Report: Red-light camera company exec put on leave after internet misrepresentation

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

red light camera

Bill Kroske, vice president of American Traffic Solutions, Inc., has been suspended after misrepresenting himself on two newspaper websites in western Washington. Kroske claimed to be a citizen in comments he made on both the Everett, Wash. Herald and the Spokane, Wash. Spokesman-Review.

In those comments, Kroske promoted American Traffic Solutions’ red light camera systems, which bust impatient travelers even when cops aren’t available. A reporter at the Herald found Kroske out after tracing comments he made back to Scottsdale, Arizona, where the company is based. That wasn’t the only clue, however.

It seems that Kroske used his work email address and real name to set up commenting accounts on both websites. He then proceeded to extol the benefits of red light camera systems on both newspapers’ sites. Evidently Kroske was ignorant of the fact that comments are moderated, and administrators can track their origins. For all the gory details on Koske’s online bumbling, head over to the Spokesman-Review’s website.

Red-light camera company exec put on leave after internet misrepresentation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eGarage aims to provide an Internet home for supercar enthusiasts

Filed under: Etc., Koenigsegg

eGarage Koenigsegg CCX

eGarage Koenigsegg CCX – Click above for high-res image gallery

A new automotive website is getting ready to hit the Internet. Called eGarage, the site’s goal is to become a haven for supercar enthusiasts. The team behind eGarage wants to prove it’s serious, so it has teamed up with HRE Wheels to dress up a pair of hyper-exotic supercars.

At the 2011 Supercar Experience in Miami, eGarage will show off a Koenigsegg CCX and SSC Ultimate Aero. The CCX wears a set of new 595 RS HRE Wheels and a matte-white wrap.

Currently, eGarage.com is just a splash page displaying a car-centric rewording of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Rifleman’s Creed. (Really, guys?) We’ll withhold full judgement on the site’s true potential until we see the finished product. If nothing else, the CCX and Ultimate Aero indicate that there should be plenty of hardware to drool over once eGarage goes officially live.

[Source: eGarage]

Continue reading eGarage aims to provide an Internet home for supercar enthusiasts

eGarage aims to provide an Internet home for supercar enthusiasts originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey: 19% admit using Internet while driving

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Technology

Distracted driving is an ongoing problem. A new State Farm poll proves once again that the roads are full of idiots. One in five of the 912 drivers State Farm informally surveyed in November admitted to accessing the Internet on their smartphones while driving. The insurance company will conduct a deeper study soon, and the 19 percent who admitted to surfing and driving in this study may actually be low for certain groups of drivers. Teenagers and young adults are more tethered to their phones than just about everyone else, and they’re also the least experienced drivers, a recipe for danger on the roads with a likely higher percentage of smartphone use while driving.

Despite the guilty drivers acknowledging the dangers of paying attention to a device instead of the road, none seem too repentant. “I’m not saying it’s the smartest thing in the world,” says Sean Black, a 38 year old Illinois resident, “but I guess I just do it anyway.” As with texting and driving, or even concentrating more on a phone call than piloting your automobile, many feel that only a near-accident or actual crash is going to modify this behavior. Even then, it will be on a case-by-case basis, and it puts the lives and well-being of innocents at the mercy of those too indolent to change their habits.

[Source: USA Today | Image: Corbis]

Survey: 19% admit using Internet while driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac CTS-V, Jeep Grand Cherokee named 2011 Internet Car and Truck of the Year

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Crossover, Cadillac, Jeep, Off-Road

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2011 Cadillac CTS-V and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee – Click above for high-res image galleries

The Internet Car and Truck of the Year voting jury has just announced its pair of winners for 2011, and top honors go to both the Cadillac CTS-V and Jeep Grand Cherokee. For 2011, the CTS-V is offered in a trio of body styles, all of which boast a 556-horsepower supercharged V8 and seriously good driving dynamics. Likewise, the 2011 Grand Cherokee remains one of the best off-road vehicles in its class, and points the way forward for the “new Chrysler.”

2011 Ford Mustang GTIn addition to the vehicles picked by the Internet Car and Truck of the Year jurors, the motoring public was able to cast its vote for the “Average Joe” awards. Unlike the professional jury, the public voters named the 2011 Ford Mustang GT as Car of the Year, its new 5.0-liter V8 and reworked suspension geometry making it more of a true sports car than a stereotypical muscle car. However, both the “Internet Pros” and “Average Joes” saw eye to eye on the Truck of the Year award, with the Grand Cherokee taking the cake from both segments of voters.

Vehicles aside, the ICTOY jury also honored recently deceased and legendary automotive journalist Jerry Flint with the 2010 Journalist of the Year award. Flint, who died on August 7th of this year, covered the automotive beat for over 50 years, and was once named one of the 100 most prominent business reporters of the 20th century.

For the full details on all of the awards, follow the jump to read the Internet Car and Truck of the Year press release.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Gallery: Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Photos copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: Internet Car and Truck of the Year]

Continue reading Cadillac CTS-V, Jeep Grand Cherokee named 2011 Internet Car and Truck of the Year

Cadillac CTS-V, Jeep Grand Cherokee named 2011 Internet Car and Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi to offer remote-control test drives of real Outlander Sport over the Internet [w/video]

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Videos, Crossover, Mitsubishi

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander R/C

Look Ma, no driver! – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Mitsubishi wants people to take notice of its 2011 Outlander Sport. There will be traditional print and television ad campaigns, but the automaker is also exploring new ways of reaching new car buyers. Through its creative agency 180 LA, Mitsubishi plans to put a bunch of car shoppers behind the wheel of the new crossover. Not literally, but virtually.

The automaker is rolling out its Mitsubishi Live Drive campaign that puts drivers behind the wheel of an actual Outlander Sport. They won’t be sitting in the vehicle but instead they’ll be in front of a computer. The CUV will be controlled remotely via users on the Internet. While we don’t want to be anywhere near the car when this is happening, it’s certainly a novel re-imagining of the test drive concept.

The Mitsubishi Live Drive event kicks off November 1, 2010 and runs through November 10. If you’re interested in testing out your computer driving skills, you can sign up starting October 15 at OutlanderSport.com. In the meantime, you can catch a sneak peak at what’s in store by viewing the video and official press release after the jump. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Sources: Mitsubishi, AdWeek, YouTube]

Continue reading Mitsubishi to offer remote-control test drives of real Outlander Sport over the Internet [w/video]

Mitsubishi to offer remote-control test drives of real Outlander Sport over the Internet [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vote for your picks for the Internet Car and Truck of the Year

Filed under: Etc.

internet car of the year logo

Jealous that only journalists seem to be able to weigh in on “car of the year” judging? Now’s your chance to make your own voice heard! Voting is underway for the Internet Car and Truck of the Year, now in its second year. The ICATOY actually pools votes from two juries for a pair of awards – one from professional internet auto writers (*full disclosure: author is a member of said jury) and the other from enthusiasts like yourself.

Before you go and make your picks, we’ve assembled a gallery of the semi-finalists in both the car and truck categories. Take a look, then go tell them what you think! The official press release explaining the whole process is posted after the jump.

Gallery: Internet Car and Truck of the Year Semi-Finalists

[Source: Internet Car and Truck of the Year]

Continue reading Vote for your picks for the Internet Car and Truck of the Year

Vote for your picks for the Internet Car and Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Last look at 2012 Bentley Continental GT before internet reveal

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Bentley, Luxury

2012 Bentley Continental GT spy shots

2012 Bentley Continental GT spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s only a matter of days before Bentley officially debuts the 2012 Continental GT coupe on the internet. We’ve already seen two sets of spy shots and a teaser video, and now our trusty spy photographers have caught the big Conti out testing one last time. So much for keeping us in suspense.

Yes, by now we already have a very good idea of what the final Continental GT will look like, but we’re still curious as to what changes lie under that shapely sheetmetal. What’s more, we’re sure that Bentley has a few tricks up its sleeve for new interior refinement (not that the current Conti has third-world accommodations, or anything).

ContinentalGT.com is the place to be at 10:00 AM EST on Tuesday, September 7 – that’s where we’ll see the official reveal and get full details on the new Conti. For now, scroll through the final set of spy shots, below.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Bentley Continental GT

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Last look at 2012 Bentley Continental GT before internet reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley Continental GT gets unique Sept. 7 internet reveal

Filed under: Coupe, Bentley, Luxury

Bentley Continental GT

Click above to view the video after the jump

A week from today, Bentley will take the wraps off the refreshed and restyled Continental GT ahead of its public debut at the Paris Motor Show, and like other automakers trying to cut through the auto show cruft, Bentley is leveraging the power of the Interwebs to make the unveiling a unique experience.

Beginning at 10 AM EST on Tuesday, September 7, Bentley will host a continuous, week-long online showcase of the GT, allowing visitors to ContinentalGT.com to take virtual tours in and around the new coupe, in addition to viewing a traditional “unveiling.”

To bone up before the big day, check out out gallery of spy shots below and check out Bentley’s previously released teaser video and presser after the jump.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 Bentley Continental GT

Continue reading Bentley Continental GT gets unique Sept. 7 internet reveal

Bentley Continental GT gets unique Sept. 7 internet reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford working to better integrate internet in its cars [w/video]

Filed under: Technology, Ford

Ford Sync Pandora app
Click above to watch the video after the jump

We’ve seen Internet-equipped vehicles on more than one occasion over the past few years, but most connected cars and trucks aren’t much more than a rolling hot-spot for passengers and (very) distracted drivers. That promises to change over the next decade as automakers and suppliers work to connect cars to the world around them. Ford has already begun to connect vehicles to the rest of the planet with SYNC and a smart phone, delivering information like traffic alerts, vehicle health reports, news updates and soon internet apps like Pandora (above). Senior technology leader K. Venkatesh Prasad tells CNET that the automaker plans to keep the momentum going.

Venkatesh says in a video interview (available after the jump) that in-car connectivity is currently “tuned to zero miles per hour,” adding that there is an opportunity to connect vehicles to applications that enable the Internet to work for the occupants of the vehicle. Ford has been testing Smart Intersection safety technology where vehicles communicate with traffic signals through WI-FI and GPS, and that could just be the tip of the iceberg. Electric cars, for example, could one day communicate with the electric grid and your home to find the optimal time to charge. Hit the jump to watch the Venkatech interview.

[Source: CNET]

Continue reading Ford working to better integrate internet in its cars [w/video]

Ford working to better integrate internet in its cars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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