VIDEO: In Da Club Cherokee? Enterprising kids go all Jeep techno
Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor
Jeep Cherokee beatbox - Click above to watch video
If your Jeep Cherokee has been sitting around for a while, it probably makes a few noises. You might not mind, though, if they were noises as well orchestrated as those in the video shown above.
British saxophonist Julian Smith spent a few hours with a Cherokee and an array of friends with rhythm and came up with a number that could be straight out of Stomp. Or an Art of Noise album. Follow the jump to see the vid, and as a bonus, there’s another take on car beats with Snob Scrilla and a Toyota Yaris. Thanks for the tips, everyone!
[Source: YouTube]
Continue reading VIDEO: In Da Club Cherokee? Enterprising kids go all Jeep techno
VIDEO: In Da Club Cherokee? Enterprising kids go all Jeep techno originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: crossovers-cuvs, etc, fordedge, friends-with, jeep cherokee, jeepcherokee, musicvideo, photography, snobscrilla, toyotayaris
VIDEO: Gag Me With a Yule Log - GM to allow kids to track Santa Claus via Onstar
Santa pays a visit to OnStar — Click above to view the video after the jump
OnStar has provided nothing but good press lately for General Motors, and GM is going to ride that pony all the way to the finish. The next person in line to take advantage of Onstar’s benefits is that Arctic gadget freak himself, Santa Claus. Unveiled as an installed option on his new sleigh — which he picked up when he dropped by OnStar HQ — it comes with at least one extra feature you won’t be getting anytime soon: a reindeer health meter.
But you haven’t been left out of the bonanza. GM has partnered with NORAD so that if you have an OnStar subscription you can keep track of K. Kringle during his midnight run. From 6 a.m. on Christmas Eve until early Christmas morning, press the blue button and Onstar’s will update you on the hour with info relayed by the guys deep in the mountain.
It’s not a Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock, but it’s a start. Follow the jump for the press release and to watch Santa get his Christmas present.
[Source: OnStar]
Continue reading VIDEO: Gag Me With a Yule Log - GM to allow kids to track Santa Claus via Onstar
VIDEO: Gag Me With a Yule Log - GM to allow kids to track Santa Claus via Onstar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, after-the-jump, etc, general-motors, jump, norad, onstar, option-on-his, santa, santa-claus, video
VIDEO: More celebrating as Mini marks 50th Anniversary with Wash Me
Filed under: Etc., Videos, Mini
Mini 50th anniversary project Wash Me — Click above for high-res photo gallery
You didn’t really think it was going to stop with Krink, did you? Oh no. Mini and art have combined again on a limited-edition book and art project called “Wash Me.” Starting with the idea of the “Wash me!” imperative scrawled into dirty cars the world over, ten artists that have never used a car as a canvas have “transformed [a Mini] into a transient work of art.”
What does that mean? It means they painted a bunch of Minis lots of different colors and wrote (ironic?) things on them. And there were gorillas involved. Two, in fact. Or maybe it was one gorilla and Sasquatch. You can see for yourself in the video and press release after the jump, and the high-res gallery of images below. Take that, art world.
Gallery: Mini Wash Me Anniversary Project
[Source: Mini]
Continue reading VIDEO: More celebrating as Mini marks 50th Anniversary with Wash Me
VIDEO: More celebrating as Mini marks 50th Anniversary with Wash Me originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: across-the-dash, business-plan, etc, for-yourself-, ft-86boxer, have-combined, high-res-photo, over-at-7tune, sasquatch-, transient-work, video, videos, watch-the-video
REPORT: "Lesser luxury" is the new black
Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.
Up until very recently, the reason that you bought a BMW 3 Series or a Mercedes-Benz C-Class was to prepare you to buy a 5 or an E in a few years. You know, ladders to climb, blowing up to do, de-luxe apartments in the sky to own. These days, according to a new study, that is less and less the case: fewer premium buyers are moving up and more buyers are actually moving down.
According to numbers compiled by the Power Information Network, in 2006, nearly 16% of new car buyers moved from a compact to a mid-sized car, but through the first half of this year, only about 11% did so. And compared to 2006, this year two other categories showed 4% gains: people moving from large to mid-sized cars, and those moving from mid-sized to compact cars.
Gas prices have a bit to do with that, as does the democratization of high-end features, but the real story appears to be that unless David Stern signs your paychecks, being a baller is out. Customers don’t want to look like they’re flaunting their money, or they simply don’t want to spend it. Even brand-loyal buyers are either keeping their cars, or instead of buying new ones they’re going for pre-owned certified or an off-lease deal. Even Acura and Lexus are seeing their customers turn their aspirations downward.
According to Automotive News, brands that appear to be poised to benefit from this trend include Hyundai and Audi. The Korean firm’s Genesis sedan is an all-the-luxury-you-want option for $10,000 less than most comparable brands. Less flashiness and an engineering-led message could also be the catalyst for Audi, whose sales declines are a third of the luxury market’s overall. Said Scott Keogh, Audi’s chief marketing officer, “There is affluence, and consumers have means, but frivolousness has gone away.”
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
REPORT: “Lesser luxury” is the new black originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 2010 sedan, a-mid-sized-car, a-new-study, alfa, chrysler, entry, etc, luxury, money, their-customers
Trunk Zoo: Italian police reportedly find 1,700 animals stuffed in car’s boot
A driver in Bari, Italy was stopped for a routine inspection of his car. When police got to the trunk, they found it filled with mammals, reptiles, and birds. We have no idea how he got them all in there or, better yet, what kind of car he was driving, but authorities reportedly found the following hiding out in the boot: 216 parakeets, 300 white mice, 150 hamsters, 30 Japanese squirrels, six chameleons and over 1,000 terrapins.
The police say the man was going to sell the terrapins for €20 apiece ($29 U.S.), and although they didn’t say it, we imagine he was going to sell the other animals as well. Instead, the animals have gone to local zoos while the police investigate and the man will get to sell cigarettes and phone privileges in the local hoosegow.
[Source: MyABC50 | Image: marfis75 via CC2.0]
Trunk Zoo: Italian police reportedly find 1,700 animals stuffed in car’s boot originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: 216-parakeets, but-authorities, entry, etc, following, italy, police, sell-cigarettes, singapore grand prix, six-chameleons
Papa John’s Camaro reward situation turns salty, ex-owners looking for bigger slice of the pie
Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal
File this under “No Cool, Wacky Deed Shall Go Unlitigated.” John Schnatter, Papa John of Papa John’s Pizza, put out a $250,000 A.P.B. to find his long lost 1971 1/2 Camaro Z28. According to the folks at Papa John, the person who won the money was the one whose name was on the title of the car - that is, the owner of the car was paid the dosh for selling the car back to Schnatter. Kentuckian Jeff Robinson came forth with the car and took home the cash.
The Papa John’s folks say the rules never said anything about finder’s fees. But when the Sloanes of Indiana helped point Schnatter to Robinson, Schnatter offered them $25,000 for the assist. How did the Sloanes know about the car? They had owned it previously and sold it to Robinson.
Now the Sloanes aren’t happy about “only” getting $25,000. Billie Sloane wants more of that quarter million, and will sue Papa John if he doesn’t pony up the cake. Her evidence is “advertisements and a press release that promised the money to whomever could ‘reveal the car’s whereabouts.’” Jeff Robinson chimes in, though, and says Sloane came to him and said the original owner would buy the car from him for $125,000, and says that she didn’t mention the contest nor the full amount of the reward.
No matter. Now it’s between Sloane, Papa, and potentially the courts. If only Papa John had listened to the late M.J. about another famous Billie: “So take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice…” Um, yeah, never saw this one coming. Good luck, Papa John…
[Source: WLKY News]
Papa John’s Camaro reward situation turns salty, ex-owners looking for bigger slice of the pie originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, a-helped-point, and-potentially, decreasing-the, different-from, entry, etc, home-the-cash, jeff robinson, news, the-car
VIDEO: UK texting-while-driving PSA is a return to Blood on the Highway
Aug 26, 2009 Object, news, video
Filed under: Etc., Europe, Safety, Videos, UK
Wales PSA against texting while driving - Click above to watch video
It looks like Wales hired Danny Boyle or Quentin Tarantino to create a PSA to showcase the dangers of texting while driving (it was actually Peter Watkins-Hughes). As these things do, it starts off with a couple of teenagers doing what teenagers do — in this case, sending text messages from behind the wheel. The accident is cinematic in its graphic detail, trauma, and blood. Just when you think it’s over… well, we won’t spoil it, but let’s just say it ain’t short and it ain’t pretty. All that’s missing are the zombies. Follow the jump to watch the video - but fair warning, it’s far more gory than the average PSA. Thanks for the tip, Tim!
[Sources: BBC]
Continue reading VIDEO: UK texting-while-driving PSA is a return to Blood on the Highway
VIDEO: UK texting-while-driving PSA is a return to Blood on the Highway originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, danny-boyle, entry, etc, follow-the-jump, video, videos, what-teenagers
REPORT: Land Rover to debut LRX next June for 2011 launch
Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Crossover, Land Rover, Rumormill, Luxury
Land Rover LRX Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Land Rover is set to celebrate the first 40 years of its eminently capable Range Rover line next June. What better birthday present to itself than to unleash a new model that’s set to bring its wares up to date with the modern realities of fuel efficiency and a reduced environmental impact?
The vehicle in question is the new Range Rover LRX, and Autocar in the U.K. is reporting that the small Rover will see its debut on June 17, 2010 with the first production models rolling down the line in early 2011. Styling both inside and out is expected to stay very close to the well-received LRX concept from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.
Based on underpinnings shared with the Freelander (that’s the LR2 here in the States), the LRX could feature a transverse engine driving the front wheels with the first application of the marque’s e TERRAIN electric drive rear axle, a setup that is said to be capable of powering the rear wheels using battery power only at speeds up to 20 mph.
Gallery: Land Rover LRX Concept - White
[Source: Autocar]
REPORT: Land Rover to debut LRX next June for 2011 launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, entry, etc, first, fuel-efficiency, hybridrangerover, land rover, landroverrangeroverlrx, range rover lrx, rover, what-teenagers, with-the-modern
Honda teases new Crosstour on Facebook
Aug 26, 2009 Object
Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda
2010 Honda Accord Crosstour — Click above for image gallery
The Honda Accord Crosstour has been essentially seen in several spy shots, but its front end remains something of a mystery. Honda has dispelled a bit of that with the release of two frontal pics, and it looks like the front could match the back for curves versus its Accord sedan stablemate.
The grille takes an Accord shape, albeit with a different application pattern for the chrome trim. Although having a slightly different layout, the headlights look to have the sleekness of the Accord Coupe’s lamps matched to a more stylized version of the Accord sedan’s fog lamps. If you want more of the piecemeal reveal routine, you could always join Honda’s Facebook page… or you could just wait for the full reveal, happening in a couple of days.
The Accord Crosstour goes on sale later this year as a 2010 model.
Gallery: Honda Crosstour teaser crops
[Source: Honda]
Honda teases new Crosstour on Facebook originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, a-more-stylized, a-teases-new, accord, accord crosstour, crosstour, etc, first, headlights, honda-accord, match-the-back, piecemeal, sleekness
Happy Papa John to give Camaro owners free pizza after getting his ride back
Aug 25, 2009 Object, news, video
Filed under: Etc.
John Schnatter, the Papa in Papa John’s Pizza, has been looking for his 1971 1/2 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 for nearly twenty years. He sold it in 1983 for $2,800 and used part of that to rescue his father’s business and the rest to begin the pizza chain that has gone global. He has spent more than 100 times that much trying to get it back.
Starting off with a FBI agent, then a web appeal and a $25,000 reward, he got nowhere. The reward swelled to $250,000, and then he got on television and talked about trying to get the car back. Some Indiana readers heard about it, and a web engine search led them to Schnatter’s story on Jalopnik. Those readers, the Sloanes, thought they knew the owner of the car in question, because they had owned it and recently sold it.
The new owner — only the third one, after Schnatter — was a Kentucky man named Jeff Robinson of Flatwoods, Kentucky. He had transformed the original Z28 into an 825 horsepower dragster doing 9.55 quarter-miles at 141 mph. Still, he was unsurprisingly content to sell his car back to Schnatter for the $250,000 reward. The Sloanes also got $25,000 for the assist.
And now their gain may be your gain - if you’re one of the Camaro faithful. Papa John is so happy to have his car back that he’s giving away free pizza to all Camaro owners tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26. One pizza per Camaro, one visit per Camaro. Although we suppose if you can get that transforming Bumblebee Camaro suit from the Mexican Chevy dealer, you might earn a couple more pies. Thanks to everyone for the tips!
[Sources: Jalopnik; The Associated Press via Google]
Happy Papa John to give Camaro owners free pizza after getting his ride back originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tags: a-friend-via, camaro, camaro-although, entry, etc, freepizza, news, papajohns, tips, video
