http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/G5De0_oLgUE/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/canadian-motorist-hits-moose-loses-memory-yet-makes-it-to-work/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/canadian-motorist-hits-moose-loses-memory-yet-makes-it-to-work/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler</a></p><a href="/2012/05/16/canadian-motorist-hits-moose-loses-memory-yet-makes-it-to-work/#continued"><img alt="Michelle Higgins' damaged Chrysler Sebring from moose impact" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/michelle-higgins-chrysler-moose.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 351px; " /></a><br /> <br /> We will cop to having arrived at work suffering from memory loss, but never from hitting a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/Moose/">moose</a>. At least not that we can remember, anyway.<br /> <br /> It's a story that verily defines "news of the weird," courtesy of CNN: A Canadian woman not only hit a moose with her car on her way to work, she drove some 25 miles after the collision, unaware that she had struck the beast. But this was no glancing blow. The force of the impact killed the moose, but not before it had shattered the windshield and peeled back the roof of the Michelle Higgins' <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chrysler/sebring/">Chrysler Sebring</a>.<br /> <br /> The woman was traveling on the Trans-Canada Highway in Newfoundland, according to the report, when the accident occurred. When Higgins arrived at work - on time, mind you - she had blood streaming down her face and was unaware of what had transpired. Her injuries included two broken bones in her neck, bruises, a hoof print on her forehead... and memory loss. <a href="/2012/05/16/canadian-motorist-hits-moose-loses-memory-yet-makes-it-to-work/#continued">Scroll down</a> to watch the remarkable video report from CNN.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/canadian-motorist-hits-moose-loses-memory-yet-makes-it-to-work/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Canadian motorist hits moose, loses memory, yet makes it to work on time</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/canadian-motorist-hits-moose-loses-memory-yet-makes-it-to-work/">Canadian motorist hits moose, loses memory, yet makes it to work on time</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 12:31:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/canadian-motorist-hits-moose-loses-memory-yet-makes-it-to-work/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20239211/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/canadian-motorist-hits-moose-loses-memory-yet-makes-it-to-work/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/szDQv-ewurpR4O9XRWwCDxFte4Y/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/szDQv-ewurpR4O9XRWwCDxFte4Y/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/szDQv-ewurpR4O9XRWwCDxFte4Y/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/szDQv-ewurpR4O9XRWwCDxFte4Y/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=G5De0_oLgUE:2jRHMfJIJ0E:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=G5De0_oLgUE:2jRHMfJIJ0E:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=G5De0_oLgUE:2jRHMfJIJ0E:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=G5De0_oLgUE:2jRHMfJIJ0E:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/G5De0_oLgUE" height="1" width="1"/>canadachryslermichelle higginsmoosemoose testsebringvideoWed, 16 May 2012 12:31:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/canadian-motorist-hits-moose-loses-memory-yet-makes-it-to-work/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/3Wpd3m0Iuyc/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/2013-mercedes-benz-sl63-amg-first-drive-review-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/2013-mercedes-benz-sl63-amg-first-drive-review-video/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/driving/" rel="tag">First Drives</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><em><big>Affalterbach Additions Transform Benz's Heavy-Hitting Droptop</big></em><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-mercedes-benz-sl63-amg-first-drive/"><img height="417" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/07-2013-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg-fd-opt.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br /> <br /> Saint-Tropez is a charming town in southeastern France nestled along the Mediterranean Sea. Internationally recognized as a summer playground for the wealthy and famous, it is also famed for its "clothing optional" beaches where more than just noses and shoulders get burned in hot weather. While still a couple months shy of warm weather and the influx of tourists, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/">Mercedes-Benz</a> chose to get an early start on the topless party by flying us to the C&ocirc;te d'Azur for some seat time in its newest high-performance droptop, the 2013 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/sl63+amg/">SL63 AMG Roadster</a>.<br /> <br /> Our first taste of the new SL-Class was behind the wheel of the standard <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/09/2013-mercedes-sl550-w-video/">SL550 in Spain</a> less than two months ago. The two-seater impressed us with its stout chassis, strong engine and lavish appointments - but it failed to stir our emotions. The base SL long ago steered away from being a driver's car, and its latest incarnation proved no different. It was, in effect, just a very capable and posh GT.<br /> <br /> But the SL63 AMG, boasting upwards of 557 horsepower thanks to a burly twin-turbocharged V8, still seems promising. Its luxury appointments are nearly identical, yet it wears AMG attire and its entire powertrain has been upgraded to appease warm-blooded automotive enthusiasts. Do fresh duds and a new muscular system make a more compelling athlete? We roughed in the French Riviera to find out.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/2013-mercedes-benz-sl63-amg-first-drive-review-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/2013-mercedes-benz-sl63-amg-first-drive-review-video/">2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/2013-mercedes-benz-sl63-amg-first-drive-review-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238800/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/2013-mercedes-benz-sl63-amg-first-drive-review-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wqNX0gJdJtQZF8m3aAJXsipYq2I/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wqNX0gJdJtQZF8m3aAJXsipYq2I/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wqNX0gJdJtQZF8m3aAJXsipYq2I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/wqNX0gJdJtQZF8m3aAJXsipYq2I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=3Wpd3m0Iuyc:-k07ydh3umI:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=3Wpd3m0Iuyc:-k07ydh3umI:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=3Wpd3m0Iuyc:-k07ydh3umI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=3Wpd3m0Iuyc:-k07ydh3umI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/3Wpd3m0Iuyc" height="1" width="1"/>2013 mercedes-benz sl63 amgamgfeaturedfirst driveFirstDrivemercedesmercedes-benzslsl-classsl-klassesl550sl63sl63 amgWed, 16 May 2012 11:57:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/2013-mercedes-benz-sl63-amg-first-drive-review-video/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/fgBu1MfUigU/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/buick-begins-airing-marisa-miller-enclave-ad/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/buick-begins-airing-marisa-miller-enclave-ad/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/buick/" rel="tag">Buick</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="/2012/05/16/buick-begins-airing-marisa-miller-enclave-ad/#continued"><img height="347" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/enclaveadmiller.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br /> <br /> Not long ago, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/buick">Buick</a> released the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/buick-takes-us-behind-the-scenes-with-marisa-miller/">behind-the-scenes video</a> of its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/buick/enclave">Enclave</a> commercial with Marisa Miller, and now the supermodel's 30-second spot has begun airing. Note: This is a spot for the current Enclave, not the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/04/2013-buick-enclave-reveal-new-york-2012/">refreshed 2013 model</a> the debuted during April's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/new-york-auto-show/">New York Auto Show</a>.<br /> <br /> The <em>Sports Illustrated</em> staple and lingerie model might just be the first person ever to wear a swimsuit in a Buick ad. We could say more about it, but that would delay you from watching Ms. Miller and the Enclave in action. So just <a href="/2012/05/16/buick-begins-airing-marisa-miller-enclave-ad/#continued">scroll down</a> and check out the video, why don't you.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/buick-begins-airing-marisa-miller-enclave-ad/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Buick begins airing Marisa Miller Enclave ad</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/buick-begins-airing-marisa-miller-enclave-ad/">Buick begins airing Marisa Miller Enclave ad</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:31:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/buick-begins-airing-marisa-miller-enclave-ad/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20239105/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/buick-begins-airing-marisa-miller-enclave-ad/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/EhgvI5kSyBCal9pFx9hiKj7x6IY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/EhgvI5kSyBCal9pFx9hiKj7x6IY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/EhgvI5kSyBCal9pFx9hiKj7x6IY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/EhgvI5kSyBCal9pFx9hiKj7x6IY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=fgBu1MfUigU:PY5O-QP85SM:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=fgBu1MfUigU:PY5O-QP85SM:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=fgBu1MfUigU:PY5O-QP85SM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=fgBu1MfUigU:PY5O-QP85SM:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/fgBu1MfUigU" height="1" width="1"/>2012 buick enclavebehind the scenesbuickbuick enclaveenclavemarisa millersports illustratedsports illustrated swimsuit editionsupermodelvideoyoutubeWed, 16 May 2012 11:31:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/buick-begins-airing-marisa-miller-enclave-ad/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/g314h5lmNXM/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/chery-requests-chinese-approval-of-1-9b-joint-venture-with-jagu/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/chery-requests-chinese-approval-of-1-9b-joint-venture-with-jagu/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/china/" rel="tag">China</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/" rel="tag">Plants/Manufacturing</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/jaguar/" rel="tag">Jaguar</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/land-rover/" rel="tag">Land Rover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="http://www.autonewschina.com/en/article.asp?id=8663"><img alt="Jaguar XJ and Land Rover Freelander 2" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/jaguar-land-rover-together.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 385px; " /></a><br /> <br /> A month ago, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/jaguar">Jaguar</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/land+rover">Land Rover</a> signed <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/21/jaguar-land-rover-inks-joint-venture-with-chinas-chery/">a joint-venture agreement</a> with China's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/chery/">Chery Automobile Company</a>. JLR's 12.1 billion yuan ($1.9 billion U.S.) investment, if approved, will pay for a plant in Changsu to build Jaguars, Land Rovers, engines and joint-venture models. The facility will also house a research and development center. Chery has submitted the paperwork to clear the deal with the Chinese government. The agreement must pass muster with the Ministry of Enviroment Protection, after which it will go to the National Development and Reform Commission.<br /> <br /> When the agreement was first inked an Indian analyst said, "it will be some time before we see the results," a nod to the fact that government approvals can take a long time. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/subaru">Subaru</a> is an instructive example, having signed an agreement with Chery a year ago. Sources said the deal was <a href="http://www.zimbio.com/Subaru/articles/CPR6ILyJsKz/Subaru+Chery+joint+venture+ready+approved">ready to be approved</a> last November, but that was the last that has been heard of it - it's still waiting on the necessary signatures.<br /> <br /> But JLR has the long view in mind: it sold 38,890 vehicles in China last year - all imported - a figure representing double-digit sales gains for both brands. The proposed factory will have a capacity of 130,000 units, providing a healthy buffer in case the bureaucracy sits on things.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/chery-requests-chinese-approval-of-1-9b-joint-venture-with-jagu/">Chery requests Chinese approval of $1.9B joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/chery-requests-chinese-approval-of-1-9b-joint-venture-with-jagu/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238411/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/chery-requests-chinese-approval-of-1-9b-joint-venture-with-jagu/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LBrPG965gTXV4xXZN2e1JNvPY_I/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LBrPG965gTXV4xXZN2e1JNvPY_I/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LBrPG965gTXV4xXZN2e1JNvPY_I/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LBrPG965gTXV4xXZN2e1JNvPY_I/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=g314h5lmNXM:-z3GhJvAbY4:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=g314h5lmNXM:-z3GhJvAbY4:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=g314h5lmNXM:-z3GhJvAbY4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=g314h5lmNXM:-z3GhJvAbY4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/g314h5lmNXM" height="1" width="1"/>cherychery automobilechinajaguarjaguar land roverjlrjoint ventureland roverland rover chery joint venturetatatata motorsWed, 16 May 2012 11:00:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/chery-requests-chinese-approval-of-1-9b-joint-venture-with-jagu/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/c8nUS40N56c/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/gm-says-facebook-ads-not-effective-pulls-campaign-ahead-of-ipo/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/gm-says-facebook-ads-not-effective-pulls-campaign-ahead-of-ipo/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a></p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/15/general-motors-advertising-facebook_n_1518862.html#s=898439"><img alt="Facebook" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/facebook.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 426px;" /></a><br /> <br /> The Internets are buzzing over the upcoming initial public offering of Facebook, but <a href="http://autoblog.com/gm">General Motors</a> doesn't seem all that impressed. The Huffington Post reports that The General has pulled its Facebook ad campaigns just days before the social media site is scheduled to officially hit the stock market.<br /> <br /> The pricey ad buy reportedly wasn't paying sufficient dividends for GM, which spends billions of dollars on advertising every year. GM Spokesperson Pat Morrissey confirmed that Facebook was being reassessed, but added that the automaker routinely reviews where it is spending its ad dollars. Morrissey then added that GM is looking for effectiveness when it doles out marketing cash, which doesn't bode well for Facebook's ability to draw clicks.<br /> <br /> If GM's decision sounds at all irrational, the statistics seem to show that Facebook isn't exactly an ad-click magnet. A recent CNBC poll showed that 50 percent of all Facebook users never click on any ads, and only 12 percent of those polled feel comfortable purchasing anything through Facebook. Google appears to be more effective at attracting clicks, as <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304192704577406394017764460.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories">cites</a> a click-rate that is seven times that of Facebook.<br /> <br /> Regardless of GM's decision to break up with Facebook, we're guessing that the news probably won't drown out much of the anticipation for the IPO. After all, it isn't every day that an Internet site with 900 million mostly addicted users goes public.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/gm-says-facebook-ads-not-effective-pulls-campaign-ahead-of-ipo/">GM says Facebook ads not effective, pulls campaign ahead of IPO</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 10:27:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/gm-says-facebook-ads-not-effective-pulls-campaign-ahead-of-ipo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238929/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/gm-says-facebook-ads-not-effective-pulls-campaign-ahead-of-ipo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nc7Oy7Ohos2YvofouABOjC4mud8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nc7Oy7Ohos2YvofouABOjC4mud8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nc7Oy7Ohos2YvofouABOjC4mud8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/nc7Oy7Ohos2YvofouABOjC4mud8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=c8nUS40N56c:nxaz-LaLXCU:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=c8nUS40N56c:nxaz-LaLXCU:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=c8nUS40N56c:nxaz-LaLXCU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=c8nUS40N56c:nxaz-LaLXCU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/c8nUS40N56c" height="1" width="1"/>advertisingfacebookfacebook adfacebook adsgeneral motorsgmgm facebookipostock priceWed, 16 May 2012 10:27:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/gm-says-facebook-ads-not-effective-pulls-campaign-ahead-of-ipo/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/n9OkINK5OzY/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/saab-victorious-in-inaugural-swedish-touring-car-race/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/saab-victorious-in-inaugural-swedish-touring-car-race/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/saab/" rel="tag">Saab</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="/2012/05/16/saab-victorious-in-inaugural-swedish-touring-car-race/#continued"><img alt="Linus Ohlsson's Saab 9-3 Touring Car in motion" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/saabwinstta.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 341px; " /></a><br /> <br /> The sequel to <em>Frankenstein</em> is being written in Swedish, by <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/saab">Saab</a>. The ostensibly former car company could teach the good doctor about life after death, having earned itself more good news by <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/14/saab-9-3-to-live-on-in-swedish-touring-car-racing/">winning the inaugural race</a> of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/tta/">Swedish Touring Car series</a>. Team Tid&ouml;'s black <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/saab/9-3/">9-3</a> racer was on pole and carried that lead all the way to the checkered flag. Driving it was Linus Ohlsson, whose past triumphs include taking third in the 2011 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/porsche">Porsche</a> Carrera Cup Scandinavia series.<br /> <br /> Just to be clear, all the cars in the series are <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/watch-and-hear-flash-engineerings-awesome-new-saab-9-3-touring/">silhouette racers</a>, with Saab, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volvo">Volvo</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw">BMW</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/citroen">Citro&euml;n</a> bodies <a href="http://www.saabsunited.com/2012/03/tta-swedish-racing-elite-league.html">placed over a spec chassis</a>. Still, it was the body with the Griffin badge that beat the rest, and we all know Saab's faithful could use something to cheer about these days. <a href="/2012/05/16/saab-victorious-in-inaugural-swedish-touring-car-race/#continued">Scroll down</a> for a video recap of the race; it's in Swedish, so hit the CC button for English subtitles if you need 'em.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/saab-victorious-in-inaugural-swedish-touring-car-race/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Saab victorious in inaugural Swedish Touring Car race</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/saab-victorious-in-inaugural-swedish-touring-car-race/">Saab victorious in inaugural Swedish Touring Car race</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 09:57:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/saab-victorious-in-inaugural-swedish-touring-car-race/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238332/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/saab-victorious-in-inaugural-swedish-touring-car-race/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/7JNBxXXT9s4plUQzCr7ENDxhD48/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/7JNBxXXT9s4plUQzCr7ENDxhD48/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/7JNBxXXT9s4plUQzCr7ENDxhD48/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/7JNBxXXT9s4plUQzCr7ENDxhD48/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=n9OkINK5OzY:EWpyVz680Tk:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=n9OkINK5OzY:EWpyVz680Tk:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=n9OkINK5OzY:EWpyVz680Tk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=n9OkINK5OzY:EWpyVz680Tk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/n9OkINK5OzY" height="1" width="1"/>2012 saab 9-39-3linus ohlssonsaabsaab racecarsaab racingswedish touring carteam tidotouring carttavideoWed, 16 May 2012 09:57:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/saab-victorious-in-inaugural-swedish-touring-car-race/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/yIgThSVN7sM/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/lamborghini-eyes-low-weight-audi-sourced-twin-turbo-v8-for-prod/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/lamborghini-eyes-low-weight-audi-sourced-twin-turbo-v8-for-prod/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/" rel="tag">Concept Cars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/suvs/" rel="tag">SUV</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/lamborghini/" rel="tag">Lamborghini</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lamborghini-urus-concept-2/#photo-4978117"><img alt="Lamborghini Urus Concept" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/lamborghini-urus-628.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 384px;" /></a><br /> <br /> Long before <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/lamborghini">Lamborghini</a> unveiled the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/urus/">Urus</a> concept for its new SUV at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/beijing-motor-show/">Beijing Motor Show </a>last month, we got two chances to preview the show truck: once at the factory in Italy and once at a private preview in New York. The Italian automaker's development chief Maurizio Reggiani wasn't prepared to talk about powertrain options at the time, but in speaking with <em>Automotive News</em>, he's now given us a hint of what to expect should the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> Group board give the project the green light.<br /> <br /> As expected, the Urus would have to be based on the same platform that is slated to underpin the next <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen/touareg">Volkswagen Touareg</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/audi/q7">Audi Q7</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/porsche/cayenne">Porsche Cayenne</a> and Bentley <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/exp+9+f">EXP 9 F</a> (if similarly approved) in order to make good business sense. Unfortunately, that new PL73 architecture is made principally of steel, a material that Lamborghini has been getting away from in favor of new types of carbon fiber construction. In order to keep weight down - Lambo is targeting 4,400 lbs for the Urus, significantly less than its potential competitors - it would need to make other components out of carbon to compensate.<br /> <br /> That covers the mass side of the power-to-weight ratio that is integral to any performance vehicle. As for the power, Reggiani says the company has yet to make a final decision. The last time Lamborghini made an SUV - the legendary LM002 "Rambo Lambo" - it was powered by the same high-revving V12 as the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/countach">Countach</a>, lending to speculation that the Urus could incorporate the new V12 from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/lamborghini/aventador">Aventador</a> or the V10 from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/lamborghini/gallardo">Gallardo</a>. Reggiani, however, indicates that the new twin-turbo V8 powering the latest <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/audi">Audi</a> RS models and the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bentley">Bentley</a> Continental is a more likely choice, given that it would help keep weight down and provide more low-end torque than the naturally-aspired 10 or 12-pots the Raging Bull marque currently produces for its sports cars.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/lamborghini-eyes-low-weight-audi-sourced-twin-turbo-v8-for-prod/">Lamborghini eyes low weight, Audi-sourced twin-turbo V8 for production Urus</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/lamborghini-eyes-low-weight-audi-sourced-twin-turbo-v8-for-prod/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238776/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/lamborghini-eyes-low-weight-audi-sourced-twin-turbo-v8-for-prod/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2NWS4OgNGMmPNeeVb9Y11I_4rH4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2NWS4OgNGMmPNeeVb9Y11I_4rH4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2NWS4OgNGMmPNeeVb9Y11I_4rH4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2NWS4OgNGMmPNeeVb9Y11I_4rH4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=yIgThSVN7sM:PuTvB-d3q3M:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=yIgThSVN7sM:PuTvB-d3q3M:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=yIgThSVN7sM:PuTvB-d3q3M:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=yIgThSVN7sM:PuTvB-d3q3M:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/yIgThSVN7sM" height="1" width="1"/>lamborghinilamborghini uruslamborghini urus concepturusWed, 16 May 2012 09:30:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/lamborghini-eyes-low-weight-audi-sourced-twin-turbo-v8-for-prod/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/AeK9MMZ_3QE/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/maserati-upgrades-granturismo-racer-for-2012-trofeo-mc-world-ser/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/maserati-upgrades-granturismo-racer-for-2012-trofeo-mc-world-ser/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/maserati/" rel="tag">Maserati</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-maserati-granturismo-mc-trofeo/"><img alt="2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/mc-trofeo2web.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 392px;" /></a><br /> <br /> Spec racing series are emerging as an indispensable way for exotic automakers to show what their vehicles can do without the constraints of road regulations, and for their top customers to race wheel-to-wheel on some of the most famous racing circuits in the world behind the wheel of top machinery. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ferrari">Ferrari</a> has the Challenge series, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/lamborghini">Lamborghini</a> the Blancpain Super Trofeo, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/porsche">Porsche</a> operates several iterations of the Carrera Cup around the world, and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/maserati">Maserati</a> has the Trofeo World Series.<br /> <br /> Now entering its third year, the Trofeo is campaigned by a field of specially prepared versions of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/maserati/granturismo">GranTurismo</a> coupe, which has been upgraded with several improvements for the season ahead. Maserati Corse has both optimized the aerodynamic setup and trimmed the car's weight, resulting in an average lap time that proved two and a half seconds faster around the Vallelunga circuit outside Rome over last year's car during winter testing.<br /> <br /> Whereas previous series have been held almost exclusively in Europe or in the Middle East, this year's Trofeo World Series adds rounds at <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/infineon/">Infineon Raceway</a> in Sonoma, California, and the Shanghai International Circuit that hosts the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/chinese+grand+prix">Chinese Grand Prix</a> after the returning races at Jarama, Spain (next weekend), Portimao, Portugal (in early June), Imola, Italy (late June), and Paul Ricard, France (in July).<br /> <br /> Maserati Corse provides the full motorsport experience to gentlemen racers for &euro;110,000 ($140K) for the full season or &euro;70,000 ($90K) for just the European races, including use of the car. Teams owning and fielding their own cars pay &euro;35,000 ($45K) or &euro;25,000 ($32K), respectively. <a href="/2012/05/15/maserati-upgrades-granturismo-racer-for-2012-trofeo-mc-world-ser/#continued">Scroll down</a> for the full press release and check out the latest machinery in the high-res image gallery above.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/maserati-upgrades-granturismo-racer-for-2012-trofeo-mc-world-ser/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Maserati upgrades GranTurismo racer for 2012 Trofeo MC World Series</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/maserati-upgrades-granturismo-racer-for-2012-trofeo-mc-world-ser/">Maserati upgrades GranTurismo racer for 2012 Trofeo MC World Series</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 09:02:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/maserati-upgrades-granturismo-racer-for-2012-trofeo-mc-world-ser/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238054/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/maserati-upgrades-granturismo-racer-for-2012-trofeo-mc-world-ser/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Dre2MHooZ6QkT77yssK9yWk6W8Y/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Dre2MHooZ6QkT77yssK9yWk6W8Y/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Dre2MHooZ6QkT77yssK9yWk6W8Y/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Dre2MHooZ6QkT77yssK9yWk6W8Y/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=AeK9MMZ_3QE:Iztzrsz0B3M:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=AeK9MMZ_3QE:Iztzrsz0B3M:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=AeK9MMZ_3QE:Iztzrsz0B3M:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=AeK9MMZ_3QE:Iztzrsz0B3M:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/AeK9MMZ_3QE" height="1" width="1"/>gran turismogranturismomaseratimaserati granturismomaserati granturismo mcmaserati granturismo mc corsemaserati granturismo mc trofeomaserati trofeomaserati trofeo world seriesWed, 16 May 2012 09:02:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/maserati-upgrades-granturismo-racer-for-2012-trofeo-mc-world-ser/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/6urB4bMju58/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/ford-finally-takes-serious-aim-at-the-chinese-market/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/ford-finally-takes-serious-aim-at-the-chinese-market/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/china/" rel="tag">China</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/" rel="tag">Plants/Manufacturing</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/far-behind-rivals-ford-tries-040602740.html"><img alt="Ford China" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/ford-china.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 358px;" /></a><br /> <br /> When we asked <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> last year why it was building a factory in the U.S., after having missed the irrationally volcanic era of car sales, we were told that even a 12-million-per-annum market was still too big to ignore. A report in <em>Reuters</em> paints Ford's situation in China somewhat the same way: <a href="http://autoblog.com/ford">Ford</a> is only now attacking the Chinese market, building plants and increasing local capacity there, after numerous other players have established their positions.<br /> <br /> Nevertheless, there's still much to play for. Whereas our market is expected to hang around in the 12- to 15-million-unit range, China's market is predicted to hit 30 million cars per year by 2020. Said one analyst, "People are saying the Asia Pacific auto industry by 2020 is half the world's industry." A little piece of China's colossal market will, anywhere else, still be considered a pretty big piece of pie.<br /> <br /> After years of false starts and missteps in The Middle Kingdom, Ford sells six cars in China now, but they weren't developed for the Chinese market and haven't taken off with buyers there. Over the next three years Ford intends to introduce 15 more cars, many of them SUVs, and 20 engines to the Chinese market that can make better impressions on the locals.<br /> <br /> That won't put it anywhere close to market leaders <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gm">General Motors</a> - which already sells 35 cars there and is lining up 60 more models, and has the preeminient <a href="http://autoblog.com/buick">Buick</a> brand - or Volkswagen. But even the 3.1 percent share that one analyst predicted was in Ford's reach by 2020, up from 2.8 percent now, will be enough to turn Ford's currently desultory Chinese-market profits into something like a $700-million spigot once its production and offerings are stabilized.<br /> <br /> Ford is <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20120405/BUSINESS0102/120405023/Ford-China-expansion-Changan-Ford-Mazda-Automobile">investing $600 million</a> and <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/thestreet/2012/04/19/ford-keeps-growing-in-china/">$760 million in two projects</a> with its JV partner Changan Ford Mazda Automobile to expand capacity to 1.5 million autos per year. At the moment, The Blue Oval has no plans to take <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/lincoln">Lincoln</a> across the Pacific.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/ford-finally-takes-serious-aim-at-the-chinese-market/">Ford finally takes serious aim at the Chinese market</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/ford-finally-takes-serious-aim-at-the-chinese-market/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20237420/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/ford-finally-takes-serious-aim-at-the-chinese-market/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3iQlqjXWZAJ7vgh0_tXD7QOb9Qs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3iQlqjXWZAJ7vgh0_tXD7QOb9Qs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3iQlqjXWZAJ7vgh0_tXD7QOb9Qs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3iQlqjXWZAJ7vgh0_tXD7QOb9Qs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=6urB4bMju58:_i7TGKyBRpg:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=6urB4bMju58:_i7TGKyBRpg:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=6urB4bMju58:_i7TGKyBRpg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=6urB4bMju58:_i7TGKyBRpg:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/6urB4bMju58" height="1" width="1"/>Changan Ford Mazda Automobilechinafordford chinajianglingWed, 16 May 2012 08:30:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/ford-finally-takes-serious-aim-at-the-chinese-market/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/9s9Pk5f2Qf4/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/great-britain-set-to-introduce-laws-making-drug-driving-a-crim/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/great-britain-set-to-introduce-laws-making-drug-driving-a-crim/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/uk/" rel="tag">UK</a></p><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9249385/Drug-drivers-face-jail-term-under-new-laws.html"><img alt="UK police car" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/uk-police-car.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 417px;" /></a><br /> <br /> It's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/11/uk-looks-to-implement-roadside-drug-testing/">taken three years</a> but the Great Britain is finally ready to introduce laws to make driving while impaired by illegal <em>and legal </em>drugs against the law. While Britain's Home Office waitied for approval of a mobile drug-testing unit - currently drug testing is done at the police station - ministers have been working on the details of the law to fall under the Crime, Communications and Court Bill.<br /> <br /> The drugalyzers are expected to be ready by the end of the year and will be able to detect up to 13 drugs from cocaine and crack to certain prescription medications in a driver's saliva. An advisory panel is devising penalties for operators found to be impaired and considering the idea of differing penalties for different drugs various, but a one-year ban, jail time and a four-figure fine are looking like front runners.<br /> <br /> The run-of-show would be that if a policeman pulls you over and suspects impairment, he'll test for alcohol first. If, in the policeman's eyes, that doesn't explain your horrid driving, he'll test for drugs. If you fail the drug test you'll be taken to the station and tested again on their fixed machine, to verify the findings. And if you decline to be tested at all, it'll be considered the same as declining a breathalyzer.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/great-britain-set-to-introduce-laws-making-drug-driving-a-crim/">Great Britain set to introduce laws making "drug driving" a criminal offense</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 16 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/great-britain-set-to-introduce-laws-making-drug-driving-a-crim/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20237052/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/great-britain-set-to-introduce-laws-making-drug-driving-a-crim/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qNvHdZ0a1tVsOA_96elWifAnhlc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qNvHdZ0a1tVsOA_96elWifAnhlc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qNvHdZ0a1tVsOA_96elWifAnhlc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/qNvHdZ0a1tVsOA_96elWifAnhlc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=9s9Pk5f2Qf4:vr1eqDoxHo8:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=9s9Pk5f2Qf4:vr1eqDoxHo8:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=9s9Pk5f2Qf4:vr1eqDoxHo8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=9s9Pk5f2Qf4:vr1eqDoxHo8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/9s9Pk5f2Qf4" height="1" width="1"/>breathalyzerdrug testingdrugalyzergovernmentgreat britainlegalpolicesafetyukWed, 16 May 2012 08:00:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/16/great-britain-set-to-introduce-laws-making-drug-driving-a-crim/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/uLQWQDeMTLA/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/the-list-0187-escape-an-automotive-attack/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/the-list-0187-escape-an-automotive-attack/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/the-list/" rel="tag">The List</a></p><a href="/2012/05/15/the-list-0187-escape-an-automotive-attack/#continued"><img height="387" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/the-list-attack-2.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br /> <br /> It's one thing to protect yourself on the road against bad drivers who might cut you off or ride your bumper on the highway. It's quite another to do that when those drivers have guns and want to kidnap the diplomat in your back seat. While the latter scenario may sound unlikely, many drivers in law enforcement, security and the military go through training to prevent the success of just such an attack-on-wheels.<br /> <br /> Learning how people in the protection business escape an automotive attack is on our list of 1,001 Car Things To Do Before You Die, which means it's on Jessi and Patrick's list too. We sent them to the <a href="http://www.bondurant.com/">Bondurant School of High Performance Driving</a> to enroll in its four-day <a href="http://www.bondurant.com/programs/military-law-enforcement-and-tactical">Executive Protection/Anti-Kidnapping program</a>. Their course instruction includes valuable skills like what to do when your driver's been shot, the proper way to do a J-turn and how to perform a textbook PIT maneuver, among other things.<br /> <br /> Even if your life isn't in jeopardy from a phalanx of baddies in hot pursuit, the end game here is a finer understanding of using automotive physics to one's advantage and improving one's car control skills.<br /> <br /> <a href="/2012/05/15/the-list-0187-escape-an-automotive-attack/#continued">Click here</a> to watch <em>The List #0187: Escape an Automotive Attack</em>.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/the-list/ideas/"><img height="84" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/thelistyourlist-opt.jpg" vspace="4" width="300" /></a><br /> <br /> Have an RSS feed? <a href="http://api.5min.com/studio/The%20List/videos.xml?sid=577&amp;page=1">Click here</a> to add <em>The List</em>.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/the-list/meet-the-hosts/">Click here</a> to learn more about our hosts, Jessi and Patrick.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/the-list-0187-escape-an-automotive-attack/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The List #0187: Escape an Automotive Attack</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/the-list-0187-escape-an-automotive-attack/">The List #0187: Escape an Automotive Attack</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 19:57:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/the-list-0187-escape-an-automotive-attack/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238393/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/the-list-0187-escape-an-automotive-attack/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/xymL4VoIN5fHZ7cN_r-qbRxq0_4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/xymL4VoIN5fHZ7cN_r-qbRxq0_4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/xymL4VoIN5fHZ7cN_r-qbRxq0_4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/xymL4VoIN5fHZ7cN_r-qbRxq0_4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=uLQWQDeMTLA:kB-MvsFGa78:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=uLQWQDeMTLA:kB-MvsFGa78:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=uLQWQDeMTLA:kB-MvsFGa78:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=uLQWQDeMTLA:kB-MvsFGa78:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/uLQWQDeMTLA" height="1" width="1"/>automotive attackdefensive drivingfeaturedjessi combspatrick mcintyrethe listthe-listvideoTue, 15 May 2012 19:57:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/the-list-0187-escape-an-automotive-attack/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/nXnXjxm2dsU/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/salon-columnist-asks-is-it-ethical-to-drive-stick/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/salon-columnist-asks-is-it-ethical-to-drive-stick/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a></p><a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/05/14/is_it_ethical_to_drive_stick/singleton/"><img alt="Manual transmission" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/36-2012-chevrolet-cruze-eco-review-opt-1337111975.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 417px;" /></a><br /> <br /> Just don't answer. The question is neither relevant, nor is it even the crux of the column. Get past the clicky smelling headline, and what you have here is a combination of two news stories, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/car-buyers-falling-back-in-love-with-manual-transmissions/">one new</a> and <a href="http://autos.aol.com/article/automatic-transmission-better-fuel-economy/">one old</a>, both of which you've likely already come across.<br /> <br /> We're going to play nice here and not knock over Salon columnist David Sirota's house of cards, because this is a good read and he's a talented writer - even if, off the top of our heads, we can name several popular vehicles that offer a fuel economy benefit to those willing to row their own, from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen/jetta/">Volkswagen Jetta</a> to the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/sonic/">Chevrolet Sonic</a> to the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/3+series/">BMW 3 Series</a>. But the guy does have a point that's probably of great benefit to many Salon readers: If a smug sense of superiority is what you're after, opting for a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/manual+transmission/">manual transmission</a> is no longer a sure bet. (Locally sourced organic produce and craft beer, for the win!)<br /> <br /> In the end, Sirota is smart enough to come to two conclusions that most of us would agree to. The first being that driving a manual is fun, and the second, that it's hard to text while steering, operating all three pedals, and working that stick.<br /> <br /> On second thought, maybe you should answer with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. See below for our completely unscientific poll.<br /> <br /> <p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/salon-columnist-asks-is-it-ethical-to-drive-stick/#poll75299">View Poll</a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/salon-columnist-asks-is-it-ethical-to-drive-stick/"><i>Salon</i> columnist asks, "Is it ethical to drive stick?" [w/poll]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/salon-columnist-asks-is-it-ethical-to-drive-stick/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238596/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/salon-columnist-asks-is-it-ethical-to-drive-stick/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4_9tc9WC2i9Z4ItcaZyTjG_7EUc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4_9tc9WC2i9Z4ItcaZyTjG_7EUc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4_9tc9WC2i9Z4ItcaZyTjG_7EUc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/4_9tc9WC2i9Z4ItcaZyTjG_7EUc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=nXnXjxm2dsU:tDvb6fV-cq0:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=nXnXjxm2dsU:tDvb6fV-cq0:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=nXnXjxm2dsU:tDvb6fV-cq0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=nXnXjxm2dsU:tDvb6fV-cq0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/nXnXjxm2dsU" height="1" width="1"/>distracted drivingfuel economymanualmanual gearboxmanual transmissionstick shiftTue, 15 May 2012 19:30:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/salon-columnist-asks-is-it-ethical-to-drive-stick/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/1lQOvWhR1oQ/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/hit-and-run-is-speeding-towards-a-theater-near-you/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/hit-and-run-is-speeding-towards-a-theater-near-you/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/celebrities/" rel="tag">Celebrities</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a></p><a href="/2012/05/15/hit-and-run-is-speeding-towards-a-theater-near-you/#continued"><img alt="Hit and Run" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/hit-and-run.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 390px;" /></a><br /> <br /> Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of appropriate ages, your requisite dose of big-screen fast driving is here. And it looks pretty darn funny, too.<br /> <br /> The movie in question is called <em>Hit and Run</em>. It was written and directed by Dax Shepard, who also stars in the film alongside such notables as Bradley Cooper, Tom Arnold, a couple of girls named Kristen, a custom '67 <a href="http://autoblog.com/lincoln">Lincoln</a> Continental hot rod and a 700-horsepower off-road racing buggy. The comedy (not to be confused with the 1924, 1938, 1957, 1959, 1966, 1975, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 or 2011 movies of the same name) centers around a guy whose past as a bank-robbing getaway driver comes back to haunt him, forcing him and his girlfriend to hit the road.<br /> <br /> It tickles us in all the right places, but we'll let you judge for yourself from the <a href="/2012/05/15/hit-and-run-is-speeding-towards-a-theater-near-you/#continued">trailer down below</a>. Look for it at local theaters from August 24.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/hit-and-run-is-speeding-towards-a-theater-near-you/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em><i>Hit and Run</i> is speeding towards a theater near you</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/hit-and-run-is-speeding-towards-a-theater-near-you/"><i>Hit and Run</i> is speeding towards a theater near you</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/hit-and-run-is-speeding-towards-a-theater-near-you/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238809/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/hit-and-run-is-speeding-towards-a-theater-near-you/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cV0GWd9Iwqkf_o1g1P6ShUJKuf0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cV0GWd9Iwqkf_o1g1P6ShUJKuf0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cV0GWd9Iwqkf_o1g1P6ShUJKuf0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/cV0GWd9Iwqkf_o1g1P6ShUJKuf0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=1lQOvWhR1oQ:liTiFM0Uh0k:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=1lQOvWhR1oQ:liTiFM0Uh0k:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=1lQOvWhR1oQ:liTiFM0Uh0k:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=1lQOvWhR1oQ:liTiFM0Uh0k:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/1lQOvWhR1oQ" height="1" width="1"/>bradley cooperdax shepardfilmhit and runhit and run moviemovietrailerTue, 15 May 2012 18:59:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/hit-and-run-is-speeding-towards-a-theater-near-you/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/AkWjYNfXEY8/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/toyota-honda-top-supplier-survey-with-lower-results-gm-and-chr/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/toyota-honda-top-supplier-survey-with-lower-results-gm-and-chr/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/" rel="tag">Plants/Manufacturing</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a></p><a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120514/OEM01/305149941/1286"><img alt="Toyota and Honda auto show signs overlapping" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/toyota-honda-sign-overlap.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 375px; " /></a><br /> <br /> Before financial Stargate opened in September of 2008 and transported us to an entirely new economic dimension, it was oh so common to read about domestic automakers hammering Tier One suppliers to lower their prices. Of course, suppliers are still asked to find efficiencies, but pre-2008, it seemed a point of honor to hold a supplier's feet to the fire. No more: in the latest Working Relations Index survey of suppliers by Detroit firm Planning Perspectives Inc., <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gm">General Motors</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chrysler">Chrysler</a> rocketed up the charts to bring the bunch much closer together.<br /> <br /> Admittedly, the two companies are still in last place, with GM just ahead of Chrysler and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota">Toyota</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda">Honda</a> still up top. But perspective and improvement is the issue here: in 2005, Toyota scored 415 and GM scored 114. In this year's survey, Toyota scored 296 and Chrysler scored 248. It is the first time in the 12 years of the survey that the six automakers covered have been separated by less than 50 points. Chrysler's jump was led by the efforts of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/30/dan-knott-former-chrysler-exec-succumbs-to-cancer-at-51/">the late Dan Knott</a>, whle GM's improvement has been led by Bob Socia.<br /> <br /> And yes, this is also a matter of the perennial leaders, Toyota and Honda, suffering a dip: <a href="http://www.ppi1.com/site/?cat=187">in 2010 Toyota scored 327</a> and Honda 309, two years later, Toyota has dropped 31 points. Every automaker, however, from top to bottom acknowledged that they still have work to do with supplier relations. The benefits of good feelings are that suppliers tend to present their newest tech to, and make better parts for, the automakers with whom they have the best relationships. Naturally, it has been found that the reverse is true as well.<br /> <br /> Nissan and Ford make up the middle two spots, where they've been for years. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/mercedes-benz">Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/hyundai">Hyundai</a> aren't on the list yet; PPI feels it doesn't have enough data on the Germans to yet to officially include them, and it doesn't have enough data on Hyundai to rank it at all. If the data gathered on the Germans was included, though, they would sandwich the rest of the field: BMW and Mercedes at the top, Volkswagen at the bottom a point shy of Chrysler.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/toyota-honda-top-supplier-survey-with-lower-results-gm-and-chr/">Toyota, Honda top supplier survey with lower results, GM and Chrysler improve</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/toyota-honda-top-supplier-survey-with-lower-results-gm-and-chr/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238179/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/toyota-honda-top-supplier-survey-with-lower-results-gm-and-chr/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Hqf_Ld-olXrlwIB656-YvlbmaVI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Hqf_Ld-olXrlwIB656-YvlbmaVI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Hqf_Ld-olXrlwIB656-YvlbmaVI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Hqf_Ld-olXrlwIB656-YvlbmaVI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=AkWjYNfXEY8:pQR0GggEHO4:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=AkWjYNfXEY8:pQR0GggEHO4:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=AkWjYNfXEY8:pQR0GggEHO4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=AkWjYNfXEY8:pQR0GggEHO4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/AkWjYNfXEY8" height="1" width="1"/>bmwchryslerfordgeneral motorshondamercedes-benznissanplanning perspectivessuppliersupplier relationssupplierssurveytier 1toyotavolkswagenworking relations indexTue, 15 May 2012 18:30:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/toyota-honda-top-supplier-survey-with-lower-results-gm-and-chr/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/AgZUevB-FeM/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/is-kia-considering-a-diesel-for-the-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/is-kia-considering-a-diesel-for-the-u-s/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/kia/" rel="tag">Kia</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/diesel/" rel="tag">Diesel</a></p><img alt="Kia logo" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/21kiafortekoupreview.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 405px; " /><br /> <br /> If we had a dollar for every time we read a headline that said, "[insert automaker here] considering a diesel for U.S. market," we'd have a pretty sizable stack of Washingtons. So why, then, is this story of particular interest?<br /> <br /> After the website <a href="http://efficientautomobile.com/2013-kia-optima-diesel-for-usa/">Efficient Automobile</a> wrote about the possibility of <a href="http://autoblog.com/kia">Kia</a> offering a diesel-powered <a href="http://autoblog.com/kia/optima">Optima</a> here in the United States, the automaker took things a step further, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kiamotorspr/posts/311105665633938">addressing this on its Facebook page</a>. Kia's North American public relations team asks its loyal followers, "Would you drive a diesel?" And from what we can tell after a quick scan of the comments, the yeses certainly seem to outweigh the nos.<br /> <br /> In Europe, the Optima is available with a 1.7-liter turbo-diesel four, good for 134 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque. The decidedly vague story from Efficient Automobile also states that the diesel Optima shares many of the visual upgrades that we have on the U.S.-spec Optima Hybrid, including a lowered ride height and special wheels.<br /> <br /> It's worth mentioning that Kia's North American PR Facebook account is largely geared towards the U.S. media, and we have yet to meet a single member of the automotive press who wouldn't drive a diesel. But since Kia PR does not restrict its Facebook page, perhaps this is a small way for the automaker to gauge customer interest about the possibility of offering a diesel-powered car here in the United States. And to answer the question at hand, yes, Kia, we would.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/is-kia-considering-a-diesel-for-the-u-s/">Is Kia considering a diesel for the U.S.?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/is-kia-considering-a-diesel-for-the-u-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238568/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/is-kia-considering-a-diesel-for-the-u-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Cx6D71A2FBhyWNRLGGv7izr8WHQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Cx6D71A2FBhyWNRLGGv7izr8WHQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Cx6D71A2FBhyWNRLGGv7izr8WHQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/Cx6D71A2FBhyWNRLGGv7izr8WHQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=AgZUevB-FeM:SvUc59mtR0M:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=AgZUevB-FeM:SvUc59mtR0M:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=AgZUevB-FeM:SvUc59mtR0M:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=AgZUevB-FeM:SvUc59mtR0M:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/AgZUevB-FeM" height="1" width="1"/>dieselkiaoptimaTue, 15 May 2012 17:59:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/is-kia-considering-a-diesel-for-the-u-s/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/RdVM0KGOw3Q/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nissan-altima-production-kicks-off-in-smyrna-aims-to-pass-camry/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nissan-altima-production-kicks-off-in-smyrna-aims-to-pass-camry/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/" rel="tag">Plants/Manufacturing</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a></p><img height="408" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/nissan-altima-smyrna.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /><br /> <br /> <blockquote class="pull-quote pull-quote-right"> <p> "We are ready to make this car the top seller if the customer agrees."</p> </blockquote> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/">Nissan</a> started Job One production for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/altima/">2013 Altima sedan</a> at its Smyrna, Tennessee plant today.<br /> <br /> Nissan has big plans for the fifth-generation Altima, which was the number-two selling car in the United States in 2011. The company is adding a third shift at Smyna, and shifting models around between this plant and its Canton, Mississippi plant with an eye toward the Altima passing the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/camry/">Toyota Camry</a> as the top-selling model in America.<br /> <br /> Toyota sold 308,510 Camrys last year, compared with Nissan's 268,981 Altimas.<br /> <br /> "We haven't built and designed this car the way we have, and made all these changes with a goal of being number-two," said Nissan Americas vice chairman Bill Krueger. Krueger admits that the consumer will vote on whether the Altima becomes the top selling car. "But we are ready to make this car the top seller if the customer agrees."<br /> <br /> Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam chimed in on the rivalry. "We are going to give the folks down in Georgetown [Kentucky] a serious run for the money," said Haslam, speaking of Toyota's plant in the neighboring state.<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="pull-quote pull-quote-left"> <p> Nissan definitely has the capacity to pass the Camry, as it builds Altimas at two plants.</p> </blockquote> Krueger says he is not willing to cut and slash profit margins to chase the top-seller number for Altima. Nissan has long been more aggressive in incentive spending than its Japanese rivals in large part because it does not have the brand cachet and reputation for durability and quality that <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/">Toyota</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/">Honda</a> have.<br /> <br /> Nissan built 570,000 vehicles in the U.S. last year and is adding a third shift to Smyrna. Nissan executives, however, won't pinpoint what total capacity is for Smyrna and Canton for competitive reasons. But it definitely has the capacity to pass the Camry's sales, as it builds Altimas at both plants.<br /> <br /> Driving impressions of the 2013 Altima are embargoed until May 25, but we are allowed to tell you about a new feature we think is pretty cool. The tire pressure monitoring system not only tells the driver specifically what tire is low, but when you inflate each tire to the ideal, manufacturer-specified level, the car's horn sounds. Pretty neat, huh?.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nissan-altima-production-kicks-off-in-smyrna-aims-to-pass-camry/">2013 Nissan Altima production kicks off in Smyrna, aims to pass Camry for #1</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nissan-altima-production-kicks-off-in-smyrna-aims-to-pass-camry/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238621/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nissan-altima-production-kicks-off-in-smyrna-aims-to-pass-camry/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dHLTUymSqwu-uYyIhtd4717iArI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dHLTUymSqwu-uYyIhtd4717iArI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dHLTUymSqwu-uYyIhtd4717iArI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/dHLTUymSqwu-uYyIhtd4717iArI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=RdVM0KGOw3Q:SMYdjb3s_X0:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=RdVM0KGOw3Q:SMYdjb3s_X0:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=RdVM0KGOw3Q:SMYdjb3s_X0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=RdVM0KGOw3Q:SMYdjb3s_X0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/RdVM0KGOw3Q" height="1" width="1"/>2013 nissan altimaaltimacamrynissansmyrnasmyrna tennesseetennesseetoyotaTue, 15 May 2012 17:29:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/nissan-altima-production-kicks-off-in-smyrna-aims-to-pass-camry/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/aV_4JqXrvTE/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/this-sema-show-car-goes-182-4-mph/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/this-sema-show-car-goes-182-4-mph/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/aftermarket/" rel="tag">Aftermarket</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="/2012/05/15/this-sema-show-car-goes-182-4-mph/#continued"><img alt="Ford Mustang top speed video" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/mustang-top-speed-video-628.jpg" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 628px; height: 350px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" /></a><br /> <br /> By and large, the machines created for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/sema">SEMA</a> show in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/las vegas">Las Vegas</a> are built for lounging around under convention center lights and not much else. All those go-fast parts we see bolted on do little more than collect lustful stares from from the crowd. But Creations n' Chrome set out to discover just what their bolt on additions to its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford/mustang">Ford Mustang</a> were good for. Under the outrageous 3dCarbon bodykit sits a Vortech supercharged 5.0-liter V8 good for around 580 horsepower at 8 psi of boost on stock internals. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/kw">KW</a> served up a set of Variant 3 coilovers, and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/hotchkis">Hotchkis</a> took care of front and rear sway bars.<br /> <br /> The crew rolled the blown Mustang out the to the Mojave Mile for a top speed run. The machine racked up a final velocity of 182.4 mph, though the final seconds of the run looked anything but stable (we hear there was a 20 mph crosswind). Still, we're impressed at the machine's performance. For perspective, the Boss 302 is only good for 155 mph. Check out the video for yourself <a href="/2012/05/15/this-sema-show-car-goes-182-4-mph/#continued">below</a>.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/this-sema-show-car-goes-182-4-mph/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>This SEMA show car goes 182.4 mph</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/this-sema-show-car-goes-182-4-mph/">This SEMA show car goes 182.4 mph</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/this-sema-show-car-goes-182-4-mph/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238449/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/this-sema-show-car-goes-182-4-mph/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eJcZ8Jy_-O9JfOQ1FluSRgCaZY0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eJcZ8Jy_-O9JfOQ1FluSRgCaZY0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eJcZ8Jy_-O9JfOQ1FluSRgCaZY0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/eJcZ8Jy_-O9JfOQ1FluSRgCaZY0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=aV_4JqXrvTE:knqske_4IQk:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=aV_4JqXrvTE:knqske_4IQk:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=aV_4JqXrvTE:knqske_4IQk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=aV_4JqXrvTE:knqske_4IQk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/aV_4JqXrvTE" height="1" width="1"/>creations n chrome ford mustangfordford mustanglas vegasmojave milemojave mile videomustangsemasema showtop speedtop speed videovideoTue, 15 May 2012 17:00:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/this-sema-show-car-goes-182-4-mph/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/NjqlALi8LvI/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/podcasts/" rel="tag">Podcasts</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/wagons/" rel="tag">Wagon</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a></p><em><big>Carroll Shelby's passing, BMW 3 Series Wagon, Porsche sub-Boxster/Pajun, Google car in public, BMW 2 Series</big></em><br /> <a href="/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/#continued"><img alt="autoblog podcast logo" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/podcastlivev2stamp.jpg" style="margin: 4px 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 628px; height: 305px;" /></a><br /> <br /> Episode #282 of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/podcasts/">Autoblog Podcast</a> is here, and this week, Chris, Dan and Zach chat about the passing of industry legend Carroll Shelby, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/3+series/">BMW 3 Series</a> Wagon that's coming soon, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/porsche/">Porsche</a> and its rumored small five-door, Pajun (along with plans for a baby <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/porsche/boxster/">Boxster</a>), Google's self-driving car getting the go-ahead to roam Nevada's streets, and the coming BMW 2 Series. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/autoblog-podcast">UStream channel</a>, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&amp;A module <a href="/2012/05/15/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/#continued">after the jump</a><a href="/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/#continued"> </a>for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!<br /> <br /> <b><strong>Autoblog Podcast #282:</strong></b><br /> <br /> <object application="" data="http://www.weblogsinc.com/media/audio_player.swf" height="24" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290" x-shockwave-flash=""><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.weblogsinc.com/media/audio_player.swf" /><param name="FlashVars" value="soundFile=http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/stadium.weblogsinc.com/autoblog/podcasts/05-15-12-autoblog-E282.mp3" /><param name="quality" value="high" /></object><br /> <br /> <strong>Topics:</strong><br /> <ul> <li> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/carroll-shelby-1923-2012/">Caroll Shelby passes away</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/12/2013-bmw-3-series-sports-wagon-unveiled-is-u-s-bound/">BMW 3 Series wagon headed stateside</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/14/porsche-says-no-baby-boxster-no-rush-on-pajun/">Porsche baby Boxster and Pajun </a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/google-allowed-to-test-self-driving-car-on-nevada-public-streets/">Google self-driving car in public</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/bmw-2-series-coming-in-2014/">BMW 2 Series arrives in 2014</a></li> </ul> <br /> <strong>In the Autoblog Garage</strong>:<br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chrysler/300/">2012 Chrylser 300 AWD</a><br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/fit/">2012 Honda Fit Sport</a><br /> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen/tiguan/">2012 Volkswagen Tiguan</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <b><strong>Hosts: </strong></b><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bloggers/dan-roth">Dan Roth</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bloggers/chris-shunk/">Chris Shunk</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bloggers/zach-bowman/">Zach Bowman</a><br /> <div bullet-circle.gif="" media="" style="margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-type: none;" www.autoblog.com=""> <strong>Runtime:</strong> 01:23:51</div> <hr style="width: 630px;" /> <b><strong>Get the podcast</strong></b><br /> [<a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/autoblog-podcast">UStream</a>] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream<br /> [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/autoblog/id73331469">iTunes</a>] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes<br /> [<a href="http://podcasts.autoblog.com/rss.xml">RSS</a>] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator<br /> [<a href="http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/stadium.weblogsinc.com/autoblog/podcasts/05-15-12-autoblog-E282.mp3">MP3</a>] Download the MP3 directly<br /> <br /> <strong>Feedback</strong><br /> Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com<br /> <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/autoblog/id73331469"><br /> Review the show in iTunes</a><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Autoblog Podcast #282</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/">Autoblog Podcast #282</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238805/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bUJ0Fww8I8f5TG7dpf0mrzC73uQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bUJ0Fww8I8f5TG7dpf0mrzC73uQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bUJ0Fww8I8f5TG7dpf0mrzC73uQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/bUJ0Fww8I8f5TG7dpf0mrzC73uQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=NjqlALi8LvI:P7kVJaAONas:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=NjqlALi8LvI:P7kVJaAONas:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=NjqlALi8LvI:P7kVJaAONas:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=NjqlALi8LvI:P7kVJaAONas:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/NjqlALi8LvI" height="1" width="1"/>1 series2 series3 seriesautoblog podcastautoblog podcast 282bmw 2 seriesboxstercarroll shelbycarroll shelby diescarroll shelby passesfeaturedpanameraporsche pajunTue, 15 May 2012 16:45:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #282Autoblog01:23:51http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/autoblog-podcast-282/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/MMA12UV5QeE/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/former-ford-chairman-ceo-red-poling-dead-at-86/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/former-ford-chairman-ceo-red-poling-dead-at-86/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><img alt="Red Poling" class="right border" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/redpoling.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; float: right; width: 250px; height: 311px; " />The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/ford">Ford Motor Company</a> and the automotive industry as a whole are mourning the loss today of Harold "Red" Poling, who passed away on May 12 in Pacific Grove, California, at the age of 86.<br /> <br /> A Michigan native, Poling was a navy veteran and a graduate of Monmouth College and Indiana University, where he received his MBA. He started working for Ford as an intern at the Rouge steel mill way back in 1950, rising up the corporate ladder over the years as a financial expert.<br /> <br /> In March of 1980, after running Ford's North American and European operations, Poling was named president and CEO of the entire company, and ten years later was elected its chairman.<br /> <br /> An inductee to the Automotive Hall of Fame and an active member of his community, Poling lead Ford through lean times and into profitability, ushering an enormous quantity of vehicles into production over his many years of leadership. <a href="/2012/05/15/former-ford-chairman-ceo-red-poling-dead-at-86/#continued">Scroll down</a> for an official statement from his successor Bill Ford.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/former-ford-chairman-ceo-red-poling-dead-at-86/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Former Ford chairman, CEO Red Poling dead at 86</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/former-ford-chairman-ceo-red-poling-dead-at-86/">Former Ford chairman, CEO Red Poling dead at 86</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:32:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/former-ford-chairman-ceo-red-poling-dead-at-86/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238567/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/former-ford-chairman-ceo-red-poling-dead-at-86/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lfaRrfBSH1nE0OSu_Az3ABnwAT0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lfaRrfBSH1nE0OSu_Az3ABnwAT0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lfaRrfBSH1nE0OSu_Az3ABnwAT0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/lfaRrfBSH1nE0OSu_Az3ABnwAT0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=MMA12UV5QeE:KrUsTHCyLr0:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=MMA12UV5QeE:KrUsTHCyLr0:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=MMA12UV5QeE:KrUsTHCyLr0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=MMA12UV5QeE:KrUsTHCyLr0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/MMA12UV5QeE" height="1" width="1"/>ceochairmanchairman of the boardchief executivechief executive officerfordharold polingpolingpresidentred polingTue, 15 May 2012 16:32:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/former-ford-chairman-ceo-red-poling-dead-at-86/http://feeds.autoblog.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~3/BR_KnCQG6YI/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/#comments<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/china/" rel="tag">China</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/" rel="tag">Plants/Manufacturing</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/saab/" rel="tag">Saab</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/uaw-unions/" rel="tag">UAW/Unions</a></p><a href="http://www.just-auto.com/news/if-metall-asks-barack-obama-for-saab-licence-help_id123283.aspx"><img alt="President Obama" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/president-obama-opt.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 419px;" /></a><br /> <br /> The door has not yet closed on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/saab/">Saab</a>. Hoping for yet another 11th hour stay of execution, the defunct carmaker's chief union, IF Metall, has written directly to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/obama/">President Obama</a>, asking him to intervene, according to Just-Auto. While on the surface, this may seem silly, it's actually rather clever, even if it has little likelihood of working.<br /> <br /> With the United States government <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/11/treasury-has-no-plans-to-sell-remaining-gm-stock-quite-yet/">still owning 26 percent of General Motors</a>, the Swedish union is hoping it can appeal to Obama to pressure <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/gm/">General Motors</a> into granting licenses to continue manufacturing Saab vehicles, according to the report. It's this sticking point that has <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/shocked-brightwell-drops-saab-bid-blames-gm-intransigence/">torpedoed every attempt to forestall Saab's dissolution</a>, as GM fears that were it to allow continued production of Saabs developed under GM's ownership, it would open up the possibility of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/18/gm-turns-down-newest-saab-proposals-as-hope-dims/">intellectual property conflicts</a>, particularly if a Chinese manufacturer that competes with GM's own Chinese partner, SAIC, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/18/saab-gets-new-492m-bid-from-youngman/">acquires Saab</a>.<br /> <br /> You have to admire <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/10/saab-fans-save-the-last-9-3/">Saab loyalists</a>, as they clearly have not given up hope. But in this case, they just don't have any other options: Unemployment in the Saab hometown of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/trollhatten/">Trollh&auml;ttan</a> has hit 40 percent, according to the report.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/">Saab union asks Obama to pressure GM for licensing deal</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20238573/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a> <p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SExdx9eTmOvuaNtdl0B8Fc56ZB4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SExdx9eTmOvuaNtdl0B8Fc56ZB4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SExdx9eTmOvuaNtdl0B8Fc56ZB4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/SExdx9eTmOvuaNtdl0B8Fc56ZB4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=BR_KnCQG6YI:1IS1bM6EVzw:wF9xT3WuBAs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=BR_KnCQG6YI:1IS1bM6EVzw:wF9xT3WuBAs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.autoblog.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?a=BR_KnCQG6YI:1IS1bM6EVzw:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/weblogsinc/autoblog?i=BR_KnCQG6YI:1IS1bM6EVzw:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/autoblog/~4/BR_KnCQG6YI" height="1" width="1"/>barack obamachinachinese automakersgeneral motorsgmif metallintellectual propertyobamapresident of the united statessaabsaictrollhattentrollhättanunionsTue, 15 May 2012 16:01:00 ESThttp://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/saab-union-asks-obama-to-pressure-gm-for-licensing-deal/