Archive for March, 2012
Google’s self-driving car challenge
An awfully confident Google has enlisted an arguably even more confident blind man to get behind the wheel of its self-driving car. Check it out: http://mashable.com/2012/03/29/blind-man-drives-google-car/
Gayle King and Charlie Rose interview author of “American Icon”
Bryce Hoffman, who covered Ford for The Detroit News, is making the media rounds about his new book: “American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company.” This morning, CBS’ Charlie Rose and Gayle King interviewed Hoffman about the book and the man, who he likens to an older version of Ron Howard in Happy Days.
When Mulally spoke at The Washington Auto Show a few years ago, I remember, too, being struck by his wholesome, Norman Rockwell-esque looks and can-do spirit. In other words, if anyone looks the part of an American icon, it’s Mulally. Indeed, he has the vision and muscle to match.
Check out the interview here: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7401897n
Roundups of the roundups
Since so many people are recapping the Geneva Auto Show, we thought we’d consolidate some of the most interesting news to come out of the show, which opened to the public on Thursday. The Washington Auto Show senior leadership attended Press Preview Days earlier in the week.
So, according to AOL Autos, the following cars were the sexiest. Note: they are nearly all wearing red. The cars, that is. http://autos.aol.com/photos/2012-geneva-auto-show-luxury/
Ever the list maker, Forbes also had it say on the “hottest cars” at Geneva. Here, we have some color diversity represented, even a two-tone Bugatti in blue and black. http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/03/08/look-for-these-10-hot-cars-in-geneva/
Looks like they left out one, though.
Barbara took this shot of the Tesla, which definitely made our agency’s unofficial hot list.
The New York Times ran a thoughtful piece, taking the temperature of the electric car evolution:
Definitely check out Autoblog for “obsessively” covering the show. Only Autoblog could seem to make that adjective a positive pronouncement. I’m a fan. http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/08/we-obsessively-covered-the-2012-geneva-motor-show/
Enjoy!
News from Geneva
Washington Auto Show leadership attended the press preview day today at the Geneva Auto Show, where they met with several automakers and got a first look at some of the debuts dazzling auto enthusiasts worldwide. Like, for example, the brand new Porsche Boxster. Check it out: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-porsche-boxster-geneva-2012/
In fact, for those of you who speak German, here’s a brief clip of Porsche President and CEO Matthias Müller at the press conference.
Maybe you can tell me what he’s saying.
Here’s a pic, too, to show Porsche some extra love since the automaker has its North American operations in the A-T-L.
Always a popular kid on the block, Hyundai rolled out the i30 and i40.
And VW doing its cute, fun VW thing. Disclaimer: I drive one. Not this one. I might like to.
Say hello to the Eco UP!, a three-cylinder hybrid that runs on natural gas and the first of VW’s Up! models in production.
Stay tuned. We’re supposed to be getting more pics of who’s who and what’s what from Geneva…
