail stuck on mental replay, I hit the pillow, wondering what in the hell I've gotten myself into.

The next day starts early, and I meet my fellow adventurers-to-be at the morning briefing. We're assembled at the Anchorage Sheraton at the behest of Mercedes-Benz Canada, and our plan is to drive from Anchorage to the former mining camp of Coldfoot, which lies inside the Arctic Circle. In Sprinter commercial vans. At 1,264 miles, it's the last leg of a longer endurance run that started out in Edmonton. We'll stop for the night in Fairbanks, then run alongside the 800-mile-long Trans-Alaskan Pipeline before saying hello to the Arctic Circle. From there, we'll venture up to Coldfoot Camp, where we'll hopefully stand directly underneath the Northern Lights. Then we'll do the whole thing in reverse, ending up in this very hotel five days from now.

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Autoblog drives to the Arctic Circle originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Speed will be renamed Fox Sports 1

Michael Harley — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: TV/Movies

As we first reported last October, it appears that the Speed channel - currently offered in more than 80 million homes in North America - will likely be rebranded as Fox Sports 1 late this summer. The renaming will allow Fox to broaden the channel's focus and air content from its Major League Baseball and National Football League contracts. A more general sports format will also position Fox more aggressively against ESPN and its various sports channels.

There is no word as to what the network plans to do with Speed's 75,000 square-foot facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, but its current renovation may be part of the plan to turn it into an anchor desk for Fox Sports 1.

Pending an official announcement from Fox, there has been no mention as the to fate of Speed's automotive content - both The List and Translogic, AOL's programming, currently appear on the Speed.

Speed will be renamed Fox Sports 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Episode 2 of The List tonight on Speed

John Neff — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:30:00 EST

The State of the Union is tonight at 9PM EST, and we've already spoken with the President, who assures us he'll be done talking in plenty of time to catch the second episode of The List on Speed at 10:30PM EST/PST.

Tonight's episode focuses on off-roading adventures, which, as you may remember, The List covered when it entered Jessi and Patrick in the Baja 1000. Those two web episodes, Part I and II, are a pair of our favorite from the series, and we're excited to see them in HD on our flatscreens tonight.

The episode tonight will also feature some never-before-seen footage from an episode of The List that never aired in the first season. It was sort of like our Pilot episode when we were still figuring out how the show would work, and we're happy that the footage is finally seeing the light of day thanks to Speed.

Don't forget, the second episode of Translogic also airs tonight right before The List at 10:00PM EST/PST. Make sure to check out our Power Hour of programming tonight on Speed and let us know what you think in the comments.

Got your own idea for an item we should tackle on The List? Let us know what it is.

Watch Episode 2 of The List tonight on Speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #320 LIVE!

Dan Roth — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Chevrolet, GM, Holden, Australia, Celebrities

We're set to record Autoblog Podcast #320 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #320 LIVE! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Set Your DVRs! Autoblog's The List to be broadcast on Speed

John Neff — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

We have some exciting news to share: Speed channel will begin airing Autoblog's The List as its own half-hour television show, beginning February 5th at 10:30 PM EST and PST. The car-centric cable channel will also air half-hour episodes of our sister show, Translogic, at 10:00 PM EST and PST. Consider it the AOL Autos/Autoblog Power Hour on Speed.

We were very honored many months ago when Speed approached us about converting The List into a TV show, and couldn't be happier that its premiere, along with that of Translogic, is less than a week away. After next week's premiere, new episodes will air every Tuesday at the same time each week.

If you've been watching the show on Autoblog, these initial half-hour episodes of The List on Speed might be ones you've already seen, since the first season of the show as it appeared on the website has been deftly converted into episodes that will work on the small screen. Partnerships like this, however, as well as the show's new sponsor, Allstate, have allowed us to start shooting new episodes for the second season, all of which will debut here on Autoblog first. In fact, Jessi and Patrick are in Alaska checking off a list item as we speak.

It's great recognition for us and the show's producers at AOL Studios that Speed saw something special in The List and Translogic (this is the first time ever that AOL's premium original video content will be televised), and we're so excited to share this series that we had so much fun making with an entirely new audience. Be sure to check out the premiere this Tuesday, February 5 at 10:30 PM EST/PST!

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Set Your DVRs! Autoblog's The List to be broadcast on Speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0004: Conquer the Rubicon Trail

John Neff — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Jeep, Off-Road, The List

Throughout the course of the year, we've had Jessi and Patrick check off some big items on our list of 1,001 Car Things To Do Before You Die - things like lap the Nürbugring, drive over 200 miles per hour and race in the Baja 1000. But one item has been conspicuously absent: conquering the Rubicon Trail.

The ultimate test for off-roaders, the Rubicon Trail is a storied path over terrain that's practically inaccessible by 99.99 percent of production vehicles. Jeep, however, prides itself on selling products designed to traverse this granddaddy of off-road trails, and there are none so capable in its showroom as the Wrangler.

Jeep was kind enough to lend us a shiny, new Wrangler for this challenge, knowing full well it would not be returned unmolested, and to aid our intrepid hosts in their quest, we paired them with organizers of the famed Jeepers Jamboree, who were headed deep into Rubcon Springs for their annual bash. Unfortunately, the weekend turned somber with a reminder of just how dangerous off-roading can be, which in turn made Jessi and Patrick's exit from this adventure more dramatic than they had planned.

Watch Jessi and Patrick tackle the Rubicon Trail below, and if you've got an idea for The List, submit it by clicking the "Your List" link below.

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Click here to learn more about our hosts, Jessi and Patrick.

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The List #0004: Conquer the Rubicon Trail originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0035: Drive The German Autobahn

John Neff — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, BMW, The List

We told you last time that Jessi and Patrick still had some items to check off The List after picking up a car from BMW via European delivery. They had to make their way from BMW's headquarters in Munich to a certain race track, and when in Germany, there's only one road that's worth taking to get where you're going: the Autobahn.

Our intrepid hosts have already achieved the feat of driving 200 miles per hour, but in this latest of The List, they're looking to challenge that number on Germany's most famous public road. To do it they needed the help of Alpina and its incredible B7 sedan. Large, powerful and stable, the B7 is our hosts' best chance to tame the Autobahn.

Watch the latest episode of The List below, and stay tuned in the coming weeks for the last episode from our trip to Germany that you won't want to miss.

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Click here to learn more about our hosts, Jessi and Patrick.

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The List #0035: Drive The German Autobahn originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0180: Work As A Professional Stunt Driver

John Neff — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, The List

Working as a professional stunt driver is one of the most popular requests we get for The List. Making it happen, however, has proven to be a challenge. It isn't as simple as crashing a Hollywood set and sticking our hosts, Jessi and Patrick, behind the wheel of a car meant for Keanu's character. Not only would that require access we don't have (not for lack of trying), but the movie studios wouldn't let us film their set or show you the scene's final cut.

In order to check this item off our list and show you the results, we needed to get creative. We decided to go into the movie-making business and produce a short film that would give Jessi and Patrick an opportunity to apply the skills they've learned so far on The List. Trading in our blogging bylines for producer credits also lets us show you how a Hollywood movie set works when there are cars, cameras, helicopters and stunts involved. Spoiler Alert: It's a little dangerous, a lotta crazy and can get very expensive.

There are two videos below for you to watch. The first is the actual episode of The List that shows what it took to produce a short film and check working as a professional stunt driver off our list. The second video is the final product, our short film called The Driver. And while, yes, we do plan on keeping our day jobs, our caps must nonetheless be doffed to the show's producer and director, Graham Suorsa, who somehow managed to pull all of this off.

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The List #0180: Work As A Professional Stunt Driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0096: Photograph Your Car Like A Pro

John Neff — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, The List

Photographing cars is near and dear to our hearts at Autoblog. We're proud of the images we publish in our reviews because we take nearly all of them ourselves rather than hiring photographers to do the work for us, and the man who sets the bar for our team is Director of Photography, Drew Phillips. He's Autoblog's own in-house professional photographer, and he's taught each one of us the tricks of his trade.

Many viewers of The List have told us that they also aspire to photograph their car like a pro, and while it's a tall order to teach you everything the pros know in a ten-minute video, there are many tips and tricks we can share that should get you most of the way there.

Enter Jessi and Patrick, who are going to go through a mini bootcamp for aspiring automotive photographers in today's episode of The List. First thing's first, though: They have to detail the car, so Joe Fernandez from Superior Shine Mobile Auto Detailing was called in to teach Jessi and Patrick the basics of professional auto detailing.

Scroll down to watch The List #0096: Photograph Your Car Like A Pro. Use the comments to post a link to your own best automotive photography, or share some more tips for getting the best picture possible.

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Continue reading The List #0096: Photograph Your Car Like A Pro

The List #0096: Photograph Your Car Like A Pro originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0187: Escape an Automotive Attack

John Neff — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, The List

It's one thing to protect yourself on the road against bad drivers who might cut you off or ride your bumper on the highway. It's quite another to do that when those drivers have guns and want to kidnap the diplomat in your back seat. While the latter scenario may sound unlikely, many drivers in law enforcement, security and the military go through training to prevent the success of just such an attack-on-wheels.

Learning how people in the protection business escape an automotive attack is on our list of 1,001 Car Things To Do Before You Die, which means it's on Jessi and Patrick's list too. We sent them to the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving to enroll in its four-day Executive Protection/Anti-Kidnapping program. Their course instruction includes valuable skills like what to do when your driver's been shot, the proper way to do a J-turn and how to perform a textbook PIT maneuver, among other things.

Even if your life isn't in jeopardy from a phalanx of baddies in hot pursuit, the end game here is a finer understanding of using automotive physics to one's advantage and improving one's car control skills.

Click here to watch The List #0187: Escape an Automotive Attack.

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The List #0187: Escape an Automotive Attack originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0200: Drive 200 MPH

John Neff — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, The List

We keep track of every idea that you submit for The List. Of the hundreds we get after each episode airs, one is without question at the top of everyone's list: drive 200 miles per hour.

Despite the first production car eclipsing 200 mph back in the mid-'80s, we thankfully aren't yet jaded by the feat. Unlike back then, however, more than a handful of today's cars can beat two bills if given enough runway.

That's exactly where Jessi and Patrick found themselves on the day we asked them to do the deed: the runways of the Mojave Air & Space Port near Mojave, CA. Eagle-eyed Autoblog readers will remember that this is one of the locations used by World Class Driving to conduct their 200MPH Challenge Experience. We should know; we've gone after the elusive two hundred twice now, falling short the first time but succeeding the second at this very location (check out the gallery from that experience below).

We enrolled Jessi and Patrick for a day's worth of double-hundy attempts in vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and new Ferrari 458 Italia. Each took their own shot at 200-mph glory, and one even discovered that reaching 200 mph is the easy part.

Click here to watch The List #0200: Drive 200 MPH.

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The List #0200: Drive 200 MPH originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 May 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0041: Attend A Major Car Auction

John Neff — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Auctions, Videos, The List

When you think of major car auctions, you probably think of Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. That's the one that came to mind for us, which is why we sent Jessi and Patrick to experience its sights and sounds this past January.

Not only did they come away with what it's like to be inside the big tents of Barrett-Jackson on the company's biggest day of the year, they also followed the experiences of several sellers, all of whom were counting on six- and seven-figure prices for their precious pieces of metal. Did they leave the Grand Canyon State with smiles on their faces? Scroll down and watch the latest episode of The List to find out.

Click here to watch The List #0041: Attend A Major Car Auction.

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The List #0041: Attend A Major Car Auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0044: Race in the Baja 1000 - Part 2

John Neff — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, The List

Jessi and Patrick spent the first part of this episode getting acclimated to Mexico while learning what was in store for them behind the wheel of a desert racer in the Baja 1000. In order to officially check this off The List, however, they had to actually race in this grueling and dangerous contest of endurance that shows no mercy for greenhorns. We had no idea what to expect and, frankly, just hoped they would finish without getting hurt. As it turns out, we wildly underestimated our hosts. Follow the jump to see how our two intrepid Baja competitors performed.

Do you have an idea for The List? Click here to tell us what would be on yours.

You can also click here to learn more about our hosts, Jessi and Patrick.

Continue reading The List #0044: Race in the Baja 1000 - Part 2

The List #0044: Race in the Baja 1000 - Part 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The List #0001: Graduate From A High Performance Driving School

John Neff — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: The List

The premiere episode of The List is here, and the first thing anyone should do if they're considering tackling a must-do roster of automotive things is attend a high performance driving school. We have to make sure that our hosts Jessi Combs and Patrick McIntyre are prepared for everything that's in store for them, so we sent them both to Skip Barber Racing School for a two-day High Performance Driving class. The action takes place at California's Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, which means they'll have to get good enough to handle serious turns like the famous Corkscrew. Follow the jump to see how they do.

Do you have an idea for The List? Click here to tell us what would be on yours.

You can also click here to learn more about the hosts of The List.

Continue reading The List #0001: Graduate From A High Performance Driving School

The List #0001: Graduate From A High Performance Driving School originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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