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Video: Kia Hotbots come back out to play with 2014 Forte

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Kia

Kia Hotbot ad

Kia is bringing back its so-called “hotbots,” the slightly disturbing female robots that traipse about the uncanny valley while hustling the new Forte and “respecting the tech,” for three new, humorous animated spots.

The Hotbots first debuted during Kia’s latest Super Bowl spot, which followed the debut of the 2014 Forte sedan at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. Each new spot follows the premise of the two originals, with the hotbots protecting the Forte while the oblivious owner stands by. Take a look at all three ads below, along with the two originals that kicked the series off.

Continue reading Kia Hotbots come back out to play with 2014 Forte

Kia Hotbots come back out to play with 2014 Forte originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes his 1969 RTR-X Mustang out to play

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Ford

1969 RTR-X Mustang

Vaughn Gittin Jr’s 1969 RTR-X Mustang – Click above for high-res image gallery

Formula Drift champ Vaughn Gittin Jr. unveiled his 1969 RTR-X Mustang at SEMA last year, and since then we’ve been hoping to see the car in action. We’re sure Vaughn’s been itching to get behind the wheel, as well, and he finally got the chance yesterday when he took the RTR-X out to Willow Springs Raceway for its very first test session.

A 1969 Mustang isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to drifting, but the RTR-X looked like a natural at getting sideways. Granted, this pony car has very little in common with your everyday 1969 Mustang. Under the hood is a tuned version of the Boss 302’s 5.0-liter V8, and the suspension looks more like something out of Formula 1 than from a vintage muscle car. You can read more about all the features of the RTR-X after the jump, or check out our photos from the test day in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Vaughn Gittin Jr’s 1969 RTR-X Mustang

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes his 1969 RTR-X Mustang out to play

Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes his 1969 RTR-X Mustang out to play originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forces at play in Formula One enough to destroy wheels

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

red bull f1 racer experiences front wheel failure

All this Red Bull racer wants for Christmas is his two front wheels – Click above to watch video after the jump

It’s no secret that Formula One exerts high levels of force on both drivers and cars. Case in point: As seen in the video after the break, Red Bull driver Sebastien Buemi experienced catastrophic failure of his front wheels under hard braking. Buemi was setting up for a corner and slowing from around 185 miles per hour when both of his front wheels tore themselves away from his race car.

We shared this news last year, but this version of the clip has a few more angles from which to take in the carnage. Click past the jump for a terrific show of F1 force.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Forces at play in Formula One enough to destroy wheels

Forces at play in Formula One enough to destroy wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hockenheim recreated on ice, Porsche taken out to play

Filed under: Europe, Videos, Porsche, Off-Road

tiff needell driving on ice

Tiff takes to the ice in a RWD Porsche 911 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Imagine a vast frozen plain of iced-over lakes located 50 miles from the Arctic Circle. Now imagine 500 acres of that expanse converted into a playground for cars. The region is known as Lapland, and it stretches across Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia. Laponie Ice Driving has turned a portion of it into five icy tracks, two of which are full-scale replicas of famous racing circuits: Le Castellet and the Hockenheim Ring.

Fifth Gear’s Tiff Needell ventured out to this frozen tundra to experience the traction-deficient racing for himself. Using a Porsche 911 GT3, Tiff set out to establish a quick time around the iced Hockenheim replica. Former BTTC racer Yvan Muller is on hand to show him how it’s done. Click past the jump for the slick action.

[Source: Fifth Gear]

Continue reading Video: Hockenheim recreated on ice, Porsche taken out to play

Video: Hockenheim recreated on ice, Porsche taken out to play originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Austin U.S. F1 track to officially be called Circuit of the Americas, also play host to MotoGP

Filed under: Motorsports

We’ve all known that Formula One racing is coming to Austin, Texas. Now we know what to call the track that will play host to the 2012 U.S. Grand Prix. Called the Circuit of the Americas, this 3.4-mile racetrack features 20 turns, 133 feet of elevation change and a 10-year F1 contract.

Circuit of the Americas won’t simply play host to four-wheeled machines, though. The two-wheeled action of MotoGP will also be coming to the Texas track. Beginning in 2013, CotA starts a 10-year contract with the motorcycle racing series.

[Source: Autoweek]

Austin U.S. F1 track to officially be called Circuit of the Americas, also play host to MotoGP originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Audi treats aluminum like Play-Doh in new A6 ad

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Audi, Luxury

Audi A6 Commercial

2012 Audi A6 commercial – Click above to watch video after the jump

Audi has just released a new commercial to underscore the company’s commitment to lighter materials in the 2012 A6. In its never-ending quest for better fuel economy and performance, the automaker has embraced aluminum as the material of choice for much of the sedan’s unibody structure. The metal has allowed Audi to increase the interior room of its products without suffering a weight or rigidity penalty. Of course, attempting to explain that in a way that doesn’t sound like a more boring interpretation of high school chemistry class is a bit of a challenge.

That’s where the miracle of CGI comes in.

The ad turns slabs of aluminum into an easily malleable material able to be stretched and formed into any shape, allowing the audience to draw easy parallels between the sculpting on screen and the work of the automaker’s engineers. Sure, an A6 is impressive, but we’d like to see this guy work up a giraffe.

Hit the jump to see the full video for yourself.

Gallery: 2012 Audi A6: First Drive

[Source: Audi via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Audi treats aluminum like Play-Doh in new A6 ad

Video: Audi treats aluminum like Play-Doh in new A6 ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept is ready to play dirty

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Truck, GM, GMC, Off-Road

2011 GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept

GMC Sierra All Terrain HD concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Cars are cool, but we certainly love ourselves some big, bad, hardcore pickups – you know, like the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. General Motors’ conceptual answer to Ford’s desert-blasting pickup is this, the Sierra All Terrain HD concept, which we’ll be seeing for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show next week.

GMC’s brutish pickup relies on The General’s 6.6-liter Duramax diesel V8 for power – 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque, to be exact – and higher ground clearance, a wider stance and serious suspension upgrades make the All Terrain concept capable of storming through, well, all types of terrain.

Word on the street is that if GM gets up the gall to produce such a truck, it will likely be outfitted by a second-tier firm outside of the GM production lines (like a Roush F-150, for example). Regardless, we want this thing to be built, and badly. See a whole slate of new high-res photos for yourself in the gallery below. Oh, and don’t forget about the Ram Runner, Chrysler’s foray into the niche.

Gallery: GMC Sierra HD Concept

2011 GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept

[Source: General Motors]

Pics Aplenty: GMC Sierra All Terrain HD Concept is ready to play dirty originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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George Clooney to play John DeLorean in biopic?

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Celebrities, Rumormill

George Clooney as John DeLorean

John Z. DeLorean, driving force behind such iconic vehicles as the Pontiac GTO, Firebird and the DMC-12 that bears his name, led an interesting life. He helped jump-start the muscle car era, created a unique stainless steel sports car of his own, was charged with trafficking drugs in an attempt to raise funds for his company and later successfully defended himself against those charges. It’s no surprise, then, that Hollywood has been attempting to get a biographical film together that focuses on the charismatic industry playboy. The idea for the film has been floating around for some time now, but we’ve gotten word that a big name might be cast in the lead role. According to Forbes, George Clooney could be the man destined for gullwing greatness.

Nothing is confirmed and it appears Forbes is merely speculating that Clooney would be the right man for the part based upon a conversation with Stephen Wynne, head of the reborn DeLorean Motor Company. It’s certainly not a bad choice, but we’re sure you have some good ideas as to who could fill John Z’s on-screen shoes. Sound off in Comments and let us know who you think should play John DeLorean in the forthcoming David Permut-produced biopic.

[Source: Forbes | Source Image: TheSelvedgeYard]

George Clooney to play John DeLorean in biopic? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can a Vauxhall play Bingo? Well of Corsa it can!

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Hatchback, Vauxhall, Toys/Games, UK

Vauxhall Corsa Bingo Ball Special – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you thought the current trend of alphanumeric nameplates leaves most cars sounding like places on a bingo card, just get a load of the latest from Vauxhall. General Motors’ British subsidiary has outfitted one of its Corsa hatchbacks with over 2,000 bingo balls hand-applied to a pastel bingo sheet all over the car’s surface.

The one-of-a-kind promotional “art” car will be displayed at a special game event at an old church in Manchester, England. 500 participants will be on hand to play under the special Vauxhall’s watchful eye, with a chance at winning one to take home for themselves… sans the bingo ball motif. See all the details in the press release after the jump and the high-resolution photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Vauxhall Corsa Bingo Ball Special

[Source: Vauxhall]

Continue reading Can a Vauxhall play Bingo? Well of Corsa it can!

Can a Vauxhall play Bingo? Well of Corsa it can! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevy Cruze used to play live action game of Pac-Man

Filed under: Sedan, China, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chevrolet, GM

Chevrolet Cruze Pac-Man

2011 Chevrolet Cruze playing a full-size game of Pac-Man – Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is a nimble, compact sedan that could potentially turn into a top seller for General Motors. Apparently, it’s also a fan of classic video games. Well, at least the Chinese ad agency that dreamed up this interesting ad for it certainly is. A large room serves as the stage for a full-size representation of the Pac-Man universe. A white Chevy Cruze plays the part of Mr. Pac-Man while a series of Black Cruzes represent the ghosts.

The video is well made but could use a little more substance beyond the driving and background music. However, the song will be with you all day. A bit of a warning though, the song has a few swears in it, which is funny because either the ad agency didn’t notice them or just doesn’t care. Also, the ghosts should be multi-colored, and it would have been really hilarious if they were old Cavaliers.

Check out the commercial after the jump. If you end up enjoying the music, the name of the band is The League and the song is called “F* RNR”.

Warning: Possible NSFW language.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: First Drive

Continue reading Video: Chevy Cruze used to play live action game of Pac-Man

Video: Chevy Cruze used to play live action game of Pac-Man originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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