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Poll: Which car commercial won the Super Bowl?

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising

Super Bowl car commercials

Congratulations, Packers fans, your team just won Super Bowl XLV. And fret not, Steelers fans, your team mounted a thrilling comeback and turned the game from a would-be snooze-fest into a down-to-the-wire fourth-quarter nail-biter. Nicely done all around.

That out of the way, our notoriously short attention spans turn to the commercials. Our own David Kiley shared his well-informed opinions on what his favorites were and weren’t, and you can read more about his picks here. As a refresher, here are some of the choices from Chevrolet, Chrysler, BMW, Mini, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, Hyundai, Kia, Suzuki and Bridgestone.

We’re curious… Who do you think had the best automotive ad from the Big Game? Was it Volkswagen, for either its impossibly cute ‘The Force’ ad or its imaginative ‘Black Beetle’ ad? Or did Chrysler steal the show with its two-minute-long plug introducing the Imported From Detroit tagline? Neither?

Take part in our completely unscientific poll below and let your voice be heard.

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[Source Image: Ronald Martinez/Getty]

Poll: Which car commercial won the Super Bowl? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Jeremy Clarkson best role model for boys, second only to David Beckham

Don’t get us wrong; we really and truly enjoy ourselves some Jeremy Clarkson every now and again, just so long as it’s in measured doses, of course. But to consider the top bloke at Top Gear as a role model for boys? Now, that there might just be a bridge too far.

All the same, a new poll administered by Disney XD asked 601 male children in the UK between the ages of eight and 14, and the results suggest that the litl’uns chose Clarkson as their second favorite role model, behind only football superstar David Beckham. *Sigh.*

Also placing highly in the minds of young British boys was another footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alan Sugar (self-made billionaire and host of the UK version of The Apprentice) and Daniel Radcliffe (star of the Harry Potter movies). Bill Gates, Simon Cowell, Barack Obama, Justin Bieber and Roger Federer rounded out the list.

Can we all just agree that one Jeremy Clarkson is all the world is capable of handling? And really… wouldn’t you just rather be The Stig?

[Source: Metro.co.uk | Image: AFP/Getty]

Poll: Jeremy Clarkson best role model for boys, second only to David Beckham originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Sonata edges Volt in Autoblog’s informal Car of the Year poll

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T – Click above for high-res image gallery

The finalists for this year’s North American Car and Truck of the Year awards may have been no big surprise, but the vehicle that our readers think will win Car of the Year honors came as something of a shock.

The NACTOY judges have picked the Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Leaf as finalists for Car of the Year. While the Leaf saw a little bit of love with 2,820 votes in our unofficial poll, as well as being named European Car of the Year, the final tally came down to a bare-knuckled fight between the Volt and Sonata. Surprisingly, the Hyundai eked out a win with 8,058 votes and 42.7-percent of the total votes cast, which just barely bested the 7,985 votes cast for the Volt and its 42.3 percent of the total vote.

That’s not a huge margin of victory by any means (a statistical dead heat, as they say), but considering that the Volt has whirred away with honors like the Green Car of the Year, Automobile Magazine‘s Automobile of the Year and Motor Trend‘s Car of the Year awards, we fully expected the Bowtiie to handily walk away with our impromptu poll.

We were pretty smitten with both the 2.0T and the hybrid variants of the Sonata when we hopped behind their wheels earlier this year, and buyers have been no less taken with the base model. The 2011 Sonata has enjoyed a huge year in terms of sales with 183,102 units sold by early December, a year-over-year increase of 65 percent.

Meanwhile, the 2011 Ford Explorer handily beat the 2011 Dodge Durango and 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee in our informal North American Truck of the Year poll. You can check out the results from both surveys here, and the stay tuned for when the real winners are announced at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show in early January.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T: First Drive

Hyundai Sonata edges Volt in Autoblog’s informal Car of the Year poll originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: 2011 Dodge Challenger V6 takes on Mustang, Camaro

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford

Dodge Challenger SE

Dodge has big things headed our way for the 2011 model year, not the least of which is a thoroughly updated Challenger that seems to be much better equipped to go up against the likes of the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. Up to this point, even those who loved the last generation’s styling and optional Hemi engine had to admit that lower level models powered by the old 3.5-liter V6 engine were simply unable to match up against its lifelong mortal enemies from Chevrolet and Ford.

As we’ve come to find out straight from the ~~horse’s~~ pony’s mouth, Dodge intends to bring its base-model muscle car up to modern specifications courtesy of a brand spankin’ new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine. As a reminder, here’s how the new V6 engine compares to the competitors’ options:

	Base Price	Engine Size	Horsepower	Torque	MPG	Weight
Dodge Challenger	$23,245*	3.6 liters	305 @ 6350	268 @ 4800	N/A***	3819 lb*
Chevy Camaro	$22,680**	3.6 liters	312 @ 6400	278 @ 5200	17 / 28	3741 lb
Ford Mustang	$22,145**	3.7 liters	305 @ 6500	280 @ 4250	19 / 31	3453 lb

* 2010 model ** Plus destination *** Not yet rated

As you can see, the Dodge very nearly matches up with its main rivals on paper, with slight deficiencies in torque and overall weight, though we don’t quite know what the 2011 model’s final poundage figure will be. We’re also unsure of the Challenger’s pricing for the new model year, but we can’t imagine it will go up too much from its current spot as it’s already the priciest of the three competitors, albeit barely.

In any case, we have ourselves one obvious burning question to consider: Does the new V6 engine improve the Challenger enough in your eyes to go head-to-head with the best six-pot pony cars from The Blue Oval and the Golden Bowtie? Or, to put it another way for you Mopar fans, is the 2011 Challenger V6 Sublime or is Chrysler just plain Plum Crazy? Make your voice heard in our completely unscientific, informal poll below.

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Poll: 2011 Dodge Challenger V6 takes on Mustang, Camaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Will the 200 be enough to get Chrysler back into the family sedan game?

Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler, Design/Style

2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Goodbye, Sebring, thanks for the memories… sort of. Sadly, most of the recollections we can muster that include Chrysler’s mid-size sedan aren’t ones we’re particularly fond of – at least not when thinking of the nameplate’s current generation, which debuted in 2007 to a chorus of boos amongst the motoring press and limp sales directly thereafter. Why? Taking lackluster driving dynamics and a disappointing interior out of the equation, the biggest problem with the Sebring has been that it’s widely considered to be one of the least attractive sedans on the road.

And so it’s with eager anticipation that we look forward to the introduction of the Chrysler 200 for 2011. The Pentastar brand has just pulled the covers (mostly) off its thoroughly updated family sedan, and for the most part, we like what we see, though admittedly it’s a long way off from the more adventuresome 200C concept car that wowed Detroit Auto Show goers in 2009. There may be a few nits that need picking, however, starting with what seems to be a completely carryover greenhouse. Also, the fact that a four-speed automatic gearbox is still available on some models is a disappointment (though it’s likely just for rental car-spec models), and we’ve yet to see the full interior.

We know there are a lot more specifics yet to be revealed, but the question that most needs answering today is whether or not you, dear readers, think that Chrysler has done enough with the 200 to differentiate it from the unloved Sebring. Take a moment to scroll back through the photos (click here if you want a quick refresher on the 2010 Sebring), then be sure to take part in our completely unscientific poll below. Finally, feel free to have your say in our ‘Comments’ section below.

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Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200

Poll: Will the 200 be enough to get Chrysler back into the family sedan game? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Did General Motors lie about the Chevrolet Volt?

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Technology, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

For the past three years, General Motors has consistently described the 2011 Chevrolet Volt as a pure electric vehicle with a range-extending on-board gas engine/generator. Today we learned that, in fact, there are instances where the gas engine will contribute motive force to move the car along, which technically makes the Volt a plug-in hybrid, not a pure EV. The question we’d like to ask is, how big a deal will this range-extended EV versus plug-in hybrid debate be for The General?

Already, several media outlets such as Inside Line have expressed frustration and disbelief over feelings that they’ve been “lied to” for the past three years in regards to whether or not the Volt’s engine can power its drive wheels. The boys from Jalopnik have gone so far as to Photoshop Chevy’s Volt as the devil. GM, meanwhile, claims this news didn’t come to light earlier because the company was protecting its patents on the Volt drivetrain, which have since been approved.

You can bet you’ll be hearing plenty more on the topic from those of us who Obsessively Cover the Auto Industry, but for now, we’re more curious about what you think.

Has General Motors knowingly lied about how the Volt operates or is the explanation less sinister? Or do you simply not care as long as the final design is as efficient as possible? Take our poll below and then weigh-in with your more detailed thoughts in the Comments.

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Poll: Did General Motors lie about the Chevrolet Volt? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango – What’s your pick?

Filed under: Crossover, Dodge, Ford

Ford Explorer vs. Dodge Durango

The SUV is dead. Long live the SUV!

The 2011 Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer are big departures from the models that they replace. Aside from the usual styling and refinement differences, the biggest changes for these vehicle are that they both ditch the traditional body-on-frame sport-utility vehicle DNA in favor of unibody constructions. By our definition, these once-SUVs are now CUVs, though their respective parent companies continue to brand them as being traditional sport-utes through and through.

Both the Durango and Explorer offer available seating for seven and all-wheel drive, but that’s where the similarities start to taper off. Each vehicle offers a choice of two different powertrains, but while Dodge has opted to go a more traditional route with by fielding the Durango with both 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 engines, Ford has gone in the opposite direction by equipping the Explorer with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four and a 3.5-liter V6. There are pros and cons for each – the Explorer may prove to be more fuel-efficient, but the Durango ought to tow more.

Each of these new crossovers tries to stay true to the traditional SUV mindset, just in different directions. Ford’s Terrain Management system will surely come in handy for people who need more off-road prowess, though the end result remains that the Explorer is arguably more of a tall wagon than an honest SUV. The Durango keeps things a bit more and has a strong, presence that we suspect will still be well-received by people who prefer honest-to-goodness sport-utility vehicles.

We could debate the pros and cons of each vehicle all day, and indeed, we’re still waiting for the Full Monty-worth of details and specifications, but we still want to know: What do you think? If you had to choose either the Explorer or Durango, which would get your pick? Cast your vote in the poll below and be sure to sound off with your thoughts in Comments.

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Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango

2011 Dodge Durango

Gallery: 2011 Ford Explorer

Poll: 2011 Ford Explorer vs. 2011 Dodge Durango – What’s your pick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Chevrolet Volt takes on Nissan Leaf

Filed under: Sedan, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Nissan, Electric

Proving once again the old adage that there’s more than one way to skin a ~~cat~~ battery, Chevrolet and Nissan have each designed new eco-friendly vehicles that are set to go head-to-head for sales supremacy starting at the end of this year. Though both automakers arrive at the same basic anti-gasoline (at least to a large extent) result, the Volt and the Leaf differ in more ways than they are alike.

We’ll start with the drivetrain. While the Volt and Leaf are both technically electric cars, Chevrolet’s solution to the range problem includes the addition of a small gasoline-fueled engine capable of recharging the Volt’s onboard battery pack. There’s enough battery capacity to travel at least 40 miles before the generator kicks in, but there’s no limit to the range after the engine takes over.

Nissan’s Leaf, on the other hand, has a somewhat larger battery that the automaker claims will allow for 100 miles of range per charge. After that, there is simply no more forward progress to be had until the Leaf is plugged into an outlet for a few hours – at least. But if going 100-percent gasoline free is your goal, this is your ride.

And then we have the body styles and shapes. Both cars spent plenty of time in the wind tunnel, with extremely different results. The Volt sports a more traditional sedan-like shape and offers seating for four. The Leaf, on the other hand, has a bit of an out-there look to its basic hatchback design and boasts seating for five.

Pricing too is a bit divergent. Nissan has affixed a $32,780 sticker to its electric car, before federal or state incentives. That price will drop to the mid-$20s when a $7,500 tax credit is applied. The General is making its Volt a bit more dear with a $41,000 asking price that drops to $33,500 after the credit. Interestingly, both automakers will offer leases for $350 per month for 36 months.

So, the big question is: Which electric car do you think is the better buy? Make yourself heard in our (totally unscientific) poll below.

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Poll: Chevrolet Volt takes on Nissan Leaf originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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