It would appear even the mainstream media's got a bit o' irreverence left in it — even if it's only in the web pages of the Old Grey Lady. Here's the caption from one of the pictures from yesterday's slideshow on the new VW Tiguan concept on the Times web site:
The engine was developed through the friends-with-benefits trifecta of VW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.
Even though it's "just" digital ink, we're relishing what was probably a spectacularly spicy thought process highlighting the friendly (and precise) m nage trois of VDub, the fabulously precise Audi, and the German side of the German-American hybrid. The Times is of course referencing that the three automakers have combined wits, like Ace & Gary, to help create the next gen of diesel power called Clean TDI, an engine system using Benz's Bluetec technology. Bluetec, of course, is the nitrogen-oxide reducing system for diesel that uses urea to clean the car's emissions. Urea, of course, is an organic compound found in urine. So does this mean that in this threesome, pissing is involved? Wow — I wonder if the Times realized that? [Hat tip to Greg!]
VW Tiguan Design Study Slide Show [NYT]
Related:
Breaking! Ford's Way Forward 2.0: The Markets And The New York Times Wait For No Man Or Mulally; Tom Friedman Will Be On Every User's Page: New York Times Building A MySpace For Cars [internal]