Filed under: Performance , Truck , Ford , Off-Road 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor -- Click above for high-res image gallery It's no secret that the Texas Auto Writer's Association loves Ford trucks: The Blue Oval's F-Series pickups have won the Truck of Texas award six straight times. Actually, you can make that seven straight times now, with the F-150 SVT Raptor taking the top honor this year in the Lone Star State. We didn't go through the precise reasoning of the F-150's dominance in previous years, but the arrival of the Raptor probably made the choice just too easy this time around. After having driven the Raptor ourselves we knew that there is simply nothing like it, and nothing anywhere near as good as it is, to be found in the OEM pickup truck world. When you throw in the purchase price of $39K for the 5.4-liter, you're going to look hard to find a similarly priced competitor in the OEM or aftermarket. The press is after the jump, and to Ford, congratulations are well deserved. Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor [Source: Ford] Continue reading Ford F-150 SVT Raptor named 2010 Texas Truck of the Year Ford F-150 SVT Raptor named 2010 Texas Truck of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Europe , Marketing/Advertising , Videos , Volkswagen VW Fun Theory Part 3, Bottle Bank Arcade -- Click above to watch video VW's Fun Theory project, with its European ad agency DDB, takes on a third task to show that you can get more people to do the right thing if you make it fun. This time it's bottle recycling, and the tool used is a bin fitted with an arcade scoreboard. After a "player" presses start, lights flash above any of the six holes in the bin and the recycler collects points for putting a bottle in the correct opening. It's the same theory as whack-a-mole but with glass bottles. Just as the other Fun Theory demonstrations with the bottomless garbage can and the piano steps , people flocked to the Bottle Bank Arcade: it was used 50 times more than the plain green bin sitting nearby. Put a scoreboard on something and all of a sudden people will celebrate doing anything - when's the last time you saw a grown man shaking his fist over throwing away a bottle? Follow the jump to see for yourself. [Source: YouTube ] Continue reading VIDEO: Fun Theory Part 3 - VW's bottle bank arcade finds plenty of players VIDEO: Fun Theory Part 3 - VW's bottle bank arcade finds plenty of players originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Filed under: Etc. , Government/Legal , Safety , UAW/Unions It's hard to believe, but cab drivers in New York City are prohibited by law from talking on cell phones, with or without headsets. That doesn't seem to stop them, says the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission. Citing phone-related accident statistics, the commission is now proposing more stringent rules that would raise fines and even keep cabbies from using hands-free devices to chat. "We've tried everything else; there's no other way we can make this work," says Matthew W. Daus, the taxi commissioner. In the first six months of 2009, only one ticket was issued for every 500,000 cab rides. Cabbies escape prosecution because they claim they were only wearing the hands-free devices, not using them. "Judges have been dismissing summonses because there's no proof of conversation," says Daus. Under the proposed rules, the wearing of a headset merits an infraction.

Filed under: Classics , Coupe , Performance , Ford , Celebrities , Reviews 1967 "Eleanor" Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - Click above for high-res image gallery H. B. Halicki was a used car salesman who wanted to make a movie. With a little money, one big idea, and a 1971 Mustang Mach 1, he made Gone in 60 Seconds . And in that particular way that movies, especially '70s movies, can be, it wasn't all that good, but it was awesome. Fast forward to Michael Bay's remake in 2000, and the Mach 1 was replaced by a 1967 Shelby GT500. When we got a call offering us the actual car from that movie for the weekend, we felt obliged to say yes... and then drive it like we stole it. The verdict: Eleanor is the hottest piece of car we've spent a weekend with in quite some time. Gallery: Review: 1967 Classic Recreations Eleanor Mustang Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.

Filed under: China , Government/Legal , Ford Former Ford engineer Xiang Dong Yu, also known as Mike Yu, was arrested Wednesday at the Chicago O'Hare airport and indicted on suspicion of stealing trade secrets from his former employer. Yu, who worked at Ford Motor Company from 1997 to 2007, is being charged with downloading over 4,000 sensitive documents to an external hard drive before leaving the automaker for an opportunity with another U.S. company's Chinese operations. Yu was nabbed while arriving in the U.S. from China where he was stationed. The Free Press is reporting that Yu is being charged with stealing "system design specifications connected to engine and transmission mounting systems; outside rear view windows; sliding doors; steering wheel assembly; interior trim; wipers and washers systems; front/rear side door; instrument panel and console systems; sound and heat control and electric power systems." Those sound like some serious charges, and if Yu is convicted he can do some even more serious time behind bars. Each count of the theft of trade secrets carries a 10 year term in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Yu is also charged with unauthorized access of a protected computer, which carries a five year term in the clink and a $250,000 fine. Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew Arena told the Free Press that the Bureau takes the trade secrets of the auto industry very seriously, adding that "theft of trade secrets is a threat to national security and investigating allegations involving theft of trade secrets is a priority for the FBI." Ford is understandably being silent right now in light of the seriousness of what's going on, and at this point we have no idea if any of Ford's important information fell into the hands of the wrong people. Since Yu is just now being brought to justice, it will likely be some time before all the details materialize.

Filed under: Government/Legal , Technology Back in the day, when a car wasn't running right, a good mechanic could drive it and listen to the engine to narrow down where the problem was. They could go in and adjust or replace the carburetor jets, choke, points or some other mechanical piece, and if they knew what they were doing get it running right. In high school, this blogger learned how to balance the Zenith side draft carbs of a Triumph TR7 with a screw driver and an hunk of garden hose. Today it's a whole different story. With everything on a modern car controlled by microchips, the only way to be sure what is making that warning light come on is to plug in a diagnostic tool and read out the codes. The problem is that auto manufacturers prefer to keep the magic code decrypters to themselves. While claiming it is for security and safety reasons, the reality is more likely related to profit. However, with a significant chunk of the equity in Chrysler and General Motors now in the hands of the U.S. Government, the chances of passing a bill that would force automakers to reveal all of the diagnostic code information finally seem plausible. Lobbyists have been pushing to get various so-called "Right to Repair Act" legislation pushed through for at least eight years, and now they figure they have the best chance yet.

Filed under: Convertible , Tesla , Alternative Fuel Doctors may not make many house calls anymore, but Tesla Motors believes an at-home service is just the ticket for its pricey electric cars. The company recently announced a new Tesla Mobile Service Rangers program that makes getting the recommended annual service or any other repairs taken care of an effortless event. The Rangers (no word on if they wear brightly colored outfits and/or morph) have the ability to diagnose problems remotely before driving their service vehicles to where the Roadsters are. Tesla says that Roadster owners and cues from "pioneering retailers" like Zappos and Geek Squad helped develop the Rangers idea. At some point in the future, the Ranger service will be available wherever Roadsters are sold. The service isn't cheap - it costs $1 per round-trip mile with a minimum charge of $100 - but if you can afford the car in the first place, then it shouldn't be too big of a hardship. We don't have the heart to calculate the cost for "Roadster owners in Honolulu, Anchorage, Banff and other locations", which Tesla's press release states can now have peace of mind. It might just be cheaper to buy two Roadsters in case one of them breaks. [Source: Tesla Motors ] Tesla introduces Mobile Service Rangers, the Geek Squad for EVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Filed under: Motorsports , Coupe , Performance , Ford Ford Mustang NASCAR Nationwide Car - Click above image to enlarge Hold on to your butts, people. Ford Racing and Roush Fenway Racing have unveiled their new stock car based on the poniest of pony cars. Prior to this, Ford teams in NASCAR have driven Fusions. Well, all right, none of them were actual Fusions or will be actual Mustangs. Rather, they'll be normal stock cars like everyone else in NASCAR drives that are covered with enough stickers and fake grilles to make you think that you might be looking at a Mustang from the stands. Man, "stock car" has really become a contradiction in terms. Now you won't see Mustangs turning left next week in Charlotte at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The new car will compete in limited races next year and then only in the Nationwide Series, not the Sprint Cup. As such, it won't be based on the Car of Tomorrow platform that the Sprint Cup series uses. This first new Mustang to race in the Nationwide Series will be the No.

Filed under: Performance , Truck , Ford , Specialty 2010 Ford SVT Raptor at Latemodel Restoration Supply - Click above for high-res gallery If you read some of the model-specific buff books like Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords (raises hand), you're probably familiar with Latemodel Restoration Supply , which always has a multi-page ad in the mag touting its wares. Earlier this week, a shiny new Ford F-150 SVT Raptor visited the retailer's HQ. Photos were taken and posted to Flickr, where we saw them and decided they were definitely worth sharing. The Raptor is interesting on three levels. First off, it's a Raptor. Secondly, it's finished in Blue Flame -- a color that looks extremely good on this truck. (Frankly, we're tired of seeing the orange ones.) Finally, this particular machine rolls without the cheesy, '80s-looking factory bed-side graphics package. End result: a Raptor that's clean and mean. Clearly, this is the way to do it. Gallery: 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor in Blue Flame [Source: Latemodel Restoration Supply ] Just as we suspected: SVT Raptor minus 1980s decals = More awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:48:00 EST.

Filed under: Concept Cars , Safety , BMW , Motorcycle , Alternative Fuel BMW C1-E Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery Says BMW, "This is what a safe, environment-friendly and highly practical single track vehicle for city traffic could look like in the future." Well then, let's dissect that statement and see how BMW sought to accomplish these seemingly contradictory goals. First, safety. Between 2000 and 2003, BMW offered a scooter in Europe called the C1. Though a marketplace failure, that machine may still be the safest two-wheeler ever offered. Featuring a fully-enclosed cabin with integrated rollover protection, a front-end impact zone, a rider seat belt and a low center of gravity, the C1-E has safety baked right in from the start. To that package, BMW adds electronic aids that include integral ABS, Tire Pressure Control, Anti-Slip Control and Traction Control. So... safety? Check. Environmentally-friendly?