Chrysler Hires NFL Rookie of the Year for New ‘Imported from Detroit’ Campaign

Unless you’re a fan of the NFL, chances are you’ve never heard of the new face of Chrysler’s ‘Imported from Detroit’ campaign, Ndamukong Suh. For those of you whom the name doesn’t ring a bell, Suh is a young football player who was recently named Defensive Rookie of the Year. In the summer of 2010, the 24-year old signed a five-year contract with the Detroit Lions worth $68,000,000 with $40,000,000 guaranteed – no, we got the zeros right….

Even though the Ford family is signing his checks, Suh is the star of Chrysler’s latest ‘Detroit’ ad for the new 300 sedan titled “Homecoming”. The commercial plays up the values of humble beginnings and hard work ethics with Suh putting up a face that makes you ask “why so serious?” Hit the break to watch the advert.

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VIDEO: Texas Motorcyclist Miraculously Escapes from Ugly Accident

The North Texas Tollway Authority released footage of a shocking accident that happened on a Dallas highway on March 17, 2011. The rider of the bike, 25-year-old Zacharie Perez, was hit violently by a careless driver from behind while slowing down. As a result of the impact, the motorcyclist was thrown onto another car.

The U.S. Army veteran managed to escape alive from the accident, but sustained several injuries including a broken rib. In a state where helmets are not mandatory for motorcycle drivers, Perez said that wearing it saved his life.

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One-off Mini Red Mudder to be Unveiled at Life Ball Event on May 21

In keeping with the tradition it started in 2001 by allowing famous fashion designers to play around with its vehicles for Europe’s biggest AIDS charity event, Life Ball, Mini will once again reveal a special one-off model at this year’s happening. After established names like Gianfranco Ferre, Donatella Versace, Diesel and Calvin Klein got their way with the MINI, this year the honor has been awarded to DSquared². Read more »

VIDEO: Bijan Pakzad’s Ostensibly Opulent Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport

On April 16, Iranian born fashion designer Bijan Pakzad passed away at a hospital in Los Angeles after a stroke. The man who became famous for dressing some of the most influential and well-known people in the world including President Barack Obama, Frank Sinatra and Carry Grant, also had a passion for cars. The Los Angeles-based designer not only amassed a huge collection of luxurious limos and supercars which he drove on a regular basis, but he also collaborated with some of the most renowned automakers.

Following a collaboration with Rolls Royce for the development of a limited edition version, Bijan also joined forces with Bugatti helping to create a bespoke series based on the 1,001HP Veyron, the latest being a Grand Sport. Bijan’s version of the open-top Bugatti hypercar was finished only six weeks ago and features a special two-tone theme and numerous other appointments. Follow the break to check out the video of the special edition Veyron Grand Sport along with commentary from Bugatti Design Director Achim Anscheidt.

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VIDEO: New VW Amarok Takes Down a 140 Tonne Chimney

Volkswagen marked the UK launch of its new Amarok truck with a rather unusual demonstration, using four pickups to demolish a gigantic, 67-meter (220 feet) tall steel chimney weighing in at around 140 tons. To complete a job that would normally have been done by a 40-ton excavator, structural engineers and demolition experts meticulously planned the task, undertaking a series of tests to see if the Amaroks had the necessary power and traction to do the job.

The structure was prepared using a standard procedure of flame cutting a “shark’s mouth” at the base of the chimney in order to reduce its structural integrity while ensuring that it remained free standing. The cars were fitted with a “quick release” safety mechanism for the towing ropes to ensure the safety of the stunt drivers in case the structure fell in the wrong direction.

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Polk Gives us a Peak at Vehicle Density in Emerging Markets

According to Polk, an automotive statistics website, one of the key performance indicators of a maturing auto market is the number of cars per 1,000 people or the nation’s “vehicle density”. Ten years ago in the U.S., for instance, it was 453 vehicles per 1,000 people. What with the global financial crisis and high fuel prices resulting in many people selling their cars, this has now dropped to 419 per 1,000 and is expected to continue its decline to 414 per 1,000 by 2015.

In the increasingly economically developed BRIC countries, that is Brazil, Russia, India and China, it’s not as dense but it is emerging. In Russia, for example, it’s 235 vehicles per 1,000. In India and China, it’s more like 27 vehicles per 1,000. Though consider this: with populations topping 1.6 and 1.3 billion respectively, 27 vehicles per 1,000 would be more like 100 vehicles or plus per 1,000 if those nations had population numbers equaling the United States.

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Lexus Turns the Roosevelt Hotel into the World’s Biggest 3D Billboard

The Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California, is one of the most iconic hotels in the United States, nay the world. Built in the 1920s, it has since featured in countless movies, television shows and music videos. So it figures that sooner or later someone would get the bright spark idea of using it as a giant billboard for their product.

Enter the world of Lexus who, with the help of some cutting-edge 3D projection mapping technology, turned the side of the Roosevelt into a Michael Bay Transformers-esque advertisement for its new CT 200h hybrid hatchback. Walls shift around and rotate; gaping holes appear and flowers, roadways and other objects all spring to life out of the eighty plus year old façade.

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Volkswagen’s Little Darth Vader Uses the Force on the European Passat

Unless you've been living in some oddball world where the internet doesn't exist - in which case, you wouldn’t be reading this anyway (…), you’ve undoubtedly seen Volkswagen’s much praised Super Bowl commercial starring a pint-sized Darth Vader who uses the Force when he discovers the new, North American-spec 2012 Passat.

Having garnered close to 40 million views on Youtube on VW USA’s channel alone, the German company decided to bring the TV spot to Europe, and specifically to the UK to promote the seventh generation of the Passat that went on sale in the country in January. Not surprisingly, the only thing the advertising agency changed in the ad was the car. The campaign aired on UK television today and will run for six weeks.

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Nissan Brazil Strikes Again with an Ad for a Family Minivan that You’re Never Going See in the U.S. [NSFW]

Back in March, Nissan do Brasil aired a commercial, which drew the wrath of Ford’s local arm for making claims that the Detroit automaker charges customers too much for its family models. But while Ford’s people only saw a Focus and a pair of rappers dressed as engineers chanting about the money they made by overpricing the hatchback, some viewers were also captivated by the curvalicious bikini-clad models…

Now, Nissan of Brazil returns with a new TV spot, this time for the Livina 7-seater compact minivan. While the Japanese carmaker avoids referring to a specific rival, the theme appears to be similar: scantily dressed female models dancing provocatively and a tagline aimed at the competition. And oh; towards the end of the clip you may notice the Livina and young family of four (not that we’re complaining about the appearance of the ladies…).

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Honda USA Shows Some Personal Appreciation to its Facebook Fans

Recently, Honda USA’s facebook page hit the one-millionth fan mark. To show its appreciation, the Japanese brand responded with some personal gestures that, unlike the look of some of its more recent models like the Civic, took some of its fans by surprise.

For example, in response to a fan that mowed the Honda logo on his lawn, the Japanese company carved his name into the corporate headquarters next to the main entrance. Another fan that showed his love for Honda with a tattoo of the brand’s logo was surprise to find out that Honda's vice president of marketing got an airbrushed tattoo of his name and face. Finally, a fan that received a Honda haircut was emulated by a Honda associate who carved the fan's name in his hair.

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The Most Affordable Techart Porsche Ever: New Collector’s Edition GTStreet Scale Model

When it comes to tuning Porsche models, Techart is one of the most renowned aftermarket specialists in Germany. This time, however, the tuning firm has something far smaller but also, far more affordable in store for us. We are talking about Techart’s new Porsche 911 Turbo-based GTStreet collector’s edition die cast model. Available only in 1:43 scale, production of the miniature Porsche is limited to just 300 units with pricing set at €59.90 (including 19% VAT in Germany) or about US$89. Read more »

Take that Google: Dodge Rebels Against Robots in New 2011 Charger Commercial

The future, as we imagine it now, may be full of robots doing all kinds of things for us humans, including driving our cars. As some scientists over at Google recently proved, driver-less vehicles may become a reality sooner than we expect, so here's what an automaker that produces cars for drivers has to say about this issue.

In the Chrysler Group’s latest commercial for the 2011 Dodge Charger called “The Future of Driving”, we are presented with a gloomy future, in which robots control all aspects of our lives, from choosing our diet and wardrobe to even walking our pet dogs. The hero of the commercial has nothing to say about all these things, but when a robot invites him to sit on the passenger seat of his own car, things get a little bit out of control...

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VIDEO: Fast 5 Movie Goers Cause Automotive Mayhem Outside of Theater in Detroit

Fans of all kinds and sorts of the much talked about Fast 5 film went “fast and furious” at a theater parking lot in Detroit before and after a midnight release of the movie on Thursday. Steven Pham, a professional photographer and automotive enthusiast, happened to be one of those early moviegoers and filmed some of the hoonery that went on up until the boys in blue showed up to put an end to the tire-burning games.

We came in contact with Steven and here's what he told us:

"After seeing the trailers for Fast Five, there was a lot of hype in the automotive community. I'm pretty sure every car enthusiast is a fan of the series, if not, then there is something wrong with them. Sure each movie has some sort of unrealistic scene, though I think it adds to the movie in a "wtf, did that really just happen?" kind of way.

Everything that went on in the parking lot outside of the theater before and after the movie was hysterical. Cars revving it up, dozens of people doing burnouts and donuts and to the one guy that was playing the Tokyo Drift soundtrack with his subs. It was like a short film in between all of the Fast and the Furious movie series, except without girls walking around and dancing in bikinis."

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Study Reveals Steering Wheels Are Nine Times Dirtier than a Public Toilet

This disturbing conclusion comes from a UK survey done at the request of home store B&Q. While 80 bacteria are found on each square inch of toilet, around 700 harmful bugs lurk in the interior of a car and specifically on the steering wheel, gear stick and back seats. The study also revealed that 42 percent of motorists regularly eat meals while driving.

“A car is the perfect place for germs to breed, especially if you eat in it and leave litter or uneaten food around. To avoid potential health risks it would be wise to regularly clean your car inside and out,” said doctor Ron Cutler, director of biomedical science at Queen Mary University, London.

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Nissan gets Creative with Smoking Billboard at New York Auto Show

It might not be an award winning campaign, but Nissan’s new outdoor board placed right outside the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center during the 2011 New York Auto Show (April 22 to May 1 for the public) is sure to grab attention and increase awareness for the firm’s all-electric Leaf family car.

The two-sided Smokeboard was created by the Japanese firm’s advertising partner TBWA\Chiat\Day, which is the American division of the advertising agency TBWA Worldwide.

On one side, the billboard features an actual working tailpipe that emits fumes into the air (with the agency stressing the fact that the exhaust is environmentally friendly…) and a headline that reads, “The auto show has over 1,000 of these”. On the other side, there’s a photo of the Leaf and a caption that says “But only one 100% electric, zero-tailpipe Nissan Leaf”. Check out the ad in action in the clip after the jump.

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VIDEO: How Not to Take a Corner with a 14-Wheeler Truck

Vehicle accidents happen on the road everywhere and every day. However, some mishaps could be easily avoided if the person behind the wheel has his or her head screwed on the right way. For example, take a look at this video showing a 14-wheeler truck overturning on a busy road in Wenling City in eastern China's Zhejiang Province; this is not the way you are supposed to turn into a corner with such a heavy and long vehicle.

As you can see in the closed circuit TV footage that captured the incident as it happened, the driver of the lorry was apparently in a hurry to pass the traffic light and speeded through the crossroad only to overturn and drop the container on its side. According to media reports, officials said by-passers narrowly avoided being hit. Watch the clip right after the break.

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The QTvan: World’s Smallest Caravan or Just Clever Marketing?

Mobility scooters (or shop riders) are big business in the UK, with close to a quarter of a million of the island nation’s elderly and disabled population using them to get around. In response to a previous untapped market segment, Environmental Transport Association (ETA) has introduced the world’s smallest caravan that can be towed by a mobility scooter.

In what’s perhaps more marketing ploy than real product, ETA’s QTvan is a 2 metre by 0.75 metre (6.6 feet by 2.5 feet) caravan incorporating a full-size single bed, an onboard battery supply, a 19-inch (48 cm) television, radio / alarm clock, kettle and drinks cabinet. It costs £5,500 (US$9,077 / €6,234) and is offered with such extras as roof-mounted solar panels, air horn, satellite dish, central heating and bespoke paint.

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U.S. Gov Study Reveals Significant Decline in Border Crossings through Canada and Mexico over the Past Decade

A new study by the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports a considerable decline in the number of people crossing from Mexico and Canada into the U.S.A from 2000 to 2009.

The report found that the number of people entering the U.S. through its land borders dropped 37 percent in this period, from 400 million people in 2000, to 252 million in 2009, with the majority (75 percent) crossing through Mexico. In the same period, border crossings from Canada declined by 40 percent and from Mexico by 36 percent.

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VIDEO: Meet the Amazing...5-Year Old Screenwriter of Fast and Furious 5

For most of us gearheads, the Fast and Furious franchise is just another way to entertain ourselves for a couple of hours with plenty of fast cars, scantily dressed women and over the top brain-bashing action scenes - nothing more, nothing less.

Does that mean we shouldn’t criticize it? Of course not. And what a better to do it than through a sarcastically amusing (in a tongue in cheek manner) sketch that comes to us courtesy of the folks over at The Onion.

The Onion news network joked about the low quality of the latest installment of the series, Fast 5, which hit the big screen today, in its Today Now show by interviewing one of film’s screenwriters…a five-year old kindergartener named Chris Morgan. Enjoy the clip after the jump.

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Celebrating 50 Years of Queensland’s Lakeside Park [with Gallery]

Nestled somewhat innocuously behind a golf course in Pine Rivers Shire, South East Queensland, Australia, is historic Lakeside Park Raceway. It holds the distinction as the Queensland’s first permanent, purpose-built racetrack and has sat - for fifty years - on the banks of Lake Kurwongbah. It is a monument to both motorsport and Australia’s can-do attitude, having been built on a foundation of favors, borrowed equipment and volunteer labor - not to mention a former dairy farm.

It is 2.4 km (1.5 miles) of bitumen and yet, it is so much more. Several Aussie motorsport legends – including Dick Johnson, Tony Longhurst and Mick Doohan – cut their teeth at Lakeside. It may not share the prestige or recognition afforded to other tracks like Mount Panorama or Philip Island, but to those who know it Lakeside is just as beloved.

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