News Service

Formula One season-opener in troubled Bahrain canceled

The government of Bahrain, in the midst political unrest resulting in several deaths and many injuries to protestors, has canceled the March 13 season-opening Formula One race. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa said in a statement that it’s “important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest.” Pro-democracy activists’ uprisings that have resulted in the ouster of leaders in Tunisia and Egypt have spread to Bahrain, Libya and Algeria. “It is obviously disappointing for everyone involved in the organization of the event, but it is clear that to race in Bahrain at this time would be inappropriate given the current circumstances,” Adam Parr, chairman of the Williams F-1 team, said in a media release. “We

Jaguar gets J.D Power cross industry service honor

Jaguar North America has been recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as one of only 40 companies in 2011 selected as a Customer Service Champion. To qualify, companies must excel within their own industries and stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries. Among the five key customer “touch points” measured, including people, presentation, process, product, and price, Jaguar was noted for standing out by satisfying customers with the new-vehicle sales experience. J.D. Power evaluated more than 800 brands. Companies were identified based on customer feedback, opinions, and perceptions gathered primarily from J.D. Power’s syndicated research as well as additional, supplemental research. The 40 selectees represent the highest-performing companies that deliver service excellence to U.S. customers — both within

Geneva Motor Show: Rolls-Royce will debut electric Phantom

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is developing the 102EX, a one-off, fully electric powered Phantom to debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1, 2011. The car will tour during 2011, serving as a test bed to gather a bank of research data which will be crucial in informing future decisions on alternative drive-trains for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,” said CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Goodwood. “With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.” With 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), it’s the

Toyota cleared of sticky accelerator mess, civil claims remain

The long-awaited results of the Obama administration’s review of the Toyota Motor Corp’s unintended acceleration of electronic throttles and faulty floormats and the subsequent recall of more than eight million vehicles, revealed no systemic flaws in the software driven systems of Toyota or Lexus vehicles. Federal safety regulators investigated reports that as many as 89 U.S. crash deaths since 2000 may have been linked to unintended acceleration in Toyotas and Lexus vehicles. “There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. The recalls, government scrutiny, which included testimony by Chief Executive Akio Toyoda at congressional hearings a year ago, and more than $30 million in fines, damaged Toyota’s reputation.

Darth Vader briefly rules for young boy, VW in Super Bowl

There’s not much better in life than the relationship between father and son, particularly if the father can help his son realize the powers of Darth Vader during the Super Bowl. And so it was for the automaker while promoting the 2011 Volkswagen Passat during the Green Bay Packers’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. During the commercial, the son, dressed in Darth Vader attire, can’t get the family dog, a doll, a sandwich, a treadmill to react or the family’s washer and dryer to operate despite persistent attempts to engage “The Force.” When the boy (actor Max Page, age 6) hears his father’s arrival home in his new Passat, he rushes to the front yard to

Hyundai touts 2011 Elantra with 'hypnosis' in Super Bowl

Hyundai took some risk with its Super Bowl XLV commercials, and the Korean automaker fared well with its spots promoting the 2011 Hyundai Elantra. In the 30-second "hypnotized" commercial, and as Time.com describes it: "The windshield wipers churn and the thwack, thwack, thwack becomes the ad's soundtrack. The pavement churns, the bridge towers, the streetlights blink by overhead, the bobblehead rabbit nods along." The voice over then begins: "Have we been hypnotized to believe compact cars are good enough?" Like its other Super Bowl commercials, the "hynotized" spot works on several levels: It's visually appealing, has a message, isn't pretentious or patronizing and promotes Hyundai's 40-mpg compact car. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years,

Hyundai touts 2011 Elantra in 'kaleidoscope' Super Bowl ad

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is getting its share of praise and the Korean manufacturer has been promoting it in the same vein as other Hyundai products — that cars don’t have to be boring. In one of its Super Bowl XLV commercials, Hyundai revisits the same theme in a 30-second spot reminiscent of looking through a kaleidoscope. The commercial eventually promotes the Elantra and its 40 mpg EPA estimates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5KrwladH2c James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut

Volkswagen goes buggy with Super Bowl Beetle commercial

The new 2011 Beetle is never seen, but Volkswagen likely had the most compelling 30-second car commercial in Super Bowl XLV replete with speeding insects and a cover version of the Ram Jam classic rock anthem “Black Betty.” The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion covers the famed Black Betty tune while Volkswagen simultaneously markets its new Beetle. In the high-paced commercial an insect (beetle) races through the forest, on the highway and then in a power slide like Volkswagen is hoping the new Beetle will do. The ad’s final frame provides a tease to what the new Beetle may look like. Volkswagen‘s more extensive advertising campaign for the new Beetle is expected soon. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for

Chrysler 200 gets Detroit, Eminem props in Super Bowl ad

Eminem isn’t prone to pitching products, but beyond the football players and the Black Eyed Peas, the rapper arguably got the most exposure Sunday in his duties in a mini-movie for Chrysler as well as lending his name and Claymation image to Brisk ice tea. In the second of his two commercials, Eminem promotes the new Chrysler 200 during an homage of Detroit images and testimonials to those who live and work in the beleaguered city. The two-minute ad, reported the most expensive Super Bowl spot in history (an estimated $9 million), begins with images of the city appear. The grisly voice over (Kevin Yon) starts with: “I gotta question for ya. What does a town that’s been to hell

Super Bowl commercials: Kia Optima captured by aliens

Kia Motors America is among eight auto manufacturers with ad campaigns in Super Bowl XVL, and it will feature a 60-second spot called “One Epic Ride.” In the commercial, people across space and time – from a police officer and an international villain to aliens and an ancient chief – will go to great lengths to snatch the all-new Optima from the clutches of others and put themselves behind the wheel. The Optima becomes an object of desire, and even Poseidon, the king of the sea, does his best to get his hands on the car. Created by David&Goliath, “One Epic Ride” the commercial, according to Kia, “Demonstrates the extreme measures people will go to get their hands on a

Super Bowl commercials: Suzuki Kizashi drives away from wicked snowmen attack

Suzuki will participate in Super Bowl advertising for the first time and it’s chosen its highly touted all-wheel-drive 2011 Suzuki Kizashi (pronounced “Kee-Zah-Shee”) as the subject of a 30-second spot called “Wicked Weather.” The commercial, scheduled for broadcast in Suzuki‘s top 14 markets, hopes to “communicate Kizashi’s AWD USP in markets where all-wheel drive inspires driver confidence in handling winter’s inclement weather,” according to Suzuki spokesperson. The commercial begins with an AWD Kizashi accelerating along a snow-filled mountain road. In quick order: * The driver is startled by a snowball that strikes the driver-side window of his Kizashi. * The man looks in his rearview mirror and notices an evil snowman throwing snowballs. * Following a barrage of snowballs, the

Super Bowl commercials: Hot Miss Evelyn drives a Chevy Camaro

Chevrolet‘s new motto: “Chevy Runs Deep” has received mixed reviews. But all is now forgiven. In the onslaught of car manufacturers participating in ad campaigns in Super Bowl XLV, Chevy goes to the top of the list with this one-minute spot about teacher, “Miss Evelyn” driving a 2011 Chevy Camaro. The commercial features two friends fantasizing about the perfect car commercial. They have the new Camaro and it’s blazing through the desert. It’s dodging bales of hay in big-city traffic. It’s eluding bad guys and motorcycles and a helicopter. And all along it’s being driven by a few different fantasy women, including a redhead, Miss Evelyn. At the end of commercial, the Camaro has flown through the air after jettisoning

Super Bowl commercials: GM back; Hyundai goes sheepish

General Motors, out of the line-up for two years, will be back with five commercials Sunday in Super Bowl XLV. But it will be far from alone, with at least eight other carmakers, Audi to Hyundai, BMW to Kia, buying air time for television’s biggest one-day attraction. Commercials is this year’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers will cost about $3 million for 30 seconds. Ford Motor Co. will notably absent among major automakers. The commercials will be diverse. Beyond GM’s five offerings, a Kia ad will an alien driving a Kia; Volkswagen features an animated Beetle speeding through a forest. And Hyundai, without naming another manufacturer, will poke fun at the others with an ad featuring

Shaun White behind the wheel in BFGoodrich webcasts

Shaun White, the two-time Winter Olympic gold medal winner and the most decorated athlete in Winter X Games history, has other sporting goals in mind — car racing. With the BFGoodrich Tires sponsorship, While will appear in the “Upgrade to BFGoodrich” campaign. Taught by BFGoodrich specialists and a group of professional drivers known as “TeamBFG,” White learns how to improve his driving performance in a series of webisodes. The URL: www.bfgoodrichtires.com/shaunwhite. Highlighted throughout the webisodes will be how drivers like White can upgrade their performance on BFGoodrich tires. Rally racing to road course technique will be featured. The first webisodes documents White’s initial experiences. The first driver to show White what it takes to be a performance driver were Summer

Super Bowl XLV: Cars.com's racy, talking cars commercials

Unlike during previous years, when Super Bowl commercials were only revealed the during the telecast, several companies, including Audi, Hyundai, Kia and Cars.com have unveiled their commercials as Super Bowl XLV approaches. Cars.com has introduced its two 30-second commercials, including a clever exchange among talking cars who use some racy, quick dialogue. Eight car manufacturers and several additional auto-related companies will advertise during this year’s Super Bowl, Feb. 6 in Arlington, Texas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRYLhkOV2so https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itEGwvPj4Lw James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East

Toyota recall of Lexus models pushes carmaker's total to more than 10 million in 18 months

Toyota Motor Corp. has announced another large global recall for myriad problems in the fuel systems of several Lexus models with the latest issue increasing the Japanese manufacturer’s recalls to more than 10 million vehicles in the past 18 months. Toyota said it will recall about 245,000 cars in the United States from its Lexus line to inspect a fuel pressure sensor. The vehicles include the 2006 through 2007 Lexus GS300/350, the 2006 through early 2009 Lexus IS250, and the 2006 through early 2008 Lexus IS350. The automaker also said it will also recall about 1.3 million vehicles not sold in the U.S. to fix different fuel system problems. Almost 400,000 of those autos have two different defects to be