Autoblog

Nissan's really thinking outside the box with advertising for its new Qashqai crossover. Turning it into a giant skateboard for an unseen giant operator, they portray a Nissan as athletic equipment. With an oddly soothing soundtrack making the sights seem so natural, the Qashqai does things that no vehicle is capable of. But that's not the point really. The ad is showing us how the CUV will tackle anything the urban jungle can throw at it and provide some youthful thrills in the process. Just like a few years ago when potential buyers were doing ollies and following the X Games more closely than the stock market. Just because you're getting older doesn't mean you have to grow up. Very clever and very slick. Follow the jump to see the whole ad via YouTube.

[Source: YouTube]

The inaugural X Games rally was a happy time for Subaru and Subaru Rally USA driver, Travis Pastrana, and co-driver, Christian Edstrom, who took the gold medal in the event held August 2-5. The winners topped a podium dominated by Subaru -- former Subaru World Rally Champion Colin McCrae clinched the second spot and teammates Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino took the bronze medal. All three sets of drivers piloted open class Subaru WRX STI rally cars prepared by Vermont Sports Car.

McCrae was well-positioned for the gold until he turned too hard in the air on the last jump, sending him into a full roll. After the car righted itself, McCrae floored it to the finish line, where he finished .52 seconds behind Pastrana.

Pastrana's gold came the day after he earned another gold medal, this one in the Best Trick competition in Moto Freestyle. He ended up with three gold medals overall.

Video of McRae's roll and recovery can be found after the jump.

[Source: Subaru Rally USA via Theautochannel.com]

With this year's 12th edition of the X Games adding rallying to the competition for the first time, multiple U.S. ProRally champion Hyundai Motor has announced its support of Paul Choiniere and co-driver Jeff Becker in the nine-stage event.

Choiniere and Becker will pilot their Hyundai Tiburon against 11 other teams, including WRC ace Colin McRae and Subaru rally pilot (and X Games motocross legend) Travis Pastrana.

The event includes eight road stages in the Los Angeles area, and a ninth Super Special stage at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Choiniere and Becker's Tiburon has been fitted with AWD and is driven by a 298-hp, turbocharged Hyundai Beta engine. Hyundai's rally cars are prepped by Libra International Racing, owned and operated by rally legend John Buffum.

The X Games rally event runs from August 2 through August 5, and will be televised in the U.S. by ABC and ESPN, with the Super Special broadcast live.

[Source: Hyundai]

ESPN's X Games will add some rally car action to this year's extreme sports event in Los Angeles. ESPN VP Ron Semiao announced the addition to the X Games 12 lineup, saying, "Rally Car Racing is a sport we have been watching for some time now," and calling the sport "incredibly dynamic and exciting."

ESPN appears to be ramping up its four-wheeled motorsports coverage as it gets ready to air NASCAR races in 2007.

The X Games rally will be organized by Rally America, and include two days of competition over six road stages and a stadium-based Super Special stage.

X Games motorcycle legend Travis Pastrana recently made the switch to four wheels, signing with Subaru of America to lead the Subaru Rally Team USA in the 2006 Rally America National Championship series. Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom placed second in February's Sno*Drift Rally (pictured at right), and we expect him to play a big part in the introduction of rallying to the X Games this summer.

[Sources: Rally America, Subaru] Thanks for the tip, Chris!