But when the brakes started making funny noises, he decided to take it to a mechanic.  The mechanic noticed the window issue and he ended up taking the door apart down to the frame.  Surprise, surprise, 14 tablet sized packages of cocaine cleanly wrapped and meticulously placed into the cars frame.  Police were immediately called and when the car was looked into further, they found 5 more packages in the wheel area.

Now Preston is in fear of his life, and rightfully so. (Although I don’t think putting your name in a newspaper article is exactly keeping a low profile.)

“It’s absolutely dangerous,” said Sgt. Jason Dwyer, a police spokesman. “If somebody is motivated to track down that van and doesn’t want any witnesses, then some physical harm could come to the owner. That’s a lot of dope to be misplaced.”

The police further warned him that there could be a tracking device on the vehicle and that he should have it checked out and get rid of it as soon as possible.  Then they handed him the keys back…….WTF! Shouldn’t they have offered to hold it in their impound for a while instead of giving it back to the guy and having him park it in front of his house?

“I just want to get rid of the van. I don’t want it in front of my house,” he said. “Somebody could just come and want the car and run me off the road. When I drive now, I’m always looking around.”

When Preston tried to return the coke-mobile to Thrifty Car Sales this summer for one without drugs, he said a manager was anything but solicitous. She told him he could trade in the van, but only for the current Blue Book value — about $4,000 less by his estimation than he originally paid. He had put about 6,000 miles on the van.

Preston refused to take a loss on the vehicle.

“It took me a long time to save the $14,000 for the van,” he said. “I should get what I paid for it in trade-in value.”

Ron Battistella, the owner of Thrifty Car Sales, said that’s not what he wanted conveyed to Preston, and he’s now willing to replace the van with a drug-free ride.

At least Preston is looking at the bright-side of this situation though.

“When someone says, ‘Tell me about yourself,’ ” he said, “I’ll finally have something interesting to talk about.”

It’s now obvious that there was a serious funk rolling through Toyota’s mojo for about 10 years.

It apparently started in R&D, moved quickly through the design and engineering process and found its way into manufacturing, before you bought it and started driving it with its unknown potential hazards. Everything from braking issues to the runaway Prius–who knew Toyota would serve as a harbinger of the depression we now endure.

I seriously wonder if someone was totally depressed about something? That one of the heads of engineering in Japan was going through a divorce? Or maybe they were trying to lose weight by overhauling their diet? Somewhere in the mix they just said, “F*** it…if this Prius runs away, it runs away.” I dunno. What I do know is that this brings the Toyota recall total to over 14 million vehicles.

Do you own a Toyota? Are you curious if your vehicle is on the recall list…this time?

Toyota and Lexus V6 models:

2004-05 Camry, Highlander, Sienna and Solara

2004 Avalon

2006 Highlander hybrid

2004-05 ES330 and RX330

2006 RX400h

This is due to an issue with a crankshaft pulley that can affect the steering. Toyota officials have stated that fixes will be available at dealerships in January. They have also recommended that any drivers of these autos should consider a dealer-led inspection if any odd noises develop within the engine compartment. Nothing like that final vote of confidence from the world’s largest automotive manufacturer.

According to an affidavit, Pratt said that, even though he knew the car was stolen, he wasn’t sorry because he wanted to “go to have intimate relations with Pearson.”

So the car was left the on purpose by deputies trying to make some arrests in car thefts.  Well they got their arrest but the intentions to steal the car were something they just hadn’t heard before. 

Whoopsie daisy.

I”m sorry but I have many followup questions that I think need to be asked:

1. Did they know each other prior to meeting at a liquor store and deciding to steal a car so they could have sex in it?
2. Would you want to have sex with ANYONE you meet at a liquor store?
3. Would you want to have sex after meeting someone at a place call Quick Stop?

I’m sure all these questions will be answered when the trial starts and the couple can try to get themselves out of this sticky situation……..sorry, couldn’t help myself.

Not a joke. No serious injuries, but Reese Witherspoon was hit by a car yesterday while she was enjoying a Wednesday jog in Santa Monica. She was in a crosswalk when an 84 year old driver struck her while driving approximately 20 mph.

Fortunately, the contact didn’t result in any major injuries. Witherspoon was treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital and released. Now she can tell fans and peers what it’s like to be hit by an NFL linebacker without any padding.

The accident actually occurred in a crosswalk, yet not in a tradition crosswalk at a traffic signal. If you’ve ever been jogging, walking or just tooling around in Santa Monica, you’re aware of the crosswalks that are kind of in the middle of a street or avenue, relying heavily on the driver seeing you there so that they might: “Yield to Pedestrian.”

Sure, if you take the time to hit the button, some of the crosswalks have flashing lights at the street level which are designed to draw attention to your crossing. Effective for crossing during the evening–highly ineffective for 84 year old ladies who struggle to see over the steering wheel.

I’m all for the privilege of driving–at any age; however, there is little logic that once you pass the test, you get  to possess a license so long as you can pass an eye exam and pay the few bucks to get it renewed before expiration. It would make sense, as people hit decade milestones, that they should take a driving test again.

It was in 2003 that an 86 year old man plowed through the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, killing 9 and injuring over 50. After the accident he told police he couldn’t stop–that he might have hit the accelerator instead of the brake.

I rest my case.

Every part of your ride matters, manufacturer, body style, type, color, engine, interior, rims and stereo. It’s your chance to show off what kind of a guy your are. Take McQueen, a super stud ladies man with wife (photo circa 1962). Are you a baller, a jock, geek, cowboy, hipster, eco freek, eruo trash, punk, biker, banker, rich douche bag? Now don’t look down on any of these profiles – everybody can be typified and put in a box and every single one of those types can get laid. The beat up volkswagen hipster crap box will take you and your lady to the concert and back for some sweat love beneath your vintage movie posters, the Aston Martin will take you and your blondie back from some crazy ass expensive sushi restaurant to your douche bag 5 star hotel in envious style.

The problem is fitting the right car to your personality. You gotta make it work, you can’t be a exploding testicle honey bee, but you can do your thing in an eco box and tell the ladies how much you love trees and west African cave bats. Now, we’re not saying you should pretend to love Naked Mole Rats – that’s nasty.

So if you’re searching for the right vehicle (a McLaren-MP4-12C as far as we’re concerned), it`s hard to know what to buy out of the hundreds of choices. The problem is easy if you just want consumer reports to tell you what to buy – but seriously no one wants that, that’s not cool. Car and driver, autoblog, etc. are all good, but they don’t really help you pile through all the options. Besides we’re all unique and we want random crap, like say my buddy who lives in the city but likes to head out to random surf locations: something small, easy to park and all wheel drive – basically a tiny offroader (here are some good options). The magazines can’t offer up that kind of personalized info.

We got turned on to CarSort, a new fan-dangled web startup that thinks picking cars sucks and wants to make it super easy. We agree and think their goal is noteworthy. Is it missing stuff? Yeah – no mclaren F1, Enzo, Z8, GT2, etc. – apparently is only new models and nothing super exotic at the moment, but we hear they’ll be adding everything in the future. Since most of us can’t buy a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport it still works and is surprisingly helpful.

So without too many details you basically go there and tell it crap you like and it instantly recommends vehicles that fit your needs. Also shows neat stuff like 0-60, skid pad performance and pulls quotes from popular auto magazines.

It’s fun and it answers questions like what cars have good mileage and good ground clearance (for those of us that love bush parties) or what are the smallest cars for for the hipster who likes to play things counter culture.

Check it out and in the comment et us know what you’re preferred ladies car is and why it works for you.

Maybe it IS time for a new car?

But what do you get? How much can you afford? Wouldn’t it be great just to have a car that looks good but can be paid off in a couple of years?

Meet the 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan.

I’m not going to inundate you with miniscule details about the car so I’ll give you a quick rundown on why this may very well be your new car.

It’s Cheap!

The car is ridiculously cheap. At the most with all the fixings you’re looking at 15k, but the car actually starts at $10,990. Seriously, this is the lowest starting MSRP of any competitor and it still comes with air conditioning. The packages that you can get range from the $350 Cruise Control Package to the $700 Tech Package that includes Navigation, XM Sat Radio and NavTraffic. The standard model is actually $3,205 less than 2012 Accent GLS.

It looks Good!

The car just looks good. If you were already looking at a Yaris or an Accent – this definitely will give you a bit more value for the money. The design is all new in comparison to it’s 1^st generation model, it’s more aerodynamic and sophisticated looking. It also has some functional innovations as well like the vibration reducing roof panel giving you a smoother more comfortable ride.

It’s Great on Gas!

No it’s not in the low 40s in MPG, but it’s a solid 30MPG in City, 38 MPG highway, and 33 MPG combined. This is a great little efficient car. Don’t believe me? Take a moment and try to figure out how much money you will actually save when comparing a 38 MPG car with a 40MPG car? What’s the difference? Now look at the price of that vehicle in terms of the Nissan Versa? You probably won’t get your money back.

It’s Roomy!

When you look at the car from the outside you can’t believe it’s as roomy as it is. The car has the most space per dollar in class and has the best in class rear legroom and trunk space. Honestly it feels like a boat when you’re in there. So don’t worry, all your friends can fit comfortably for a roadtrip and you still have enough room for all their stuff!

Check out the photo gallery below:

What do you think about the 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan? Would you buy it?

The New 2012 Volkswagen Beetle is set to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show later this week. The Beetle should be in showrooms by September of this year with the base price of $19,790.

We’ve got the photo gallery here.

The new bug has some new features:

The most notable change is its flat roofline. The Beetle is a big wide and longer than the models before it with a more conspicuous hood.Another option for the 2012 version is the sporty 200 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged motor. A turbo diesel option makes the beetle the most fuel-efficient ever. Some nice add-ons are the GPS navigation and audio system designed by Fender, however, the dashboard-mounted flower vase seems to have disappeared from the newer mode.

Check out the sneak peak here:

What do you think about the new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle? Are you a fan?

Has Ron Jeremy got the thing for you!! Unfortunately for him, people are no longer packaging and marketing his throbbing member…fortunately for you, they’ve moved on to putting his likeness on alcohol – which means we live in the only time where alcohol is made by all the people who shouldn’t be making alcohol. Such as Jay-Z, Dan Akyroyd, and now Ron Jeremy. So if you’ve ever bobbed your head laughing, to music, or on someone’s penis for money — you’re in good stead. Ron Jeremy has paired together with legendary Cuban rum maker Francisco ‘Don Pancho’ Fernandez. If you thought a press release for rum called ‘Ron de Jeremy’ would be just as kitschy as the set decoration on the majority of porn sets, you are spot on.

Ron de Jeremy tastes perfect naked with nothing added and works equally great as a mixer. It is the adult rum.

Damn my sheltered upbringing. I must’ve missed the rum they make for children. Also, it must’ve taken an army to restrain the marketing team from calling this ‘RUM JEREMY’.

Check out the Murano CrossCabriolet Photo Gallery!

Last weekend I had the pleasure to head down to Palm Beach and test the new Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet.  This Cross vehicle was ridiculously different from anything I have ever driven before. When I first heard of the vehicle, I couldn’t even imagine what a cross-over/ convertible SHOULD look like – but I have to say it’s a stunner.

Although the cross vehicle is considered to be skewed for a female demographic – I can’t say it’s not a manly vehicle. It looks good on the road; it’s rougher than your average convertible and come on – its way better than a minivan. Plus, if you stay away from the seabreezy Caribbean color and stick with the Graphite or black and add the leather color of your choice – Black, Cashmere or Camel – You’re looking at a sweet ride.

The interior is definitely classy – the wood grain gives the vehicle an expensive look while the double stitching on quilted seatback looks high quality.  The roof is a soft top that really highlights the crosscabriolet’s sleek silhouette. It takes around 25 seconds to drop back, but it does so automatically. (No pushing & pulling necessary.) And don’t worry about safety – the CrossCab has dual pop-up roll bars that are automatically initiated when the car tilts at a certain degree.

Overall, you’re looking at pretty tough vehicle. The Murano CrossCabriolet is about 400lbs heavier than the Murano. (Once they took the roof off, they had to make some structural changes).  Some of the Nissan’s Features also include:

• 3.5 – liter 24-valve DOHC V6
• 265 horsepower  & 248lb-ft of torque
• Second-generation Xtronic CVT
• Standard intuitive all-wheel drive system
• 17 MPG City/22 MPG Highway
• Independent strut front, multi-link rear suspension
• Dual flow path shock absorbers
• Vehicle-speed-sensitive power-assisted steering
• 20-inch split 5-spoke titanium finish aluminum-allow wheels
• P235/55R20 Toyo Proves A20 all-season tires
• Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)  & Traction Control System (TCS)

Some other cool features are the Cross Cabriolet’s Huge (and I mean HUGE) backseat, Bose Am/FM/CD audio system with 8 speaks (subwoofer included), rearview monitor, hard drive navigation system & XM NavTraffic, and heated front seats and steering wheel. This vehicle is FULLY loaded. What is my favorite feature? The Automatic audio adjustment for soft-top position – the sounds adjusts as your roof does so you don’t have to fiddle around with the volume.

All in all, it’s a pretty sweet looking vehicle. I had my doubts, I didn’t know how you could create a vehicle like this without thinking it’s just an SUV with the roof chopped off but, I was impressed. The Palm Beach scenery wasn’t bad either.

Check out the Murano CrossCabriolet Photo Gallery!

For more information: nissanusa/muranocabriolet

What do you think about the 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet? Is it your style?

Apparently, Toyota is trying to find ways to prevent accelerator pedals from jamming into floor mats or be pinched. The issue has caused some people to jolt forward unexpectedly.

In January we spoke of another Toyota Recall – You can find all the cars that were affected here.

If you’ve been affected you will receive a letter in the mail. When Toyota has found the problem – you will receive a second notification. You will then be able to bring your cars to the dealer for repair.

What does this mean for Toyota?

For a car company known for their quality – they sure have had some problems this year! Over 14 million vehicles have been recalled in the last 18 months for safety and quality problems.

List of Cars affected by the Recall

-          4Runner SUVS 2003-2009: 603k were affected

-          Lexus LX 570 2008-2011: 17k were affected

-          RAV 4 Compact SUVS 2006-2010: 761k were affected

-          Lexus RX 330, RX350 & RX 400H 2004-2007: 372k were affected

-          Toyota Highlander SUV 2004-2006: 397k were affected

-          Lexus GS 300 & 350 2006-2007: 20k were affected

Was your car affected?

Although most of the recalls affect Japanese car owners, there are also a number of cars (to the tune of 421,000) in the rest of the world. A huge portion of those defects affect the Toyota Avensis model in Europe and IS and GS Lexus models in North America.

The fuel leakage problem isn’t life threatening – it’s due to an improper installation of a sensory to measure fuel pressure. This can cause the bolt to loosen over time as a result of engine vibration – which would then lead to fuel leakage.  No accidents have been reported because of this flaw.

Some of the vehicles mentioned in the recall:

-          Lexus GS300/350 Model made in 2006/2007

-          Lexus IS250s made between 2006 and early 2009

-          Lexus IS350 produced between 2006-2008

-          Lexus IS250 petrol engine between August 2007-February 2009

-          Avensis 2.0 litre & 2.4 litre petrol engine models between July 2000 – September 2008

Toyota announced that owners of these vehicles will be notified by mail.

Are you affected by this new recall?

Love Gran Turismo 5? In December, Sony, Polyphony Digital and Nissan announced the debut of Gran Turismo (GT) Academy. Since then Fans have competed head to head exclusively on the PS3 for a chance to train become a PRO Race Driver and be part of Nissan’s professional team.  

Yeah I’m serious — It’s that sweet.

Want to play? There’s still time! Once you join GT Academy you will be challenged in a series of online time trials in a Nissan vehicle on GT5. The top 32 virtual racers will compete in a live scheduled event in March 2011 in the Playstation Pavillion at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Result. The top 16 finalists will compete at a world famous track in real Nissan race cars for chance to win the coveted first place price.

Even if you don’t advance past the online part of the competition there’s still some GREAT prizes to be had like:

• Playseat Revolution (Gran Turismo Edition) racing seats
• Logitech Driving Force GT wheels
• Gran Turismo 5 posters
• Copies of the Gran Turismo 5 Collector’s Edition for PS3

Find out more about the contest in the trailer below:

Interested? Register NOW at:  http://us.gran-turismo.com/us/academy/registration. Deadline to Register is Sunday,  January 23, 2011.

Did you register for the GT Academy? Love GT? Tell us about your favorite Gran Turismo game in the comments section below for a chance to win 1 of 3 Gran Turismo 5 videgames for PS3!

Giveaway Ends: Monday January 24, 2011.

USA Today reports that BMW will recall about 130,000 of its 2007-2010 cars with the twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engines for potential failure of their high-pressure fuel pump, and about 20,800 of its 2008 X5 crossovers with the normally-aspired inline six to replace the low-pressure fuel pump.

The recall was made public the same day that ABC News accused the automaker of dragging its feet on the fuel-pump recalls despite years of owner complaints.

Models affected by a potential high-pressure fuel pump issue are:

-          2007-2010 335i series

-          2008-2010 135i, 535i and X6 xDrive35i Sports Activity Coupes

-          2009-2010 Z4 Roadster sDrive35i

Over 20,000 2008 X5 Sports Activity Vehicles using low-pressure fuel pumps have also been affected.

BMW has said that no injuries have been reported with either pump problem.

Owners can direct further questions to BMW Customer Relations at 1-800-563-4269 or CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

If you haven’t seen the 2011 Ford Explorer yet, you’re in for a surprise. The new Explorer has been redesigned from the bottom to top, inside and out to the meet the needs of SUV drivers from all over the world. Who better to ask about the new Ford Explorer than Melvin Betancourt, the Exterior Design Manager? Check out our interview below and the photo gallery of the new 2011 Ford Explorer.

Have you always wanted to be an automotive designer?

Yes, when I was nine years old my dad brought home a brand new 1970, 302 Boss Mustang.  I remember thinking this was the coolest car in the world. I loved that car and still love it to this day.  I believe that was the beginning of my love affair with Mustang.  This genuine love for cars that I had when I was only nine still continues to drive my imagination today. 

How long have you been with Ford and how have you seen the company change over the years?

I have now been with Ford Motor Company (FMC) for 23 years and have worked on a number of very exciting programs including  Mark VIII, 92 Continental, 99 Mustang, (As a Design Manager), 2005 Mustang, 2007 Edge/MKX and 2011 Ford Explorer.  I also saw FMC change over the years as a leading edge global company pioneering Design and Styling, Flexibility and Functionality, Technology, Performance and Handling and Safety.  My favorite part of working with FMC is having a voice to the product we design and the feeling of being one huge family.

I read that you were influenced by Latin culture in designing the new 2011 Ford Explorer – Where did this influence come from and how did this influence   translate over to automotive design?

My cultural roots in Spanish Harlem have instilled my love of Latin dancing. This lifelong passion, as both enthusiastic participant and appreciative spectator, has enabled a unique perspective for inspiring the new Explorer design.

I’ve always found dancing helps release energy, relax me and clear my mind, yet I also look to professional dancers for design inspiration, too. I see form; line and muscle tone in a dancer’s body – just as I see these things in a modern, contemporary SUV. That’s why the new 2011 Explorer looks ripped and toned, athletic and graceful.”

Is the design process an iterative one or did you have a lot of freedom to push the design in the direction you wanted?

The sky is the limit when designing but you must keep in mind that there is an engineering package. As a Designer I make sure that the engineering package works with the design vision / Proportion and stands in this case, once we have that we as designer will always push the limit on technology and new materials.

Why would someone want to buy the 2011 Ford Explorer? What makes this year different?

Some customers have not lost their sense of adventure and still want SUV attributes, but they want them with great fuel economy, driving dynamics, safety and technology. The new 2011 explorer will deliver that – and more.

What trends do you see in 2011 automotive design?

It’s not a trend but you must be a global Design company, it has become a cliché to say that designers are influenced by society and the world around them, but it’s true. Consumer products, electronics and life itself has always and will always influence consumer product including automobiles.

What do you think the future holds?

We have become a society of communication, environment and safety.  Our customers are expecting us to make this a lifestyle and emerge these tools into our future products. Ford is using technology to improve safety, electric/hybrid to help for environment and My Touch next generation to integrate advanced communication.

YOUR TURN!

What do you think of the new 2011 Ford Explorer?

Today, Mazda is recalling 215,000 Mazda 3 and Mazda 5 sedans due to loss of power steering. According to the release, the products are being recalled because it’s possible the vehicles may experience a sudden loss of power steering while the car in is in drive. This type of defect increases the risk of crash, injury and, in extreme cases, even death.

The Mazda recall affects 2007-2009 Mazda 3 and Mazda 5 sedans built between the months of April 2007 to November 2008.

The automaker says it plans to contact affected owners of the recall in September and will send notices to all owners by February 2011.

Meanwhile, GM has also announced a recall of 250,000 GM Traverse, Enclave, Acadia and Outlook products due to seatbelt problems.

According to the GM website:

“There are 243,403 vehicles involved in the recall, the majority in the United States with several thousand exported vehicles in Canada, Mexico, China and Saudi Arabia and small populations in other countries

GM discovered damaged second-row safety belt buckles among warranty returns. There are no known cases where second-row safety belts have failed to perform properly in a crash.”

To find out more about the recalls go to GM’s official website.

The Huffington Post reports that the Transition’s creators are calling the two-seater vehicle, a “roadable aircraft.”  Thanks to foldable wings a la Transformers, the Transition can drive on any surface, and also transform into a personal airplane!

“It can fly at a speed of 115 MPH and has a 460-mile range” the Huffington Post continues.  The Telegraph also notes that it “requires a 1,700 ft runway to take off and can fit in a standard garage.”

Watch:

OMG!

AutoBlog explains that the Terrafugia Transition has even received special approval from the US air authorities: “The FAA has just awarded the Terrafugia Transition an exemption which will allow the 1,440-pound car/aircraft hybrid to fly under a “light sport” designation, even though it hits the scales at a hefty 120 lbs. more than the rules allow. A light sport pilot license only requires 20 hours of seat time – far less than what a full license would demand.”

Seventy people have already ordered the car, adds the Telegraph, which is “expected to retail at $194,000.”  The Transition is expected to touch down in a driveway near you by the end of 2011.

The 2011 Infiniti QX drives as smooth as it looks. Newly designed to reduce noise and vibration, the QX is roomy, comfy and quiet. I was riding with The Bachelor Guy, and he said that the car was like a living room on wheels. This is true. In fact, the ride is so comfortable that it’s easy to take turns a little quicker and speed a bit more. Maybe that’s why The Bachelor Guy and I got pulled over twice. I thought the sharp turn that he made was worse than my 71 MPH on a Kentucky highway, but the state troopers that pulled us over thought otherwise. The Bachelor Guy got off with a warning and I earned myself a “speeding” ticket.

Aside from the exterior looks and interior comforts, the QX has a host of other welcomed features:

The look-up-and-stop-texting warning system – it’s actually the Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) with Forward Collision Warning FCW) – applies the brakes at 25% when you approach an object in front of you. For people who constantly look at their phone while driving, this is a great feature to have. You can turn this feature on and off, so it’s only available if you want it.

Schwerve-control – or the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems – lets you know when you’re getting too far off course. If you start drifting over to the wrong lane or off the side of the road a bit, you’ll hear a beeping sound that’ll prompt you to straighten your approach. This is another feature than can be turned on or off, but I could definitely see it coming handy on long road trips. Blind Spot Warning (BSW) is another feature that can help keep you safe when you’ve been on the road too long.

The 8-inch WVGA touch-screen display in the center console controls the Inifinit Hard Drive Navigation system with XM NavTraffic®, XM NavWeather and a Zagat Survey® Restaurant Guide. The touch-screen display also controls the ridiculous, 13-speaker Bose sound system that features an in-dash CD/DVD player with MP3 playback two sub woofers, a 9.3BGB music box hard drive, a simple USB connection port for your iPod, streaming audio via Bluetooth and speed-sensitive volume control

The dudes at Bose were serious about creating the highest quality sound experience inside this Infiniti. When I asked if the different features of the car impact the reverberation of sound coming out of all the speakers, I was told that every minute detail inside the car – including whether the car has UV-coating on the windows or not – is factored in during sound tests. If you can appreciate the ultra-subtle nuances of a sophisticated sound system, the new QX does not disappoint.

In the back, the Theater package features dual 7-inch monitors with two sets of wireless headphones, a 120V power outlet and two auxiliary audio/video input jacks that allow passengers to split the monitors out into two separate entertainment areas. If one passenger wants to watch a movie and the other wants to play Wii, that won’t be a problem. The middle console in the back was also specifically designed to hold a Wii gaming system.

The 2011 Infiniti QX looks and feels like a luxury SUV should. It may not be the most fuel efficient ride on the block, but the QX seats seven people comfortably and offers 400 horsepower, 413 lbs-ft of torque and a 8,500-pound towing capacity when fully equipped. The hitch in the back is hidden when not in use, and easy to deploy when you need it. If you can afford the luxury and you need the towing capacity, the 2011 Infiniti is a complete package that demands a closer look.

2011 Infiniti QX56 2WD base price – $56,700.

2011 Infiniti QX56 4WD base price – $59,800.

Want to win a pair of tickets to The Honda Civic Tour Featuring Paramore? Of course you do!

The Honda Civic tour is back for 2010 and ready to rock from coast to coast this summer with headliners Paramore, special guests indie sisters Tegan and Sara, New Found Glory and Kadawatha.

Past Honda Civic Tours have included Blink-182,  Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy, so we know the shows will be BIG. Did we mention you could also win a sweeeet customized Honda Civic Si Coupe?

How to Enter

Simple — just leave us a comment telling us the date and location of the show you want to attend, then do this:

• Follow Manolith.com on Twitter
• Tweet this awesome giveaway on your own Twitter
• Link back to this giveaway on your blog
• Become our fan on Facebook

The more times you enter, the more chances you have to win tickets! Just remember to leave a comment for each contest entry you complete. (Example: “I tweeted this” and then add the link of your tweet.)

Note: Please use a valid email address. Contest open to North American residents 18 and older only.

Date and locations of Honda Civic Tour Featuring Paramore:

Fri/Jul-23   Raleigh, NC Road Runner Mobile Amphitheatre

Tue/Jul-27  Wallingford, CT Toyota Presents the Oakdale Theatre

Wed/Jul-28   Mansfield, MA Comcast Center

Fri/Jul-30   Norfolk, VA Constant Convocation Center

Wed/Aug-04   Philadelphia, Festival Pier

Fri/Aug-06   Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach

Sat/Aug-07   Hershey, PA Hershey Park Stadium & Star Pavilion

Sun/Aug-08   Darien Lake, NY Darien Lake PAC

Tue/Aug-10   Cleveland, OH Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City

Thu/Aug-12   Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion

Sun/Aug-15   Detroit, MI Meadow Brook Music Festival

Wed/Aug-18   Milwaukee, WI / Chicago, IL Charter One Pavilion

Thu/Aug-19   Indianapolis, IN The Lawn at White River State Park

Wed/Sep-01   Atlanta, GA Gwinett Center

Thu/Sep-02   St. Augustine, FL St Augustine Amphitheatre

Sat/Sep-04   Miami, FL Bayfront Amphitheatre

Sun/Sep-05   Orlando, FL UCF Arena

Tue/Sep-07   New Orleans, LA  Lakefront Arena

Wed/Sep-08   Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Fri/Sep-10   Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie

Mon/Sep-13   Denver, CO Red Rocks

Wed/Sep-15   Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre

Fri/Sep-17   San Jose, CA HP Pavilion

Sat/Sep-18   San Diego, CA Viejas Arena

Sun/Sep-19   Anaheim, CA Honda Center

Don’t forget to visit livenation.com for more info on Paramore tickets, and check out the Honda Civic Tour Featuring Paramore official site to enter for a chance to win a custom Honda Civic Si Coupe painted up and personalized with Paramore’s tags AND a MASI Speciale bike autographed and logoed just for you.

While the video is amusing,  it’s not the first blatantly obvious marketing video featuring a “white and nerdy” cast lampooning hip hop culture for the sake of sales. However, some people are calling the video, and others like it, racist, claiming that it’s the modern equivalent of blackface.

But the majority of hip hop and rap record sales are to white people — so maybe this is just a ploy to market to the white folks with what they actually like? Very sneaky.

Check out the collection of hip hop culture parody videos below. What do you think — are these racist, funny, or straight up marketing savvy?

Minivan Rap Song

Smirnoff Tea Party

Bounty’s Paper Towel Gang

Taco Bell – All About the Roosevelts

Each participant paid $45,000 for the chance to drive their super-exotic, high-performance or otherwise unique car across two continents (Tony Hawk, for example, is driving the A-Team van). This year’s Gumball had a European and a North American leg. Stars and their supercars left from London and hit up Copenhagen and Stockholm, before loading the whole kit and caboodle up onto luxury jets and flying across the ocean to Bangor, Maine. From there, the route went through Boston, Quebec City and Toronto before dipping back down into the U.S. for the home stretch to NYC.

There have been the usual hiccups and holdups along the way, including Quebec City officials canceling a planned car parade due to security concerns. Michael Madsen had to quit the European leg of the rally after his driver was stopped for speeding in Belgium, and yesterday another team had their car impounded by Ontario Provincial Police for being stopped twice for speeding in the same stretch of highway. Although rally participants are officially expected to abide by the rules of the public roads they’re driving on, do you really think 120 wealthy playboys (and girls) in flashy cars will remember this once they’re on the road?
If you’re into celebrity sightings or luxury cars, you can see them crossing the finish line tonight in Times Square between 42nd and 43rd Streets.

All photos from the official Gumball 3000 website.

The Toyota Prius hybrid was number one on the list despite the well publicized issues Toyota has had with product quality for the last year. Apparently the Prius’ 50 mile per gallon fuel efficiency, near-futuristic navigation controls and solar powered ventilation were enough to offset the car manufacturer’s blemished reputation.

Kelley Blue Books top 10 green cars isn’t just a list of the most fuel efficient cars. They also take into account the C02 emission as well as safety and comfort features. If a car comes up ahead of the rest of the competition in its class – it is then a contender for the list.

This means that even gas-guzzling SUVs can make it onto the list as long as they guzzle the least amount of gas within their SUV class. So hard-core environmentalists may feel some of the vehicles on the list have no business being there. Being on the top 10 green list is similar to not having to outrun a hungry bear, just your fellow camper.

Rounding out the rest of the top five, the Honda Insight Hybrid with 41 miles per gallon came in second, the Ford Fusion Hybrid with 39 miles per gallon was third, the Volkswagen Golf TDI came in fourth with 34 miles per gallon and the Mini Cooper was fifth with 32 miles per gallon.  Toyota made the list again with the Highlander Hybrid with 22 miles per gallon coming in at number 9.

What do you get when you have poker icons, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and venture capitalists all rubbing elbows under one private mansion’s roof? Easy pickin’ for the poker champions? Maybe. Or maybe the X Prize Foundation Fundraiser. On April 24th, the X Prize Foundation will host their casino night fundraiser at a private Pacific Palisades mansion with such poker icons as Annie Duke, Andy Bloch, Chris Ferguson, Rafe Furst, and Phil Gordon in attendance.

The X Prize foundation was founded in 1996, and it’s mission is to seek out new life and new civilizations. Uh, sorry. It’s mission is to bring radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. Basically, they create and manage prizes that challenge innovators to solve problems that we face today. The X prize is a $10 million+ award given to the first team to achieve a goal such as to sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days for under $10k per genome, which would be a huge step in personalized medicine. The foundation also has an X Prize for developing clean, production-capable vehicles. Their future X prizes include challenges in energy and environment, exploration, education and global development, and life sciences.

Sound crazy? It’s not. The X Prize model is rooted in history. Large cash prizes have been offered to spur innovation such as breakthroughs in navigation in the 1700s, breakthroughs in chemical engineering in the 1800s, and breakthroughs in aviation in the 1900s. It works, and if it helps all mankind, then I’m all for it.

If you want to attend the foundation’s X Prize casino shindig and have a high roller experience, you can buy tickets on their site. Their prizes for the evening include a trip to space on Virgin Galactic, a 2010 Tesla Roadster, and getting your genome sequenced.

Toyota is doing what they can to spur the sales of their automobiles. They’re offering great financing packages on already great deals, unfortunately, Consumer Reports has cast a red light on their luxury branding.

The report released this morning, listed the Lexus GX460 as a “Don’t Buy.” This follows the most recent jab by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which released a statement last week that they will seek the maximum civil fine of 16.4 million from Toyota, for delaying the revelation and notification of the faulty gas pedals in several models.

According to Consumer Reports, all four of their professional course/test drivers experienced the same problem with the new Lexus SUV. When pushed to the limit, the automobile “slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways…” This issue actually has a term: Lift-off Oversteer. Sure, these tests put vehicles to the extremes, but they also reveal what problems could be experienced if you were trying to avoid an accident.

Ultimately, the electronic stability control was slow to respond in aiding correction to the slides, meaning such a scenario could easily result in a rollover. When was the last time Consumer Reports was so harsh on a new vehicle? They listed the performance of the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Limited as “not acceptable.”  Such warnings don’t happen very often.

The Toyota response: They were “concerned with the results of Consumer Reports testing…” yet stated that the GX 460 “meets or exceeds all federal government testing requirements.” However, the automaker also stated that they plan to pursue a similar testing process with the new Lexus model to see if any changes should be made.

(Image via: Inside Line)

Scion will reveal their latest model at the New York International Auto Show on May 31, 2010. To create a little buzz around the event, they have developed a countdown website: The Scion Dimension. It offers a few daily sneak peeks, and will unleash its fury on the world wide web after the tarp is pulled from the new ride in the city that never sleeps.

With the word Dimension hovering around the unveiling, I’m very curious to see the newest addition to the Scion family. I do have a 12 year old who might be interested in a used one of these in about four years–if it’s as cool as they’re billing it! However, I think I may have my hopes set too high.

To me, New Dimension doesn’t suggest body line or contour, it suggests time travel. For some reason, I think I may be overestimating the ability of the flux capacitor in this ride. And yeah, when I say flux capacitor, I mean four-cylinder. Either way, I’m sold. I’ll be stopping by on Wednesday, March 31st, to see exactly what Scion has to offer.

At present Scion is a bright spot seen through the black eye of the Toyota Motor Corporation. A sweet, gas saving, trendy ride, could be just what the world’s leading auto manufacturer could use right now.

(Image via: Megawatt PR)

Seriously. What do you do? Shift into neutral and let the thing red-line until the engine blows?

Toyota maintains there is nothing wrong with the recalled Prius vehicles’ computers, and that the accelerator issue should be simple to rectify at the dealership. But wait. Sorry. Yeah, the Toyota recall for sticking accelerators hasn’t been offered for the Prius. You heard right. The Prius was part of the recall for the “floor-mat that might cause your accelerator to stick,” recall.

I’m not buying it. Nope. Sorry. Huh-uh. These issues have me all fired up!

When you’re laying on the brake as Jim Sikes stated in his interview, and a gas/electric hybrid 4-banger is still accelerating to nearly 100 mph, there is a greater issue at hand. No floor mat is going to pin the accelerator to where a person can’t pull it back by hand. C’mon, Toyota! We heard what the guy said!

If Toyota’s statement of “no known computer glitches” is accurate, then these cars have an issue that is presently beyond solution. Otherwise, you’d think they’d recall it, right? The Prius may save money on gas, allow for travel in the Carpool/HOV lane, but bottom line, they’re decelerationally challenged. This puts the driver, and everyone on the road at risk.

(Image via: The Car Connection)