Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com/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[Put a Porsche in your driveway, well sort of...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/27/put-a-porsche-in-your-driveway-well-sort-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/27/put-a-porsche-in-your-driveway-well-sort-of/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/27/put-a-porsche-in-your-driveway-well-sort-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you want to see how that new Porsche is going to look in your driveway (or you just need to impress the women who frequent your favorite online dating service), our friends in Stuttgart have given us all the tools we'll need. Well, in a sense at least. Point your favorite browser here, and click on the "picture it" link on the bottom. Upload your favorite driveway shot, and then you can put either the Cayman, Boxster, 911 Coupe, or Cayenne on your own personal pavement. Once done, you can save it as a JPEG (we had to add the file extension afterwards) to share with your friends. While Porsche is kind enough to put a sports car or SUV in your driveway without charge, they won't be sending you the keys. For that, you'll still need some serious coin.

[Source: Porsche]

 

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]]>build your ownBuildYourOwncustomizeDrivewayhomeJPEGPorscheuploadVirtual2008-08-27T15:32:00+00:00<![CDATA[Cheap, stylish ride: Oxymoron or attainable dream?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/cheap-stylish-ride-oxymoron-or-attainable-dream/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/cheap-stylish-ride-oxymoron-or-attainable-dream/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/26/cheap-stylish-ride-oxymoron-or-attainable-dream/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Is it possible to buy a car that's both inexpensive and ultra cool? Can a $22,000 Toyota Prius really get you the same respect from the valet as a $70,000 BMW? That's what "Wired Magazine" wants to know, and they're asking readers to decide which of five relatively cheap cars they would feel coolest driving.

So far, the most expensive of the bunch, the Prius, is in third place with only 18% of the vote. Behind it with 11% is an early-'90s Volvo and a 25-year-old Mercedes 300 SDL. In first place, with a big lead over a used Ford Mustang, is a 1995-1997 Jaguar XJ6.

Really? Those are the only choices we get? For the price of that 2005 V6 Mustang, you could get yourself a real tire-smoking, V8-powered 1966 Mustang. Sure it'll need some paint, probably some fresh Bondo and maybe a transmission overhaul, but that builds character in both owner and car.

Or if you're not into power, don't even think about that wheezy Volvo. Go German instead, and get a classic VW Beetle. You'll pay more than what that boxy sedan cost, but the cool factor of the Bug will more than make up for it.

So what say you, Autoblog fans? What cheap transportation would you choose for its cool-boosting properties? Or is "Wired" right on the money?

[Source: Wired Magazine]

 

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]]>cheap carCheapCarjaguar xj6JaguarXj6mercedes 300 SDLMercedes300SdlMustangToyota priusToyotaPrius2008-08-26T18:59:00+00:00<![CDATA[Things that never were nor ever should be: The Plymouth Voyager Shorty Van]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/things-that-never-were-nor-ever-should-be-the-plymouth-voyager/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/things-that-never-were-nor-ever-should-be-the-plymouth-voyager/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/things-that-never-were-nor-ever-should-be-the-plymouth-voyager/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for another angle of the shorty Voyager

What would happen if an old Plymouth Horizon mated with a Plymouth Voyager? See above. Despite the fact that Chrysler used to offer its minivans with two different wheelbases, this is a vehicle that was fortunately never released out of the factory doors. Our guess is that the owner, like us, never really cared for those old non-powered sliding doors anyway. Why not just get rid of 'em completely? Our favorite view of the bus shows that there's nearly as much front-overhang as there is metal between the axles. In all seriousness, the work that went into cutting this sucker in thirds, throwing out the middle-section and welding it back together seems to have been done pretty well. Because the Voyager is a front-wheel drive minivan, the powertrain probably didn't need any tweaking at all.

[Source: Hemmings Auto Blog]

 

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]]>short busshort vanShortBusShortVanshorty vanShortyVan2008-08-22T09:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[Ford Flex gets the woody treatment]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/ford-flex-gets-the-woody-treatment/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/ford-flex-gets-the-woody-treatment/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/20/ford-flex-gets-the-woody-treatment/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Well, that didn't take long. A company by the name of Auto Tech Plastics has gone and done what seemed inevitable and many a blogger feared would happen: endow the new Ford Flex's slab-sidedness with fake woodgrain. Make no mistake, we have absolutely no problem whatsoever with the classic woody wagons from a bygone era. Sure, they may take a bit more upkeep than normal, but the classic models with their real wood paneling are just fine by us. This... thing? Not so much. The last wood-applique'd machine that rolled off the assembly lines should have been in '91 when the final Grand Wagoneer met its demise.

For those of you who don't share our opinion, there are plenty of choices with which to fill your plasti-wood fix. If you must, *sigh* click here to see some of your options.

[Source: The Car Connection]

 

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]]>ford flex woodyford flex woody kitFordFlexWoodyFordFlexWoodyKitwoodieswoodywoody kitWoodyKit2008-08-20T16:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[C&D dreams up future Mustangs they <em>haven't</em> made yet]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/candd-dreams-up-future-mustangs-they-em-havent-em-made-yet/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/candd-dreams-up-future-mustangs-they-em-havent-em-made-yet/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/candd-dreams-up-future-mustangs-they-em-havent-em-made-yet/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click the Smokey and the Bandit Mustang for more

We hear it from the peanut gallery every time we post about another new Mustang variation. It doesn't matter if the car comes from a small niche manufacturer, SALEEN, ROUSH or even Ford itself - people have gotten sick of Mustang mania. CARandDRIVER.com decided that beyond the Bullit, Warriors in Pink, Black Jack, Parnelli Jones and Dan Gurney Special Editions, as well as various examples from Hertz, there are a few more Mustang models that have yet to be explored. According to C&D, the market's ripe for a return of the four-cylinder Mustang, and there are plenty of other worthy causes around which you could market a Mustang besides breast cancer. Plus, if KITT could go from being a Trans Am to a Mustang, why can't Smokey's famous winged muscle car do the same? If you couldn't tell by now, the C&D folk are just exercising their funny bone here. There's a couple more we haven't mentioned, so check 'em out in the gallery below and click the source link to read their funny background stories.

Gallery: Five Future Ford Mustangs


[Source: CARandDRIVER.com]

 

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]]>fake mustangsFakeMustangsfive future mustangsFiveFutureMustangsfunny mustangsFunnyMustangs2008-08-19T19:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[Mechanic arrested for not giving up vehicle to angry customer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/mechanic-arrested-for-not-giving-up-vehicle-to-angry-customer/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/mechanic-arrested-for-not-giving-up-vehicle-to-angry-customer/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/mechanic-arrested-for-not-giving-up-vehicle-to-angry-customer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Remember last week when we told you about a tuner shop in Florida that got stuck holding a $16,000 bill after customizing some broke guy's Toyota Celica? That shop is resolving its dispute through the courts and will likely end up selling the car to make its money back, but a mechanic in the U.K. named Darren Tandy recently found himself in a similar situation with a very different outcome. A customer came to pick up his Land Rover recently and refused to pay the agreed upon price of £1127 for the service work that Darren had done. At first the owner offered £950, then £850, and when Darren still refused to release his vehicle, the Rover owner called the local constabulary. Shockingly, the policeman who arrived on the scene actually told Darren he had to lower the price, and when he refused to accept £550 for the job, which didn't even cover the parts, he was arrested and thrown in jail. He spent three hours behind bars and promptly filed a complaint against the Northumbria Police, who performed a full investigation and found themselves free of any wrongdoing. Convenient, eh?

[Source: The Sun]

 

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]]>arrested mechanicArrestedMechanic2008-08-19T18:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[Dallas HOA prohibits parking F-150 in driveway; Lincoln Mark LT allowed]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/dallas-hoa-prohibits-parking-f-150-in-driveway-lincoln-mark-lt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/dallas-hoa-prohibits-parking-f-150-in-driveway-lincoln-mark-lt/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/18/dallas-hoa-prohibits-parking-f-150-in-driveway-lincoln-mark-lt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Yet another example of a Homeowner's Association run amok... A Texas homeowner in Frisco (just north of Dallas) has been told by the Stonebriar HOA that his new Ford F-150 isn't allowed to be parked in his driveway. The Association, established to protect Jim Greenwood's interests (that's the theory at least), will allow his neighbor's Cadillac Escalades, Honda Ridgelines, and even a HUMMER or two, but his new pickup violates a rule that prohibits pickups in the driveway. When Mr. Greenwood inquired as to why a Lincoln Mark LT could park in the neighborhood, but his practically identical F-150 couldn't, the response from the HOA was, "'It's our belief that Lincoln markets to a different class of people." Doh! As of now, Mr. Greenwood's options are to get another vehicle, or move. If it were us, we'd replace the F-150 with a yellow Caterpillar 972H Wheel Loader. Yeah, that would get them to quickly change their mind... Thanks for the tip, Neil!

[Source: Dallas News]

 

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]]>FordGreenwoodHOAHomeowners AssociationHomeownersAssociationparkingPickupStonebriarTexas2008-08-18T17:03:00+00:00<![CDATA[Sunmotor to release electric car, beat it with ugly stick]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/sunmotor-to-release-electric-car-beat-it-with-ugly-stick/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/sunmotor-to-release-electric-car-beat-it-with-ugly-stick/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/sunmotor-to-release-electric-car-beat-it-with-ugly-stick/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for more images of the Sunmotor EV

Lovers of good car design: avert your eyes! The Sunmotor Group, an EV hopeful based in Boston, has announced plans to release its first all-electric vehicle before the end of the year. We wish they wouldn't because this sucker is über-ugly. Obviously based on a smart fortwo clone, major modifications were required to allow the use of a large solar array on the misshapen roof, which has created a textbook case of function punching form in the mouth. The windshield has been disfigured along the way in an effort to meet up with the excessively long canopy, while the upper rear probiscis could easily behead someone standing behind this thing when it's backing up. Last joke: SsangYong called, they want their designers back.

Despite looking like a Scion that swallowed a canoe, the specifications of Sunmotor's EV sound decent for a low-speed EV. The company believes it can get 160 miles per charge, though only with a top speed of 25 miles per hour. Plus, with 10 horsepower pushing around 2,600 pounds of mass, the supposed acceleration of 0-25 in 5 seconds sounds rather optimistic.

Gallery: Sunmotor EV


[Source: Sunmotor via AutoblogGreen]

 

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]]>electric carElectricCarsmart fortwo cloneSmartFortwoClonesunmotorsunmotor evSunmotorEvuglyugly carUglyCar2008-08-08T15:30:00+00:00<![CDATA[Shaq buys smart fortwo, wears as shoe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/shaq-buys-smart-fortwo-wears-as-shoe/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/shaq-buys-smart-fortwo-wears-as-shoe/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/shaq-buys-smart-fortwo-wears-as-shoe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Standing seven feet and one inches tall and weighing in at 375 pounds, Shaquille O'Neal is one big dude. Must drive a big 'ol car then, right? Umm, not exactly. The Phoenix Suns star center has recently been spotted in his newest automotive purchase, a smart fortwo. Seriously. And, surprisingly enough, he fits! Don't believe us? See above for photo proof. Well, so he sorta fits. It's a good thing that Shaq opted for the convertible, as his head comes up several inches over the top of the windshield. Oh, and we can find no real proof that the door has ever completely shut with Shaq inside. Just sayin'.

[Sources: TMZ via MyRide.com]

 

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]]>shaqshaquille onealShaquilleOnealsmartsmart fortwoSmartFortwo2008-08-05T16:57:00+00:00<![CDATA[Franchitti to stick to NASCAR, moves down to Nationwide Series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/franchitti-to-stick-to-nascar-moves-down-to-nationwide-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/franchitti-to-stick-to-nascar-moves-down-to-nationwide-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/franchitti-to-stick-to-nascar-moves-down-to-nationwide-series/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Following the closure of his Sprint Cup ride last month, Dario Franchitti will run several races in the second-tier Nationwide Series before the end of the season. The Scottish driver was reportedly offered several options by Chip Ganassi, and chose to concentrate on NASCAR rather than move back to open wheels or elsewhere.

Franchitti will begin campaigning in the Nationwide Series after the season's road course races are wrapped up in Montreal and Watkins Glen. The No. 40 Fastenal Dodge he'll be driving has been a bit of a transient car, which will have been shared with Scott Pruett, Reed Sorenson, Bryan Clauson and Juan Pablo Montoya before the season is finished. By then, the former Indy 500 winner and IRL champion may have made one more drive in the Sprint Cup at the Pep Boys Auto 500 in Atlanta this October.

[Source: Autosport, Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images]

 

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]]>dario franchittiDarioFranchittifranchittifranchitti nationwideFranchittiNationwidenascar dario franchittiNascarDarioFranchittinationwidenationwide seriesNationwideSeries2008-07-28T18:19:00+00:00<![CDATA[VIDEO: Danica and Milka in trackside fight (towels were involved)]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/video-danica-and-milka-in-trackside-cat-fight-towels-were-invo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/video-danica-and-milka-in-trackside-cat-fight-towels-were-invo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/video-danica-and-milka-in-trackside-cat-fight-towels-were-invo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to view video after the jump

An altercation between the two admittedly attractive female drivers in the IndyCar Series has all the makings for a sensational headline, and in this case Danica Patrick and Milka Duno backed it up by tangling in the pits last Saturday after a practice session for the Honda Indy 200. Patrick, as she has done twice before, walked all the way to her competitor's pit stall to address a grievance. She simply asked Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's driver, who looked like she just stepped out of a salon, if she had seen her on the track. Apparently Patrick was miffed that Milka wasn't letting faster cars like her No. 7 Motorola Dallara Honda pass during practice. Milka was having none of it and twice threw a towel at Patrick while telling her to "go away". Such is a pretty normal day in the IndyCar Series with Danica Patrick on the prowl. For the record, neither lady performed particularly well in the actual race on Sunday, with Milka finishing 23rd out of 26 and Danica placing 12th. Check out video of these brunettes battling after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Art!

[Source: FOX Sports, Three Strikes and Out]

Continue reading VIDEO: Danica and Milka in trackside fight (towels were involved)

 

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]]>danica milkadanica milka fightdanica milka toweldanica patrickDanicaMilkaDanicaMilkaFightDanicaMilkaTowelDanicaPatrickmilka dunoMilkaDunopatrick dunoPatrickDuno2008-07-21T09:57:00+00:00<![CDATA[We bet they have a great personality - PickupTrucks.com picks the 5 ugliest truck concepts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/15/we-bet-they-have-a-great-personality-pickuptrucks-com-picks-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/15/we-bet-they-have-a-great-personality-pickuptrucks-com-picks-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/15/we-bet-they-have-a-great-personality-pickuptrucks-com-picks-th/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to see what else was found hiding behind a rock.

Not to mention any names or anything (*cough* Baja *cough*), but there have been some downright ugly trucks to go from the concept stage straight through to production. Usually, though, consumer reaction is properly gaged and the most egregious styling mistakes are usually swept quietly under the rug. Until, that is, somebody starts digging around for the most grossly misshapen models they can find... which is exactly what PickupTrucks.com decided to do. The results of their efforts have been ignominiously placed up on their website for the whole world to gaze upon in disgust. They are as follows:
  1. Nissan Nails
  2. Rinspeed Tatooo
  3. Nissan XIX
  4. Dodge MAXXcab
  5. Chevrolet Borrego
Though these concept vehicles have been ranked, we hesitate to call any of them winners. See for yourself in the gallery below -- if you must.

Gallery: Five Ugly Concept Trucks


[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

 

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]]>chevrolet borregoChevroletBorregododge maxxcabDodgeMaxxcabnissan nailsnissan xixNissanNailsNissanXixrinspeed tatoooRinspeedTatooouglyugly conceptsugly trucksUglyConceptsUglyTrucks2008-07-15T19:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[WTF is wrong with that plate?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/09/wtf-is-wrong-with-that-plate/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/09/wtf-is-wrong-with-that-plate/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/09/wtf-is-wrong-with-that-plate/#commentsFiled under: , ,

From time to time, license plates wind up with unintentionally humorous alphanumeric combinations. Massachusetts had a run of plates with "POO" as the trailing characters, for example, but th North Carolina DMV's inadvertent pun takes the cake. About 10,000 plates were stamped up bearing the characters WTF before a 60 year old teacher's grandchildren whispered the internets meaning of the acronym in her ear, spurring her to raise the issue. Perhaps they need to surf the web a bit more in North Carolina's DMV offices, but at least anyone offended by his or her tag can get it replaced for free. The best part of the entire debacle? The DMV's own sample image for its website was "WTF-5505."

[Source: DriversDrive, Photo: WXII]

 

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]]>license plateLicensePlatenorth carolinanorth carolina dmvnorth carolina wtfNorthCarolinaNorthCarolinaDmvNorthCarolinaWtfwtf license platewtf plateWtfLicensePlateWtfPlate2008-07-09T08:34:00+00:00<![CDATA[More proof that Mazda RX-8 owners want to be Ferrari owners]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/more-proof-that-mazda-rx-8-owners-want-to-be-ferrari-owners/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/more-proof-that-mazda-rx-8-owners-want-to-be-ferrari-owners/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/11/more-proof-that-mazda-rx-8-owners-want-to-be-ferrari-owners/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above for more shots of the Mazda-rrari RX-8

Thanks to an astute reader, we now have further proof that owners of Mazda's rotary powered RX-8 wish they were driving a Ferrari instead. Not that we blame them or anything, as the Prancing Horse has been plastered on many of the finest sportscars that this world has ever seen. What we don't recommend, however, is actually attempting to replicate a Ferrari of your own with a Mazda RX-8, as the owner of said car seen in our gallery has done. It's not that the car is an RX-8, a fine vehicle in its own right,- but a Ferrari it is not. The rotary is a fun engine to wring out on the way to its 9,000 RPM redline, but it just doesn't quite match the aural pleasure that a fine Italian V12 is able to deliver.

This particular Mazda-rrari was caught at a mall in Denton, Texas, and we believe it's probably the only one in existence. Before you get real upset about all that's been done to it though, remember that it could be worse. Much, much worse. Just don't tell the guys in Maranello, they tend to get rather upset about this kind of thing. Thanks for the tip, David!

Gallery: Mazda-rrari RX-8

 

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]]>ferrariferrari badgeferrari badgesFerrariBadgeFerrariBadgesmazdamazda rotarymazda rx-8mazda rx8mazda rx8 hydrogen reMazdaRotaryMazdaRx-8MazdaRx8MazdaRx8HydrogenRe2008-06-11T08:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[Automobile Mag hands out Funky Ergonomics Awards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/automobile-mag-hands-out-funky-ergonomics-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/automobile-mag-hands-out-funky-ergonomics-awards/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/automobile-mag-hands-out-funky-ergonomics-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The scholars over at Automobile magazine have handed out their "Funky Ergonomics Awards" this year. As expected, BMW's iDrive and 7 Series interior (shown above) remains their favorite pincushion. Rightly so. Their list includes convenience keys that are downright inconvenient, window switches that are out of reach, touchscreens that are dangerously slow to respond, all center-of-the-dashboard mounted instrument clusters, complicated navigation systems, reverse-action manu-matic transmissions, and dimly lit interiors.

While we generally agree with their list, our own ergonomic pet peeves include spinning seat adjusters mounted inaccessibly outboard (yeah, by the doors), cruise control stalks hidden out-of-sight by the wheel itself, and manual modes for old-fashioned "slushbox" automatic trannies. Oh yeah, the list goes on and on...

[Source: Automobile]

 

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]]>Automobile MagazineAutomobileMagazineErgonomicFunky Egonomic AwardsFunkyEgonomicAwardsPet PeevesPetPeeves2008-06-09T17:57:00+00:00<![CDATA[Class of '08 pranks principal's car with Post-It Notes and Saran Wrap, sophomores begin planning]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/class-of-08-pranks-principals-car-with-post-it-notes-and-saran/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/class-of-08-pranks-principals-car-with-post-it-notes-and-saran/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/class-of-08-pranks-principals-car-with-post-it-notes-and-saran/#commentsFiled under: ,



The senior prank has become nearly its own rite of Spring. Every year, graduating high school students pool their creativity to come up with something that's a little antisocial without crossing the line. Matriculating students from the northeastern Connecticut institution Killingly High School managed to bust the chops of principal Dan Costello without resorting to a pickup truck full of manure. Students covertly adorned what looks like an Acura with lots of sticky notes, toilet paper, and plastic wrap. Costello was called out to the parking lot with a ruse, where he was surrounded by a student body doing a collective imitation of Nelson. A tame prank, but at least Principal Costello laughed it off. Normally, if the students don't like you, they wouldn't even bother. Extricating his car from the cocoon didn't take too long with the aid of some sophomore students. Less settling was the idle chatter during the unwrapping process about how their senior prank was so going to be better.

[Source: Network World via Digg]

 

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]]>high school prankHighSchoolPrankkillingly high schoolKillinglyHighSchoolplastic wrapped carPlasticWrappedCarsaran wrapSaranWrapsenior prankSeniorPrank2008-06-09T14:28:00+00:00<![CDATA[Vibering concept protects blind from those silent killers called hybrids]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/vibering-concept-protects-blind-from-those-silent-killers-called/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/vibering-concept-protects-blind-from-those-silent-killers-called/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/06/vibering-concept-protects-blind-from-those-silent-killers-called/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for more pictures of the Vibering concept

Cars can be dangerous objects, there's no doubt about it. While the most obvious danger is definitely an accident while driving, there are other ways your car could kill you. Exhaust from gasoline vehicles is very dangerous, and diesel soot can get lodged on your brain, so we advise against its inhalation whenever possible. But don't let those environmentally friendly hybrids and electric cars fool you... they can be silent killers, too. There have been many ideas thrown around in an effort to make hybrid vehicles safer for blind people who may have a hard time hearing the stealthy vehicles approach. Some of these ideas are better than others. Take, for instance, the Vibering concept, which is able to sense approaching doom by listening for key sounds made by a car like the Prius or other hybrid model. When worn in conjunction with its companion watch, the Vibering listens and alerts its wearer whenever a vehicle may be coming and how far it is from making impending contact. We're not sure what technology it's using to "listen" for identifying sounds, but the idea is solid. Imagine a government mandate that required all hybrids to emit an inaudible sound that could be detected by seeing eye dogs or a device worn on the wrist.

Gallery: Vibering Concept


[Source: Yanko Design via Jalopnik]

 

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]]>blinddeafhybridhybrid safetyHybridSafetyvibering2008-06-06T19:32:00+00:00<![CDATA[I'm sorry I put a dent in your car...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/25/im-sorry-i-put-a-dent-in-your-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/25/im-sorry-i-put-a-dent-in-your-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/25/im-sorry-i-put-a-dent-in-your-car/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Don't you just hate it when you're idling around in the parking garage and there aren't any empty spaces? How do you feel when you spot somebody with a nice car who's purposely taken two spaces so that nobody can park next to their car? Yeah, pretty infuriating. Looks like somebody decided to do something about it, if the letter above is for real. In case you can't read it, here's what it says:

Dear person,

I'm sorry I put a dent in your car. I didn't want to, but I did when I tried to park next to you. I am not leaving my information because you chose to use two spaces and I just wanted to park in one. The scratches are because I used a towel that had sand on it to try to clean the dent/paint off. Beaches are fun.

Please look your car over for the dent and scratches and each time you see them, remember not to park in two spaces.

Sorry!!!

NOTE: We at Autoblog do not condone the denting of cars on purpose. Yes, beaches are fun.

[Source: Carscoop]

 

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]]>apologydouble parkdouble-parkDoubleParkparkingparking apologyparking-apologyParkingApology2008-05-25T15:02:00+00:00<![CDATA[Tailgater: this guy really loves cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/tailgater-this-guy-really-loves-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/tailgater-this-guy-really-loves-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/tailgater-this-guy-really-loves-cars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Alright, fun is fun, but enough is enough. We wish one day would go by when we didn't have cause to redefine the term "auto erotic". First it was the amorous peacock and the Lexus. Then it was Jenna Jameson's Lamborghini. Then the whole Max Mosley affair with the Nazi hookers. Most recently we had the MINI Clubman dressed up like a dominatrix. And now this.

Edward Smith, 57, of Washington State, loves cars. Well yeah, don't we all? No, but this guy actually loves cars, and has confessed to copulating with some 1,000 vehicles. We don't really want to imagine how exactly he goes about that, but we're sure he must be on good terms with the staff down at the local Jiffy Lube. At least we can give this condition its own name now: mechaphilia. Seriously. Ed is part of a 500-member group of "mechaphiles" who profess the same infatuation. Follow the link to read more, if you must. Thanks to all who tipped in.

[Source: The Telegraph]

 

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]]>auto eroticAutoEroticedward smithEdwardSmithmechaphilemechaphilia2008-05-22T15:03:00+00:00<![CDATA[We say BMW, you say... Part 2]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/21/we-say-bmw-you-say-part-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/21/we-say-bmw-you-say-part-2/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/21/we-say-bmw-you-say-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Hot on the heels of the recent brandtag exercise that saw BMW drivers labeled as a-holes (and a lot of explanations and justifications in the comments), we have this classified ad from an M3 owner in Peoria, Arizona. Its starts off rather plainly, with a rundown of the aftermarket components with which the seller has graced.

And then the listing takes a left turn and heads straight for Mars when the seller writes "This car has gotten me laid so much it is ridiculous." After that, you get a rundown of his success with women, copious use of the word "pimp" as both noun and adjective, his workout routine and testosterone regimen, his success with women, tidbits on his "killer" anatomy, instructions on how to become "a Jedi pimp," and more of his success with women. And in case you didn't realize it, he states explicitly: "I'm a winner." A few subtle clues dropped here and there in the description reveal that the owner is parodying Brucie from Grand Theft Auto IV, but you wouldn't know it if you've never played the game.

We at Autoblog have a few questions: Who is this ladies' man they call John Connor? With the miraculous powers of this car, why isn't it at auction with Bonham's or RM? And what do they put in the water in Peoria, AZ? In the mean time, we're going to add "jedi pimp" to BMW's brandtag to save you the trouble. Thanks for the tip, Kirk!

[Source: AutoTrader]

 

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]]>auto traderAutoTraderbmwbmw m3BmwM3classified adclassified adsClassifiedAdClassifiedAdsjedi pimpJediPimpm32008-05-21T15:29:00+00:00