Autoblog

Slate argues Danica Patrick is putting the women's movement back [w/poll]

Seyth Miersma — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Celebrities, Read This

Danica Patrick has been a lightning rod for both praise and criticism throughout her objectively successful, decade-long career as a racing driver. Putting to the side for a moment that it is still very rare for a woman to get a drive in a top-tier series, something that Patrick first managed back in the 2005 IRL season, her successes are still impressive. Patrick is the only woman to ever win an IndyCar race, hold the best finish ever by a woman at the Indy 500 (third) as well as being the only woman to lead the storied race in Indianapolis.

It's all of that background that has Slate writer (and racing aficionado) Laura Helmuth up in arms. Helmuth's basic claim is that Patrick's questionable sponsorship deals, and resultant lowest-common-denominator commercials, have not only undermined her credibility as a role model for woman and girls, but have even served to set back woman's rights and the place of woman in the sport of racing.

The argument is nuanced and interesting, and we encourage you to click through and read it in full on Slate. When you're done, come back and tell us what you think about the Patrick/Go Daddy relationship in our poll below.

View Poll

Slate argues Danica Patrick is putting the women's movement back [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Feb 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Indonesian province bans women from straddling motorbikes behind male riders

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Motorcycle

Aceh, a province of Indonesia, is the only one of the island nation's areas to have adopted Sharia law. Over the past few years the region of 4.5 million has passed laws to bring its populace, native and otherwise, more into line with its interpretation of Sharia, opening a Sharia court and instituting a Sharia police force, passing a law to stone adulterers, banning tight pants and re-educating "punks."

The BBC reports that Aceh authorities have taken another step, instituting a regulation that bans women from straddling motorbikes when they ride behind men. Anyone who's been to Asia knows the ubiquity of motorbikes and how often pillion riders, male and female, can be seen riding astride or sidesaddle. The mayor of one Aceh city says that women straddling a bike behind a male rider is contrary to Islamic values, a risk to "people's 'morals and behaviors,'" and that a woman who rides sidesaddle "looks like a woman," which is preferred.

The regulation will be tested for a month, after which it could become law, but other Muslims have spoken out against it. One commenter wrote that none of the religion's important texts have anything to say about how motorbikes are ridden, adding that, "In a democratic country, what is claimed to be Sharia must be assessed by the public's common sense if the government aims to turn the regulation into law."

Indonesian province bans women from straddling motorbikes behind male riders originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Women outnumber men for first time on US roads

Zach Bowman — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Safety

According to a study by the University of Michigan, women now outnumber men on US roads for the first time in the country's history. Analysts at the school's Transportation Research Institute used data from driver's license statistics for their findings, and the trend may have a widespread impact on the automotive industry as a whole. The researchers predict that if the trend continues, it could affect everything from vehicle design to traffic fatalities and fuel consumption. The study concludes that women are more likely than men to purchase vehicles that are smaller, safer and more fuel efficient, and that they drive less over all than their male counterparts.

The study looked at trends in driver's licenses over the 15 year period between 1995 and 2010. Over that time, the number of men between the ages of 25 and 29 years old with licenses dropped by 10 percent, while the number of women in the same age bracket fell by only 4.7 percent. In 2010, 105.7 million women could legally drive, while only 104.3 million men could say the same. Contrast that with the 1950s, when around half of adult women could operate a motor vehicle.

Women outnumber men for first time on US roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vote for your favorite all-female Ford Mustang showcar for SEMA

Scott Burgess — Sat, 26 May 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Performance, Ford

A woman's place is in the garage - and some people want to keep them there.

The SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women was created by Ford Motor Co. and the Specialty Equipment Market Association to create a pony car designed by and built by women.

But before a group of volunteers pull out their wrenches and pop a few beers in the garage, they need the general public to pick the car they'll create.

Whichever Mustang gets the most votes will be built by an all-female crew and shown off at the SEMA show in Las Vegas later this year.

The three finalists include:

High Gear: A luxury Mustang concept inspired by couture clothing, jewelry and buildings. It's supposed to fuse muscle and power.

Chormatic: Uses neon colors and anthracite chrome to create a futuristic version that was inspired by street art.

Fast Metal: Symbolizes raw speed and power, using unique tone on tone dark metallic finishes with red accents.

Votes can be cast at HotRod.com and additional coverage about the vehicles can be found at AutomobileMag.com, MustangMonthly.com and MuscleMustangFastFords.com. The full press release is posted below.

Continue reading Vote for your favorite all-female Ford Mustang showcar for SEMA

Vote for your favorite all-female Ford Mustang showcar for SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 May 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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These are the 10 new cars with the highest percentage of female ownership

Chris Tutor — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo

If you hear the pejorative "chick car," what comes to mind? Mazda MX-5 Miata? Volvo C70? Would you believe neither made Inside Line's list of 2011 models with the highest percentage of female ownership? No. 1, with 57.9-percent female ownership was the Volvo S40. Considering the female dollar is sought-after, it's probably too bad that Volvo decided to axe the model for 2012.

That means No. 2, the Nissan Rogue with 56.9 percent, could take the top spot for 2012. Or maybe the VW Eos at No. 3 with 56.4 percent. We're also kind of wondering how the new Fiat 500 will fare this year.

No. 4 is another VW that shouldn't surprise. The cute New Beetle has been a perennial favorite among the ladies. It was No. 1 a year ago, but as we know, the newer, more aggressively styled Beetle is enjoying increased interest among the guys. No. 5? The Toyota Matrix, of all things.

Here's how the rest shake out according to Inside Line:

Top ten 2011 models with the highest proportion of female buyers

Volvo S40 - 57.9%
Nissan Rogue - 56.9%
Volkswagen Eos - 56.4%
Volkswagen New Beetle - 54.6
Toyota Matrix - 54.1%
Hyundai Tucson - 54%
Honda CR-V - 53.4%
Toyota RAV4 - 54%
Nissan Juke - 52.7% (tie)
Jeep Compass - 52.7% (tie)

These are the 10 new cars with the highest percentage of female ownership originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin loves women, women love Aston Martin

Chris Shunk — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Aston Martin, Luxury

If Aston Martin wants to make a sexy commercial, there probably doesn't need to be that much thought involved. All the ultra luxury brand needs to arouse the typical auto enthusiast is a collage of shots of the company's Vantage, Rapide or DB9.

That didn't stop Aston Martin from stocking its latest video creation with women, however, but it's not what you think. Hit the jump to watch Aston's 87-second-long featurette, which is titled "Aston Martin Loves Women. Women love Aston Martin."

The spot illustrates that women don't need a mini skirt to be featured in an exotic luxury car commercial, and that you don't have to be a guy to appreciate automotive beauty. And while the DBS rolling through the majestic twisties is a real looker, it's the sound bites that really get us going. Aston Martin may love women, and women may love Aston right back, but men are rather fond of 'em, too.

Continue reading Aston Martin loves women, women love Aston Martin

Aston Martin loves women, women love Aston Martin originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Women at greater risk of injury in crashes

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

The American Journal of Public Health has published a new study on the role of gender in auto accidents. The results indicate that women are more likely to be injured than men when involved in comparable crashes. Researchers say that when wearing seat belts, female drivers have a higher risk of chest and spinal injuries.

A combination of relatively smaller stature and differences in preferred seating positions make women more vulnerable, according to the study. Their chances of being injured while wearing a seatbelt are 47 percent higher than men.

But not everyone is buying the research. Clarence Ditlow of the Center for Auto Safety told ABC News that the researchers used out-of-date data. The study looked at crash statistics going back as far as 1998. Many cars on the road then would be almost 20 years old by now, meaning they would not incorporate the most modern crash protection technology.

"The study would have a lot more value if it were limited to 2000 and later model year vehicles to make sure all vehicles had female friendly airbags," Ditlow said.

Women at greater risk of injury in crashes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The women of Motor Trend tell us which cars catch their eyes

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

In spite of believing we have a decent idea about what the fairer sex really wants, we're frequently faced with correction: "You thought that's what we wanted, but we actually want this other thing..." It's happened again courtesy of female staffers at Motor Trend, who've laid out six "Cars that catch girls' eyes."

The piece is headed by a pic of the Porsche 911 GT3 4.0, but that's not on the list. The Subaru Outback pictured above, however, is. Yes, it gets weirder from there. And while the list might, like Maroon 5, make you wonder, the comments are not to be missed. Any article that can elicit "gunna run out and git me an accord so i's can fetch me a lady !!!" deserves a look, no?

The women of Motor Trend tell us which cars catch their eyes originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More women lie on car insurance applications than men

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

There is a debate that's been raging for decades now, and it revolves around the extremely exciting world of car insurance. The discussion is centered on the topic of gender, and its relationship to insurance premiums. It seems that men, on average, have higher premiums compared to the ones carried by women. In an odd twist, however, a survey was recently conducted that found women are the ones fibbing a bit more often when applying for those premiums.

According to United Kingdom-based eInsurance Group, 51 percent of declined premiums were ones handed in by females. The top lies found on these premiums revolve around a lack of disclosure with regards to convictions, lying about the length of time being licensed and attempting to get a discount for no claims. Men took the lead on the first lie, but women were the "winners" on the second two counts.

It's clear that insurance companies shouldn't allow gender to play a role in initial premium pricing. We're all lying. See more in the complete press release after the break.

Continue reading More women lie on car insurance applications than men

More women lie on car insurance applications than men originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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14 female U.S. senators call on Saudi Arabia to lift female driving ban

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Middle East

The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is a tenuous one. For better or worse, it usually involves the American government siding with the Saudi royal family - arguably at the expense of the people over which the latter rule. But this time, the roles have changed, with U.S. lawmakers taking up a cause championed by social activists on the street (quite literally) against the nation's historically conservative government and social mores.

The issue, as you may have been following recently, comes down to the right of Saudi women to drive in the Arabian kingdom. The fairer sex is banned from driving under the Wahhabi Islamic laws instituted in Saudi Arabia, prompting some women to call for change, risking imprisonment (or worse) for defying the edicts of the ruling family.

According to Bloomberg, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been gently pushing the Saudi government to lift the ban, and has now been joined by a group of fourteen female American senators in supporting Saudi Women for Driving and their cause. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) is leading the charge from her position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, calling for women's rights to be honored in a U.S. ally that has proven nothing if not resistant to change.

14 female U.S. senators call on Saudi Arabia to lift female driving ban originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FIA supports young female racers with karting trophy

Noah Joseph — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:04:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

CIK-FIA's nine finalists (above) and contest winner (below right) - Click for high-res image gallery

Women in racing are few and far between. Sure, a smattering of notable names comes to mind - like Danica Patrick, Sabine Schmitz and Susie Stoddart - but in this male-dominated sport, they're the exception. The FIA is taking steps to fix that, however.

Two of the regulatory body's organs - the Women & Motor Sport Commission and the Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK-FIA) - teamed up to award the most outstanding young female talent a helping hand. They held a shootout among nine candidates, all below the age of 16, who were tested for their physical and mental capabilities over the course of two days in Geneva before pitting them against each other in a track competition.

At the end of the process, the jury - consisting of commission president Michèle Mouton (a former WRC runner-up); two-time WTCC champ Yvan Muller and his karting-champion sister Cathy; and CIK-FIA executive secretary Vincent Caro - selected Lucile Cypriano, 15, of France. As a result, she'll receive a fully funded ride in the 2011 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, where she'll face off against 50 contenders, each representing a different country, on her climb up the motorsport ladder. Follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading FIA supports young female racers with karting trophy

FIA supports young female racers with karting trophy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 May 2011 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study says 7.4% of Lamborghini models purchased by women, and other gender curiosities

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Performance, Truck, Luxury

2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera - Click above for high-res image gallery

A study released by TrueCar.com revealed that 7.4 percent of Lamborghini buyers in 2010 were women, a 2.2-percent rise over the previous year. Rolls-Royce and Ferrari also saw an increase in purchases by females, with Rolls climbing from eight percent to 9.3 percent and Ferrari going from 5.1 percent to 6.4 percent.

Those increases take the number of ladies who buy exotics from next-to-nothing to very small, but an increase is an increase. TrueCar doesn't offer an explanation as to what may have caused the uptick. Got any ideas? Leave 'em in the 'Comments' below.

Overall, the survey showed that females are far more likely to buy an inexpensive and practical car than males, who are much more likely to opt for big, brawny cars. According to the study, the top 10 cars that sold more than 50 percent of the time to women were the Volkswagen New Beetle, Kia Spectra, Nissan Rogue, Volkswagen Eos, Hyundai Entourage, Volvo S40, Jeep Compass, Honda CR-V, Nissan Sentra and the Hyundai Tucson. Surely you saw some of those coming...

Conversely, the list for men was far less practical (excepting pickup trucks, of course) and far faster. It included the Porsche 911, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-Series, BMW M3, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tundra, Dodge Ram and the Audi S5. Well done, men - that's not a bad lookin' list right there. Check out more details and commentary in the press release after the break.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera

[Source: TrueCar]

Continue reading Study says 7.4% of Lamborghini models purchased by women, and other gender curiosities

Study says 7.4% of Lamborghini models purchased by women, and other gender curiosities originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK drivers favor an end to lower insurance premiums for women

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, UK

According to a study done by InsWeb earlier this year, car insurance premiums for women in the U.S. are nine percent lower than those for men. Things are much the same in the UK, where insurance companies will offer the fairer sex lower rates than those given to men. Companies like Sheila's Wheels in the UK - founded by a man - specialize in lower-priced offerings for women, including handbag insurance.

The practice could be ruled illegal by the European Union, however, because the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice feels that such rate setting contravenes the Charter of Fundamental Rights laid out in the Lisbon Treaty. That would be fine with folks in the UK, according to a Motorpoint poll: more than nine out of ten of the 990 respondents to Motorpoint's survey were in favor of the EU eliminating discounts for women based on gender.

Not that there aren't plenty of other reasons for women to have lower rates: stats show they drive fewer miles and get in fewer accidents. But hey, fair's fair.

[Source: Motorpoint | Image: xJasonRogersx CC 2.0]

Continue reading UK drivers favor an end to lower insurance premiums for women

UK drivers favor an end to lower insurance premiums for women originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shocking Study: Researchers find that men and women don't want the same thing (in cars)

Zach Bowman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Humor

This just in: early reports inform us that water is, in fact, still wet. Also, the clever minds at CNW Market Research have discovered that an individual's personal tastes in a vehicle varies greatly depending on gender and age. Shocking, we know. According to the data, women typically base their purchases on rear visibility, cost, front visibility, remote side mirrors and side air bags, in that order. Well, the last three are tied, but pretty much in that order.

And what about guys? Brace yourself for some life-altering revelations. According to CNW, styling, horsepower, engine design, front visibility and the vehicle's sound system are the top five priorities for men. At least we can agree on that whole 'being able to see out of the front of the car' bit. And, judging from the photo above, perhaps we can all agree that the Shelby Cobra is pretty dang desirable.

Of course, the data does help to refute the notion that women are typically more emotional shoppers than men. Clearly, according to the CNW's data, testosterone is doing nothing to help us guys make well-informed automotive purchases. Why is that? According to AOL Autos, the answer may have plenty to do with guys simply trying to keep up with their friends in terms of, er, displacement. In an unrelated story, the sky may also be blue, researchers have discovered.

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: SI.com]

Shocking Study: Researchers find that men and women don't want the same thing (in cars) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Canadian chicks dig Chevrolet's new Camaro

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Canada

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS - click above image for hi-res gallery

Years and years and years ago (like back in the Eighties), we read a study that broke down car ownership by gender. The car most purchased by men? The Porsche 928, with a score of 97% male. Most by women? 69% of the time the ladies bought Nissan Pulsars - you know, those oddball notchback/shooting brake/targa-top modular things that usually came in pink. We mention this because traditionally, muscle cars have aimed at and appreciated by men. In fact, the gender breakdown for the 4th-generation Camaro is 80% male to 20% female. Not anymore.

Despite 'Vettes getting 'em wet as the sleeveless t-shirt proclaims, it seems that what women actually want is a brand new Chevrolet Camaro. At least, that appears to be the case with America's neighbors up in the True North Strong and Free. According to Autos Canada, it's looking like new 2010 Camaro sales in Canada are splitting the gender divide right down the middle, as in 50-50 in some locations. "Unlike the older versions of the Camaro where you probably had the typical motorhead, male, buyer, this is totally the opposite," says one Canadian Chevy dealer.

Why is this? Says General Motors spokesman George Saratlic, "One of our biggest challenges was the muscle car association to the car. We knew we couldn't do a replica of a '69 Camaro - It limits your audience." What does that say about fans of the 2010 Camaro? Probably not much, as the 426 horsepower LS3 version still skews heavily male. Also, the heavy dose of marketing via Michael Bay's Transformers movie series ensures that eight-year-olds and their ilk are way into GM's latest pony car as well. Still, women are clearly seeing something exciting in the Camaro. Thanks for the tip, Lawrence!

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

[Source: Autos Canada]

PSA: Canadian chicks dig Chevrolet's new Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: Makuhari Messe no Jyosei ha Bijin desu*

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Tokyo Motor Show

The beautiful women of Tokyo 2009 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

As far as cars went, the Frankfurt Motor Show was the proverbial glut of riches, and the Tokyo Motor Show proved that you can't live life at the top all the time. Tokyo did, however, still provide plenty of aesthetic beauty, much of which had nothing to do with the automobiles. We won't call it a consolation prize, but it's certainly not something we're upset about.

Have a look at what arguably might have been the finest aspects of the Tokyo Motor Show in the gallery below - and the woman with the stuffed car on her head (it is still Tokyo, after all...). (*Translation: "The beautiful women of Makuhari Messe").

Gallery: The beautiful women of Tokyo 2009

Tokyo 2009: Makuhari Messe no Jyosei ha Bijin desu* originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saudi Arabia prepares to lift ban on female drivers

Noah Joseph — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, First Drives

If you're of the opinion that the religious right has too much influence on American politics, you should check out Saudi Arabia. The royal family has relied for decades on the support of fundamentalist Wahabi clerics who, in return for their support to the ibn Saud regime, have insisted on ever more stringent laws. Among those measures has been a strict ban prohibiting women from driving that has been in effect for 75 years since the founding of Saudi Arabia in 1932, but the Saudi government is finally preparing to lift the ban.

The government decision reportedly stems from an effort to placate a mounting women's lib movement, whose activists have been mounting rolling demonstrations by leading convoys of women driving around in the kingdom despite the law prohibiting them from obtaining driver's licenses or automobile insurance. According to the Saudi government, the ban will be lifted by the end of the year. Critics point out, however, that previous government commitments towards reform have not been met.

[Source: The Daily Telegraph via Instapundit, Photo by HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty]

Saudi Arabia prepares to lift ban on female drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM engineers dressed in drag while designing new SUVs

John Neff — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:22:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc.

During the development of General Motors' new GMT900 SUVs, the team in charge of design was taken out to the company's Milford Proving Grounds and made to dress in drag as an exercise. They wore high-heels, fake press-on nails and garbage bag skirts to simulate what The Car Connection refers to as "female handicaps" (are we really calling them that?) while operating various features of their new 'utes. The result was at least three features on GM's new SUVs that wouldn't have been there otherwise: retractable running boards for easier entry/exit in a skirt, a larger center console that can hold a purse and an easier to operate rear lift gate.

The idea for this excursion into androgyny came from Mary Sipes, a vehicle line director at GM and a woman with a mission to make her company's vehicles more user friendly for females. Since women comprise more than 50-percent of the buying public, she realized it would only help the company's bottom line to consider them more when designing new vehicles. Since the design teams are still very male dominated, Sipes decided to dress her teams in drag to force them to consider their vehicles from a female perspective. Hmmm... perhaps a better solution than playing dress up would be to just hire more women. Regardless, the intent was commendable, but we're wondering if our female readers can think of any other missing features that might make their lives a little easier.

[Source: The Car Connection]

GM engineers dressed in drag while designing new SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sheila Driving Shoe makes high-heel and toeing a reality

John Neff — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

As a male, I can't begin to imagine the many hardships that go along with being a woman. Under-wire bras, various forms of painful hair removal, and uncomfortable shoes are just a few of the things many women endure to fit our culture's current definition of beauty. Uncomfortable shoes, however, can cause more than just blisters. Stilettos, sling-backs, strappy sandals and driving barefoot can sometimes cause car accidents because wearing fashionable footwear often conflicts with using a good driving shoe.

Enter Sheilas' Wheels, a car insurer for women in the UK that has developed the Sheila Driving Heel. Quite a little marvel of design, the Sheila Driving Heel features a tall heel that folds forward into the shoe's sole at the touch of a button (we couldn't find the button in the pic above, though). This turns the pump into a flat that's much better suited to the rigors of driving. In addition to hiding the heel, Sheila's shoes feature discrete tread on their soles that gives a woman's heel some grip, which we suppose is helpful when performing a double-clutch shift and the like. We're not sure how attractive the patent leather black with hot pink trim will be to the Sheila Driving Heel's intended market, but we've also never claimed to know anything about its intended market, so who knows?

There's no word on pricing or availability, and the Sheilas' Wheels website only contains the press release for the Sheila Driving Heel, which we've pasted after the jump. We waited almost a week for them to send us a pic of the shoes, as their description was more than our imagination could conjure, so we're not expecting more info to be forthcoming.

[Source: ILoveSheilas.com]

Continue reading Sheila Driving Shoe makes high-heel and toeing a reality

Sheila Driving Shoe makes high-heel and toeing a reality originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AskPatty.com aims to enhance communication between women, auto dealers

Erin Mays — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends

It's not a new topic in the automotive industry -- women influence and even directly account for around 80 percent of automotive buying decisions, yet dealers still reportedly look over the woman's shoulders for a husband or father. Despite the industry's best efforts to recruit women salespeople to increase the odds of good communication, almost half of the auto dealerships in the country have no women on staff, and women only make up 8 percent of the sales force, according to the NADA. Dealers have also tried to make showrooms more female-friendly, including installing play areas for kids with toys and children's videos, yet complaints persist -- truth or mere stereotype, so what's a car salesman to do?

Enter AskPatty.com, a female-staffed online publication that seeks to educate women on vehicle buying and car ownership, while identifying female-friendly dealerships after showroom staff complete a training course on how to communicate with women. The training, conducted by Maddox Smye, includes an instructional course, a reading of How to Get Rich Selling Cars and Trucks to Women, and an hour-long test. About 225 dealerships have signed up.

AskPatty isn't all about bridging the gap between Mars and Venus, though -- it's a business as well. Training is $225 per person for 12 months, and dealers shell out $795 a month for certification. If it encourages one salesperson to alter his style, however, it might just be worth it in our book.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

AskPatty.com aims to enhance communication between women, auto dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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