News Service

Hey GM, Chrysler, Toyota? Get Charlize Theron Behind The Wheel — Now

Theron likely has plenty of apparel and fragrance deals in the works. But a smart car industry expert would immediately find out what kind of car Theron drives (if she drives) and persuade her with a healthy financial deal to tout the car — let’s say while she’s driving along Highway 1 on the Carmel, California, coastline. The sexiest woman alive promoting a car? Watch the sales spike make assembly plant lines reach critical mass. Now, Jill Wagner may not be as well-known as Theron, but she’s certainly a pretty actress, too. And her appearance beginning in 2005 in Mercury commercials certainly hasn’t hurt. Who’s Jill Wagner? You know her. She wears stilettos, has a long strong stride, wears an azure sweater

Read more

Another Auto Strike? How About Less Talk, Better Cars?

What the pending strike means for the auto industry at large is hard to know. But it what is known is that tactics used both the company management and the UAW is growing old. Management gives its side of the equation to the media and the workers’ representatives follow with their thoughts. Or the scenario works in reverse. Regardless, both sides spin their tales to the press knowing exactly what they’re doing. And the media reports it. For years, I’ve periodically heard friends and the parents of friends give their the strong opinions about the best cars to buy, the status of the auto industry and the United Auto Workers. One common theme is, “Only Buy American.” Auto industry strikes

Read more

Car Gadgets: All I Want Is My OnStar And XM Radio

I’ve been reviewing cars for about five years. And if I’ve learned anything after driving more than 200 vehicles, it’s that every manufacturer has a terminology “spin” for what it believes is its revolutionary automotive technology. Some of the parlance is clever and represents great innovation; Other descriptions are shameless, meaningless hype. Regardless, with the admission that I’m a minimalist, I think it’s fair to say some manufacturers’ equipment offerings have reached critical mass or perhaps exceeded it. In short, some cars have too much stuff, some of which just doesn’t work well. Hypersensitive electronic sensors, rear view navigation systems with blurry visual quality and inefficient braking systems all come to mind. Yet, two items stand out among as the

Read more
Previous