Tag Archives: cars

NBC News reports: New Jersey lawmakers are considering letting the state’s residents pump their own gas for the first time in decades – except hardly anyone actually wants to. Some 73% of Jersey residents said they still want someone to pump their gas for them, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Thursday. Just 22% of respondents said they’d rather …

The Associated Press reports: Removing the flipping obscenities from license plates on Maine’s roads and highways isn’t going to happen overnight, even though a law banning such profanities in a state where such regulation has been unusually lax goes into effect Monday. Currently, there are license plates with salty language including f-bombs, references to anatomy and sex acts, and general …

The Wall Street Journal reports: More drivers have engaged in risky behaviors, like speeding and driving under the influence, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Compounding the problem, safety officials say, these drivers often leave their seat belts unbuckled, raising the potential for deadly consequences. More than half of all crash fatalities last year involved unbelted drivers or occupants, according to the …

Gothamist reports: New York is suffering from more traffic congestion than anywhere else in the country — surpassing car-choked Los Angeles for the first time in nearly four decades, a new study revealed. According to the annual mobility report released this week by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, the average driver in the New York region wasted 56 extra hours …

The BBC reports: A ban on selling new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars in the UK will be brought forward from 2040 to 2035 at the latest, under government plans. The change comes after experts said 2040 would be too late if the UK wants to achieve its target of emitting virtually zero carbon by 2050. Boris Johnson unveiled the …

The Verge reports: The federal government should rewrite the safety rules for automobile manufacturing so self-driving carmakers can deploy vehicles without traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals, according to public comments submitted by top car and tech companies. “We urge [the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration] to move ahead promptly to remove the regulatory barriers the agency has identified,” …

CNBC reports: Lido Anthony Iacocca, the automobile industry legend best known as “Lee,” died at the age of 94 on Tuesday morning, his family confirmed. A child of Italian immigrants who grow up in humble conditions, Iacocca became one of the most powerful — and best known — executives in Detroit. Iacocca rose to become president of Ford Motor in …

Forbes reports: Drivers in Europe will soon have to get used to anti-speeding devices in their cars, after EU legislators agreed this morning on new legislation requiring them. The agreement came after months of often tense negotiations which pitted safety against freedom, and prompted concerns over “big brother” watching driving behavior. The legislation will require all new vehicles put on …

NBC News reports: A sprawling General Motors assembly plant near Youngstown was idled on Wednesday after more than 50 years producing cars and other vehicles, a move that will eliminate nearly 1,700 hourly positions by month’s end. GM announced late last year that Lordstown along with three plants in the U.S. and one in Canada would close by early next …

The BBC reports: Carmaker Volvo has said all new models will have an electric motor from 2019. The Chinese-owned firm, best known for its emphasis on driver safety, has become the first traditional carmaker to signal the end of the internal combustion engine. It plans to launch five fully electric models between 2019 and 2021 and a range of hybrid …

Politico reports: General Motors is the latest target of President-elect Donald Trump’s Twitter cannon, with the Manhattan billionaire complaining that the American automaker is manufacturing cars in Mexico and importing them into the U.S. without penalty. “General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A. or pay big border …

“Look, this isn’t easy for me, either. I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but it just feels right,” says to young man to his stern-faced father, who responds, “We didn’t raise you this way.” “You must have known I was a little different,” the son pleads. “Not this different,” grunts the father. That difference, as most viewers likely suspect …

Florida has issued a standard series of license plates that happen to begin with “GAY.” Some drivers and at least one dealership have complained, but the state doesn’t see any problem. Orlando’s ABC affiliate reports: Certain words are banned from Florida license plates, but a number of plates with “GAY” on them are being given to drivers across Orange County. …

Automotive blogs have been chattering for months and yesterday Wired published it’s first take: Before letting any press within a few miles of the F 015, Mercedes stressed that it’s only a prototype, without the fit, finish and finesse you might expect from a Mercedes. Smart move, because this thing runs like a 70’s-era Jaguar with dodgy electrics. The touch …

600K views for this BMW ad in just a few hours.

One Million Moms is likely to blow a fuse over a new hip-hop heavy Toyota commercial that features a young girl who begins her rap, “Listen up, motherfathers.” But OMM will have lots of company as the ad is getting blasted from all sides. According to the car blog Jalopnik, the ad for the Sienna is “proof that the ad …

I especially dig the ponytail move. (Tipped by JMG reader Blair)

GLAAD cheers via press release: Earlier this week we saw the first gay families included in a Super Bowl ad, and tonight we see the first gay families included in an Olympics Opening Ceremony. “Chevrolet has nailed it with ads that truly reflect the fabric of our nation, which today includes gay and lesbian families,” said GLAAD President and CEO …

Source. (Tipped by JMG reader Jeff)