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[Clarkson injured in head-on crash during filming]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/clarkson-injured-in-head-on-crash-during-filming/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/clarkson-injured-in-head-on-crash-during-filming/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/13/clarkson-injured-in-head-on-crash-during-filming/#commentsFiled under:

According to a report by the UK's Mirror, Jeremy Clarkson has been injured during filming of the BBC version of Top Gear. The story doesn't divulge the circumstances of the crash or what the presenter was driving during the incident, but according to Clarkson, the head-on collision was his first serious crash in 31 years. Top Gear's front-man described his injuries in typical Clarksonian style thusly: "My right index finger looked like a burst sausage, my left shin was fatter than my thigh and my back felt like someone had driven over it with a pile-driver." Clarkson's wife took a call from the Mirror on Saturday and told the tabloid that her husband was fine. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to the Top Gear team's triumphant return on November 2nd. Top tip Lee!

[Source: Mirror.co.uk]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crashhead onhead-onHeadOnjeremy clarksonJeremyClarksontop geartop gear jeremy clarkson crashTopGearTopGearJeremyClarksonCrashMon, 13 Oct 2008 07:57:00 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[KTM X-Bow, Suzuki Hayabusa-engined car tested for Race of Champions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/07/ktm-x-bow-suzuki-hayabusa-engined-car-tested-for-race-of-champi/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/07/ktm-x-bow-suzuki-hayabusa-engined-car-tested-for-race-of-champi/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/07/ktm-x-bow-suzuki-hayabusa-engined-car-tested-for-race-of-champi/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for more high-res shots of the 2008 ROC cars

Americans may be more familiar with the International Race of Champions, IROC for short, due to that race's popularity in the '80s and '90s and for the Chevy Camaros and Dodge Daytonas affixed with the badge. In the rest of the world, though, the more popular series is called the Race of Champions, but the idea is the same. Take top drivers from various racing leagues and pit them in similar cars against each other on a number of different race tracks. This year, the ROC's organizers are testing a bunch of cars to be used for the next event, including the track-ready KTM X-Bow and a wild-sounding contraption that uses twin Suzuki Hayabusa engines driving all four wheels. The actual race will take place in London at Wembley Stadium on December 14 and will feature Tom Kristensen (Team Scandinavia), Michael Schumacher (Team Germany), Sébastien Loeb (Team France), Andy Priaulx (Team Autosport Great Britain), Troy Bayliss (Team Australia), Mattias Ekström (Team Scandinavia), Jenson Button (Team Autosport Great Britain), Mark Webber (Team Australia) and Sebastian Vettel (Team Germany).

Gallery: Race of Champions 2008 testing


[Source: Race of Champions]

Continue reading KTM X-Bow, Suzuki Hayabusa-engined car tested for Race of Champions

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>erprohayabusaktm x-bowKtmX-bowrace of championsrace of champions 2008RaceOfChampionsRaceOfChampions2008roc 2008Roc2008Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Gear Australia already in trouble after two episodes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/07/top-gear-australia-already-in-trouble-after-two-episodes/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/07/top-gear-australia-already-in-trouble-after-two-episodes/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/07/top-gear-australia-already-in-trouble-after-two-episodes/#commentsFiled under: , ,



So we've downloaded the first two episodes of Top Gear Australia, and our assessment of the series so far seems to be right in line with how Aussie nationals are receiving their own home brew version of the wildly popular Brit-based car show. Viewership for the first episode that aired September 29th was estimated to be around 925,000 blokes, and while producers were hoping to crack the 1 million mark with episode two, viewership for the show last Sunday actually fell to 674,000. For those averse to bittorrenting, we can tell you that while episode two was a big improvement over the series premier, it was still very awkward to watch these Australian impersonators of Jezza, Hampster and Captain Slow recite their poorly written scripts for an audience that didn't know when to laugh.

Episode two does have a segment comparing the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon, but while you would think that match up is important enough to devote a 13-part mini-series to, Top Gear Australia's coverage is no longer than a quick bathroom break and not very insightful. In fact, after drag racing and brake testing both cars side-by-side, for some reason they decide to lap the track with just the Falcon and never hands either of them over to the Stig.

Speaking of which, while a Stig is a Stig is a Stig when they're all wearing white suits, the Top Gear Australia test track on which the great one drives is a poor substitute for the original. It's got too many long straights and not enough turns, and the show's camera placement that should show off how a car moves is not flattering at all.

We give the show a C so far and will continue watching (err, downloading) to see if it gets better. We hope it does, otherwise we won't have much to look forward to when our own Top Gear USA airs.

[Source: AdAge via Jalopnik]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>top gear australiaTopGearAustraliaTue, 07 Oct 2008 16:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeep CJ-7 turned General Lee violates natural order of things]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/05/jeep-cj-7-turned-general-lee-violates-natural-order-of-things/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/05/jeep-cj-7-turned-general-lee-violates-natural-order-of-things/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/05/jeep-cj-7-turned-general-lee-violates-natural-order-of-things/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



There are fantastic combinations, like bacon and, well, just about anything, and then there are things that should never be combined. Jeep CJ-7s are super iconic, and they represent the pinnacle of AMC's stewardship of the brand. Though the Dukes of Hazzard itself was no Citizen Kane, every kid of that era has indelible images of an orange Charger flying through the air etched in their memories. Again, General Lee: cool. Put them together; ignoring the fact that a proper "Dukes"-themed CJ would mirror the Golden Eagle edition that appeared in the show; and you have created that which should never be. The "01" treatment has been applied to some very odd vehicles the world over, though, so we suppose that a General Lee-themed CJ isn't so bad in the long run. At least both elements appeared in the original show...

Gallery: General Lee CJ7


[Source: Hemmings]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dukes of hazzarddukes of hazzard cj7dukes of hazzard jeepDukesOfHazzardDukesOfHazzardCj7DukesOfHazzardJeepgeneral leegeneral lee jeepGeneralLeeGeneralLeeJeepjeep cjjeep cj general leeJeepCjJeepCjGeneralLeeSun, 05 Oct 2008 12:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Letterman remembers Paul Newman...and their V8 Volvos]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/05/letterman-remembers-paul-newman-and-their-v8-volvos/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/05/letterman-remembers-paul-newman-and-their-v8-volvos/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/05/letterman-remembers-paul-newman-and-their-v8-volvos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



In the wake of Paul Newman's passing just over a week ago, we've seen countless, wonderful tributes to the man written from different points of view. He's remembered as an actor, a colleague, a racer, and most importantly, a towering philanthropist. One of the best non-written remembrances, however, comes from the mouth of David Letterman, who paid respect to Newman in one of his monologues on The Late Show last week.

The whole thing's worth watching, but at around 3:45 in, Dave gets to the story about when Newman called him up one day and talked him into buying a custom Volvo wagon (a 960) with a supercharged Ford V8 underhood. You see, Newman was having one made and was very pumped up about it, so he asked if Dave wanted one, too. And you know, how do you say no to Paul Newman? Dave recounts the whole affair beautifully, and of course, it's also funny.

Volvo 960 V8 ConversionAfter you watch the clip, head over to Swedespeed, where in 2003 they profiled a third car just like the ones built for Newman and Letterman, with even more background about Newman's car and what went into the build. This is the very definition of "sleeper."

[Source: The Sheila Variations]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david lettermanDavidLettermanpaul newmanPaulNewmanv8 volvoV8Volvovolvovolvo wagonVolvoWagonSun, 05 Oct 2008 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[PigTones offering Yoda, Terminator and Stewie nav voices]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/30/pigtones-offering-yoda-terminator-and-stewie-nav-voices/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/30/pigtones-offering-yoda-terminator-and-stewie-nav-voices/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/30/pigtones-offering-yoda-terminator-and-stewie-nav-voices/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



"Left at the next exit you will turn," or so we imagine none other than Jedi Master Yoda telling us as we attempt to pilot our land speeders toward some unknown destination. You can now download Yoda as the voice of your TomTom or Garmin GPS unit courtesy of a company named PigTones and a fee of $12.97. Not a Star Wars fan? Well, you should be (at least of the original trilogy). There's always the Terminator. On second thought, who wants to be told to make a legal U-turn by the governor of California? That leaves Stewie from The Family Guy. He's the megolomaniacal infant that's hell bent on killing his mother, Lois. There are others to choose from too, some raunchier than others. Click here for the full list. Thanks for the tip, yash!

[Source: PIGtones via The Earth Times]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garmin voicegarmin voicesGarminVoiceGarminVoicesgpsgps voicegps voicesGpsVoiceGpsVoicesnavigation voicenavigation voicesNavigationVoiceNavigationVoicesstewie voiceStewieVoiceterminator voiceTerminatorVoicetomtom voicetomtom voicesTomtomVoiceTomtomVoicesyoda voiceYodaVoiceTue, 30 Sep 2008 19:56:00 EST<![CDATA[RIP: Paul Newman 1925-2008]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/27/rip-paul-newman-1925-2008/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/27/rip-paul-newman-1925-2008/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/27/rip-paul-newman-1925-2008/#commentsFiled under:


Photo: prorallypix | License: Creative Commons 2.0

Actor, racer, philanthropist and all-around great human being Paul Newman has died. Newman was 83 years old and is believed to have been diagnosed with cancer in 2007. His acting career spanned more than half a century and included roles such as "Fast" Eddie Felson, Cool Hand Luke, and Louisiana Gov Earl Long among many, many others. His Newman's Own food line has raised more than $200 million for charity. His partnership with Carl Haas owning race teams in Can-Am and Indy Cars lasted over 25 years and Newman himself won countless races in various national and international classes. Last month, Newman, a longtime Connecticut resident, went out to Lime Rock Park to take some final laps in his Corvette. We'll miss you Paul! Thanks to Nick and George for the tips!

Update: Dahlia Lithwick wrote a fabulous obituary over on Slate.

[Various Sources]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1925 - 20081925-2008breakinfbrealingpaul newmanpaul newman passes awayPaulNewmanPaulNewmanPassesAwayrip paul newmanRipPaulNewmanSat, 27 Sep 2008 10:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Knight Rider premiere pulls 4.9/10 Nielsen rating]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/knight-rider-premier-pulls-4-9-10-nielsen-rating/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/knight-rider-premier-pulls-4-9-10-nielsen-rating/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/26/knight-rider-premier-pulls-4-9-10-nielsen-rating/#commentsFiled under:



The series premiere of Knight Rider on NBC last night pulled a 4.9/10 Nielsen rating in its 8PM time slot, which, according to tvbythenumbers.com, isn't exactly a stellar score for a series opener. In other words, Nielsen is estimating that 4.9% of all TV households were watching Knight Rider last night, and that group includes TV households that both did and did not have their TVs turned on at the time. The second number means that out of all the TVs turned on between 8PM and 9PM last night, 10% were watching Knight Rider.

How does that measure up with Knight Rider's competition on Wednesday nights? Not so hot. KR was third in the 18-49 demographic and 4th in the more important 18-34 demo. Robert Seldman who writes for tvbythenumbers.com tells us that the 18-34 year old demographic was even more interested in watching America's Next Top Model than Michael Knight, and that includes both males and females.

The Nunez household counted itself among the few that watched the Knight Rider premiere, and in case you missed it, check out Alex's liveblog of the first episode. He's promised to be in front of the tube each week so you don't have to.

[Source: tvbythenumbers.com]
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kittknight riderknight rider kittknight rider tv showKnightRiderKnightRiderKittKnightRiderTvShowmichael knightMichaelKnightFri, 26 Sep 2008 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Flash of Genius film reveals dirty history of intermittent wiper]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/flash-of-genius-film-reveals-dirty-history-of-intermittent-wiper/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/flash-of-genius-film-reveals-dirty-history-of-intermittent-wiper/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/23/flash-of-genius-film-reveals-dirty-history-of-intermittent-wiper/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to view Flash of Genius trailer

Considering that automakers today are racing to develop complex electric drive and alternative fuel technologies, it's amazing to realize that the biggest technological hurdle to overcome back in 1967 was getting wiper blades to operate intermittently. As it turns out, the history of how the intermittent wiper came to be is actually a dark tale in automotive history. Invented by college professor Robert Kearns in the late '60s, the technology was shopped around to every major automaker and Ford was the first to adopt it. Except the house that Henry built screwed Kearns out of not only the money he was due, but also the credit for developing what automakers themselves couldn't. That story has now been turned into a major motion picture called Flash of Genius that stars Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham (the mom from Gilmore Girls), Dermot Mulroney and Alan Alda. We wouldn't have thought a movie about windshield wipers would be very interesting, but the preview after the jump has us hooked. It's slated to open in theaters on October 17th courtesy of Universal.

Gallery: Flash of Genius


[Source: Flashofgenius.net]

Continue reading Flash of Genius film reveals dirty history of intermittent wiper

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flash of geniusFlashOfGeniusintermittent wiperIntermittentWiperrobert kearnsRobertKearnsTue, 23 Sep 2008 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[16th Annual Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/16th-annual-palos-verdes-concours-d-elegance/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/16th-annual-palos-verdes-concours-d-elegance/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/16th-annual-palos-verdes-concours-d-elegance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click image above for full high-res gallery.

The 16th Annual Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance was held this Sunday at Trump National Golf Club in Palos Verdes, California. Like a half-scale Pebble Beach, the PV Concours offers visitors a golf course setting above the Pacific that produces a beautiful backdrop for viewing some of the greatest classic cars around. This year's event celebrated 100 years of General Motors, as well as Cadillac, and alternative fuel vehicles among its dozens of classes. Highlights included a 100-yr-old electric car, a Ferrari short wheelbase, a Miura Jota, a '69 Trans Am, 427 COPO Camaro, '48 Delahaye, '54 Fiat 8V, and some great Corvairs and Cadillacs.

Besides the cars, concours are always fun for celeb spotting, especially around L.A. KNBC's Dave Kunz, Parnelli Jones, Barry Meguiar, Bobbie 'dine Rodda, Paul Moyer, Bruce Meyer and even Deepak Chopra were among those who made it out for the show, which benefits the Palos Verdes Art Center and Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Foundation. We assembled a huge gallery of some of the entrants, all labeled so you can identify some of your favorites.

Gallery: 16th Annual Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concours deleganceConcoursDelegancepalos verdesPalos Verdes Concours dElegancePalosVerdesPalosVerdesConcoursDeleganceMon, 22 Sep 2008 19:28:00 EST<![CDATA[More pics from Top Gear testing American metal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/more-pics-from-top-gear-testing-american-metal/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/more-pics-from-top-gear-testing-american-metal/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/22/more-pics-from-top-gear-testing-american-metal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery

Not long after we learned that the famous Top Gear trio was in the U.S., a fan managed to snap some shots of Clarkson, Hammond and Mays testing their favorite examples of American muscle at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. The hosts made their way to salt flats by way of Reno, Nevada where they had a few modifications done to each vehicle in the name of high speed safety, namely driveshaft loops and fire extinguishers. If you saw our previous post on the subject, you already know that Clarkson is driving a Corvette ZR1, Hamster a Challenger SRT8 and May the super-fast but still luxurious Cadillac CTS-V, a car that shares much of its supercharged V8 architecture with the new force-fed mill in the 'Vette. We can already surmise that the ZR1 easily took top honors at Bonneville thanks to its slippery shape and abundance of power. Now, which car wins the comparison test? We look forward to next season to find out. Check out the gallery below for more pics of the action going down, or click here and follow the photostream. Thanks for the tips, AkulaX1 and Andi!

Gallery: Top Gear at Bonneville


[Sources: Flickr, Digital Corvettes]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonneville salt flatsBonnevilleSaltFlatscadillac cts-vCadillacCts-vchallenger srtchallenger srt-8challenger srt8ChallengerSrtChallengerSrt-8ChallengerSrt8corvette zr1CorvetteZr1dodge challengerDodgeChallengerjames mayJamesMayjeremy clarksonJeremyClarksonrichard hammondRichardHammondtop geartop gear picstop gear picturesTopGearTopGearPicsTopGearPicturesMon, 22 Sep 2008 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEOS: The Goodwrench Report with Stephen Colbert]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/21/videos-the-goodwrench-report-with-stephen-colbert/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/21/videos-the-goodwrench-report-with-stephen-colbert/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/21/videos-the-goodwrench-report-with-stephen-colbert/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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[Bob Lutz on The Colbert Report tonight!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/17/bob-lutz-on-the-colbert-report-tonight/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/17/bob-lutz-on-the-colbert-report-tonight/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/17/bob-lutz-on-the-colbert-report-tonight/#commentsFiled under: ,



We just got word from GM PR that Bob Lutz will be a guest on The Colbert Report on Comedy Central at 11:30 PM EST tonight. As with all episodes of The Colbert Report, it will also be replayed several times tomorrow and we expect the segment to appear on Comedy Central's website, as well. We'll be watching it when it first airs this evening, though, and figured you might want a heads up in case you were planning on going to bed early. Suck it up, drink a Pepsi to stay awake to watch Maximum Bob try and get a big Colbert Bump for the 2011 Chevy Volt.

UPDATE: Just finished watching the segment. We'll post video of it later today, but will tell you now that Lutz said the Volt will attract hairy hippy chicks and Colbert plans to charge his Volt by plugging it into the cigarette lighter of his HUMMER.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 chevy volt2011ChevyVoltbob lutzBobLutzchevy voltChevyVoltlutz colbertLutzColbertstephen colbertStephenColbertthe colbert reportTheColbertReportvoltWed, 17 Sep 2008 22:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Vin Diesel rides custom bikes from Lazareth in Babylon A.D.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/14/video-vin-diesel-rides-custom-bikes-from-lazareth-in-babylon-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/14/video-vin-diesel-rides-custom-bikes-from-lazareth-in-babylon-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/14/video-vin-diesel-rides-custom-bikes-from-lazareth-in-babylon-a/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for more shots of the custom bikes from Babylon A.D.

Having managed to avoid Babylon A.D. completely up until this point, it's hard to give any sort of commentary on the actual flick (we heard it was pretty bad...), but after seeing some of the cool machinery that was showcased in the Vin Diesel vehicle, we give a grade A to Lazareth, the French maker of high performance custom bikes. Lazareth was a good choice, as the motorcycles coming out of that shop already have a bit of a future post-apocalyptic look to them. Among the cool features are supercharged V-Twin engines, single-sided forks and swingarms, and on-board computers. Customs based on streetfighters are inherently cool in the sea of look-alike choppers and bobbers, so it's a refreshing change of pace to see these bikes featured on film. See a video of the machines in action after the break.

Gallery: Lazareth customs in Babylon A.D.


[Source: MotoBlog]

Continue reading Video: Vin Diesel rides custom bikes from Lazareth in Babylon A.D.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>babylon a.d.babylon adBabylonA.d.BabylonAdlazarethlazareth cycleslazareth motorcycleslazareth-motorcyclesLazarethCyclesLazarethMotorcyclesvin dieselVinDieselSun, 14 Sep 2008 16:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a sneak peek at Top Gear Australia]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/13/take-a-sneak-peek-at-top-gear-australia/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/13/take-a-sneak-peek-at-top-gear-australia/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/13/take-a-sneak-peek-at-top-gear-australia/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Going through Top Gear withdrawals? It's understandable. In lieu of mind-altering drugs, may we suggest watching a video of the new Australian crew doing their best Clarkson, May and Hammond impressions? All right, what do we see here? There's a bright yellow Lotus, a ridiculously long Hummer limo, supercars galore and plenty of smoking tires. Of course, the three hosts, Charlie Cox, Warren Brown, and Steve Pizzati, are present and accounted for as well, as is The Stig's Australian clone. Looks like fun, though there's something not quite right about those accents.

If this video was enough to whet your appetite, there's good news. The first episode will debut on Monday September 29 -- right around the corner. For those of us who don't get Australian television channels, the interwebs are sure to come to the rescue in no time flat. Let the countdown commence.
[Source: SBS via Jalopnik]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>top geartop gear australiaTopGearTopGearAustraliaSat, 13 Sep 2008 10:48:00 EST<![CDATA[NASCAR Dads? How about Formula-D First Lady?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/nascar-dads-how-about-formula-d-first-lady/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/nascar-dads-how-about-formula-d-first-lady/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/nascar-dads-how-about-formula-d-first-lady/#commentsFiled under: , ,



It won't do anything to bolster her "green" credentials, but the fact that Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, can hold her 240SX in a glorious sideways slide as long as you please strikes us not only as surprising, but, well, a little off the hook. It seems the McCain clan likes high-horsepower pastimes, be it trains, planes or automobiles, though the trains part might only be for whistlestop campaigns. A few years back, Cindy and son Jack were intrigued by drifting after catching television coverage of the sport. Rather than just look it up on Wikipedia, Cindy McCain -- who is an avowed lifelong gearhead -- headed to Japan, birthplace of drifting, to learn the practice from a sensei.

Mom and son Jack dove wholeheartedly into drifting, building a 240SX drift car and competing as a team in amateur competition. Motorsports and high-performance driving also played a restorative role when McCain was temporarily felled by a stroke. In an odd choice of physical therapy facilities, McCain was at Bob Bondurant's Executive Protection course a mere six weeks after the health event, rebuilding her skill. While the plot sounds like a treatment for "The Drifting Kid" or some other kind of Hollywood dreck, it's exciting to think that a first lady might be able to out-drive her Secret Service detail. Thanks for all the tips!

[Source: ESPN]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cindy mccain driftCindyMccainDriftdriftingformula dFormulaDmccain driftmccain formula dMccainDriftMccainFormulaDWed, 10 Sep 2008 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[<i>Knight Rider</i> premiering online Sept. 17th, a week before broadcast]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/06/i-knight-rider-i-premiering-online-sept-17th-a-week-before/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/06/i-knight-rider-i-premiering-online-sept-17th-a-week-before/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/06/i-knight-rider-i-premiering-online-sept-17th-a-week-before/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Hey kids, don't forget: the new, not-at-all-improved Knight Rider becomes a weekly series on Wednesday, September 24th. As was the case during the pilot that aired back in February, I'll be on my couch with my laptop, liveblogging the proceedings and adding much-needed "perspective" each week, right until the show's cancellation. Maybe you couldn't care less about the liveblog, though. Or maybe you're just a glutton for punishment. If that's the case, you're in luck -- the Peacock is posting the season premiere online at NBC.com and Hulu.com on September 17, a week before the network broadcast. I'm gonna pass on the sneak peek, because I don't want want to taint my initial reaction to KITT's new Attack Mode (above). That, I'm saving for you guys. Mark your calendars. In the meantime, I'll watch this again instead.

Gallery: The new KITT - OFFICIAL PHOTOS


[Source: Inside Line]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gt500 krgt500krgt500kr kittgt500krkittkittknight riderKnightRidernew knight riderNewKnightRiderSat, 06 Sep 2008 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[New video shows some of the first Transformers 2 action]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/05/new-video-shows-some-of-the-first-transformers-2-action/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/05/new-video-shows-some-of-the-first-transformers-2-action/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/05/new-video-shows-some-of-the-first-transformers-2-action/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to watch video after the jump

We're nearly a year from the big screen debut of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, but that hasn't stopped us from devouring every bit of early information that we can about the new Micheal Bay action flick. There is an early video taken from the first day of filming which features a few of the things that we're expecting to see front and center in this movie: cars, motorcycles and explosions. While the video is pretty short and doesn't reveal all that much, it still has us psyched about the movie and we will surely continue to watch as more filming documentaries are released.

We've pasted the YouTube version after the break, but you might want to check it out on Walmart's site for a clearer version. You'll need the following code: AllSpark62609. There is one more video from Industrial Light and Magic. It's called Creating Transformers and it details what it takes to animate a Transforming robot on-screen with live actors through some of the best scenes from the first movie. Yeah, we're officially excited.

[Source: Walmart via Transformers.MovieChronicle via Jalopnik]

Continue reading New video shows some of the first Transformers 2 action

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>transformerstransformers 2transformers revenge of the fallentransformers sequeltransformers videoTransformers2TransformersRevengeOfTheFallenTransformersSequelTransformersVideoFri, 05 Sep 2008 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Schumacher gets caught speeding off the track]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/04/schumacher-gets-caught-speeding-off-the-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/04/schumacher-gets-caught-speeding-off-the-track/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/04/schumacher-gets-caught-speeding-off-the-track/#commentsFiled under: , ,

More speeding in products from the Volkswagen corporate empire; only this time, the driver was smart and didn't try to run. The driver in this Italian incident, none other than Michael Schumacher, is probably capable of evading the Caribinieri -- though maybe he's not as adept at handling a real car as he is behind the wheel of a four-wheeled fighter jet. Schumi exercised fine judgement and politely accepted his 75 Euro fine, which carries a three-point penalty on his license.

The racing champ told German newspaper Bild that he was "very sorry" and that "it's out of character" because "speeding is for racetracks only." Maybe something's lost in translation, but we have this urge to say "now we know, and knowing is half the battle" after that sparely worded statement. Thanks for the tip, Ahmet!

[Source: F1-Live]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>michael schumacher citedmichael schumacher finemichael schumacher speedingmichael schumacher traffic violationMichaelSchumacherCitedMichaelSchumacherFineMichaelSchumacherSpeedingMichaelSchumacherTrafficViolationThu, 04 Sep 2008 08:31:00 EST