Alex Nunez

Connecticut, USA - http://www.autoblog.com

Alex has been with Autoblog since 2006, when he tapped Neff on the shoulder at the Saleen press conference at the NY Auto show. Things worked out pretty well from there. Also, he hates the Red Sox.

VIDEO: Fun, frolic and destruction with a dump truck at Detroit's Packard plant

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Nov 6th, 2009 at 11:40AM

This dump truck is going to take a dive - Click above to watch the video

In future Detroit, pushing a junked dump truck out of a fourth floor window at the old Packard plant might result in a swarm of gen-1 Taurus police cars surrounding the building, and, if you're particularly unlucky, intervention by ED-209. ("You have 20 seconds to comply...").

In the present day, this creative bit of criminal mischief gets you featured on The Wall Street Journal website. Go figure! Follow the jump to watch the video.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Read more →

ESPN: Danica Patrick close to two-year NASCAR Nationwide deal

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Nov 5th, 2009 at 10:39AM



Rumors of IndyCar's Danica Patrick dipping a toe into the stock car racing pool have been swirling for months, but a new report suggests that an end to the rumors is near. ESPN says that Patrick is on the verge of signing a NASCAR Nationwide Series contract with JR Motorsports, the operation owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Unnamed sources that spoke to ESPN call the talks "near their final phase" and comment that it'd be a "surprise if it didn't happen." In any case, don't expect a formal announcement until sometime after the Sprint Cup chase draws to a conclusion on November 22.

The potential move to JR Motorsports was made possible when driver Brad Keslowski jumped ship to join Roger Penske's NASCAR Sprint Cup team. According to ESPN, Patrick is angling to drive the number 7 car (the same number she runs in IndyCar), which would replace the current JR Motorsports number 5 car. Since Danica will continue to run the full IndyCar schedule as well, she'd be a part-time driver for JR Motorsports, sharing the race car with Junior and another unnamed driver. If the signing happens and NASCAR gives its blessing, Danica will make her first stock car appearance in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA race on Feb. 6 during the Daytona Speedweeks, and go on to drive in 12 to 13 Nationwide Series races during the 2010 season. Frankly, given NASCAR's feel for marketing and Danica's undeniable celebrity, we see no way that she won't be in place for a debut during the February Speedweeks, assuming she does indeed ink the rumored deal.

[Source: ESPN | Image: Robert Laberge/Getty]

A new Chrysler logo takes wing?

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Nov 3rd, 2009 at 9:01AM Breaking

New Chrysler logo filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Tomorrow, we'll get the official skinny from Chrysler on what the automaker's product plans are over the next few years. As the Fiat-directed new (and new again) Chrysler looks to break free from the shackles of mediocrity and reinvent itself, a filing at the U.S. Patent and Trademark office appears to confirm an Allpar report published earlier this month, showing the new winged logo that will presumably adorn cars coming from the Chrysler division. The look is sleeker and clearly more modern than the previous winged logo, which incorporated the old Chrysler seal. The new one has an almost Aston-esque vibe to it, featuring "Chrysler" embossed in a blue emblem centered between the outstretched wings. Allpar also reports that Dodge cars will ditch the Ram's-head logo for something all their own as well. We've got a feeling everything will be revealed during Chrysler's marathon six-hour press briefing tomorrow, so stay tuned for more. Thanks to Mike for the link!

[Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office]

Read more →

VIDEO: Dogs like trucks. Leopards apparently prefer Audis.

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Nov 1st, 2009 at 4:32PM

A leopard chills in his Audi TT - Click above to watch the video

You've pretty much achieved Tony Montana status when you can keep a big cat as a pet. But how do you transport Fluffy around when it's time to venture beyond that "The World Is Yours" statue at the homestead? Apparently, the preferred method of this particular leopard-owning baller is to simply load the kitty into the passenger seat of an Audi TT, roll down the window, and head out on the town. (Perhaps a Mercury Cougar would be more appropriate? Maybe a Jaguar?)

Leopards apparently like this as much as a yellow lab enjoys squinting into the wind from the bed of a pickup truck. Seriously. Follow the jump to see for yourselves. Thanks for the link, Charlie!

[Source: YouTube]

Read more →

Old Yeller: 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic in Detonator Yellow

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Nov 1st, 2009 at 3:19PM

2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic in Detonator Yellow - Click above for high-res image gallery

While it lacks the agility of the Mustang GT and the raw knuckle-dragging power of the Camaro SS, the Dodge Challenger drips with style and no small amount of comfort, plus it's plenty fun in its own right, too. As you all know, there's not a lot of new stuff going on with Chrysler's 2010 lineup, so to keep things interesting with the Challenger, they're doing it with colors. We've seen the big coupe in Plum Crazy already, and now, via Red Letter Dodge, we have our first look at a Challenger R/T Classic in Detonator Yellow, the special "high impact" color that preceded the currently-available Plum Crazy. Not shabby. Check it out in high-res in the attached gallery.


Gallery: 2010 Dodge Challenger - Detonator Yellow


[Source: Red Letter Dodge]

Make it stop: Bad landau tops

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Nov 1st, 2009 at 1:51PM


Silly landau tops - Click above image for high-res image gallery

Landau tops. Frankly, some are fine. Show us, say, a mid-to-late '70s Olds Cutlass or Lincoln Town Coupe gussied up accordingly from the factory, and we're liable to nod in approval and make one of those, "Ehh, not bad at all!" facial expressions in appreciation of the old barge. That said, most modern landau roof applications are dealer-installed, and commensurately disastrous and stupid.

My friend Scott had been telling me about two particularly egregious examples he regularly sees in his Brooklyn neighborhood. "Show me," I told him. So he remembered to tote his camera with him this week and sent me these. The Buick LeSabre isn't all that surprising, gauche though it may be. But the Ford Escort? Yeah, that's a good one. Gotta love those opera lights and the fading "Ghia" lettering, too. Will anything ever stop these people?

Your turn: What's the most terrible landau top application you've personally witnessed? We know you have stories. Share.

UPDATE: TTAC fires a salvo of its own. Fun!


Gallery: Bad Landau Tops


[Images courtesy of Scott Nyerges]

The Lingenfelter 455 T/A Concept really is badass

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Oct 31st, 2009 at 6:07PM SEMA

Lingenfelter 455 T/A Concept - See more images at Car and Driver

Car and Driver is the first outlet to post real live photos of the SEMA-bound Lingenfelter 455 T/A Concept. By taking the looks of the '70 Trans Am and adapting them to the new Chevrolet Camaro, Lingenfelter has created something that will have you playing "What if.." scenarios regarding Pontiac over and over again in your heads. Imagine a world in which you could walk into a General Motors dealer and pick between this and the G8 GXP...

Anyway, snap out of it, because that ain't happenin'. We think what's likely to happen, if people go as batsh*t crazy over this creation at SEMA as we think they will, is that Lingenfelter will probably offer the package to customers. That's probably good, anyway, as we can't see GM spending the bucks to offer the 455 T/A's upgraded interior (yeah, it's premium vinyl, baby) and monstrously-upgraded engine. See, that 455 nomenclature's no joke. According to C/D, the 455 CID/7.5-liter V8 rocks an 11.5:1 compression ratio, ported and polished LS7 heads, a new intake and a forged crankshaft. The exhaust is by Corsa, the honeycomb wheels are custom jobs, and most importantly, the engine comes correct with 655 horses and 610 lb-ft. of torque. We'll have plenty more on this bad mofo next week from SEMA. In the meantime, head over to CarandDriver.com for more images.

[Source: Car and Driver via Camaro5 | Image: Patrick M. Hoey]

Dodge Challenger NASCAR Nationwide Series racer unveiled

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Oct 31st, 2009 at 12:24PM Breaking

2010 Dodge Challenger New Nationwide Series racer - Click above for a high-res image gallery

NASCAR's rollout of its new Nationwide Series race car design has garnered buzz already with the introduction of the first-ever Mustang-branded stocker, and it got another shot in the arm yesterday at Talladega when Chrysler pulled the wraps off its brand-new Dodge Challenger Nationwide racer. We personally love the fact that the Challenger NNS car retains the same general front-end look as the production street car -- partially restoring an element that's been missing from stock cars for years now. The new Nationwide Mustang and Challenger will join their yet-to-be-unveiled counterparts from Chevy and Toyota (don't hold your breath for a Nationwide Camaro) in four races on the 2010 Nationwide Series calendar: Daytona in July, then later dates at Michigan, Richmond, and Lowe's Motor Speedway. The new car designs are expected to be fully adopted for the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series season. This process mimics the way NASCAR rolled out the Car of Tomorrow in the top-tier Sprint Cup series. Check out Dodge's official press release after the jump, and have a closer look at the new Dodge Challenger Nationwide car in the gallery below. As soon as Chrysler PR uploads photos that show more than just the car's front end (come on, guys...), we'll update the gallery.

UPDATE: NASCAR.com has shots of all four new NNS cars. The Chevy and Toyota retain Impala and Camry branding.


Gallery: 2010 Dodge Challenger NASCAR Nationwide Series Car


[Source: Dodge Motorsports]

Read more →

Happy Halloween from Autoblog

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Oct 31st, 2009 at 9:13AM

Smashing a giant pumpkin with Grave Digger - Click above to watch the video

Those punk kids who TP your neighborhoods and smash pumpkins on mischief night? Rank amateurs. If you want to do something, do it right – an idea that Conan O'Brien clearly has a handle on. Hence, when it came time to smash a pumpkin on The Tonight Show, he procured the world's largest, and the blunt instrument he calls upon to do the smashing is Dennis Anderson's Grave Digger. You all know how this ends. The video's posted after the jump. Thanks to Shawn for the heads-up!

[Source: NBC via YouTube]

Read more →

Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXL aims upmarket and almost hits target

by Alex Nunez (RSS feed) on Oct 27th, 2009 at 11:57AM FeaturedReview

2010 Buick LaCrosse CXL – Click above for high-res image gallery

With great fanfare, General Motors has introduced the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, a vehicle with which the automaker hopes to jump-start a sweeping brand transformation for the tired Tri-Shield. For Buick to be a success in GM's post-bailout, post-bankruptcy era, the brand must dump its well-deserved reputation as the preferred marque of last-time buyers. (Average age of previous-model LaCrosse buyer: Around 70.) For better or worse, as it scrambles to get more – and younger – drivers behind the wheel, Buick has elected to position itself as America's Lexus in a bid to give itself some premium cachet.

Frankly, that's a pretty tall order, but if first impressions mean anything, the Buick LaCrosse might be crowned GM's savior on appearances alone, because it's that attractive, especially compared to the fish-faced namesake it replaces. The 2009-and-prior LaCrosse looks like the unfortunate love child of a third-generation Ford Taurus and a Mitsuoka Orochi. Or, put plainly, it looks like some ugly Chinese car. By comparison, the 2010 LaCrosse is classy and stylish. Therein lies the delicious irony: the 2010 Buick LaCrosse's glitzy looks were, in fact, jointly developed with GM China's design team. Go figure, and be thankful. In the metal, this ride draws plenty appreciative stares.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse


Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Read more →

Next Page →






Autoblog Podcast #151: With Car & Driver's Eddie Alterman

Eddie Alterman wades in with Sam, Chris, Dan, and Jonny to talk about SEMA and other recent events.

 
 

Featured Galleries

  • SEMA 2009: HPP Daytona Challenger
  • LA Design Challenge 2009 Competitors
  • SEMA 2009: 1962 Chevrolet Corvette C1-RS
  • SEMA 2009: Bigfoot
  • SEMA 2009: Black Bison Toyota Alphard
  • Ford's Inflatable Seat Belts
  • 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder
  • Shelby Turbocharged Mustang
  • Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition
  • SEMA 2009: Ringbrothers 1964 Ford Fairlane
  • SEMA 2009: Lexus F-Sport
  • SEMA 2009: Hennessey HPE700 Camaro
AOL Autos

Find Your Next Car

Resources

10 Most Searched Cars on AOL Autos

Autoblog Video

Autoblog Green

Daily Finance

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Autoblog Spanish

Switched.com

FanHouse

Asylum