Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VIDEO: New Hyundai Genesis Coupe commercial from South Korea]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/video-new-hyundai-genesis-coupe-commercial-from-south-korea/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/video-new-hyundai-genesis-coupe-commercial-from-south-korea/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/video-new-hyundai-genesis-coupe-commercial-from-south-korea/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to watch video after the jump

When Hyundai publicly unveiled the Genesis Coupe at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, it did so with a barrage of stunt driving and indoor drifts that made us badly want to get behind the wheel. The marketing team over at Hyundai must have picked up on that vibe, because they've produced a nearly two-minute long commercial for the South Korean market that consists of a gun metal gray Genesis Coupe slip sliding across a baron landscape. The resulting montage of Genesis Coupe clips shows it drifting elegantly through a cloud of its own dust and makes us want the RWD coupe that much more. Good job, Hyundai Marketing Dept. The entire video was shot to look almost completely black and white, which makes the contrast of the Genesis Coupe's curves stand out in a most complementary way. We were somewhat disappointed by one graphic that states a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds, but that's in line with what we've been hearing for the V6 model (keep in a mind a 0-60 mph time would be a smidge quicker). Hit the jump to see the video for yourself, and let us know if you agree that it looks a lot like recent Mazda Zoom Zoom commercials.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe


[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: New Hyundai Genesis Coupe commercial from South Korea

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genesis coupeGenesisCoupehyundai commercialhyundai genesishyundai genesis coupeHyundaiCommercialHyundaiGenesisHyundaiGenesisCoupeRWD CoupeRwdCoupeMon, 13 Oct 2008 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Transporter 3 trailer #2 shows more Audi A8 co-star]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/12/video-transporter-3-trailer-2-shows-more-audi-a8-co-star/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/12/video-transporter-3-trailer-2-shows-more-audi-a8-co-star/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/12/video-transporter-3-trailer-2-shows-more-audi-a8-co-star/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Lionsgate has released the second trailer showcasing that buff delivery guy with the English accent, and if you thought Transporter 2 was an all-out sprint on the ludicrous side, wait until you get a load of the stunts in Transporter 3. It not only shows off more of Statham's body and his 1-liner prowess, it also shows off more bad dialogue, more absurd stunts, and more reasons why it's Crank but with a bracelet and an Audi. It will clearly be a movie where you put your brain down in the seat next to you and then load up on greasy popcorn and root beer with wide-eyed glee. But that doesn't mean we won't see it. Check out the trailer after the jump, and mark your calendars for November 26.

[Source: Transporter 3 Blog]

Continue reading VIDEO: Transporter 3 trailer #2 shows more Audi A8 co-star

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jason stathamJasonStathammovie trailersmoviesMovieTrailersthe transporterthe transporter 3TheTransporterTheTransporter3trailerstransportertransporter 3Transporter3videoSun, 12 Oct 2008 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[F1 head's daughter gets racy in new ad]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/f1-heads-daughter-gets-racy-in-new-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/f1-heads-daughter-gets-racy-in-new-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/f1-heads-daughter-gets-racy-in-new-ad/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Bernie Ecclestone has three daughters -- four if you count Formula 1 -- and the one you see above is Tamara, posing with a checkered flag. Why? To help PETA fight the fur trade, of course. Under the slogan "Going fur-free is the winning formula," Tamara has done a series of print ads in Europe that appear to say "If you really care about animals, not only will you not wear fur, you won't wear any clothes at all. And you'll be hot. Like Natasja Vermeer and Eva Mendes hot. Or Steve-O." Vive l'Europe.

[Source: AutoWeek]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisementadvertisementsadvertisingmarketingpetapeta adsPetaAdstamara ecclestoneTamaraEcclestoneFri, 10 Oct 2008 08:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai buys up GM's abandoned Oscar ads]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/hyundai-buys-up-gms-abandoned-oscar-ad-spots/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/hyundai-buys-up-gms-abandoned-oscar-ad-spots/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/hyundai-buys-up-gms-abandoned-oscar-ad-spots/#commentsFiled under: ,



General Motors and Hollywood's little gold statue have been friends for 11 years, but with a reduction in its marketing and ad budget, the U.S. automaker has walked away from high profile events such as the Super Bowl, Emmys, and Oscars. Thankfully for ABC, the multimillion-dollar breach in the 2009 Oscars telecast created by GM's departure has been immediately filled by Hyundai.

As of now, Hyundai has only signed on to take over an unknown quantity of the $1.7-million-plus ad slots - it isn't known whether the Korean automaker will completely replace GM's presence at the awards. Along with a new agency, and an increased marketing budget - and all those SEMA cars - Hyundai's ad buy is another measure of its confidence in the new Genesis and its push to move into premium territory.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
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Click above for high-res gallery of MC:LA event

We got a look at a pre-production version of Midnight Club: Los Angeles back in August, and it definitely whetted our appetite for the real thing. Well that time has come, and the latest racing sim is now available in stores. Rockstar Games, the publisher of MC:LA, recently invited us out to Willow Springs Raceway to play the final version of the game and experience some of the actual cars on track including the Lamborghini Gallardo, Audi R8 and Saleen S302 Extreme Mustang. While it's hard to beat the real thing, MC:LA does a decent job of making a unique driving game with an incredibly real driving environment. We generally prefer more realistic racing simulators like Gran Turismo or Forza, but we also enjoy being able to drive on recognizable streets in LA and had fun tuning and customizing the cars in the game's performance shop. You can get full details on the MC:LA in the press release after the jump, and be sure to check out the galleries from our day at the track and plenty of screen shots from the game.

UPDATE:

The release date of Midnight Club: Los Angeles has been pushed to October 21st.

Gallery: The Cars of Midnight Club: Los Angeles


Gallery: Midnight Club: Los Angeles

Continue reading Midnight Club: Los Angeles in stores now, we play with the real cars

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Midnight Club Los AngelesMidnightClubLosAngelesWed, 08 Oct 2008 09:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford moves its F150 launch back up]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/06/ford-moves-its-f150-launch-back-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/06/ford-moves-its-f150-launch-back-up/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/06/ford-moves-its-f150-launch-back-up/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above for more high-res images of the 2009 Ford F-150

Ford announced earlier this summer that it would delay the launch of its ultra-important F150 full-size truck by a few months to help dealers clear out left over 2008 inventory. For the record, the new truck's launch was originally scheduled for October before being moved to December. Finally, Ford has split the difference and will begin marketing its F150 in November. Jim Farley, main marketer at the Blue Oval, cites two main reasons for the revised decision. One: its dealerships culled their old supply faster than anticipated, and two: Dodge just launched its new-for-'09 Ram. Ford obviously doesn't want its cross-town rival to steal all its thunder.

Expectations for the new F150 seem appropriately timid. Current market conditions, including the relatively high price of fuel and the difficulty in securing credit, mean the the days of Ford selling a million trucks a year are over. Still, there is a large market left of users who depend on their trucks for work, and Ford's targeting them. We'll see how it goes beginning next month.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150


[Source: Inside Line]
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Click the image above for a hi-res gallery of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

If you've got it, flaunt it. The super high-end automotive market has been counting on that attitude for years, and it may now be coming back to bite them. It seems that sales of luxury marques such as Bentley, Maybach and Aston Martin have been on a downward trajectory over the last year. Despite the fact that there are a number of people who still have plenty of dough to purchase these expensive toys, public perception is causing some of them to hold back and keep those fat wallets in their pockets.

To combat the problem, some high-end brands are choosing to aim even higher. If ex-customers with a net-worth of less than $5 million find it socially unacceptable to make a purchase, Bentley has said it will begin marketing to those with at least a net worth of $25 million. Let us add that we've driven a few Bentleys and Rollers and can say with certainty that they are definitely conspicuous in a sea of CamCords and Mustangs.

Gallery: First Drive: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe


[Source: Advertising Age]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleyhigh end carshigh-end carsHigh-endCarsHighEndCarsluxury carsLuxuryCarsmaybachrolls royceRollsRoyceThu, 02 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Volvo XC60 comes from Sweden with "leaves"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/02/volvo-xc60-comes-from-sweden-with-leaves/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/02/volvo-xc60-comes-from-sweden-with-leaves/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/02/volvo-xc60-comes-from-sweden-with-leaves/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Volvo XC60

Vehicle sales are brutal everywhere of late, but Volvo has been tanking long before any industry-wide slowdown took place. That makes the March 2009 arrival of the XC60 crossover that much more important, as it's the first all-new Volvo (besides the low volume C30) in many years. Since customers have been turning away from the Volvo brand of late, marketing will play a big part of the XC60's success. Volvo has unleashed its new campaign for the CUV already with the tagline, "The new Volvo XC60. From Sweden with löv." We get it. Volvo is stressing its Swedish roots in marketing its new vehicle. Hey, it works for IKEA, right? Volvo even utilized the Swedish spelling for 'love' to give its new crossover more Euro appeal.

Our tipster Caitlin didn't think it works at all. The reason? Löv means 'leaves' in Swedish and has nothing to do with that certain brand of affection that makes our cheeks blush. According to Caitlin, Lov without the umlaut means 'vacation' or 'break', which sounds like a better advertising angle for a CUV than leaves, but just doesn't look as "Swedish" in print. The proper translation of 'love' into Swedish is "kärlek", so when you begin seeing the XC60 on U.S. streets next March, just remember that it comes from Sweden with kärlek. Thanks for the tip, Caitlin!

Gallery: 2009 Volvo XC60


[Source: Volvo]
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Motor Trend says on its blog that they are busily putting 17 new or newly redesigned cars through an "exhaustive evaluation process" that will result in 10 finalists for their Car of the Year award. With cars like the BMW 1 Series, Nissan GT-R, Audi A4, Acura TSX and Pontiac G8, we'd have a hard time choosing five more. Wildcards are the Hyundai Genesis, the Mazda6, the Volkswagen CC and the Dodge Challenger.

They'll be competing with the Acura TL, Honda Fit, Jaguar XF, Lincoln MKS, Nissan Maxima, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Corolla, and the Toyota Matrix.

As a member of the Armchair COTY Comittee, which ones are on your top ten? Is the GT-R a shoe-in or will the Challenger win on pure musclecar charisma? The magazine will announce the winner in its January issue.

[Source: Motor Trend Blog]
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If the song is true that "to everything, turn turn turn, there is a season, turn turn turn," then we're going to need a lot more seasons for the Fiat 500. In addition to versions by StudioTorino, Diesel and Abarth, not to mention a convertible and an F1-themed run of 12, Fiat is making a special edition 500 to celebrate the car's appearance in the movie Lupin III: Green vs Red.

The Japanese anime film itself celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Lupin III series of movies, which began in 1979 when gentleman thief Lupin III used a yellow Fiat 500. While the film is out now on DVD, the special edition Fiat 500 in yellow livery and graced with Lupin's image won't come around until the latter half of 2009, and probably only in Japan. If Fiat keeps this up, it might just challenge the Ford Mustang for the title of Most Gratuitous Special Editions Differentiated by Inconsequential Details. Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!

[Source: Fiat 500 News]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animeanime moviesAnimeMoviescoupesfiatfiat 500fiat 500 lupinFiat500Fiat500Lupinhatchbackslupin iiiLupinIiispecial editionspecial edition fiat 500special editionsSpecialEditionSpecialEditionFiat500SpecialEditionsWed, 01 Oct 2008 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Dodge offering rebates to pregnant German women]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/dodge-offering-rebates-to-pregnant-german-women/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/dodge-offering-rebates-to-pregnant-german-women/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/29/dodge-offering-rebates-to-pregnant-german-women/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dodge is looking to spur sales in Germany while at the same time increase the country's birth rate in a new marketing campaign that's one for the ages. German women who come to a Dodge dealership with proof of procreation and the resultant pregnancy will get a discount on the Dodge car or minivan of their dreams. Apparently, the birth rate in Germany is precariously low, which has led Dodge to, ahem, conceive this idea. Expecting moms get nine months (clever) deferred financing if they can present proper proof of their pregnancy. Considering women have to pee on those sticks to find out if they're preggo, we hope local German dealers have plenty of latex gloves and disinfectant on hand. When my wife had some odd cravings when she was pregnant, but never once did she ask for a Dodge. She did tell me once, however, that the Dodge Ram logo looks like a uterus, so maybe this campaign makes sense after all.

[Source: Obscene Desserts, Photo by Viewmaker | Creative Commons 2.0]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dodgegermanypregnancyMon, 29 Sep 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Note to Subaru: whoops, your agency doesn't know your product]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/28/note-to-subaru-whoops-your-agency-doesnt-know-your-product/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/28/note-to-subaru-whoops-your-agency-doesnt-know-your-product/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/28/note-to-subaru-whoops-your-agency-doesnt-know-your-product/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It's a fact that the English language is currently being sliced to ribbons. Spelling and grammar have gone out the window, and elocution is such a lost art that we're amazed when a speaker can manage a paragraph. It's interesting to see where these shortcomings manifest themselves. One would assume that an advertising agency, being in the business of communicating, would double- and triple-check a message before sending it out for the world to see. Imagine our surprise, then, when across our digital desks slid a memo from Carmichael Lynch trumpeting the Minneapolis, MN agency's relationship with Subaru of America.

It didn't start well. The subject header of the email read: "Subaru 360 Goes Airbourn (sic) To Find Home on 10th Floor." Interesting capitalization, and a very creative spelling of airborne. Bush league for an agency that handles Harley Davidson, Jack Link's, Cargill, and Toys 'R' Us, to name a few. Intrigued by the mention of a 360, Subaru's diminutive first stab at automobiles, we read on. Carmichael Lynch, upon landing the Subaru of America account in 2007, located a 360 and had it spiffed up for display in the company's 10th floor lobby. While small, the only way to get the little Subie ten stories up was a crane, which hoisted the car through a window last Saturday. Delightful little story, and we were inclined to give the wacky subject line a pass until we read the last sentence, which started: "Today's Subaru Forrester..." Whoa. If we were SoA, we'd be incensed. Spelling bee time: Forester. F-o-r-e-s-t-e-r, Forester. Forest is a chronically misspelled word, but it's still intolerable when it's the very firm being paid to represent the actual product.

Well, now we feel better. Check out the pictures of the 360's crane ride in the gallery, and hit the jump to see the original text of the email from Carmichael Lynch.

Gallery: "Airbourn" Subaru 360


[Source: Carmichael Lynch]

Continue reading Note to Subaru: whoops, your agency doesn't know your product

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carmichael lynch subaruCarmichaelLynchSubaruforester misspellingForesterMisspellingsubaru 360 cranesubaru forester misspellingsubaru misspellingSubaru360CraneSubaruForesterMisspellingSubaruMisspellingSun, 28 Sep 2008 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Dodge Ram Lone Star Edition debuts at Texas State Fair]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/25/dodge-ram-lone-star-edition-debuts-at-texas-state-fair/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/25/dodge-ram-lone-star-edition-debuts-at-texas-state-fair/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/25/dodge-ram-lone-star-edition-debuts-at-texas-state-fair/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram Lone Star edition

Cowboys and truck-lovers unite for the Texas State Fair every year around this time. It's where big-time truckmakers often release special editions of their pickups just for the Texas market, again underscoring just how important the Lone Star State is for sales. So it is this year with the 2009 Dodge Ram Lone Star edition. Starting life down the assembly line as a Ram Crew 1500 SLT in either two- or four-wheel drive, various chrome accents, 20-inch wheels (either painted or chromed) and big 4-inch dual exhausts integrated into the rear bumper have been added. Inside, a lighting group is standard equipment along with an up-level leather steering wheel. Lest those following you don't know what or where you're driving, a Lone Star badge is affixed to the tailgate left of the huge Ram-head logo. Very subtle. The good news is that Texans won't be charged an arm and a leg for the Lone Star edition, as it adds just $1,500 to the price of a HEMI-equipped Ram, a big savings over the $3,560 it would cost to replicate otherwise. If all of this is enough to make you want one, and you live in Texas, expect the Lone Star to reach your favorite dealer sometime next month.

Gallery: Dodge Ram Lone Star


[Source: Dodge]

Continue reading Dodge Ram Lone Star Edition debuts at Texas State Fair

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 dodge ram2009 dodge ram lone star edition2009DodgeRam2009DodgeRamLoneStarEditiondodge ram lone star editionDodgeRamLoneStarEditionram lone starRamLoneStartexastexas state fairtexas state fair dodgeTexasStateFairTexasStateFairDodgeThu, 25 Sep 2008 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyundai readies Genesis Coupe spots for Superbowl debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/hyundai-readies-genesis-coupe-spots-for-superbowl-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/hyundai-readies-genesis-coupe-spots-for-superbowl-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/hyundai-readies-genesis-coupe-spots-for-superbowl-debut/#commentsFiled under: , , ,





Last year, many people got their first glimpse of Hyundai's new Genesis luxury sedan as the Giants beat the stuffing out of the Patriots during Superbowl XLII. Pleased with the results of that effort, Hyundai is coming back to the big game, this time with the Genesis Coupe. Outgoing creative agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners is handling two 30-second commercials featuring Hyundai's sporty new rear-drive two door. While the agency change has raised some eyebrows, Hyundai insists that it will continue to work with Goodby for quite some time, even as it transitions creative duties to World Marketing Group, already handling media buys for the automaker. We'll have to tune in for all four quarters to see if the jilted ad folks mailed it in, but judging from the quality of Goodby's work on the Genesis Sedan - and the target-meeting 8,000 units sold - the pigskin-centric effort will likely meet with success.

[Source: Brandweek]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genesis coupegenesis coupe commercialgenesis coupe superbowlGenesisCoupeGenesisCoupeCommercialGenesisCoupeSuperbowlhyundai genesis coupehyundai genesis coupe commercialhyundai genesis coupe concepthyundai genesis coupe convertiblehyundai genesis coupe hkshyundai genesis coupe photoshyundai superbowlHyundaiGenesisCoupeHyundaiGenesisCoupeCommercialHyundaiGenesisCoupeConceptHyundaiGenesisCoupeConvertibleHyundaiGenesisCoupeHksHyundaiGenesisCoupePhotosHyundaiSuperbowlsuperbowl adSuperbowlAdTue, 23 Sep 2008 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Maserati is up to something, we'll know soon]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/maserati-is-up-to-something-well-know-soon/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/maserati-is-up-to-something-well-know-soon/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/maserati-is-up-to-something-well-know-soon/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Head to Maserati's website and you're greeted with a tantalizingly coy poll, asking users to guess what event will take place on October 2nd, the first day of the Paris Motor Show. The overwhelming popular opinion is that a new car will be debuted, possibly the smaller Maser that's supposed to take aim at Porsche. A test mule was spied a while back, though that car didn't have the folding hardtop the new mini-Maserati, based on a hacked-down GranTurismo, is whispered to be carrying. We'll all just have to wait, each day feeling longer than the next. What else could it be, other than a car? The idea of generating such buzz over a new website, logo, or advertising campaign (all three are choices) is ludicrous, but the rest, including a new production facility could seem plausible. Even more intriguing, it could be all of the above. We want a smaller Maserati, and we're going to hold our breath until we turn as blue as the website's banner image to get one. Thanks for the tip, Jvijil.

[Source: Maserati]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby maseratiBabyMaseratimaseratimaserati gran turismomaserati granturismoMaseratiGranTurismosmall maseratiSmallMaseratiTue, 23 Sep 2008 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Honda's singing road has no fans, paved over]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/video-hondas-singing-road-has-no-fans-paved-over/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/video-hondas-singing-road-has-no-fans-paved-over/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/video-hondas-singing-road-has-no-fans-paved-over/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for view the video

To market a dinosaur exhibit at the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn Michigan, the orgnizers painted dino-tracks all over the city. It sounded like a good idea at the time, but for years after the event concluded, the annoying tracks remained. We thought that was the most short-sighted and annoying idea we'd ever seen, until this. Honda thought it was a good idea to market the Civic by grooving a quarter mile section of road in Lancaster, CA to play the William Tell Overture every time a car passes over it.

While grooving pavement to act like a phonograph is cool -- in a decidedly geeky way -- the novelty of the Lone Ranger theme song wore off after about 15 minutes. If distracting drivers on a two-lane highway isn't bad enough, pissing off the neighbors puts this marketing ploy in the Hall of Shame. Some area residents said the music sounded like a high pitched drone, while others said it kept them up at night. City officials acknowledge that the misguided marketing campaign has to end, and the melodious stretch of highway is being paved over ASAP. It appears not all of Honda's ideas are good ones. Hit the jump to view and hear the singing highway for yourself, and let us know if you would want it in your neighborhood. Thanks for the tip, Paul!

[Source: Freep]

Continue reading VIDEO: Honda's singing road has no fans, paved over

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hondalancaster caLancasterCasinging roadSingingRoadMon, 22 Sep 2008 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[2009 Dodge Ram launches with incentives, 'RamBox' costs $1,895 ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/2009-dodge-ram-launches-with-incentives-rambox-costs-1-895/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/2009-dodge-ram-launches-with-incentives-rambox-costs-1-895/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/2009-dodge-ram-launches-with-incentives-rambox-costs-1-895/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Ram

In another obvious sign of the times, Dodge is launching its brand new and totally redesigned 2009 Ram half-ton pickup truck with incentives right out of the gate. Purchasers who only need a regular cab will get $500 off the Ram's base price of $22,170 before options while those looking to get a quad cab or crew cab will get double that amount off their new truck. We're sure that potential buyers won't be complaining, but it's a far cry from the 40% savings being offered on '08 Rams. We verified these numbers by using Dodge's online configuration tool, which does not yet allow you to order up the innovative RamBox option. That lockable storage unit is built right into the bed rail of the pickup and will reportedly run you $1,850. That seems pretty reasonable considering that Dodge is the only brand offering this type of storage solution. Still not sold? Did you know that a RamBox is nearly big enough to fit an adult man? Pretty cool, that. Expect to see the RamBox option come online in early November.

Gallery: 2009 Dodge Ram


[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Click above to watch the video after the jump

Our sides were still hurting from the Bob Lutz interview on the Colbert Report when we read through the GM vice-chairman's thoughts on having appeared alongside the pseudo news anchor, whom he referred to as a "comic genius". We managed to stop laughing long enough to note of Lutz's recollection that Colbert had done a series of television commercials for the automaker's service division, Goodwrench. The ads were done just a few years ago, when Colbert was still on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart before he had his own program. They weren't bad, and we've got a couple of the clips after the jump for your entertainment.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEOS: The Goodwrench Report with Stephen Colbert

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>colbertcolbert gmColbertGmcommercialgm goodrenchgm goodwrench commercialGmGoodrenchGmGoodwrenchCommercialgoodwrenchmr. goodwrenchMr.Goodwrenchstephen colbertstephen colbert gm goodwrenchStephenColbertStephenColbertGmGoodwrenchSun, 21 Sep 2008 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Saab Australia busted for misleading green claims, ordered to plant LOTS of trees]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/19/saab-australia-busted-for-misleading-green-claims-ordered-to-pl/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/19/saab-australia-busted-for-misleading-green-claims-ordered-to-pl/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/19/saab-australia-busted-for-misleading-green-claims-ordered-to-pl/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Marketers have been known to make claims that test our good sense, our gullibility and our patience. But in a field in which it's often the best story -- not the best product -- that wins, some of the more unsightly details can get left out when making a pitch. Nevertheless, there is still, as Pinocchio's nose would tell you, a line between a tall tale and what's commonly referred to as a lie.

Saab Australia drove its entire model range over that line when it claimed in a campaign last year that "Every Saab is green, with carbon emissions neutral across the entire Saab range." The ads also said Saab would plant 17 native trees to offset the CO2 emissions for the lifespan of each car it sold. Turns out that 17 trees only offsets the carbon produced in the first year of a car's life. Saab left that part out when they lied added the small print.

Australia's competition watchdog took Saab's parent company, GM Holden, to court, and in a verdict for truth and the environment, Saab's claims were declared, ahem, "misleading". GM has pledged to "retrain its marketing staff in relation to making green claims," and plant a forest of 12,500 trees to cover the lifetime emissions of all the cars sold during the campaign.

[Source: Drive]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingemissionsgreenwashingmarketingsaabsaab australiaSaabAustraliaFri, 19 Sep 2008 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: McLaren makes a Singapore <strike>Sling</strike> Zing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/19/video-mclaren-makes-a-singapore-strike-sling-strike-zing/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/19/video-mclaren-makes-a-singapore-strike-sling-strike-zing/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/19/video-mclaren-makes-a-singapore-strike-sling-strike-zing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click the image above to view the video

We know that McLaren has a sense of humor, we simply never know when it's going to reveal itself. Happily for us, the team has decided it's time to laugh again. The Singapore Grand Prix, on September 28, is the first Formula 1 race at night, and team CEO Martin Whitmarsh gives us a little insight into McLaren's preparations. This is the kind of silly season that makes sense. Follow the jump for the video. Thanks for the tip, Peter!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: McLaren makes a Singapore Sling Zing

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