vLane Blog

Recent Articles

• Upcoming: #carchat 35; November 4 @ 8PM EST

  From Banovsky 2 days ago

  This week: Chrysler's restructuring plan, the new Chrysler logo, and SEMA…Oh, and how the Dodge Viper logo looks like Daffy Duck!

  If you'd like to participate, check out the #carchat How-To. Anyone can join us at 8 PM EST November 4, but you'll need a Twitter account to ask questions.

  However, if you'd like to follow things live, go here at 8 PM EST.

  And if you'd like to suggest topics and questions for the discussion, please leave a comment below, tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat," or email me at michael [at] banovsky.com.

  Topics:

  • Discussion: New Chrysler logo…thoughts?
  • Discussion: Chrysler LLC restructuring
  • Discussion: SEMA Show recap + Are custom vehicles passé?

  So click through and read a few links, and see some photos related to the discussion.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Industry, WTF, This week, Chrysler, Discussion, Social Media, carchat, Twitter, LOL, Jalopnik, Original

• Video: Kia gets its Tron on

  From Banovsky 2 days ago

  "The face of marketing is changing," yadda yadda yadda. Fact is, 30-second TV commercials don't do it for us any more. So Kia, as part of their interactive marketing campaign for the Soul, decided to make a pretty kick-ass short flick about a time-travelling Nissan and Tron-slash-zombie creating Soul. Really.

  

  We love the effects… [via freshnessmag]

  So click through to see this frankly awesome-filled Internet commercial. Why? Because it's cool. And normal car commercials are typically awful.

  Read full article | Comments (1) | Filed under Video, WTF, Crossover, Advertising, Kia, Kia, 2009, Soul

• Recap: The CTS-V Challenge

  From Banovsky 2 days ago

  Sure, it's been almost a week since GM's Bob Lutz squared off in the Cadillac CTS-V against other amateur drivers at the race track. But what happened? How did the whole thing go down? Who won? Well, some people, including yours truly has an opinion, but why not check out the tweets from the event to see how things unfolded?

  

  2009 Cadillac CTS-V

  That's exactly what we have for you after the jump: all of the tweets surrounding the CTS-V Challenge. Click through for the discussion!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Advertising, Discussion, Social Media, Cadillac, CTS, Twitter, vLane, Bob Lutz, Jalopnik, race track

• Viral video victim gets new Hyundai

  From Banovsky 2 days ago

  YouTube users: don't try this at home. Canadian Hyundai Elantra owner Todd Jamison exited his local gym after (presumably) a rigorous workout — only to find his car completely smashed, trashed, and inoperable.

  

  The video of the incident and Hyundai's response is after the jump

  As the resulting video (after the jump!) proves, he was a victim of both a terrible parking job and a soon-to-explode Internet meme. Within hours of the incident, the video was uploaded to YouTube — and to date, 1.6 million people have watched the carnage unfold over Todd's beloved car.

  What to do? Well, Hyundai Canada's marketing agency saw the video and pitched Hyundai: Why not be a good corporation and give this guy a brand-new car?

  As you'll see after the jump, that's exactly what happened. Bravo, Hyundai Canada.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Video, WTF, Wagon, Hyundai, Advertising, collision, community, LOL, Elantra

• vLane reviews: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

  From Banovsky 4 days ago

  Here at vLane, we've got the opportunity to sample some pretty amazing machinery. But none have been more polarizing in the last year than the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. We've all driven both the V6 and V8-powered models…and our opinions couldn't be more split. Take a look at what I'm talking about…

  

  vLane's take on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro:

  Herman says: "Starting with the cashier at the airport Park-N-Fly where I was picking up the vehicle, everybody had something to say or ask about the Camaro. She had been looking at the car sitting on the lot all day, and had come up with a dozen questions to ask me. I hadn't driven nor even seen the Camaro yet, so I didn't have much to say about the car at that point. As the valet pulled the car up and handed me the keys, he immediately started asking about the car's performance, though he had driven the car more than I had (all the way across the parking lot). It had been a long time since I saw so much interest and curiosity about a new vehicle…I was excited." link

  Michael says: "And trunk space? Those sexy, sculpted, naughtier-than-Sasha Grey rear fenders come at a price: there isn’t much trunk space. The opening is too small, the trunk itself is too shallow, and — though the rear seats fold down — the pass-through isn’t American Tourister (let alone Parisian Tourister) worthy." link

  Stergios says: "Personally, I prefer the looks of the 1LT base model: understated, mild mannered, and polite, for the every day driving experience. The SS2 Bumble Bee paint schema was a bit much for me to handle on a day-to-day basis, but something that would have much more appeal if this were my weekend ride." link

  Fred says: "All-American car companies are looking for the way out of this mess they are in, and we think that developing modern, efficient cars with great performance, handling, and looks are the way to go." link

  Derek says: "The Camaro is a synecdoche, a symbol of the new, vastly improved GM. But like the GM of old, the Camaro engineers forgot to put in that last little bit of effort that would make the car great." link

  Want to read more? Click on the links above to read each review.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Review, Discussion, Chevrolet, Camaro, 2010, vLane, community, Community review

• 2010 Nissan Rogue Krōm

  From Banovsky 4 days ago

  OK, so the Nissan Rogue isn't an off-road vehicle. It's designed for urban dwellers who want some additional space, higher driving position, and vehicle content over a conventional sedan. Well, that's at least what the marketers tell us.

  

  You've gotta love that centre exhaust…

  But for 2010, the Rogue joins the Cube as the second Nissan vehicle to get the "Krōm" treatment. What's that, you ask? Well, according to Nissan, it's "…designed to offer a unique dimension to traditional compact sport utility vehicles with its aggressive sport styling, exclusive 17-inch wheels and a centre-exit sport-tuned exhaust."

  Price? No idea. But it is available in front of all-wheel-drive trim levels. And yeah — it has that sexy centre exhaust.

  Click through for more photos and the release.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, SUV, Crossover, Nissan, SUV, Rogue, Krom, special edition

• 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty

  From Banovsky 4 days ago

  I'll confess: I'm not of a truck guy. The only thing I've towed was a small trailer behind a golf cart. Lame, I know. But I do completely understand the need for many people to have a truly formidable work truck. The 2010 Dodge Ram HD looks like it will impress in that respect.

  

  2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie Mega Cab 4x4

  
  

  Here are some stats:

  • 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 regular cab ST 4x2 with an 8-foot box has a starting MSRP of $28,165 (including $950 destination) or $1,970 less than the 2009 model
  • Optional 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 650 lb-ft. of torque at only 1,500 rpm
  • 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is available for the first time with an available crew-size cab
  • Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups offer the only standard exhaust brake on diesel models in the segment
  • With the Max Tow Package, Gross Combines Weight Rating increases to 25,400 pounds on 3500 dually models

  Click through for more photos and the release.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, Truck, Diesel, 2010, Dodge, Ram, Mega Cab, 2500, 3500, Laramie, Power Wagon, Cummins

• Community Review: 2000 Mitsubishi Montero

  From Banovsky 4 days ago

  Especially with car buyers trying to save every last penny, our vehicle reviews are an invaluable resource. Every now and then, we'd like to highlight some of the great reviews our community members write at vLane. This time, it's a Mitsubishi Montero.

  Reviewer jr1 says of the 2000 Mitsubishi Montero :

  I owned a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero until this past year when I finally decided to move on to a new car. Throughout the years I owned the Montero I had some issues with it and overall I would say it was a below average car to own.

  But why? What happened? Well, maybe the feeling of control was missing:

  The ride was never smooth even after upgrading the shocks. The 4 wheel drive was troublesome on more then one occasion. I was driving in half an inch of snow once and the car would not go into 4 wheel drive. The tires slipped all over the place and when I slowly tried to stop the car it slid more.

  And possibly a few electrical gremlins:

  My Montero also had many different issues with the electrical system. There seemed to be a short someplace however, no mechanic could locate the short. Some issues that I had because of this were if you plugged in a cell phone car charger then the horn would continuously honk. Definitely very annoying.

  Click over to read the whole review, and don't forget to submit your own!

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Mitsubishi, Discussion, vLane, used car, Community review, 2000, Montero

• From around the web: 2010 Lexus LF-A

  From Banovsky 4 days ago

  Oh, we're not bitter that we haven't yet driven the supercar-slaughtering Lexus LF-A. Oh no. We're just very, very jealous of those who have. Seriously, I may buy a lottery ticket with the hopes of spending part of the jackpot on a dark green-painted LF-A. Anyhow, Let's see what the lucky bastards gentlemen had to say.

  2010 Lexus LF-A reviews

  

  Jalopnik.com says: "An over enthusiastic application of the sharp throttle had the 552 HP, 4.8-liter V10 spinning rapidly towards its 9,500 RPM redline and the tail sliding out towards the grass. Normally that'd have been an oh-&#!@-I'm-going-to-break-a-$400K-car moment, especially in an unfamiliar supercar, but in the LFA it barely requires conscious correction as it just blended into rocketing down the following straight at three-figure speeds."

  Autoblog.com says: "Generally, when I come off of a new track after a few hot laps in anything – Versa or Veyron – my hands are a bit shaky and my legs a little on the wobbly side. With the LFA, it feels like I just re-robed after a Swedish massage."

  Autocar.co.uk says: "What’s more impressive though, is that the LFA has a character of its own, rather follow a preset supercar template. That it is more solidly constructed than anything Italian, and less flamboyant, is perhaps to be expected from a Lexus. What’s surprising though is how honed and sharp it feels to drive. While it has GT qualities it’s no soft-edged GT. Instead it is a serious and credible supercar."

  And finally, Autocar has a video of the LF-A in action on their site; it's well worth a look.

  Read More:

  • A Front-Wheel-Drive Ferrari
  • Hot Cars from Around the World
  • Driving the Ford Model T

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Lexus, Future, Sports car, 2010, 2011, From the web, LF-A

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