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So there exists this vast database of knowledge called the Internet. It's free to access (for the most part, unless you're at Starbucks or in Europe) and as a consumer you've been able to use it for research in purchasing decisions since the mid 90's. Then why does it seem automakers are completely dumbfounded by numbers indicating, in the case of Jeep, 85% of buyers are using it? The shock and amazement isn't limited to domestic auto brands (or the German-American hybrid, to be specific), it's also being felt across I-75 by the folks at VDub's NorAm HQ. That's where Kerri Martin, VW's director of brand innovation no doubt sat the other day, pecking away the following response to questions posed by Automotive News reporter Mary Connelly via her Tandy "workstation": More »
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Looks like FoMoCo wants to make a "Bold Move" in the blogosphere so badly it's decided to buy its way in. The Dearborn, MI-based automaker recently made a purchase of ad space on 400 blogs running BlogAds ad boxes. The ads are appearing on urban-hipster sites like Gothamist, as well as environmental-themed sites like Treehugger (full disclosure: one of us received an ad on his not-so-well maintained personal site). The text of the ads can be seen in the graphic to the left, and although it doesn't vary much on the theme Ford's been using on its banner ads running elsewhere on the web, the interesting part is the "excitement" of the folks at the BlogAds network over the ads. In fact, the owner was so excited, he sent an e-mail out to all 400 webmasters receiving the ad... More »
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How badly do we want to drive a 300hp, 260 lb-ft torque Caliber SRT4? Well, when one of us was the fat kid in high school, there was this gorgeous, busty, and curly-haired redhead a year older than us. She was one of those girls who lit up the hallway with her smile, her voice and oh, those...curls. Despite being pocket-sized, you always knew she was there. And she totally never knew we were. Oh how we totally wanted to rock her world. But, since no one ever wants to rock the fat kid's world, we just had to sit there during lunch hour with our soft-serve ice cream cone and dream about it. We'd trade all of that...the girl, the dreams and probably the cone for the chance to drive one of them thar SRT4's. Cause if we were big pimpin' in an SRT4, we would totally get a hotter chick anyway. At least we hope. More »
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A few days ago, Google-related blog Google Blogoscoped pointed out BMW's web trick to gain high placement on Google results for used cars, or "gezundtheitwagen" (or thereabouts). Now, Google has dropped the company's page ranking in retribution for its alleged attempt at scamage. According to Blogoscoped, BMW.de now has a PageRank of zero, meaning the site is buried under 10 million pounds of Google executives' stock options, virtually never to be seen again by Google users. Remember kids, Google rule one is "never scam Google," rule two is "NEVER SCAM GOOGLE, BITCH." [Thanks to the army of readers who tipped us to this.] More »
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Porsche recently cracked open a new microsite to promote its line of 2006 Carrera 4 models — which, as we will go on record here and now, we want to be behind the wheel of before one more member of the "Buena Vista Social Club" goes to the great beyond. Hopefully Porsche has some affinity for the Tropical Latin genre, if not us particularly, and tosses us the keys in the near future. [Thanks to Philipp for the tip.] More »
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