Tag: leads

Report: Drunken BBQ leads to 64 torched cars [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Safety, Videos

Parking lot fire at French stunt show

The phrase “You’re doing it wrong,” doesn’t really even begin to describe this one. We’ll admit to being concerned whenever we have to park in a field. There’s always a fear, especially during dry weather, that one person’s negligence could cause the whole lot to go up.

And that’s almost exactly what happened in Noyal-Pontivy, Brittany, France. A cluster of cars were parked in a field outside a stunt show, when a pair of intoxicated men decided to break out the barbecue for a bit of tailgating (or whatever the French call it). The only problem being they didn’t bother to put their grill out before leaving for the show.

The resulting fast-moving blaze required 40 firefighters to bring it under control, along with a farmer cutting a fire line to contain the inferno. 64 torched cars later, the police were on hand to conduct their investigation into how the wildfire started. That’s when our two drunkards came forward, taking responsibility for their negligence. The men face two years in prison. Scroll down for video from the scene.

Continue reading Drunken BBQ leads to 64 torched cars [w/video]

Drunken BBQ leads to 64 torched cars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Sep 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Drunken BBQ leads to 64 torched cars [w/video]”

Report: Drunken BBQ leads to 64 torched cars [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Safety, Videos

Parking lot fire at French stunt show

The phrase “You’re doing it wrong,” doesn’t really even begin to describe this one. We’ll admit to being concerned whenever we have to park in a field. There’s always a fear, especially during dry weather, that one person’s negligence could cause the whole lot to go up.

And that’s almost exactly what happened in Noyal-Pontivy, Brittany, France. A cluster of cars were parked in a field outside a stunt show, when a pair of intoxicated men decided to break out the barbecue for a bit of tailgating (or whatever the French call it). The only problem being they didn’t bother to put their grill out before leaving for the show.

The resulting fast-moving blaze required 40 firefighters to bring it under control, along with a farmer cutting a fire line to contain the inferno. 64 torched cars later, the police were on hand to conduct their investigation into how the wildfire started. That’s when our two drunkards came forward, taking responsibility for their negligence. The men face two years in prison. Scroll down for video from the scene.

Continue reading Drunken BBQ leads to 64 torched cars [w/video]

Drunken BBQ leads to 64 torched cars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Sep 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Drunken BBQ leads to 64 torched cars [w/video]”

Video: Dodge Charger leads the crusade against the robots

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chrysler, Dodge

dodge charger commercials screen shot

Time to take our cars back from the robots – Click above to watch video after the jump

Computers are constantly gaining a foothold on the everyday tasks that occur in our lives, but there are some tasks we simply hold too dear to let go. Or are there?

Jeopardy has gone the way of the robot and Google has shown that cars can be controlled without a human taking the wheel. Continuing down this path could lead to a future where the vehicles on the road are being piloted by robots or computers. Dodge doesn’t want to see that day come, and it sends a shot right across the bow of SkyNet’s patrolling warships.

In a new commercial for the 2011 Dodge Charger, we’re given a glimpse into a world where technology is done creeping. It’s everywhere, and it affects all portions of our daily routine. One man has had enough, and decides to take back control of his vehicle (the fascia of which bears an eerie resemblance to the latest Charger). Cut to a shot of present day, and Dodge proclaims that robots “will never take our cars.”

That’s right, Dodge. Fight the evil robot overlords. Click past the jump to check out the clip.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Dodge Charger leads the crusade against the robots

Video: Dodge Charger leads the crusade against the robots originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Dodge Charger leads the crusade against the robots”

Chevy leads this year’s pack of Super Bowl car commercials

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, GM

Chevrolet Camaro Super Bowl commercial

You don’t mess with the Bumblebee – Click above to watch the video after the break

General Motors is back and back big in this year’s Super Bowl. The automaker will have eight 30-second ads in and around the game, including the pre-game show.

“We’re looking to win the day,” says Chevy marketing director Chris Perry

GM marketing chief Joel Ewanick, who came to GM in April 2010 from Hyundai, with a short six-week stint at Nissan in between, is big on big media venues. He likes the Super Bowl, Academy Awards, Olympics, Presidential debates and the like.

Don’t look for big yucks, though, which is a mainstay of Super Bowl ad themes. All of the ads will be for Chevrolet, with ads by San Francisco ad agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, which launched the “Chevy Runs Deep” campaign last fall.

Ewanick told the agency to focus on telling stories that convey information and product benefits about Chevy’s newest and most important vehicles – the Volt, Cruze and Silverado pickup. There are two ads running in pre-game, five within the game and one during the post game show.

“We’re looking to win the day,” said Chevy marketing director Chris Perry. Among auto marketers, Chevy will be competing against Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, BMW, Kia and Chrysler. Toyota, Honda and Ford, which have bought time in the past, are sitting this year out.

Continue reading…

Continue reading Chevy leads this year’s pack of Super Bowl car commercials

Chevy leads this year’s pack of Super Bowl car commercials originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Chevy leads this year’s pack of Super Bowl car commercials”

Pontiac Trans Am leads ’70s resurgence at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas

Filed under: Classics, Auctions

This article originally appeared on SPEEDtv.com and is republished with permission. Check your local listings for SPEEDtv’s live coverage of Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas, which continues today from 4PM-11PM EST and Saturday from 2PM -9:30PM EST.

Pontiac Trans Am at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas

Pontiac Trans Am at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas – Click above for high-res image gallery

One thing you’ll find plenty of at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction is Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams from the late ’70s. The same black-and-gold, “Smoky and the Bandit,” screamin’ eagle Trans Ams that beguiled so many adolescent gearheads in their day.

These flamboyant muscle cars have enjoyed a resurgence of late, moving away from disco-era kitsch and into the realm of bona fide collector cars. Not too many cars of that stylistic- and performance-challenged time have made the leap.

“The styling has endured for a long, long time,” said admitted Pontiac addict Tom Knight of Albuquerque, N.M, as he eyed a 1976 Trans Am 50th Anniversary coupe. “I think there’s been a resurrection now that Pontiac’s dead.”

Gallery: Pontiac Trans Ams at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas

[Images: Bob Golfen, SPEED]

Continue reading Pontiac Trans Am leads ’70s resurgence at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas

Pontiac Trans Am leads ’70s resurgence at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Pontiac Trans Am leads ’70s resurgence at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas”

Useless Study of the Day: California leads the nation in Tweets about speeding tickets

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Top speeding ticket Tweets: Top States – click above for the complete infographic

Getting a speeding ticket is like slamming your hand in the car door, breaking your hand and then paying the hospital bill – only worse. Mostly because after the pain of paying the ticket goes away, your insurance may be raised by hundreds of dollars per year. And if you follow friends (and Autoblog) on Twitter, you’ve likely read about someone you know getting a bloody speeding ticket.

The folks at Freeinsurancequotes.com probably know a thing or two about how a few points on your record can raise insurance rates, and they’ve decided to analyze how many Twitter users complain about tickets. The results? As you can see from the above graphic, California leads the nation in ticket Tweets by quite a percentage, followed by New York, Texas, Florida and Ohio. What’s more, a full 44 percent of those Tweets come from Los Angeles, which comes as a shock to nobody.

The top five states are perhaps a bit predictable, mainly because they represent five of the top seven most populous states in the Union. Taking a closer look at the results does show that 20 percent more Ohio residents Tweet about tickets than Illinois residents. This, in spite of the fact that the home state of the Windy City has 1.4 million more people. Ditto for New York, which takes the number two spot despite the Lone Star State having another five million residents. Check out the complete infographic after the jump.

[Source: Free Insurance Quotes]

Continue reading Useless Study of the Day: California leads the nation in Tweets about speeding tickets

Useless Study of the Day: California leads the nation in Tweets about speeding tickets originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Useless Study of the Day: California leads the nation in Tweets about speeding tickets”