Report: Ford sues Nissan over commercial with bikini models in Brazil [w/video]

Filed under: Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford, Nissan, Humor, South America

Nissan calls out Ford Focus with Brazilian bikini models - Click above to watch the video after the break

In the advertising world, the gentle ribbing of competitors is almost a given. Whether its dish soap, paper towels, computer companies or automobiles, poking a little fun at your main rivals is the name of the game. But sometimes a company or its advertising agency goes a little too far, and that sometimes means the long arm of the law is dredged up and forced into service.

Such is the case with corporate rivals Nissan and Ford. Apparently, Nissan ran an advertisement in Brazil for its Tiida (known as the Versa here in the States) that may be most notable for its complete lack of any actual Nissan products. Instead, the commercial revolved solely around the Ford Focus, and specifically its base asking price, which is 3,000 reais ($1,806) higher than the Tiida.

No harm in pointing out that your product is cheaper than a competitor's, right? Well, apparently that depends on how you go about it, as Ford took exception to the use of the two rather irritating rappers and a gaggle of scantily clad bikini models drinking champagne and dancing provocatively around the Focus, explaining how they live in the lap of luxury by overcharging customers. Yeah, it's kind of funny.

Did Nissan go too far or is Ford making much ado about nothing? Check out the video after the break, then feel free to sound off in the Comments.

[Source: Reuters, YouTube]

Continue reading Report: Ford sues Nissan over commercial with bikini models in Brazil [w/video]

Report: Ford sues Nissan over commercial with bikini models in Brazil [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The breast implant defense?

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, Celebrities

Romanian TV star Simona Sensual - Click above to view video after the jump

Simona Suhoi is a TV star in her native Romania, where she's known as Simona Sensual for reasons we'll leave to you to figure out. Unfortunately for the ample-chested Simona, her best assets may send her to jail for a spell.

It seems the busty star's new breast implants were giving her severe chest pain, so she hopped in the car to have the matter checked out. The problem was, Ms. "Sensual" had a suspended license after an accident. Police stopped the top-heavy starlet, who claimed she had no choice but to drive, given the severity of her pain and the lack of taxis nearby.

Ms. Suhoi faces five years in the clink if she gets convicted of driving without a license, and has vowed to fight the charge. Her plight goes to show that airbags really can be dangerous. Click past the jump to see "Simona Sensual" in action on Romanian TV.

[Source: The Register]

Continue reading The breast implant defense?

The breast implant defense? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Car stereo prices set to soar

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Technology

According to CE Outlook, the price of car stereo components may be on the rise. The report says that even before Japan suffered its earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters, manufacturers responsible for automotive audio equipment were already beginning to increase MSRPs. The main source of that surge came from steeper prices for metals like aluminum and copper, which are used in heat sinks and connectors. Rockford Fosgate and JL Audio both increased their prices by March 1 of this year after the cost of materials increased six to eight percent. Manufactures say they expect another increase of similar severity by the end of 2011.

Meanwhile, the tragedy in Japan has delayed or stopped business completely at several suppliers responsible for building car audio components. CE Outlook reports that Alpine has already announced that a number of its suppliers have suffered substantial damage. That damage may lead to delays or additional price increases as manufacturers scramble to find interim replacements.

[Source: CE Outlook]

Report: Car stereo prices set to soar originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GTI35.com celebrates Volkswagen hot hatch's anniversary with special tuner pack

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf GTI35.com - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's not unusual for an automaker to roll out a special anniversary model when the brand or a specific model celebrates a milestone. This Volkswagen doesn't come from Wolfsburg itself, though. Instead, an independent outfit bent on marking the 35th birthday of the Volkswagen Golf GTI is behind the effort.

Partnering with German tuning house Wunschel Sport, the website GTI35.com has outfitted the hopped-up Golf with a 50-horse boost to 260 hp, a body kit, lowered suspension, and 19-inch OZ Quaranta wheels on low-profile rubber. The result is a claimed half-second off the 0-100 km/h (62mph) sprint, now down to 6.4 seconds (as equipped with the DSG) and a top speed of 255 km/h (158 mph).

The titanium-colored aftermarket special also wears decals emulating a racing number, which is repeated on the keychain, parking sign and t-shirt that come along with the €32,800 package, which is also available as individual components. Follow the jump for the press release and check out the high-resolution images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf GTI35.com

[Source: GTI35.com]

Continue reading GTI35.com celebrates Volkswagen hot hatch's anniversary with special tuner pack

GTI35.com celebrates Volkswagen hot hatch's anniversary with special tuner pack originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will Japan's nuclear woes dampen electric vehicle enthusiasm?

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Electric

2011 Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've already seen the panic here in the U.S. as activists and analysts question our nuclear infrastructure, and Congress considers a re-examination of our existing facilities. These new fears about nuclear power have everything to do with the events unfolding at Japan's Fukushima power plant, and Automotive News wonders if that trepidation could dampen the prospects of electric vehicles as well.

Plans in Europe call for about 1 million EVs on the road by 2020, and a lot that push centers around increasing the number of nuclear power plants to feed these vehicles. Let's face it, an EV that's charged via electricity generated at an oil or coal-burning plant doesn't do much to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels, so nuclear makes a lot of sense. And as costly and time-consuming as it is to erect a nuclear facility, it's likely easier and less expensive than relying on solar, wind or hydro-electric energy sources.

So what does all this have to do with electric vehicles? If the events unfolding in Japan lead governments to question the safety and viability of nuclear power, then new plants will be slow to come online. If car buyers know that their EV is likely burning the same CO2-emitting fossil fuels as their neighbor's internal combustion engine, what's the point of paying more for something that's just as dirty, more expensive and not as easy to fuel up?

Right now the situation at the Fukushima power plant is dire, but if the situation gets worse, the future of nuclear power, and possibly even EVs, could be just as bleak.

[Source: Automotive News sub. req.]

Will Japan's nuclear woes dampen electric vehicle enthusiasm? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vettel snags pole for Australian GP

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Australia, Racing

2011 Red Bull RB7 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Red Bull is once again looking strong as it heads into Formula One's opening round in Australia. Red Bull ace and last year's champ Sebastien Vettel took pole position for Sunday's race by nearly a second in Saturday qualifying. Mark Webber, Vettel's teammate and Australia's hometown hero, wound up third behind Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull claims that neither of its drivers used their KERS (Kinetic Energy Regeneration System) during qualifying, which is usually good for .3 seconds a lap. That means, in theory anyway, Vettel has a potential 1.5 second advantage over the competition when the green flag waves tomorrow.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is sandwiched between the two Red Bulls in second, while teammate and 2009 champ Jenson Button sits fourth behind Webber. Fernando Alonso is fifth in the first of the Ferraris ahead of Vitaly Petrov for Renault. Mercedes' Nico Rosberg is seventh, ahead of the second Ferrari of Felipe Massa. Kamui Kobayashi sits ninth for Sauber and Sebastien Buemi rounds out the top 10 for Toro Rosso.

Gallery: 2011 Red Bull RB7

[Source: AutoWeek]

Vettel snags pole for Australian GP originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: What happens when Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher meet at dinner?

Filed under: Europe, Videos, Racing

Mika Häkkinen, Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher Mercedes TV spot - Click above to view video after the jump

The internal rivalry between Mercedes GP Petronas drivers Nico Rosberg and the legendary Michael Schumacher is famous. They race almost as hard against each other as they do everyone else on the track, and exist in a world of tense equilibrium between teammates' friendly competition and bitter rivalry.

Mercedes-Benz has released a new clip that makes light of the rivalry while delivering a sharp message about this year's focus. After Rosberg and Schumacher go back and forth, each ordering the other a progressively expensive and more impressive bottle of champagne, Mika Häkkinen shows up to focus the pair.

The Finnish F1 legend orders both drivers a Red Bull, offering a not-so-subtle clue as to who Merc's gunning for this year. Webber and Vettel, you have been warned. Watch it all after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: What happens when Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher meet at dinner?

Video: What happens when Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher meet at dinner? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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