Tag: video

Video: Ken Block goes through the woods quickly in an Escort Mk2

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Videos, Ford, Racing

Ken Block Ford Escort Mk2

Ken Block gets dirty with a Mk2 Ford Escort – Click above to watch video after the jump

The North American Ford Escort was launched in 1981 and primarily served as a drab compact of choice for folks who didn’t realize where the Escort name originated. The real Escort was introduced to Ford’s European customer base back in 1968. It was still a fairly drab looking compact… but it had a couple of powertrain options that made it far more exciting than any Escort we got Stateside.

The early Mark I Escorts were offered with a Lotus-sourced 1.6-liter twin cam engine that helped turn the car into a rally favorite. In 1975, the Mark II Escort was developed and a 1.8-liter Cosworth BDA unit was placed under the hood. Burnt-rubber aficionado Ken Block got his hands on an example from 1978 and filmed some serious hoonage through the forests of upstate New York.

The clip, which can be viewed after the jump, is focused on glorious noises and sideways dirt action. Though Block drives a modern Fiesta and Focus in his various motorsports activities, we’ve gotta say we find his work in the Mark II Escort far more interesting.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Ken Block goes through the woods quickly in an Escort Mk2

Video: Ken Block goes through the woods quickly in an Escort Mk2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Bad parenting and bad driving know no bounds

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Safety, Videos

Driving baby

In Poland, babies drive the cars – Click above to watch the video after the break

Warning: Do not try this at home. As much as we’d love to read you the riot act that contains the rest of the typical automotive video warnings – “professional driver on a closed course,” “no animals or small children were harmed in the making of this video” – well, we’re not entirely sure we can claim any of those things are true.

What we have here is a man and a woman who have apparently taken it upon themselves to exercise their inadvisable right to procreate. Oh, and a baby and a car. We’ll set the scene: Man and baby jointly drive car, on what appears to be a public street in Poland, in traffic. Woman records grainy video, family later uploads results to YouTube.

We’ll be the first to admit that we don’t know how old this video is (it has a recent upload date, but who knows?), but it’s still worth watching. We don’t want to spoil it for the rest for you, so all we’ll say is that you have to watch it all the way through to get the full scope of the awful parenting involved. Click past the break to see what all the fuss is about… and please, no Polish jokes in the Comments.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Bad parenting and bad driving know no bounds

Video: Bad parenting and bad driving know no bounds originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic visits Japan’s Dream Factory Blow

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Japan, Videos

Translogic at Dream Factory Blow

Translogic at Dream Factory Blow – Click above to watch video after the jump

The Translogic crew is still bumming around Japan. For the show’s third episode in the island nation, host Bradley Hasemeyer heads to Sagamihara to tour Dream Factory Blow.

No, it’s not a cocaine supercenter. The customs shop specializes in laying unique fiber-reinforced polymer bodywork over the sheet metal of the lowly kei-car – the 660cc-engined machines that make up the lowest rung of the automotive food chain. Dream Factory Blow specializes in tweaking the aesthetics of the pint-sized cars to create miniature interpretations of classic American iron like a 1972 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck or a 1985 Chevrolet van.

But Dream Factory Blow isn’t just bolting on body panels. For that sweet little Chevy pickup, the fabricators started with a Suzuki Lapin, hacked off half of the rear body work and crafted an entire pickup bed. It’s too awesome for words. Of course, dismantling a substantial portion of a vehicle’s body structure does have an impact on frame stiffness, and to that end, Dream Factory Blow has to have its vehicles tested by the Japanese government for safety. Hit the jump to check out the video after the jump.

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic visits Japan’s Dream Factory Blow

Video: Translogic visits Japan’s Dream Factory Blow originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Easy Rider Captain America chopper survives arson attempt?

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Videos, Motorcycle

Easy Rider chopper survives fire – Click above to watch video after the jump

Fear not, friends. One of the original Captain America Harley-Davidson Pan Head choppers from Easy Rider has survived a Texas warehouse fire. The raked-out Hollywood icon reportedly managed to escape the calamity with little more than a heavy dusting of soot and ash. The bike was one of 30 vehicles housed in an Austin, Texas building that went up in flames yesterday, and while all of the cars, trucks and bikes were collectables, the Easy Rider chopper was the most famous of the bunch. The former hardware store was packed wall-to-wall with antique Jaguar, Ford and Rolls-Royce models. At this point, it’s unclear exactly which vehicles survived the blaze and which are headed for the scrapyard, but we do know that Peter Fonda’s Harley will live to ride another day (in fact, there’s actually some debate about the provenance of the bike either way).

Investigators say that the fire appears to have started in the rear of the building, and that as of right now, it looks like arson is to blame. Setting fire to another man’s property is never acceptable, but trying to torch the Easy Rider Panhead is a sin of a different caliber. Hit the jump to see the video for yourself. Hat tip to Nathan!

[Sources: KXAN Austin, Jalopnik, About.com]

Continue reading Video: Easy Rider Captain America chopper survives arson attempt?

Video: Easy Rider Captain America chopper survives arson attempt? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Fast and Furious Five trailer hits the web

Filed under: Videos, Celebrities

Fast 5 cast

Fast and Furious Five: Fast 5 trailer – Click above to watch video after the jump

You can make fun of the series all you want… but you know you are going to watch the next installment in the Fast and Furious franchise. The fifth film, called Fast 5, is set to hit theaters (including IMAX) on April 29th, 2011. Paul Walker and Vin Diesel are back again reprising the lead roles of Dom and Brian. Also back are Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Sung Kang (which is surprising since we’re pretty sure he died in Tokyo Drift, no?).

Fast 5 takes place in Rio de Janeiro, where the crew is forced to perform “one last job” in order to earn their freedom. A new law enforcement agent stands in their way – played by none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The film will surely be filled with plenty of gratuitous vehicular action that looks great on camera while breaking every conceivable law of physics.

The trailer for the film, which is available after the jump, features only a few clear shots at some of the cars in the flick. We spy (deep breath) an E39 5 Series, a pair of matte black Charger police cars, a modified 350Z, a resto-mod Charger, a few glimpses of parked Porsches, some assorted SUVs that are promptly trashed, an old VW bus, a Ford GT, what appears to be a Mongoose Motorsports Corvette Grand Sport Roadster replica, a Nissan GT-R and a few others we may have missed.

Live your life a trailer at a time… in the next two minutes or less… you’ll be free. Thanks for the tip, Alex!

Gallery: Fast and Furious Five trailer

[Source: MovieFone]

Continue reading Video: Fast and Furious Five trailer hits the web

Video: Fast and Furious Five trailer hits the web originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge in its natural environment

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge

Ferrari 458 Challenge gets hustled around the Circuit of Valencia – Click above to watch video after the jump

“Faster than the 430 Challenge… yet easier to drive at the limit,” are the words of Ferrari 458 Challenge Test Driver Raffaele De Simone. “Now, the shifting time is like zero…” states De Simone’s counterpart, Maurizio Mediani. The two recently got the change to spend some time behind the wheel of Ferrari’s latest track-focused weapon. The drivers, along with a few other Ferrari speed merchants, and the 458 Challenge took a few laps around the Circuit of Valencia.

Most of the clip, which is available after the jump, is spent praising every aspect of the new Ferrari 458 Challenge, however, there are also some great shots (and sounds) of the car in action.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show

Ferrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor ShowFerrari 458 Challenge makes its world debut at the Bologna Motor Show

[Source: FerrariWorld via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge in its natural environment

Video: Ferrari 458 Challenge in its natural environment originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: BMW Motorrad wishes the world happy holidays

Filed under: Videos, BMW, Motorcycle, Humor

BMW Motorrad holiday greeting

BMW Motorrad holiday greeting – Click above to watch video after the jump

The weather outside may have a rather large portion of the country’s motorcyclists pining for spring, but that hasn’t stopped the two-wheel obsessed crew over at BMW Motorrad from wishing the world a very merry Christmas in its own special way. Using a little electric guitar and some Stomp-esque percussion work by a team of helmeted riders, the Bavarian motorcycle maker has turned out a special holiday tune just for the occasion. You can check out the flick after the jump, but that’s not all.

If you like what you see, you can even work up your own version of the video to send as an e-card to that certain someone special. Nothing says, “Honey, I want an R1200 GS Adventure under the tree this year,” quite like a holiday greeting from a gaggle of leather-clad motorcycle heathens. You can even upload a photo of yourself into the card and craft your own personalized message. Head over to the BMW Motorrad site to get started.

[Source: BMW Motorrad]

Continue reading Video: BMW Motorrad wishes the world happy holidays

Video: BMW Motorrad wishes the world happy holidays originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Honda CR-Z gets the K-Series engine it was meant to have

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Honda, Specialty

LHT Performace KR-Z

LHT Performace KR-Z – Click above to watch video after the jump

It was only a matter of time before some inventive soul set about curing what ails the 2011 Honda CR-Z; namely, the anemic hybrid drivetrain. It looks like the crew at LHT Performance have gutted the electrified bits and swapped in an honest all-star from the Honda stable – the K20. If you recall, these guys were among some of the first to pull a similar stunt with the first-generation Honda Insight. According to LHT, their creation is the first successful K-Series CR-Z swap to have every vehicle system work as it should, including power steering, air-conditioning and cruise control, along with stability control and the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system.

Well, nearly every vehicle system. The integrated motor assist didn’t quite survive the transplant, but something tells us we won’t be hearing any sobs over that loss. Right now, the shop has only served up a quick video, and there’s no footage of the car actually tearing up the street or a track, but we’re told more photos are on the way soon. Now, would you rather have this beast or the much rumored 1.6-liter turbocharged CR-Z that Honda is supposedly cooking up? Hit the jump to check it out and decide for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Steven.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Honda CR-Z gets the K-Series engine it was meant to have

Video: Honda CR-Z gets the K-Series engine it was meant to have originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5’s lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll]

Filed under: Technology, Toys/Games

Forza Motorsport 4 trailer teaser

Click above to watch the video after the jump

November 2010 was a big month for driving simulator-loving PlayStation 3 owners. Gran Turismo 5 finally hit store shelves nearly six years after GT4 set the gaming world aflame. GT5 is a PS3-only affair, though, so xBox fans have little to get excited about. But then again, most xBox champions probably feel they already have a hyper-realistic driving simulator courtesy of the Forza series. And according to the official Forza Motorsport website next Fall will see the debut of Forza 4.

That’s right; just one year after GT5 finally graced our presence and only two years after Forza 3 was minted, an all-new Forza is waiting in the wings. We’re a little shy on details at at this point, but we’re guessing the game will build upon the 500 cars in the Forza 3 Ultimate Collection, with more tracks, more racing styles and, hopefully, even more stunning graphics. Hit the jump to watch the Forza Motorsport 4 teaser, and chime in on the battle of Forza versus Gran Turismo in our poll below. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

View Poll

Gallery: Forza Motorsports 4 Trailer Screen Shots

Forza Motorsports 4 Screen ShotForza Motorsports 4 Screen ShotForza Motorsports 4 Screen ShotForza Motorsports 4 Screen Shot

[Source: Forza Motorsport]

Continue reading Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5’s lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll]

Video: Forza Motorsport 4 trailer released, coming for GT5’s lunch money in Fall 2011 [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mini goes retail with interactive vending machine billboard

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mini, Canada

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Whether they’re challenging Porsche to a duel, littering the streets with packaging or jiggling some chubby dude’s man boobs, Mini has a certain flair for creativity when it comes to its advertising. The latest chapter unfolds in Canada, where an interactive “vending machine” billboard was projected onto the side of a building near Toronto’s Air Canada Centre (after a Leafs game, from the look of things).

The brainchild of advertising agencies Media Merchants and Taxi, the billboard invites passers by to text their favorite Mini from their phone. After doing so, they’re treated to an animated display showing their choice making its way to the bottom of the virtual vending machine. Unfortunately the public can’t then drive off in said Mini, but it might prompt some Canucks to stop by their local dealership and do exactly that. Follow the jump to check out the video for yourself.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Mini goes retail with interactive vending machine billboard

Video: Mini goes retail with interactive vending machine billboard originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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