2012 Superbowl Commercials

February 6, 2012 By

Here are all the auto manufacturer’s commercials from the 2012 Super Bowl

Acura – NSX Transactions – Jerry Seinfeld is so excited about the new Acura NSX that he will stop at nothing to acquire the very first one. See what else Jerry would do for the first new NSX at www.acura.com. NSX projected debut in next three years.

 

Cadillac – “Green Hell” :: We developed the all-new Cadillac ATS on the Nürburgring, a grueling stretch of German asphalt known as “The Green Hell,” to push both car and driver to their limits. So, if anyone tells you that Cadillac can’t beat the world’s best, just tell them to go to “Green Hell.”

 

Chevy – “2012″ :: A man drives his Chevy Silverado through an apocalyptic world predicted by the Mayan calendar. Unfortunately, not everyone makes it to the meeting point.

 

Chevy – “Aliens” :: From the coolest car on the block to the smartest technology in the galaxy. A man walks in on a curious group of intergalactic creatures checking out the advanced technology of his Chevrolet Volt.

 

Chevy – “Sonic Stunt Anthem” :: The all-new Chevy Sonic is up for adventure. Watch Sonic’s first time skydiving, bungee jumping, kick flipping, and performing with OK GO. 100% real stunts.

 

Chevy – “Happy Grad” :: One lucky man receives the best graduation gift ever — or does he? A Chevrolet Route 66 film submission from Zack Borst, USA.

 

Chrysler – “It’s Halftime in America” :: It’s Halftime in America. And our second half is about to begin. All that matters now is looking ahead and finding a way forward.

 

Fiat – “Fiat 500 Abarth – Seduction” :: Watch this seductive new FIAT 500 Abarth Super Bowl XLVI commercial to feel the sting of the scorpion.
The FIAT 500 Abarth – You’ll never forget the first time you see one.

 

Honda – “Matthew’s Day Off” :: To celebrate the launch of the all-new 2012 CR-V, Honda brought Ferris Bueller’s Day Off back in a big game commercial. We cast Matthew Broderick as himself, skipping out on a day of acting work and living it up in his all-new CR-V. Relive movie history with Honda’s fresh twist and wonderful homage to this ’80s classic.

 


Hyundai – “Think Fast” :: At 348 horsepower, the Genesis Coupe gives new meaning to the phrase “Heart Pounding Power”. See for yourself at Hyundai.com.

 

Hyundai – “All For One” :: We believe trying is everything at Hyundai. In this Big Game ad, our Montgomery, Alabama plant employees provide a little vocal encouragement to a designer.

 

Hyundai – “Cheetah” :: Trust us, it’s fast. And with a 7-inch multimedia touchscreen, a 450-watt dimension® premium audio system, and Pandora® Internet radio, there’s a lot more the 201 horsepower Veloster Turbo can do — besides outrunning a cheetah.

 

Hyundai – “Victory Lap” :: Hyundai will celebrate its 2012 North American Car of the Year victory for Elantra with a new 30-second spot called “Victory Lap.” The Elantra earned the prestigious award from a jury of 50 independent automotive media in early January.

 

Kia – “A Dream Car For Everyday Life” :: The new 2012 Kia Optima is tearing up the track with Adriana Lima, Chuck Liddell and Motley Crue. Get ready to have your subconscious kicked in the face.

 

Lexus – “The Beast” :: The wait is over. The bold new face of Lexus is here, and it cannot be contained. Watch Lexus’ first-ever commercial for the “big game”, introducing the all-new 2013 GS and a glimpse of what Lexus has in store for 2012.

 

Suzuki – “The Sled” :: “Sled” highlights the automaker’s all-wheel-drive 2012 Suzuki Kizashi sport sedan, which also starred in the company’s first-ever Super Bowl ad — entitled “Wicked”

 

Toyota – “Reinvented Camry” :: Toyota reinvents more than the Camry in this extended version of the blockbuster commercial that started it all. What would you like #reinvented?

 

Toyota – “Camry Connections” :: There are nearly 7 million Camry drivers out there. Every one of them has a story. What’s yours?

 

VW – “The Dog Strikes Back” :: The sporty, all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle inspires Bolt the dog to get in shape, and an intergalactic superstar makes a surprise appearance.

 

Filed Under: Automotive News

John Roley’s in Littlefield Updating GM Dealership

January 27, 2012 By

Our friends at John Roley’s have been busy the last 6 months.

Construction crews have been updating the current building to meet General Motors specifications for updating showrooms, offices and parts and service department to meet their quality standards.

The updated facility is bright and clean, featuring neutral colors that are eye appealing and warm and inviting.

A new receptionist area offers a greeting as you walk in the door and a warm “Hello, how can I help you?” can be heard as you enter.

Old offices have been demolished and rebuilt with new furniture, fixtures and modern convenience amenities.

The customer lobby is light and bright and features a nice seating area for adults and children alike. A large flat screen TV provides entertainment for those purchasing a new or used car or having service performed on
their vehicle.

Bathrooms are nice and spacious, clean and equipped with modern appliances. Bathrooms also have Koala Kare fold down tables for baby
duties!

The interior of the building is complete and the staff is currently operating inside their new quarters. The exterior is still in the construction phase and according to Owner, John Roley, should be complete
in 30-60 days.

An Open House is in the near future when the facility is complete. Congrats on a fantastic new building.

Rowdy

 

Filed Under: Dealership News

History is a mystery

January 10, 2012 By

Last time, I mentioned at the end of my article that I thought somehow my Land Cruiser was used as a Park Ranger vehicle in or around the Santa Fe, NM area. The mint green paint on the underside of the hood is one of those distinguishing features that lead me to believe that it could have been a Park Ranger vehicle.

There is no doubt that every vehicle has a history that comes with it. Some may be good and some may be bad. I’m thinking that the history of my Land Cruiser is good. It’s seen many miles of terrain, both paved and unpaved. Wouldn’t it be cool to go back in time, when this vehicle rolled off the assembly line, was put on a ship, trucked to it’s final destination where it was sold to the government and put into use. There were so many different hands, working as one to get the vehicle from factory, to ship, to port, to train, to truck, to dealership for delivery. We forget all too often the amount of time and money it takes to get from factory to final destination.

Going back to the pre- Rowdy history of my Land Cruiser, is it possible that it was used in a search and rescue mission to save someone’s life? What if it had to drive over rocky terrain to help put out a forest fire? I don’t know, there are so many things it could have done, but I guess we’ll never find out.

Filed Under: ’65 Toyota Land Crusier

Now the work begins…

January 10, 2012 By

aabcdddOnce I got my Cruiser back to Lubbock, I unloaded it off the trailer and took it for a spin. The engine started up immediately and it took very little time getting used to the three speed transmission.

After driving it around for about 10 minutes, I put it in 4 Wheel Drive and locked the hubs. It all worked perfectly.

The body on the other hand was completely rusted out. The wheel wells had holes big enough for my hands to fit through. The bed was rusted through on the back part, enough for me to bend it upwards to expose the rear axle. WOW, I had no idea it was in this bad of condition.

I began to clean it out from top to bottom. The previous owner, who worked at a Lemon Orchard, had left tons of lemon tree leaves under the seats and under a rubber floor mat. That floor mat was also used to keep his feet from falling though the floorin the bed. LOL.

As I was cleaning the inside, I found some cool things about it. On the dash, it says “For Official Use Only, US Government.” The previous owner had said the guy he bought the Cruiser from had bought it at a Government Auction and was used as a Park Ranger vehicle up near Santa Fe. Hmm, I wonder how I could find out if that’s true?

Filed Under: ’65 Toyota Land Crusier

It’s A Long Drive Home From California

January 10, 2012 By

aAfter we left Ojai, California, we made our way through the hills to Victorville, California. It’s kind of like being in Presidio. There isn’t much out there but greasewood, sand and a scorching sun.

After Victorville, we headed off to Vegas where we spent the night at Treasure Island. Before we made it to the Nevada state line, we hit this huge hill where we start out at 115 ft above sea level and at the top of the hill, it’s 4000 ft above sea level. We wasted more gas climbing that hill and when we got to the top, they were selling gas for $5 bucks a gallon! Highway robbery!

We parked the Tahoe pulling the LC in the garage at TI and headed out at 6 am the next morning. It was surprising to see the sun shining at 5 am but nonetheless, we headed out.

Somewhere between Hoover Dam and Kingman, Arizona I noticed something going very wrong. The fiberglass top on the LC was starting to come loose. All of the sudden, it comes off, lands on the highway and busts into a hundred pieces. I couldn’t believe it. We turned around and got out to find it in such disrepair that we left it on the side of the road.

After that, it was a long, long ride back to Lubbock.

Filed Under: ’65 Toyota Land Crusier

Head West Young Man

January 10, 2012 By

After getting the winning bid, my wife at the time, now my ex, and I decided to make a trip out to California to pick up my new purchase.

We headed out west and stopped at a friend’s house where we stayed the night in Las Cruces, NM. We got up at 6 a.m. and took off driving again. At 6 p.m. we arrived in Santa Monica, CA, were we stayed with another friend for a couple of days. We did some shopping, saw some celebs, felt the ocean and took pictures near the Hollywood sign.

A few days later, we drove up Pacific Coast Highway 1, the famous highway that runs along the coast from San Diego to Northern California. We traveled through beautiful towns like Malibu and Ventura and just north of Santa Barbara, we arrived  in Ojai. We visited for a while about the history of the Cruiser and loaded it up on the flatbed trailer being pulled by our Chevy Tahoe.

After we get it strapped down, he hands me the keys and spent the next 5 hours on the road to Vegas.

Filed Under: ’65 Toyota Land Crusier

In The Beginning

January 10, 2012 By

In 2006, I bought a 1966 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40. I was watching the show, Pimp My Ride on MTV, where West Coast Customs was pimping a FJ40 for this female yoga instructor from LA. After watching them take it from trash to treasure, I knew I wanted one. I had this idea that I’d like to restore it and have it as another vehicle to cruise around in with the family. Who’s up for restoring a cool ride!

Considering a classic FJ40 isn’t commonly sold, I searched locally and found nothing. I proceeded to hit the internet and found this 1966 FJ40 on ebay. There were quite a few online; some that had been fully restored, some that were heavily accessorized and some that were in need of desperate repair. Wanna take a guess at what I chose? I must say, Ebay is a great place to find a specialized vehicle, but not great for finding the daily driver. (If you are looking for a daily vehicle, checkout Texas Auto Guide or www.texasautoguide.com.)

After watching it on ebay for a couple of days, I made my move with just a couple of minutes to go. I placed my bid at $1250
and proceeded to hit the refresh button. Suddenly, someone bumped my bid. I entered $1500. Still not the winning bid.
Finally, I entered $1750 and walked away the winner.

Filed Under: ’65 Toyota Land Crusier

Dodge Set To Bring Back Dart

December 29, 2011 By

Dodge redefines performance in the compact car segment with an all-new, state-of-the art four-door sedan delivering class-leading aerodynamics – the 2013 Dodge Dart.

With Alfa Romeo DNA and Dodge’s passion for performance at its core, the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart is a thoroughly modern vehicle that’s fuel-efficient, beautifully designed and crafted, agile and brings fun back to driving in the segment.

Similar to the Dodge Dart of the late 1960s, the  2013 Dart offers a special blend of style, performance and innovation. The Dodge brand leveraged its nearly 100-year history of passion for  building high-quality, innovative vehicles that stand apart in performance and style, as well as from its partner Fiat’s global compact car  expertise, to develop the all-new Dodge Dart.

ALFA ROMEO DNA The all-new Dart is the first Chrysler Group vehicle based upon a Fiat architecture – adapted from the award winning Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The Giulietta is renowned for satisfying the most demanding customers in  terms of road holding, agility and safety, with exceptional driving dynamics.

UNMISTAKABLE STYLE The all-new 2013 Dart marks the Dodge  brand’s re-entry into the compact sedan segment, hitting the bulls-eye with a modern, unmistakable Dodge design that builds upon its performance heritage while evoking emotion, efficiency and fluidity of movement.

Eye-catching exterior proportions are set off from every angle  by dynamic lines and curves, along with advanced technology, to deliver class leading aerodynamic performance. The personality-packed front view is instantly recognizable  as an all-new Dodge with its tailored split-crosshair grille, projector headlamps and fog lamps and  accentuated fenders. Signature Dodge full-width LED ‘racetrack’ tail lamps and class-exclusive integrated dual exhaust – both inspired by Dodge Charger – accentuate the athletic and muscular stance of this dynamic and passionate new design.

THREE SOPHISTICATED, FUEL-EFFICIENT & POWERFUL ENGINES The 2013 Dodge Dart will be powered by three fuel-efficient, powerful, state-of-the-art four cylinder engines that add to Dart’s fun-to-drive quotient.

Drivers can select from a new Tigershark 2.0-liter engine, a 1.4-liter MultiAir Intercooled Turbo engine, and a new T igershark 2.4-liter MultiAir four cylinder engine. These three engines, combined with three transmission choices, combine to redefine  performance by providing the most diverse powertrain lineup in its class.

MultiAir technology delivers optimum combustion at any speed under  all driving conditions by allowing direct and dynamic control of air intake and combustion. The result is up to a 15 percent increase in low engine  pm torque, a 7.5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 10 percent reduction in C02 emissions.

THE ALL-NEW DART – BUILT IN AMERICA The all-new Dodge Dart will be made in America at Chrysler Group’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Ill. The Company is in the process of investing $600 million dollars to support the production of future products, including the 2013 Dodge Dart. The investment includes the  construction of a 638,000-square-foot body shop, as well as the installation of new machinery, tooling and material handling equipment.

Dodge is  set to unveil the 2013 Dart at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9th, 2012.

Filed Under: Automotive News

ICON 4×4: Amazing Offroad Machines

December 22, 2011 By

A few years back when I was restoring my FJ40, I ran across a ridiculously designed FJ40 from a California company called ICON.

ICON founder, Jonathan Ward and his wife, Jamie started TLC4x4.com, the nations leading Land Cruiser Service center in 1996, providing parts,  service and restoration services to the Land Cruiser owners like me!

Mr. Ward on his website calls ICON “…a vehicle without peers for a journey without boundaries. Classic styling, modern performance, and timeless utility.” Simply put.

Last week, I ran across an article on FoxNews.com about an ICON rebuilt Ford Bronco and man is it awesome!!

The only thing original is the body style from the first generation Bronco. According to the article, it has a completely brand new chassis, custom designed Atlas transfer case, and Dana solid axles with Eibach springs and Ford Racing shocks for suspension.

They replaced the original engine with a Ford Mustang GT 5.0L V8, with 412HP in a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission.

This rebuilt Bronco features disc  brakes, high-tech glass used on skyscrapers, updated aluminum trim, a digital dashboard and tinted plastic sun visors from a Learjet!

Price?  $150,000 for the base and up to $200,000 with options.

Sources: foxnews.com & icon4x4.com

Filed Under: Automotive News

FORD UNVEILS REDESIGNED 2013 ESCAPE

December 22, 2011 By

Ford unveiled the redesigned Escape this week at the LA Auto Show, which will be sold in the US and Europe in late 2012. The new Escape boasts eleven features no other small SUV offers in a sleek and more modern design.

In addition to more cargo volume behind the first and second rows than the current vehicle, the new Escape delivers:

  • An available hands-free power liftgate that allows quick and easy access to cargo with the kick of a foot
  •  SYNC® with MyFord Touch® offers multiple ways for customers to manage and control information through voice commands, menus accessed through controls on the steering wheel, touch screens, buttons or knobs
  • Active Park Assist. With the press of a button, the system detects an available parallel parking space and automatically steers the vehicle into the space. Drivers control only the accelerator and brake pedals
  • Escape’s sensor-based BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert, triggers a warning sound when a vehicle is detected entering a blind spot
  • The all-new Ford Escape is the first Ford SUV to combine class-exclusive technology to automatically slow the vehicle when it’s cornering too  fast (Curve Control) or help accelerate through a turn (Torque Vectoring Control); a new Intelligent 4WD System helps deliver outstanding handling on good pavement and in adverse conditions as well, along with excellent traction off-road.
  • Escape offers a 1.6-litre, a 2.0-litre and a 2.5-litre Eco- Boost engine with a nearly 10 percent increase in fuel efficiency than the outgoing model.
  • The new Escape’s active grille shutter system, which is on all models with the 1.6-litre EcoBoost and 2.5-litre four-cylinder engines, reduces  wind resistance.

“We call our all-new Ford Escape the ‘Smarter Utility Vehicle’ because it offers the strengths that customers today really value – fuel economy,  versatility and new technology that makes driving and living with the vehicle easier and more fun – all wrapped in a sleek, more modern design,”  aid Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development.

Filed Under: Automotive News
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