vLane Blog

Articles Matching “Wagon”

• Viral video victim gets new Hyundai

  Banovsky on November 4, 2009

  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

• 2010 all-electric Nissan Leaf

  Banovsky on August 4, 2009

  Welcome to the future. This is the first look at Nissan's world-leading all-electric car, on-sale here in America in late 2010.

  

  The 2010 Nissan Leaf

  
  

  Here are some stats:

  • Fully-electric powertrain
  • 107 horsepower, 206 lb-ft of torque
  • More than 100 mile (160 km) range
  • Priced close to $30,000
  • Slightly larger than a Volkswagen Rabbit
  • Top speed of over 90 mph (140 kph)
  • Equipped with an advanced IT system that provides driver support, range information, etc.

  Click through for more photos and the official release.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Environment, Future, Green, Mileage, News, WTF, Wagon, Technology, Nissan, 2010, US, Electric car

• Recap: #carchat 20; July 22 @ 8PM EST

  Banovsky on July 24, 2009

  Social media is such a cool thing that we're constantly evolving how we communicate. Take #carchat: the first few originated out of a spirited conversation.

  

  Since #carchat is ever-evolving, we've included the recap here on vLane as a discussion thread, and we feel it suits the nature of the discussion well — and you can see that we had a huge response over two hours — despite Twitter being down for half of it!

  Anyone can join us each week at 8PM EST on Twitter. And if you'd like to suggest topics, please tag articles on Delicious.com with "carchat."
  
  
  
  
  

  We had:

  • Ask the Expert: Rhys Millen, Hyundai drifter, Pikes Peak winner, and stunt driver
  • Discussion: Ford's 4-cylinder EcoBoost
  • Discussion: The Acura ZDX crossover…coupe…Hot or not?
  • Discussion: The Cadillac CTS Wagon commercial might be lame, can we do better?
  • Discussion: Beautiful design details on crap cars

  So? What are you waiting for? Click through to the recap.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Future, WTF, Wagon, Concept, Crossover, Misc, Hyundai, Advice , Humor, Link, This week, Discussion, Social Media, 2010, Twitter, vLane, Cash for Clunkers, Car Allowance Rebate System, CARS, Rhys Millen, Commercial

• The Cadillac CTS Wagon (and why we don’t need it)

  Banovsky on June 9, 2009

  Make no mistake about it, wagons are the red-headed stepchildren of any car range. Probably conceived in a dank corner of an automaker’s R & D lab, complete with trollish engineers, clip boards, and antiques. Lots of antiques.

  

  2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon

  As such, only terminally crazy and socially-inept Northeastern Birkenstock-shod buyers drive them. I swear, on my last trip through Maine (one never stops, for fear of being consumed by Cliff Bar-chewing, Apple-using hillbillies), there were dozens of stores selling “Sports Antiquities.” All, natch, with Saab, Volvo XC, or Subaru wagons badly parked out front.

  You know what? I love wagons. But I also live in the Northeast. You know what else? I have enough money to feed my belly and cat, but not at the same time. Therefore, I am not in the market for a luxury Cadillac CTS Wagon.

  The problem? Nobody will be in the market for a Cadillac CTS Wagon.

  Read on…

  Read full article | Comments (2) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Luxury, Future, Wagon, Humor, Detroit, 2010, Cadillac, opinion, CTS

• Kitsch: Robert De Niro in a Subaru ad

  Banovsky on May 16, 2009

  Since the new Subaru Legacy is just about to hit our shores, it's time for the carmaker to start advertising.

  

  Oh, De Niro…

  I'm sure over here in boringville North America, we'll get the usual "4 + dog" family scenes, cue camping gear in the trunk, satisfied father in the driver's seat sort of commercial.

  In Japan, though, they've hired some real star power to shill for the brand: Robert De Niro. Even though he says about ten words in the whole ad — and is seen for about ten whole seconds — Subaru must have paid a pretty penny to hire the actor.

  Click through to view the De Niro commercial, and some others of Hollywood stars looking East for work…

  [via carscoop.blogspot.com]

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Hatchback, Honda, Acura, Video, WTF, Wagon, Sedan, Japan, History, Misc, Toyota, Advertising, Humor, Subaru, fun, MPV

• Feature: Best of the 2009 New York Auto Show

  AshleyW on April 10, 2009

  These cars from the 2009 New York Auto Show peaked my interest a lot! Take a look at what consumers can expect soon or in the near furture.

  

  There weren't just luxury cars in New York, like this Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. Click through for more.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under GM, General Motors, New York, auto show, Industry, Future, SUV, Feature, Wagon, Concept, Mitsubishi, Crossover, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Convertible, Coupe, Kia, Nissan, Kia, Volkswagen, Subaru, SUV

• News: The tale of two Europe-bound crossovers

  Banovsky on February 23, 2009

  Audi, Saab, and Volvo are three premium European brands that likely have the most active owners. Active in the sense that a double diamond downhill slope at the local ski resort is something to be enjoyed frequently, much like an espresso or a Whole Foods shopping trip. But while one of Volvo's most popular vehicles is the XC70, other premium brands have (so far) decided to stay away from the crossover wagon segment. Why?

  It's an especially relevant question considering what Volvo's competition have just announced; the Saab 9-3x crossover wagon and the Audi A4 Allroad — both exclusive to Europe. Click through to see these latest models, and tell us if you'd be in the market for a tough-looking wagon.

  

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Future, News, Wagon, Europe, Crossover, Misc