Video: Jay Leno gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Performance, Videos, Porsche

Jay Leno and Porsche 918 Spyder

Jay Leno’s Garage gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder – Click above to view video after the jump

One of the things we like most about Jay Leno, aside from being a hugely knowledgeable car guy, of course, is his access. Who else would Porsche pick for some private time in a hangar with its forthcoming hybrid supercar, the 918 Spyder, during last week’s festivities in Pebble Beach? Certainly not us. We waited by the phone, but sadly Porsche never rang.

Jay did get the call, however, and in addition to being allowed to place his all-denim outfit within inches of the 918 Spyder, he also got face time with Michael Mauer, Head of Design for Porsche. Jay didn’t have total access, however, as Mauer shot down his request to open the hood and view the car’s high-tech secret powertrain. Ah, well.

Follow the jump to hang with Leno as he learns more about the 918 Spyder straight from the designer’s mouth.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Porsche 918 Spyder at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Porsche 918 Spyder concept in MontereyPorsche 918 Spyder concept in MontereyPorsche 918 Spyder concept in Monterey

Photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio/AOL

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder

Video: Jay Leno gets private time with Porsche 918 Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redesigned Bentley Continental GT teased in video

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Paris Motor Show, Bentley, Luxury

2012 Bentley Continental GT

Click above to view the video after the jump

After a slew of special editions and the recent spate of spy shots, the new Bentley Continental GT is finally getting ready for its big reveal at the Paris Motor Show, and the flying B has set up a microsite with a brief teaser video to whet our appetites for the big day.

As seen previously, the exterior revisions appear to be limited to a revised front fascia with a more aggressive air damn and a set of Mulsanne-inspired LED headlamps, partnered with a more sloping rear window and reworked taillights out back.

One feature sure to get attention is the navigation and infotainment system – a constant thorn in many buyer’s sides – and a subtle redesign of the GT’s interior. We don’t have intel on powertrain upgrades yet, but expect a few more ponies to be pulled out of the twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 engine and a overhauled gearbox to be part of the package. Full details should be revealed in the run-up to the show this September, but until then, check the video after the jump and the gallery of screen caps below.

Gallery: 2012 Bentley Continental GT Screen Caps

Continue reading Redesigned Bentley Continental GT teased in video

Redesigned Bentley Continental GT teased in video originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Kia AU delivers The Message about new Sportage with Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Kia

Kia Sportage with Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio
Kia Sportage delivers ‘The Message’ – Click above to watch the videos after the jump

Whoever is pulling the strings over at Kia’s global marketing operations must love them some old school hip hop. Kia kicked off the urban vibe with its brilliant Soul commercial. The spot featured the marque’s celebrated CGI hamsters and the classic Black Sheep track “The Choice is Yours,” while poking fun at toasters on wheels like the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube. Good stuff, indeed.

Kia of Australia is going back even farther back with a one minute spot for the Sportage featuring the 1982 Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five hit “The Message.” But instead of rocking some overplayed rodents, the ad folks Down Under put the Grandmaster and Scorpio in the car with the suburbanite dad who lip syncs along with the forefathers of rap. We think the commercial has something to do with the guys being close to the edge. Hit the jump to watch the commercial, then scroll down for the second “making of” video. Not quite as entertaining as hip-hopping hamsters, but it’s one heck of a song to put in a commercial. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Kia Sportage

Photos by Jonny Lieberman / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: Kia Australia via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Kia AU delivers The Message about new Sportage with Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio

Video: Kia AU delivers The Message about new Sportage with Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Taiwan animates Dodge’s invisible monkey, we stand in awe

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Dodge, Humor

Animated Dodge vs. PETA commercial dispute – Click above to watch the video after the break

Animated news. It’s just such a novel idea that we simply can’t believe it has taken so long to become mainstream. Well, mainstream if you happen to live in Taiwan, that is. Here in the States, we’re still dealing with old-school news anchors that actually read us the stories from pieces of – get this – paper. How quaint.

Fortunately, we’re not quite so behind the times when it comes to the Internet, so it’s none too difficult to find Taiwan’s animated news gems to watch in awe till our hearts are content. This latest little animation from Next Media Animation covers the recent spat between Dodge and PETA. Surely you remember the invisible monkey commercial, right? If not, click here to refresh your memory.

Still with us? Good. Now click past the break to see it all play out in glorious Taiwanese animated goodness. Pay special attention to the facial expressions of the fictitious PETA folk. Pure brilliance.

[Source: Next Media Animation via YouTube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Taiwan animates Dodge’s invisible monkey, we stand in awe

Video: Taiwan animates Dodge’s invisible monkey, we stand in awe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Mini commences Countryman advertising barrage

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

2011 Mini Countryman – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mini has begun an all-out advertising assault for its new Countryman CUV. The pint-sized automaker has already churned out a handful of clever print ads as well as a few video spots showing off this new high-riding addition to the Mini stable doing what it does best – namely shuffling around up to four people. As we found out in our First Drive, the Countryman can hold its own against its smaller forbearers, so critics of the thyroid-happy car can rest easy.

Anyone who has ever had to fold their shins to fit into the back seat of a Cooper can tell you that a little extra leg room isn’t going to hurt the company’s reputation. Throw in all-wheel drive, America’s unquenchable thirst for CUVs and a few snappy ads and it’s only a matter of time before the Countryman works its way into the public’s heart.

We do have to wonder how much the company would charge us for our own personal sushi chef, though. Hit the jump for the videos.

Gallery: 2011 Mini Countryman Print Ads

Gallery: 2011 Mini Countryman: First Drive

2011 Mini Countryman2011 Mini Countryman2011 Mini Countryman2011 Mini Countryman2011 Mini Countryman

Photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 AOL

[Source: YouTube via Mini]

Continue reading Video: Mini commences Countryman advertising barrage

Video: Mini commences Countryman advertising barrage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2010: Bugatti GP cars swarm The Quail [Video]

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

Bugatti GP cars at The Quail

Bugatti GP cars at The Quail – Click above to watch video after the jump

Monterey’s classic car week means a long days of big events, with Concorso Italiano and The Quail anchoring our Friday schedule. We’ve brought you a sampling of those shows already, but the parade of race cars from Laguna Seca over to the Quail cries out for a little video. The cars come in, the owners take a little break, and then the whole parade heads back to the track. The cars selected for the side trip are usually chosen to match the theme of the year’s Quail gathering.

This year, organizers went with a group of cars that were being featured at the track as well. Bugatti had a particularly large turnout at this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, bolstered in part by the presence of the new Veyron Super Sport, which made its first track appearance in the U.S. About three dozen Bugs were entered in class 4A, and most made the trek over to Quail Lodge. As the video demonstrates, they sounded fantastic. Take a look and listen after the jump.

Video copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio / AOL

Continue reading Monterey 2010: Bugatti GP cars swarm The Quail [Video]

Monterey 2010: Bugatti GP cars swarm The Quail [Video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Bear steals car for peanut butter sandwich, trashes interior, poops on seat

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Toyota

Bear steals car
Click above to watch the video after the jump

Having food in your car is usually a bad idea, as leaving your lunch on the seat can make the whole interior stink, or, even worse, attract bears. One Colorado teen recently learned this lesson the hardest way possible, as a peanut butter sandwich left on his back seat attracted a black bear with the unusual skill of grand theft auto.

Police estimate that the bear was searching out a midnight snack and opened the door of this kid’s unlocked Toyota Corolla on his own and entered the vehicle. When the door somehow closed on its own, the bear went from Yogi looking for a pic-a-nick basket to something out of the Exorcist. At some point during the bear’s utter smackdown of the Corolla’s interior, the transmission made its way out of Park, sending the compact sedan and it’s assuredly un-licensed driven rolling down the driveway and into the woods. There’s no explanation of how the bear eventually exited the Corolla, but we do know he left behind a large steaming present on the driver seat.

Follow the jump to check out the carnage. The first clip is of a British news show that provides most of the details, including images of the bear inside the Corolla, and the second clip is a grand tour of the devastation from the Colorado teen himself.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Bear steals car for peanut butter sandwich, trashes interior, poops on seat

Video: Bear steals car for peanut butter sandwich, trashes interior, poops on seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jay Leno’s Garage talks with CamberTires inventor

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Videos, Celebrities

CamberTire inventor John Scott visits Jay Leno’s Garage – Click above to watch video after the jump

Well aren’t you all a lucky bunch today… getting a double-shot of Jay Leno action. When we touched on CamberTires earlier this week, there was some debate as to whether the new rollers was the next big thing or the next automotive gimmick. We haven’t entirely made up our own minds one way or the other, but as the comments illustrated in the last post, Jay Leno has beaten us to taking a closer look the new tire design.

Inventor John Scott stopped by for an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage to show off his wares and to attempt to convince the rest of us that the CamberTire could actually increase grip, reduce tire ware and generally improve the handling dynamics of a vehicle.

For this particular episode, Leno solicited the help of a stand in pilot to lend his opinions, so you won’t see the comedian himself put the CamberTire through its paces. Instead, Leno’s own tame racing driver took a Mitsubishi Evo X through the canyons around the garage for a quick thrashing. You can watch the video after the jump for yourself to see if it answers any of your questions. Thanks for the tips, everyone!

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno’s Garage talks with CamberTires inventor

Video: Jay Leno’s Garage talks with CamberTires inventor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jay Leno rolls like a million bucks on $80,000 BlackTrail BT-01

Filed under: Videos, Motorcycle, Specialty, Electric

BlackTrail BT-01 – Click above to watch video after the jump

You know who you are. You care deeply about the environment and know the importance of looking cool. Also, you’ve got buckets of cash. You’ve been waiting to throw down $80 grand on a Fisker Karma but you’re tired of the seemingly endless delays. Well, here’s another eco-friendly vehicle on which to spend that stack o’ cash – the BlackTrail BT-01.

Yes, it’s a bicycle. But it’s not just any bicycle. This, my affluent amigo, is an avant-garde, hybrid-electric piece of rolling retro art. It’s got a classic leather saddle with matching handlebar grips, power pack cover and valve stem covers. We repeat, leather-wrapped valve stem covers! Oh yes, it also comes with its own theft deterrent device in the form of a set of leather-padded handcuffs. You heard us.

What, you want more? Okay. It’s got integrated LED lights front and rear. OLED display with speed indicator and battery status. At its 30-50 km/h (20-30 miles per hour) cruising speed it will carry you 160 – 200km (100 – 120 miles). If that’s too pokey, you can travel 25 – 30 miles at its maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph)!

While it’s not yet offered for sale in America, we expect it soon will be. Production is limited to 667 units with at least 41 already being sold at €59,500 ($75,930 U.S. at today’s exchange rate). Throw in the airfare to go get it and you’re looking at $80,000.

Hit the jump for a better look at this breakthrough bicycle with someone who could actually afford to buy one if he wanted to, Jay Leno. Scroll a little further down for bonus video of an on-sidewalk presentation.

[Source: PG-Bikes via Engadget]

Continue reading Video: Jay Leno rolls like a million bucks on $80,000 BlackTrail BT-01

Video: Jay Leno rolls like a million bucks on $80,000 BlackTrail BT-01 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: No (invisible) monkeys were harmed in the making of this Dodge commercial

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Dodge, Humor

Dodge’s monkey… now you see it, now you don’t – Click above to watch the video after the break

Ah yes. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. We here at Autoblog happen to be all for the ethical treatment of animals. And we’re people… allegedly. But we’re certainly not all fully in tune with the fine men and women that make up PETA. And we also happen to think that PETA sometimes goes a wee bit too far in their efforts to make man equal to beast… or is that the other way around?

In any case, PETA was apparently none too pleased by a recent commercial from Dodge touting a new promotion that included a chimpanzee named Suzie and a purposefully deadpan narrative from Michael C. Hall. In response to pressure from PETA, Dodge digitally altered its advertisement. Interestingly enough, it got way funnier in the process. Kudos, Dodge.

You’re going to want to click on past the break to see the before and after videos… trust us. You’ll also find the official letter from PETA asking Dodge to discontinue all the *ahem* monkey business. Sorry, couldn’t help ourselves.

[Source: LA Times via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: No (invisible) monkeys were harmed in the making of this Dodge commercial

Video: No (invisible) monkeys were harmed in the making of this Dodge commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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