Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of 2010 Mustang teasers

Can't make it out to the L.A. Auto Show to see Ford's new pony car? No worries! The Blue Oval and SPEED TV have teamed up to provide live coverage of the 2010 Mustang's unveiling next week. The cameras will be rolling next Tuesday at 11:00 p.m. EST, so either put it on your schedule or set your DVR. Of course, we'll also be there with cameras in hand, so be sure to check back here for plenty of photos and all the latest news on the Mustang and the rest of the LA Auto Show.

[Source: SpeedTV.com via MustangBlog.com]

In the hustle and bustle of SEMA last week we missed the announcement that Shelby Automobiles will be sponsoring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motorspeedway in March. The race will actually be lengthened to 427 miles and will be called the 'Shelby 427'. We think it would be more historically appropriate for Shelby to sponsor a road racing event, but the company's proximity to the race track and the better marketing reach make NASCAR a logical choice.

In conjunction with the sponsorship, Shelby will be offering a 427 package for the GT500. Hoping for a 427ci engine conversion? So were we, but prepare to be disappointed. The 427 package will be a simple badge job and will include "Mr. Shelby's personal autograph as well as many other event-related add-ons." Those who purchase the package will also receive race tickets and the possibility to serve as the race's honorary starter. Full details on the race and the 427 upgrade package are in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Shelby]

"Truth-enhanced" car dealer advertising is nothing new. After all, how many times have you seen a newspaper ad for a special on, say, a base model, when the accompanying image shows a fully-optioned, range-topping version of the car instead? It's your job to read the fine print and stay informed so that you're not disappointed by the crank-window special the salesman presents when you get there.

To that end, we'd like to offer a helping hand to potential customers of Lynnfield, MA's Kelly Jeep. If you visit their website and click on "New Vehicle Specials" (under New Vehicles), you'll find a listing for an '08 Chrysler Town & Country. Okay, fine -- but the image that's paired with the listing is the one above. It's the Photoshop love child of the Euro-spec 300C Touring and a Town & Country. In fact, it doesn't look half bad with the 300's front end, big wheels, and flared fenders. One might even be tempted to ask, "Damn, that thing got a Hemi?" Whatever the case, it's more appealing than the blandtacular actual Chrysler Town & Country, which is what the nice man at the dealership will be happy to show you. We understand that the car in the photo above is hidden away in a barn where the owner also keeps a stable of unicorns. Thanks to Koko for the tip (and the laugh).



[Source: Kelly Jeep]

European MINI dealers are being asked to distinguish their stores from the BMW brand by creating a separate showroom for sell the British/Bavarian small-car. This entails new main entrances, and dedicated reception and service desks. While most of the dealers in the United States currently operate in this manner, most European retailers still share space with BMW. If dealers don't move enough volume to justify the investment, they will be dropped. In 2007, there were about 750 MINI retailers in Europe. That number is expected to fall to about 650 by the end of this year (worldwide, MINI has about 1,500 dealers in 70 countries). Unlike nearly all other automakers who are experiencing a sales slump, MINI's global sales are reportedly up more than 12 percent for the first nine months of 2008 -- no doubt credited to their diminutive size and fuel efficient engines.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

The Dodge Avenger wasn't exactly selling like hotcakes here in the US, even before the auto market took a nosedive. We can't imagine the Avenger ever sold well overseas as an export to the UK, and the under-developed Dodge's newest incentive supports our assertion. Car-buyers in the Kingdom can pick up a nicely equipped Avenger SXT 2.4 saloon at the MSRP of £18,255. As a reward for taking the Avenger off the dealer's hands, they'll get a second Avenger free of charge. Broadspeed.com is offering the buy one, get one sale with the aim of easing the massive amounts of stock dealers are carrying right now. The problem isn't exclusive to the Avenger, though, as many dealers are sitting on six month inventories due to slow sales on the island. Given the massive problems selling cars in the UK, the deals on the Avenger still stand out as incredible. Maybe Dodge dealers here in the US will take note, though we're sure there are plenty of people that think the only thing worse than owning an Avenger would be having two. Thanks for the tip, everyone!


[Source: AutoCar]

Toyota typically doesn't go out of its way to be creative when advertising its cars for sale in the U.S. (Saved by Zero, anyone?), but that doesn't mean the Japanese automaker lacks a sense of humor. Toyota's new commercial for the Australian-spec Corolla hatchback contains bi-pedal kittens kicking ass Jackie Chan-style. The 45-second spot is a bit creepy on all counts, and could definitely use some kung fu sound effects. We're trying to figure out who the target audience is for this puss-tastic commercial, because the Corolla-driving heroin basically beats up a bunch of cat-people, takes their fish and drives off. Maybe the Pet Smart crowd has a lot of pent-up feelings towards sardines. Follow the jump to see the action-packed feline film for yourself and venture a guess as to what Toyota was going for in the comments. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: YouTube]

Click above for a high-res gallery of Yokohama's Superformance MkIII Cobra

While many tire manufacturers are cutting back at SEMA this year (come on Michelin, where's our supercar display?), others are pushing forward with new products and generating lots of excitement. Yokohama decided to try positive reinforcement with its dealers and set up a blackjack tournament for its top retailers with the grand prize being a brand new Superformance MkIII Cobra replica worth $70,000. The car comes complete with Yokohama S.drive tires, 245/35R19 front and 285/30R20 rear as well as a Roush 327ci V8 with 425 horsepower. We didn't stay long enough to see who won the tournament, but we do know that at least one Yokohama tire dealer will leave Las Vegas very, very happy.

We have no proof that these "Meet the Beckers" viral videos have anything to do with the fact that Audi was one of two brands to post a sales gain in a dismal October, but we'd like to believe it. Episode 1 showed us that Audi is more than comfortable exploiting the stereotypes of BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes owners, and Episode 2 brought us more of the same. In Episode 3 there are precisely zero cars shown during the three-and-a-half minute video, and it may be the funniest video yet.

The Beckers are prepping for their annual family football game, and the eccentric family is getting more bizarre by the minute. The BMW owner is in love with Conan the Barbarian, the Lexus owner was a male cheer leader in school, and the Benz-driving father cracks an egg into his Manhattan before tossing the pig skin. If you've missed out on the Beckers so far, here is Episode 1 and Episode 2. Audi's newest Beckers classic is available after the jump, and it's an absolute must see. Thanks for the tip, Khanh!

[Source: YouTube]

Fans of stylishly-curvy Gothenburg-based meatballs bricks now have another outlet to get their Swedish fish fix. On YouTube, where else? The automaker has actually had its own station since August 11, but just decided to announce it to the public with a press release, which is pasted after the break. As you might imagine, safety takes a front page spot on Volvo Cars News, as do the automaker's rally racing efforts. How cool are the animal avoidance tests of its new crossover utility vehicle, the XC60? Where else can you watch the official Elk-less Elk Avoidance Test? Hey, wait a minute... that camel test isn't what we were expecting.

Our absolute favorite videos, though, are of the Volvo Jakob Hot Rod. That's some Scandinavian design we can really get behind. According to Volvo, breaking news will also be posted on the video channel, so now we've got yet another source to check out every day.


[Source: Volvo]

Remember the road that played the William Tell Overture when driven over at 55 mph? The Honda marketing ploy kept neighbors awake at night, so the city paved over it. Now, in another great example of "small town comes up with oddball tourist attraction," the city of Lancaster, California got hundreds of phone calls requesting they save the road. So not only has the city devoted $35,000 to putting the road in another location, they've even been approached by other companies that want to subsidize the cost or pay for it entirely in return for publicity. Why? Because, in the words of the Lancaster mayor, "It will be a tourist attraction. It will pull people off the freeway." Since we've been to Lancaster and know that there is nothing else to do, we might believe it. And yet again, William Tell lives to ride another day...

[Source: MSNBC]