<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Auto Branding Adventures]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Auto Branding Adventures]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/auto branding adventures http://jalopnik.com/tag/auto branding adventures <![CDATA[ Sony Ericsson Teams With Ducati For Cell Phone, Rich Dudes In Loveless Marriages Rejoice! ]]> Since Motorola is the phone of Ferrari, Sony Ericsson has decided to jump on the rest of the dentist-anesthesiologist demo with a Ducati-branded Z770 cell phone. The big difference here is that Ducati bikes are appealing and svelte, while this mobile phone isn't. Like most auto-branded cell phones, the Z770 will include the usual array of screensavers, backgrounds, themes and more featuring the Ducati namesake. The Ducati Sony Ericsson Z770 should be hitting the Italian shelves soon and should make a great companion to the completely unecessary Ducati USB flash drive [TechDigest]

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Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:40:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=394956&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Samsonite Takes Cue From Auto Industry For Luggage Design ]]> Today we encounter something different—an Anti-Auto Branding Adventure—with luggage giant, Samsonite, taking cutes from the auto industry for luggage designs. Recently announced are a few different types of luggage designs inspired by the automobile industry. The Graviton is a polycarbonate case with a design inspired by diamond plating used on vehicles. The Proteo is a case with unique laptop shock absorbing technology inspired by a car's suspension. The Silhouette 10 is a stylish rolling case that is "Inspired by modern cars," whatever the hell that really means. Check out the gallery below to see the luggage shown off with cars that wouldn't have near-enough trunk space to actually hold said luggage.

[Samsonite via WR]

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Thu, 29 May 2008 15:20:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=394025&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Ferrari-Branded Audio System Has Ferrari-esque Price Tag ]]> Ferrari has teamed up with Meridian for a some Auto Branding Adventures with the F80 home entertainment system. And by "home entertainment system," we really mean it's just a glorified clock-radio. The details are limited but it seems this home entertainment system has radio, CD and auxiliary input support. Probably the most important feature is the pristine Ferrari horsey that graces the front of the speaker. It's available in red, silver, yellow, white or black for $2,995. Yes, get ready to drop nearly three G's on a glorified clock-radio. You'd probably be better off printing off the Ferrari logo and gluing it to the Sony clock-radio you've been using since 1993 and saving yourself a large chunk of change. [Meridian]

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Mon, 19 May 2008 16:19:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=391741&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Ferrari-Branded Motorola V9 Coming ]]> Motorola isn't one to shy away from shilling for Ferrari and this latest cellphone-sports car mash-up is further proof. Motorola has taken its previously boring RAZR 2 V9 cellphone and slapped Ferrari branding on it therefore increasing the sexiness level 10-fold. Normally in our Auto Branding Adventures, we're not one to easily give in to these types of products, but the Ferrari'd version of the V9 is mighty pretty. The checkered metallic patterns and red-everything is a tad drool-worthy for the gadget-fiends out there.

Of course, Motorola has included the lot of Ferrari background images, pictures, ringtones and more, but also included is a lambskin case that includes the familiar Ferrari badge. It will first be available in Asia and Latin America with a stateside release to be determined. [Gizmos.es]

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Fri, 09 May 2008 16:20:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=389010&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Asus Upgrades Lamborghini VX3 Laptop ]]> ASUS_VX3.jpgAsus, the masterminds behind the Lamborghini laptop branding, has bumped up the specs on its racy VX3 model. The laptop is a 12.1-inch beauty that weighs in at 3.6 pounds. The $3,300 price tag includes a sapphire-crystal webcam lens, leather palm rest, titanium alloy hinge, 320 GB hard drive, Intel T9300 Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB of ram, HSDPA wireless and a high-end graphics chip. Let's not forget about the most important feature: a realistic Lamborghini logo right on the top of the laptop which allows owners to show off their money to all the other laptop-using chumps at the freshly destroyed coffee shop. [Giz]

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Wed, 07 May 2008 17:20:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=388182&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Maserati Lamp Is Almost Like Owning The Real Thing ]]> Don't have the $100,000-plus to pony up for a new Maserati? Don't worry, friends, there are other options out there. Take this Maserati Lamp, for example. Designed and produced by Lumina, this ode to Italian design is available in a standing or tabletop version. It takes a cue from the automaker by including the Maserati logo and the negative-space design is meant to look like the familiar Maserati grille. There's no word on pricing, but consider that it may be expensive, but not more than the actual car itself. That being said, if you don't own a Maserati and you're buying this lamp you're slightly sadder than the person who buys one of these and does. [Maserati Lamp via Gearfuse]

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Fri, 02 May 2008 16:40:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=386153&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Gaming With Porsche Branded Peripherals Almost Like Driving Real Thing ]]> If cruising around in your Porsche 911 in the latest installment of the Gran Turismo series lacks a certain realism, you may be ready for the officially branded Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Racing Wheel gaming peripherals. Consisting of a wheel, shifter and pedals, the driving set is available as wireless controllers for the PlayStation 3. It includes support for force feedback and more. For all this performance, expect to pay a $350 entry fee for the privilege of using official Porsche branded racing peripherals. Unfortunately the setup won't help improve the realism of the whole "parent's basement" gaming environment. [Fanatec via SlipperyBrick]

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Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=384913&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Special Edition Nokia-Branded Renault Is Full Of Gadgetry ]]> In a rare case of reverse auto branding adventures, it seems Nokia is getting its branding on with a limited edition Renault Sandero in Brazil. The Renault will be loaded to the gills with a Nokia navigation system as well as a Nokia N95 multimedia cellphone. Nokia already provides the navigation and hands-free systems for equipped Renault cars. This special edition Nokia Renault is limited to 1,000 units and will sell for $27,810. [Reuters via CG]

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Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=383697&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Range Rover Eyewear Is Flat, Boxy ]]> rangelunette.jpgToday's episode of Auto Branding Adventures sees a new challenger join the fray: Land Rover. Land Rover has gone and slapped its name on 40 different models of sunglasses and eye wear. Like traditional Land Rover design, the sunglasses are pretty flat and boxy.

The glasses are constructed out of a variety of materials including leather and titanium. They will be available later this month with prices in the low-$300s.[Trendsnow]

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Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:15:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=378397&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Unlicensed Ferrari Cellphone: Cheap, Lame ]]> ferraricarphone.jpgWe've seen that when Ferrari decides to brand something, it does so with class and elegance. This Ferrari branded car cell phone (not to be confused with car phone) is cheap, plastic and not even officially licensed.

If you are really interested in holding a cheap plastic Ferrari to your ear, this phone sells for a couple hundred dollars and includes the features that usually accompany a low-end knockoff cell phone like an LCD screen, media player, etc. [ChipChick]

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Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=377866&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Hummer-Branded Mobile Phone Is Very Capable, Surprisingly ]]> The Hummer HT2 is the company's second mobile phone branding adventure. The first Hummer branded mobile, the HT1 is still doing fairly well so it was only inevitable that Hummer would release the HT2. Despite what people may or may not say about Hummer owners, insecurities, compensation and whatnot, the H2T mobile phone isn't too bad. It has one nice feature that many, many other phones lack, and that is dual-SIM slots—meaning it has two SIM slots so multiple phone lines can be used in one mobile phone.

Other than the dual-SIMs, the HT2 is a quad-band phone, therefore it can work just about anywhere. It also has a media player, 2-megapixel camera (for taking picture of your pristinely garaged Hummer), Bluetooth, microSD expandability and more. It will be available first in Russia and Latin America. [Giz]

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Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:15:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=376926&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Like Nissan GT-R? Buy GT-R Accessories! ]]> Rawr, do as Godzilla says or face the wrath of Godzilla! Now Godzilla says to buy many Godzilla accessories including a briefcase, wallet, gloves, emblem, keychains, cell phone straps, shirts, hats and more!

This is the latest line of accessories for the Nissan GT-R that will be available with the launch of Godzilla. All of the accessories have the same look and feel of the vehicle and the briefcase is even completely carbon fiber. These are the kinds of briefcases that hold bundles and bundles of money. Regardless, future owners and future wannabe owners should definitely check out this line of accessories to increase that street-cred. Oh, and the leather hat is a bit much. [Carscoop]

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Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=376251&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Porsche Design's Summer Collection Looks Wintery ]]> Porsche, a regular around our Auto Branding Adventures, is back with its summer collection of wares. We must say, they're pretty much the most snow-white looking things we've seen so far this season. Porsche must not enjoy the hot dogs of summer, because these products are just begging to be stained with mustard.

The collection includes the P'9521 cell phone, P'1140 jacket, P'3140 shake pen and the P'3635 lighter. Porsche usually has its head on pretty straight, but a jacket in the summer is a bit strange. Also, what is a shake pen? I hope it is like an Etch-a-sketch and you shake to erase the ink. Is white the new black and summer the new winter? What do I know about fashion? [Josh Spear]

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Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=375714&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Saab Officially Launches Eco-Clothing Line ]]> Saab-Eco-Bio.jpgRemember that super wacky Saab "Reflective Eco-Clothing" fashion show from the New York Auto Show? Apparently the reception was good because Saab is actually launching a line of organic and fair trade clothing. And we mean really launching, as in "not just a PR stunt at a swanky party" launching. Luckily, the clothing seems fairly normal and not reflective and funky like the duds from the New York Auto Show event.

The kick off of the clothing line compliments the 9-4x BioPower and 9-X BioHybrid concepts. Offerings will include t-shirts, jerseys, button-down shirts, women's dresses and eventually will include accessories like caps, scarves and bags. Yep, sounds perfectly targeted at those stereotypical Saab driver—everyone knows how those Saab drivers love their t-shirts. [Treehugger]

Saab Thinks Big by Acting Small, Introduces the "Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection"

New York — Saab has made a business out of producing fun-to-drive vehicles combining its Scandinavian design principles of form and function with responsible performance. Today, Saab is translating those values to clothing, launching the Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection in partnership with the Swedish clothing design firm Reflective Circle designer Josefin Lassbo. The fashions were revealed at an exclusive pre-New York Auto Show party where the Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept car made its North American debut.

Putting the 'Pure' in the Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection

Garments in the Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection by Saab/Reflective are made from 100 percent ecological/organic cotton, certified by Skal International*. The mission of Skal is to offer certainty to the consumer that a product that indicates "organic" truly originates from an organic production process. The organization conducts independent surveys and inspections. Therefore, each step in the Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection's production process must be taken with consideration for the environment. Fabric dyeing, printing and washing is done in an environmentally certified system.

The Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection is committed to the environment - social as well as natural. Social responsibility is at the heart of the commitment. The factories producing the clothing are committed to ethical practices by vigilantly adhering to standards such as freely chosen employment; no tolerance of child labor; payment of a living wage; healthy and safe conditions; and reasonable working hours.

"When Saab decided to launch a clothing collection, we wanted to do it in cooperation with someone who shares our mindset," said Knut Simonsson, Saab Automobile AB Global Brand & Sales Operations executive director. "This partnership is not only about design or fashion, it's also about having the same ambition: pushing an industry by innovating where other see conflict."

Little Things Mean A Lot

An innovative twist on the Scandinavian design principle of form and function is the Coroso Nut. The buttons in the Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection are made from Coroso nuts. Coroso nuts come from Palm trees found in the rain forests. Using these nuts to make buttons is an organic, sustainable solution to fabricating synthetic materials to make buttons. It's a small element to be sure, but it serves to hold things together. "The benefit with the Coroso nut is that its harvest leaves the rain forest untouched," Simonsson added. "Even more, the use of the Coroso nut gives an economic use to the rain forest and so helps to protect the rain forest."

Performance and responsibility go hand-in-hand

Customers demand quality, durability and performance from automobiles as well as clothing. Saab and Reflective Circle both work to bring innovative solutions to minimize environmental impacts, while maintaining attributes which customers demand.

Saab has a 30-year history of turbocharging technology, which takes advantage of smaller engines to deliver higher performance and greater efficiency. Turbocharging, coupled with the use of E85 (85 percent bioethanol, 15 percent gasoline), termed Saab BioPower, fulfills the customer expectation of fun-to-drive, high-performance vehicles with the added benefit of enhanced performance and cleaner burning fuel. This is part of what Saab calls "Responsible Performance." In 2007, Saab was the best-selling brand in the flex-fuel segment in Europe with the 9-3 and 9-5 BioPower vehicles.

Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection by Saab/Reflective

The Pure BioPower Eco Clothing Collection by Saab/Reflective is women's, men's and unisex apparel and accessories. The clothing pieces in the first collection include T-shirts, button-down shirts, jersey shirt, ladies shirt dress and tennis shirts. Additionally, the line will grow with items such as caps, scarfs, belts, bags as well as pants and a business wear collection. All items in the first collection will be available late May for purchase online at www.saabexpressions.com.

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Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:45:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=374728&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Lamborghini-Branded Bluetooth Headset: Coincidence Anyone? ]]> bello.jpgWe love Lamborghinis as much as the next guy around these parts, but there's always something peculiar if not alarming about the drivers of these cars—at least those who use Lamborghinis as daily transportation. And yes, these are the kind of people who thrive on Bluetooth headsets. They always have one on, waiting for a phone call to come in so a big...deal...involving...what kind of business is some dude using a Lambo as his everyday sled into, anyway? We're not thinking hedge funds. More like Caspian oil futures. So, it's only appropriate that Lamborghini has decided to brand a Bluetooth headset, named Bello.

This headset is pretty average, including six hours of talk time and a $70 price tag. But it is distinguished by the famous bull Lamborghini logo. So if you must drive your Lamborghini around town like a jackass, at least do so safely with a Bluetooth Bello headset, just in case your mistress calls demanding money so she can buy pointy purple alligator skin boots or pay that "photographer" who took the "portraits" of her. [Crave]

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Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:05:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=371960&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Pagani Stereo System Has Zonda Exhaust Bass ]]> The dragons have definitely perked their ears for this, a Pagani stereo system that features two very conveniently located Zonda-style exhausts. Not surprising, but the entire system is made from aluminum and carbon fiber. I don't have to be the one to tell you that this is mighty sexy, although all of the knobs, platters and buttons in the middle seem to be mighty confusing.

As a stereo system, it is pretty average. The towers contain 350W speakers and a bass speaker that outputs through the Zonda-style exhaust pipes. It includes a dedicated amplifier. Those confusing platters are actually turntables, because Pagani is still living in the 1980s. No word on price, but if you can afford a Zonda, then this purchase shouldn't be too hard on the old pocketbook. [Uncrate]

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Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EDT Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=366503&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Auto Branding Update: Asus Lamborghini ZX1 Smartphone ]]> The Lamborghini-branded Asus ZX1 smartphone finally made its debut at the truly badass European trade show going on. No, not the Geneva Motor Show, but CeBIT, the consumer electronics show. This smartphone looks much sexier than I originally imagine and is loaded to the gills with features as well.

It is a Quad-band GSM, tri-band WCDMA phone with GPRS and EDGE meaning it will work pretty much anywhere in the world. The other highly touted feature is the integrated GPS. No, it's none of that triangulating GPS cellphone nonsense, it's tried and true GPS. Forget about the real Lamborghinis, this phone is making my heart melt. (Ed Note: Travis is dragon for GPS-enabled phones, most of us would still rather have a Gallardo)[Engadget]

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Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:45:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=364267&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ MINI Branded Luggage Is Pretty Small, Obviously ]]> It's nice to see a British carmaker get involved in Auto Branding Adventures with these MINI-badged bags. Three different types of MINI luggage available include a green laptop bag, a green duffel bag and a red rolling bag. It's not surprising that the three bags don't seem to be overly large. It's a MINI branding, not Hummer.

These bags will be available from MINI beginning in April. [Carscoop]

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Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:15:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=362395&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Ferrari To Brand The Italian Olympic Team? ]]> This may be a new low in our Auto Branding Adventures, but it seems the Italian stallions at Ferrari are looking to brand the entire Italian Olympics team for the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. Edmunds is reporting that Ferrari will be supplying the Italian Olympic team with aerodynamic equipment to be used in cycling, tennis, canoeing and sailing events at the summer games. Ferrari will also put its mark on bobsled, luge, skeleton, speed skating and other events for the winter games, but the fun doesn't end there.

The Italian Olympic team will also have access to Ferrari's wind tunnels for training. Giovanni Petrucci, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee justified the partnership by saying, "We want to be as fast as a Ferrari in Beijing," but hopefully not too fast. [Edmunds]

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Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:20:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=361849&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Lamborghini Branded Asus ZX1 Smartphone Rearing Its Head? ]]> asus-zx1-lamborghini-mockup.jpgToday's episode of Auto Branding Adventures is a particularly special one because it includes rumors and speculation rather than plain old products. Set for an announcement at CeBIT, a Germany-based technology tradeshow in March, is the Lamborghini branded Asus ZX1 smartphone.

Early rumors suggest that the handset will be similar to the iPhone with a completely flat touchscreen display. It will come in Lamborghini colors (presumably red) and will run Windows Mobile 6 Pro and include GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. [Unwired View]

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Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=361007&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Porsche Audio System Doesn't Explode, Fortunately ]]> While Porsche isn't busy exploding factories, it continues to adventure into the world of branding with a sexy audio system. Porsche took the minimalist approach with setup. It has no unnecessary buttons or displays. The front is a sheet of black acrylic glass, with the rest of the body crafted from brushed aluminum. Now why can't I get a car made entirely of stuff like that?

Porsche's system supports the iPod and other MP3 players via a auxiliary input and includes 1.5-inch speakers implemented in the front three control knobs. Also included in a 3-inch subwoofer. Given that the audio system seems to be primarily an AM/FM player, it was nice for Porsche to include RDS, or radio data system that can display artist and title information for FM radio. It's available for a very hefty $800. [Pro-Idee via TRFJ]

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Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:45:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=360456&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ SanDisk Teams With Ducati For USB Flash Drive ]]> Sure, it may be our Auto Branding Adventures, but that doesn't mean we can't give a little love to Ducati, who has teamed up with SanDisk to slap its name on USB flash drives.

The Ducati Edition flash drives are available in up to 4GB capacities and includes a 20MB read/write speed which conveniently makes the Ducati drive the fastest consumer flash drive from SanDisk.

The cherry atop this flash-drive sundae has to be the "SanDisk Extreme Ducati Edition lanyard," which recognizes this flash drive as being officially licensed by Ducati. Hooray, a lanyard! Anyone else think this looks like a Dust Buster of years past? [Gadgettastic]

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Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:45:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=359208&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Ferrari Pedal Car Fuels Pre-Tween Envy ]]> Our experience with the ad-hoc Adventures in Branding series have been so positive that we've decided to rebrand the whole idea. Henceforth, "Auto Branding Adventures." Look for it, and away we go. Unless you're a kid whose father is a pretentious Ferrari owner, there's no reason to own a toy like this one. Ferrari has decided to go really, really green with this Ferrari pedal car by ditching gasoline and the motor entirely for good old fashion human power. Obviously, Ferrari cut no corners during production.

It includes a seven-speed transmissions, on-board computer, disc brakes, slicks, Enzo-inspired hubcaps and a racing harness to keep the kiddos safe at the sort of high speeds frantically pedaling children typically produce. The bucket seat, leather steering wheel and aero kit are only available on the "exclusive" model, which fetches $2,200 compared to the $730 for the standard model. Yep, that sounds about right for the Stallion—tripling the price for a couple extra accessories. [Ferrari Pedal Car]

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Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:20:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=358846&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Adventures in Branding: Renault Backgammon Set ]]> In today's episode of Adventures in Branding we stray away from the usual unusual branding suspects of Porsche and Ferrari and take a look at Renault, by way of their F1 squad and its backgammon set. In this case, "branding" doesn't mean simple slapping a Renault logo on the set, but actually constructing the board game out of materials taken from Formula One cars.

The set includes (of course) carbon fiber, sterling silver, leather and Permaglass F1. Boy, those French sure do love their backgammon and their F1. But do they love them enough to drop—gulp!—$27,000? [Product Page via Bornrich]

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Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:20:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=357847&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Adventures In Branding: Porsche Swiss Army Knife ]]> It's day two in our Adventures in Branding series and today we re-encounter our hero from yesterday, Porsche, trying to find an all-in-one device to solve life's most pressing, small-scale problems. Porsche has partnered with Wenger for this Swiss Army creation, which is odd given Porsche's very German roots and Switzerland's history of staunch neutrality.

The casing is made out of ruthenium, which after a little Googling I found to be a member of the platinum family. It includes a large blade, nail file, Phillips-head screwdriver, scissors, "safety" screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, bodkin and corkscrew. Officially it goes by the name P'3711 and is available for $160. [Toolmonger]

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Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:15:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=357106&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Adventures In Branding: Porsche Sunglasses ]]> In today's episode of "Branding Shenanigans," we encounter Porsche, fresh off a branding adventure with cohort Ferrari. Back at the lab, Porsche notices that the blinding sun stills makes it hard to drive and commences an update to its sunglasses line, which got it start in the feathered-hair 1970s and logged an iconic triumph with an over-the-top aviator style. Four new models are available—the P'8454, P8456, P'8457 and P'8458.

After sifting through enough PR speak to confuse even the most trained blogger, I discovered that the glasses are titanium, and that is about it. Sure, the press release may say that the "discreetly flowing design creates an interesting counterpoint to the masculine basic shape," but what the hell does that mean, really? These are pretty snazzy sunglasses, period.

The New Sunglasses Collection from Porsche Design

Bietigheim-Bissingen/Munich. Porsche Design presents a new sunglasses collection, which is distinguished by its striking shapes and sporty lines. With its sporty, simple lines, model P'8454 has an especially dynamic effect. In the process, the discretely flowing design creates an interesting counterpoint to the masculine basic shape. Made of high-tech plastic and with high-quality titanium
hinges, these sunglasses provide ideal protection for the eyes with their sporty curved front. By using these two materials, the sunglasses are very comfortable to wear, and the model can be used with correction lenses as well.

The nose-piece and lugs of model P'8456 are convincing due to the three- dimensional look resulting from the frontal titanium elements placed in the lenses. The sunglasses have a particularly high-quality effect due to the screw-free fastening of the lenses.

The two sunglasses models P'8457 and P'8458, which are both made of titanium, have a sporty and modern appearance. The reduced design of the sides means individual styling. They are attached in two pieces and taper down to a one-piece end piece. While model P'8457 has a continuous nose-piece, model P'8458 has a slightly displaced and hence more decorative nose-piece.

Porsche Design is a global luxury men's brand and is determined by engineered products. Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche established the Porsche Design brand in 1972, whose products are attracting consumers with their technical innovation and represent functionality and timelessness in its purest form. Porsche Design products are sold in own retail and franchise stores, shop-in-
shops, up-market department stores and exclusive specialist stores.
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Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:45:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=356556&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[ Ferrari Hits Rock-Bottom, Brands Binoculars, Telescopes ]]> You know, I used to think Ferrari was doing pretty well, at least until recently. Of late, what we've heard from the Italian manufacturer has nothing to do with cars and everything to do with gadgets. So far we have seen speakers, Vertu and Motorola cellphones and a Segway. The latest gadgets to come out of the Ferrari HQ are even more unlikely: binoculars and telescopes.

The Ferrari Visio binoculars are red, include the familiar horse logo and include some carbon fiber, of course. They are available for $199 and can provide up to 8x magnification. The Ferrari ZenithStar telescope provides up to 50x magnification and can attach onto camera with a special adapter. It's available for $699. The Ferrari ZenithStar Anniversary Edition is just like the regular model, except it is cast in, yes, carbon fiber and can magnify up to 65x. It is available for $1599. Wow, Ferrari. How about you quit wasting all the carbon fiber on doodads and give us some cars sooner or later? [William Optics Racing via WCF]

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Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:15:00 EST Travis Hudson http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=356167&view=rss&microfeed=true