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Report: Ford now has more dealers than Chevy for first time in many years

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet, Ford, GM

2010 was a good year for Ford. The Blue Oval outsold long-time rival Chevrolet by 160,000 units, but that’s not the only area where Ford managed a lead over the Bowtie. Ward’s Automotive reports that the Dearborn automaker ended the year with 47 more U.S. dealerships than its cross-town nemesis. The General lost 372 dealers during 2010, compared to just 61 for Ford.

Both companies shed a lot more dealers when counting all the brands that fall under their respective umbrellas, and both moves have helped helped remaining retail stores increase profits. In fact, Wards claims that sales are up between 38 and 129 percent per store. But given the atrocious 2009 automakers endured, 2010 looked like a dream year despite the fact that sales were still among the lowest in three decades. In all, there are about 17,660 car dealerships in the U.S. spanning all automakers.

[Source: Ward’s Automotive | Image: Paul Sakuma/AP]

Report: Ford now has more dealers than Chevy for first time in many years originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Tanner Foust and Justin Bell set Focus Global Test Drive benchmark time… sort of.

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Ford, Humor

justin bell and tanner foust

Justin Bell and Tanner Foust team up for a lap in a Focus – Click above to watch video after the jump

Martin and Lewis. Farley and Spade. Frost and Pegg. Bell and Foust? Are Justin Bell and Tanner Foust the next great comedy duo? No. However, the two can drive around a track very quickly. Though their styles may differ, they have teamed up to set a baseline run in a 2012 Focus for Ford’s Global Test Drive Event.

Bell is a GT2 Champion and veteran of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Tanner Foust is a champion drifter, X-Games gold medalist and overseas Rallycross rookie. The two can drive a car to say the least. Can they work together to put down a solid lap time with the 2012 Focus? Click past the jump to find out.

[Source: Ford via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Tanner Foust and Justin Bell set Focus Global Test Drive benchmark time… sort of.

Video: Tanner Foust and Justin Bell set Focus Global Test Drive benchmark time… sort of. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miss Evelyn’s “Wild Ride” in a Camaro most-watched ad of all time

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet

Miss Evelyn's Wide Ride in a Camaro

Miss Evelyn’s “Wild Ride” in a Camaro – Click above to watch video

The Nielsen Company has counted the numbers from last weekend’s Super Bowl and determined that General Motors’ “Wild Ride” Chevrolet Camaro commercial (its official name is “Miss Evelyn”) has become the most-watched ad of all time with an estimated 119,628,000 viewers. You can rewatch the ad after the jump, but as you may recall, it’s about two guys creating their own Camaro commercial on the fly. The new viewership record beat the old one set by a Doritos commercial during last year’s big game that was seen by 116,231,920 viewers.

The crazy thing is that the old record was beaten by every ad that made this year’s top ten most viewed list, which in addition to the Camaro commercial also included ads for the Chevy Cruze, Chrysler 200 and Bridgestone tires. Credit not only the quality of this year’s Super Bowl commericals, but also an excellent game of pigskin that got better with each passing quarter. The Camaro commercial, for instance, got a boost from appearing during the fourth quarter when the game was anything but decided.

Nielsen is also reporting that Volkswagen’s “The Force” ad starring Max Page as Darth Vader was this year’s ‘best-liked’ commercial during the Super Bowl. The top ten list for most liked Super Bowl commercials was also littered with car-related ad, but curiously, the top ten ‘most-recalled’ ads didn’t feature a single automotive spot.

Check out all three top ten lists after the jump.

[Source: The Nielsen Company]

Continue reading Miss Evelyn’s “Wild Ride” in a Camaro most-watched ad of all time

Miss Evelyn’s “Wild Ride” in a Camaro most-watched ad of all time originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Time’s a Charm: Mercedes GP unveils its new W02 Silver Arrow

Filed under: Motorsports, Mercedes-Benz, Racing

Mercedes GP W02 – Click above for high-res image gallery

What the heck happened to Mercedes GP last season? The team showed at least as much promise as the three (Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull) that out-paced it at every turn – with Michael Schumacher coming out of retirement to drive for the defending championship team now backed by full factory support – but barely proved capable of keeping pace.

This could be our answer right here. When Brawn and company realized their transitioning team wasn’t capable of mounting a serious challenge for the title, it shifted focus mid-season from the W01 they were using to the new W02 for this season. It was the same sort of strategy Brawn undertook when the team was still under the Honda name, and it netted both titles the following year.

Can the new W02 follow the same path? Is it better suited (along with the new Pirelli spec tires) towards Schumacher’s driving style? Or will wingman Nico Rosberg prove capable of getting the better of him once again? Only one way to find out, and we’ll all be watching. In the meantime, follow the jump for the full press release and the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Mercedes GP W02

[Source: Mercedes GP]

Continue reading Second Time’s a Charm: Mercedes GP unveils its new W02 Silver Arrow

Second Time’s a Charm: Mercedes GP unveils its new W02 Silver Arrow originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Windstar recalled again, this time for suspension issues

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Recalls, Safety, Ford

windstar corrosion recall

Back in August, Ford recalled 462,750 Windstar minivans in Salt-belt states for rear axle corrosion problems, with another 117,000 units recalled in Canada. Then Utah’s 29,900 Windstar owners were added to the list in November. In 2009, Ford also recalled 1.7 million Windstars for faulty cruise control deactivation switches.

So is the much maligned Windstar finally over its recall addiction? Hardly. The Detroit News reports that Ford is issuing another recall for 425,000 1999-2003 Windstars in 22 cold-weather states. The recall focuses this time on the front suspension’s lower control arm, rear attaching brackets and body mount attachments, all of which can potentially corrode to the point of becoming a safety hazard. DetNews says that one possible cause of the corrosion problem is condensation from air conditioning lines that drip on the subframe on the right-front side of the vehicle.

Ford actually informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it was issuing the recall, adding that the company was replacing the parts even though it didn’t feel the repairs were necessary. Ford likely issued the recall in response to NHTSA intensifying its investigation of the minivan to an engineering analysis back in December.

Ford will reportedly begin repairing the recalled minivans as early as March, and some loaner vehicles may be offered while repairs are made.

[Source: Detroit News]

Ford Windstar recalled again, this time for suspension issues originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia travels through space and time, returns to the Super Bowl

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Kia

2011 Kia Optima Epic Ride

2011 Kia Optima is an object of desire across time and space – Click above for high-res image gallery

Kia had a strong 2010 and the Korean automaker hopes that momentum is continued right through 2011. No doubt, the all-new 2011 Kia Optima is one vehicle that will be a cornerstone for the brand if it is to keep up its recent success. No rusprise, then, that Kia is unveiling a new 60-second ad spot highlighting its midsize sedan during the first quarter of the Super Bowl.

Entitled “One Epic Ride,” the commercial features the 2011 Optima as it “travels through time and space.” The car becomes an object of desire for cops, aliens, an international villain and even the Greek god Poseidon.

Further pushing the Optima messaging to the masses is the One Epic Contest. In the days preceding the Super Bowl, Kia will reveal a series of clues by way of TV spots, print ads and social media posts. The clues will then be used to answer questions at the OneEpicContest.com website, and five lucky winners will walk away with a brand new 2011 Kia Optima of their very own. Check out the complete press release after the break.

Gallery: Kia Optima goes on One Epic Ride

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Kia travels through space and time, returns to the Super Bowl

Kia travels through space and time, returns to the Super Bowl originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy offers free driving school to all Corvette buyers for limited time

2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

We operate under the impression that on the whole we live in the best period of automotive innovation and power that the world has ever seen. Manufacturers are turning out four-cylinder engines with more horsepower and torque than the mighty V8 lumps of just two decades ago and eight pots that boast fuel economy numbers as impressive as their dyno charts. These days, mega power is mega cheap and more accessible than ever. But, as Uncle Ben reminds us, great power comes with great responsibility, and to that end General Motors is offering all Corvette buyers a chance to learn how to get the most out of their machines.

For a limited time, GM is giving away vouchers to both of the company’s Corvette Driving Schools to anyone who buys any model of a new Corvette. Typically, the driving schools are free only to those who lay down the coin for a mighty ZR1, but for a limited time, The General is splurging for Coupe, Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 buyers to go on the company’s dime. The schools are at the Bob Bondurant school in Phoenix, Arizona and Ron Fellows school in Las Vegas, Arizona.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

[Source: GM]

Chevy offers free driving school to all Corvette buyers for limited time originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW CEO Browning: Phaeton not in the cards any time soon

Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen, Luxury

2011 Volkswagen Phaeton

2011 Volkswagen Phaeton – Click above for high-res gallery

During a business background event on Sunday at its North American headquarters in Herndon, Virginia, Jonathan Browning, Volkswagen of America’s CEO confirmed to Autoblog that the company’s short-lived Phaeton sedan isn’t likely to return to America any time soon.

Despite a flurry of reports to the contrary since the Phaeton left the U.S. market after the 2006 model year, Browning confirms that the luxury sedan is not part of the brand’s ambitious plan to sell 800,000 units in North America by 2018. That said, while it’s unlikely to return to North America in that time frame, VW is not completely ruling it out. According to Browning, the large luxury sedan segment is something that VW will eventually field an entry in once again (“It is not a case of if, but when”) – but at the moment, it sounds like the return of the Phaeton is likely to be couple of generations away.

Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton

VW CEO Browning: Phaeton not in the cards any time soon originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Disposable traffic cones, an idea whose time has come? [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Design/Style

Disposable Cone video screenshot

Guy Griffith’s disposable traffic cones – Click above to watch video after the jump

You don’t really think about traffic cones very often, unless they are forcing you into a detour or stuck in your wheel well because you missed that last apex. Though we may not think of them, they’re all around us, and one man wants to make them disposable.

Two things that Guy Griffith knows: he is a horrible website designer, and he loves inventing. His current product is a clever disposable traffic cone, and it’s apparently gotten the attention of the White House. It’s almost a shame Griffith didn’t get to talk to the previous administration, because should he have gotten hold of then-President George W. Bush himself, the call may have resembled a Saturday Night Live sketch come to life (watch the video and you’ll catch our drift).

Critically, Griffith’s cones are not simply cheap ($2.95/piece) and designed to fall apart after one use, they appear to be strong and durable despite being made from paper and industrial-strength staples (you weigh down the cuff with sand to keep them from blowing away). For anyone that’s ever outfitted a racetrack or construction company with cones, you know that the orange rubber pylons are surprisingly expensive, and they’re heavy to lug around, so Griffith might just be on to something.

If you question the strength of Griffith’s pointy items, then click past the jump to watch the video all the way through to the end (and then be sure to watch a second video on his website).

[Sources: SafetyCones.net, YouTube]

Continue reading Disposable traffic cones, an idea whose time has come? [w/video]

Disposable traffic cones, an idea whose time has come? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ken Block’s official RC Gymkhana car arrives just in time for Christmas [w/video]

Filed under: Videos, Ford, Toys/Games

Traxxas Ken Block RC Car

Traxxas channels its inner 1/16-scale Ken Block – Click above to watch the video after the break

Master of the Gymkhanna (with a minor in marketing) Ken Block has teamed up with Traxxas to create a radio-controlled version of Block’s #43 Ford Fiesta. The 1/16-scale Fiesta is fitted with a brushless motor that turns all four wheels and sends the mini-Block car down your driveway at up to 30 miles per hour. If that’s not enough juice to play out your dreams of winning a Gymkhana event, you can opt for another setup that features a new pinion gear, second NiMH battery and series connector. The additional hardware raises the top speed to over 50 mph.

The car is currently selling for around $300. No word on whether that price includes replaceable fenders and other body panels… a necessity after the Ken Block RC car inevitably hits a tree. Check out a mini Gymkhanna-style video of the micro car in action after the break… and, answering the last possible remaining question, proof that it will indeed blend.

[Source: Traxxas via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Ken Block’s official RC Gymkhana car arrives just in time for Christmas [w/video]

Ken Block’s official RC Gymkhana car arrives just in time for Christmas [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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