Car Culture
Russian SUV Loses Whale Penis Interior, Thanks to Greenpeace, Pam Anderson
Posted: Nov. 11, 2009 10:11:27 a.m.
The press release is titled, “Armored Car Without Penis. Let’s Save the Whales.”
We promise we did not make this story up. That’s about all we can promise you.
A Russian SUV builder has abandoned its plans to line the interior of its new luxury SUV with whale penis leather. Thanks to Pamela Anderson. And Greenpeace.
The Dartz Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition, Jalopnik reports, was designed to be “The world's most expensive ultra-luxury SUV.” Planned for ...
Bugatti 16C Galibier: $1.5 Million Super Sedan
Posted: Nov. 10, 2009 10:11:09 a.m.
So the neighbor dropped of her kids at school this morning in a 500-horsepower Porsche Panamera Turbo sedan this morning. How can you possible top her? Sure, you could wait for the Aston Martin Rapide, but no one’s sure it will be a better car. And you need to leave no doubt. Bugatti’s got your back. Just call the bank, and free up $1.5 million. Bugatti, an ultra-luxury division of Volkswagen is the builder of the Veyron ...
Volkswagen, MIT Develop In-Car Robot
Posted: Nov. 02, 2009 09:11:13 a.m.
If you thought the voice-activated navigation system in your car was cool, you ain't seen nothing yet. Your next car could come with a far more advanced navigation aide - one that can hold up its end of a conversation.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Volkswagen and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are working together to develop "a dashboard-mounted robotic device that uses myriad sources of information to help you plan travel routes, dodge traffic jams, find heretofore unrealized ...
Study: Bad Driving May Be Genetic
Posted: Nov. 02, 2009 09:11:30 a.m.
Next time someone cuts you off in traffic, fails to signal a lane change and nearly sideswipes your car, or travels 40 on the highway, go easy on them. They might not be able to change.
Jalopnik reports, "According to a study published in the neurological science journal Cerebral Cortex, there's a gene responsible for bad driving." Up to 30 percent of America's drivers may have it.
Eureka Alert explains, "People with a particular gene variant performed more ...
GM Exec Prepares to Race All Comers to Prove Cadillac's Worth
Posted: Oct. 29, 2009 10:10:05 a.m.
General Motors thinks its products can hang with the best in the world, but many Americans don't agree. It's an issue that can be addressed with several years of carefully-planned marketing and patience.
Or with a schoolyard dare.
Those who know GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz could have predicted how this would turn out.
Lutz, a 77-year old former Marine Corps fighter pilot who delayed his retirement to guide the company's post-bankruptcy marketing efforts and is known ...
In-Car Internet Coming to Some GM Trucks, SUVs
Posted: Oct. 28, 2009 10:10:09 a.m.
For an up-front cost of $500, and a monthly fee of $29, you'll soon be able to surf the web in your Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac truck or SUV.
Autoblog reports, "Everywhere connectivity is even closer with the announcement that GM will be offering dealer-installed Autonet routers in its SUV and truck offerings." The routers can be ordered on new vehicles, or installed in existing ones. There is no word on whether GM plans to extend the offer ...
World's Largest Cash-Back Rebate: $42K Off Tesla Roadster
Posted: Oct. 23, 2009 11:10:02 a.m.
If you're in the market for a new car and would like a little help with the purchase, there's a nice $3,500 cash-back rebate this month on the Pontiac G8. There's a similar $3,500 rebate on leftover 2009 Ford Mustangs. Or, for Colorado residents, there's a $42,083 rebate on the all-electric Tesla Roadster.
Yeah, read it again.
Didn't change, did it?
Autoblog reports, "Colorado is offering a $42,083 rebate on the ...
New Book Argues: Love The Earth? Kill Your Dog, Buy an SUV
Posted: Oct. 23, 2009 11:10:25 a.m.
If you love the earth, you'll get rid of the dog and buy a Range Rover instead. The authors of a new book argue that you'd do less damage to the environment in your luxury large SUV than you do by feeding your Rottweiler.
Fox News explains, "New Zealand authors Robert and Brenda Vale's book, Time to Eat the Dog: The Real Guide to Sustainable Living is an exhaustive analysis of the environmental impact of common pets ...
Study: Car Buyers No Longer Feel Brand Loyalty
Posted: Oct. 22, 2009 10:10:32 a.m.
America used to be full of GM people or Ford people - people who traded in one GM product for another, over and over again, throughout their lifetime. They might move up from a Chevrolet to a Cadillac if their career took off, but wouldn't dream of leaving General Motors. Even after Japanese automakers reached mainstream success in America, the pattern remained. Some people were just Honda buyers, or Toyota fans.
Not anymore.
The New York Times reports, "So far ...
Car Theft Hits 20-Year Low
Posted: Oct. 21, 2009 10:10:11 a.m.
It's a tough time to be a car thief. Owners are going to greater lengths to protect their cars - and its working.
The Detroit Free Press reports, "Reported vehicle theft has fallen to a 20-year low even as the number of vehicles on the road has doubled, as manufacturers install sophisticated anti-theft technology in cars and police target organized car-theft rings." According to the FBI, in 2009 car thieves stole "315 cars for every 100,000 people. That's ...
