Automakers push key vehicles through fall TV shows
By BREE FOWLER (AP Auto Writer)

NEW YORK - In this fall's TV season, a secret agent speeds around in a Chevrolet Camaro, a man tries to save the world with the help of a Dodge Ram pickup, and a famous talking car returns to the streets in the form of a Ford Mustang.

With auto sales at 15-year lows and traditional TV advertising less appealing than it used to be, automakers are hoping such starring roles for key vehicles will boost interest in - and sales of - their products.

The idea is to grab the attention of consumers without being too obvious, while also creating a positive image for the automaker, said Kelly O'Keefe, executive education director at the Virginia Commonwealth University Brandcenter, a graduate advertising program.

When done effectively, O'Keefe said, the practice has been shown to boost sales, and it can be very affordable for companies, which often can get their products placed just by providing them for free.

While product placement has become more popular in recent years because people are using digital video recorders to skip commercials, O'Keefe said the automotive industry's use of it is a good example of how the practice can take marketing a step further than a traditional 30-second spot.

"It's not just a byproduct of the DVR system, it also puts the product into a different context than an ad," O'Keefe said. "It's something that complements it."

It was that thinking that motivated General Motors Corp. to place two of its newest vehicles in NBC's new drama "My Own Worst Enemy," which premieres Monday night.

The show's central character, played by actor Christian Slater, has two different personalities. There's Henry, a suburban dad who drives GM's recently launched family-oriented Traverse crossover. Then there's Edward, a secret agent who speeds around in the new version of GM's Camaro sports car set to go on sale early next year.

"When you're integrated into a program, your product adds a presence and becomes a character in a way," said Dino Bernacchi, GM's director of marketing and branded entertainment.

The GM vehicles' starring roles are part of a wide-ranging marketing agreement that also ties in traditional TV commercials, a presence on the network's Web site and other promotions, Bernacchi said.

"The ads work harder and better when we get it working all together," he said. "It's not just that we have the vehicles placed there, there's a dialogue with the consumer through the show."

Chrysler LLC is focusing its TV marketing efforts on the its new 2009 Ram pickup set to launch this month. The truck will be featured in this season of Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." It's part of a marketing package that pulls together custom-made one-minute commercials, online promotions and a truck giveaway.

The Ram also is being promoted through NBC's "America's Toughest Jobs" reality show, and with truck giveaways and funny 30-second vignettes during the network's Thursday night lineup.

Besides the obvious short-term sales benefits, the integration of a vehicle into a TV show can turn it into a pop culture icon that remains long after the shows go off the air and the cars stop coming off the assembly lines.

The Ford Torino will always be tied to the 1970s TV show "Starsky and Hutch," while the General Lee, a bright orange Dodge Charger, is one of the most memorable parts of "The Dukes of Hazzard," which aired in the '70s and '80s.

Few images have endured longer in TV and movies than that of the Jeep, which was developed for use by the Army in the early 1940s and is now a Chrysler brand.

Versions of the Jeep have been the vehicle of choice for characters ranging from soldiers in World War II movies to the resourceful secret agent title character of the 1980s TV show "MacGyver."

In the 2005 action adventure film "Sahara," Jeep Wranglers were used in chase scenes across the fabled desert, which Susan Thomson, director of media for Chrysler, credits with renewing interest in the model in recent years.

Arguably, one of the most legendary vehicles in TV history is the Pontiac Trans Am from the 1980s series "Knight Rider." The talking car known as KITT returned to TV this fall as part of a new version of the show on NBC, but this time in the form of a Ford Shelby Mustang.

Bernacchi said NBC approached GM about providing a new vehicle to play KITT, but with Trans Ams long gone from the automaker's vehicle lineup, GM officials believed they couldn't do the fans of the original KITT justice.

"I think it's very difficult for anybody to walk in those shoes when it's not a Pontiac Trans Am," he said.

Bob Witter, Ford's Beverly Hills, Calif.-based brand entertainment manager, said Ford thought enough time has passed since the original "Knight Rider" to allow the Mustang to play the role of the new KITT.

The Mustang is an American icon in its own right, Witter said, perhaps most famously serving as Steve McQueen's wheels in the 1968 film "Bullitt."

"For us, this is the right kind of promotion," Witter said. "It's a cool, hip show that's targeted toward young people."

The automaker also has deals that place its vehicles in ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and Fox's "Fringe."

O'Keefe said the exposure the Mustang gets from "Knight Rider" could go a long way toward building the automaker's image.

"To put it in a context where people are going to see it a lot and talk about it a lot could be good for them," he said.

"At the end of the day, they still need to sell cars, and not just 500-horsepower Shelbys, but what this does is create the image that Ford's getting better."

NBC is owned by General Electric Co., Fox is a unit of News Corp., and ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Two armed robbers hijacked a security van with $1.3 million inside but were forced to abandon more than half the cash because their small getaway car could not carry it all, Malaysian police said Tuesday.

The robbers and their compact getaway car were still at large with $524,000 following Monday's heist near Kuala Lumpur, said district police chief Shakaruddin Che Mood.

The robbers stole a small car then held up guards in the security van at a shopping mall. One robber drove the van away and the other followed in the car, Shakaruddin said.

The van was recovered nearby with nine bags containing 2.7 million ringgit $786,000 inside - evidently because they did not fit in the compact car, the police chief said.

"The bags are quite big. I consider them quite stupid. Their planning was very shortsighted," Shakaruddin said.

The five security guards in the van have been detained for questioning. Police suspect the robbery may have been an inside job, Shakaruddin said.

"This thing was done in an easy manner," he said.

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - Brazilian police reportedly have caught up with a motorist who owes the equivalent of nearly $2 million in unpaid traffic fines.

Folha OnLine said police stopped a 36-year-old man on Wednesday night and discovered he has been ticketed nearly 1,000 times since 2001, the year he bought his current car.

Folha OnLine said the accumulated fines for speeding and running red lights total 3.4 million reals ($1.9 million).

The man said he never received the tickets because he was always too busy to register the car in his name.

Folha OnLine said the car is worth about $6,600 and was impounded. It will be auctioned unless the man comes up with the money he owes.

Calif. lapdogs can stay just that in moving cars

September 28, 2008 9:57 AM EDT
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Hollywood celebrities can continue to drive with animals nestled in their laps.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is vetoing a bill to fine motorists $35 for sharing the driver's seat with lapdogs or other animals.

Republican Assemblyman Bill Maze says the practice is distracting. He introduced the bill after seeing a woman driving with three dogs on her lap.

Schwarzenegger says he's signing only bills that are "the highest priority for California." And a lapdog ban isn't one of them.

By MIKE HARRIS, AP Auto Racing Writer Paul Newman wanted to be a great athlete - he just never found a sport in which he could excel. Then, while filming the movie "Winning" in 1969 at age 43, he discovered auto racing.

"I was never a very graceful person. The only time I ever really feel coordinated is when I dance with Joanne," he once told The Associated Press, referring to his wife, Joanne Woodward. "And that's not my doing. But when I'm behind the wheel of race car, I feel competent and in charge. It's something I really enjoy."

Newman, an Oscar-winning actor, entrepreneur, philanthropist and race car driver, died Friday after a long battle with cancer at his farmhouse near Westport, Conn., publicist Jeff Sanderson said.

Tony George, the chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the founder of the Indy Racing League, said: "To all his fans worldwide and those close to him in our racing community, we share a deep sense of loss, but cherish the many fond memories we will forever carry with us."

Newman spoke of his passion for racing during a 1995 interview with the AP shortly after he was part of the winning team in the Daytona 24-Hours sports car endurance race. He was 70 years old at the time. No one remotely close to that age had ever won in that event.

Newman could be terse and distant in his rare interviews, but he would light up when he talked about his favorite sport.

"I don't like talking about acting because that's business and pretty boring," Newman told the AP another time. "And politics can get you in trouble. But I'll always talk about racing because the people are interesting and fun, the sport is a lot more exciting than anything else I do, and nobody cares that I'm an actor. I wish I could spend all my time at the racetrack."

When Newman decided to get into racing, it was more than just being in the cockpit that interested him. He became a car owner in the Can-Am Series, campaigning cars for a number of top drivers, including Indianapolis 500 winners Al Unser, Danny Sullivan and Bobby Rahal, as well as Formula One champion Keke Rosberg.

After competing against team owner Carl Haas in Can-Am, Newman formed a partnership with the Chicago businessman, starting Newman/Haas Racing in 1983 and joining the CART series.

With Mario Andretti hired as its first driver, the team was an instant success. Throughout the last 26 years, the team - now known as Newman/Haas/Lanigan and part of the IndyCar Series - has won 107 races and eight series championships with drivers like Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Cristiano da Matta, Paul Tracy and Sebastien Bourdais.

"He was a great man and he will be dearly missed," Bourdais said from Singapore, site of this weekend's Formula One race.

Despite a heavy schedule, Newman came to the track as often as possible. He tried without much success to keep a low profile as he roamed pit lane on his motor scooter or sat at the team's pit box, his baseball cap pulled low over those famous blue eyes, a pair of reading glasses - used for reading the timing and scoring monitor - dangling from a string around his neck.

"Paul and I have been partners for 26 years and I have come to know his passion, humor and, above all, his generosity," Haas said in a statement after learning of Newman's death. "Not just economic generosity, but generosity of spirit. His support of the team's drivers, crew and the racing industry is legendary. His pure joy at winning a pole position or winning a race exemplified the spirit he brought to his life and to all those that knew him."

After playing the role of an Indy 500 driver in "Winning," Newman found he couldn't get the driving bug out of his system. And he found he had a real talent for the sport.

Newman began racing sports cars in amateur divisions and won his first race in 1972 at Thompson, Conn., in a Lotus Elan. He earned the first of four SCCA National title in 1976 in the D-Production class and also won championships in the 1979 C-Production category, as well as taking the GT-1 championship in 1985 and 1986.

His first professional victory came in the rain at an SCCA trans-Am race at Brainerd, Minn., in 1982.

When Newman arrived in the media center at Brainerd for the winner's interview, a bottle of champagne in hand and a huge smile on his face, he found just two writers waiting for him.

"Where is everybody? I guess I'll have to win something a little bigger than this to get any attention," he said.

Newman added another Trans-Am win at his home track in Lime Rock, Conn., in 1986.

He often said one of the things that attracted him most to racing was the camaraderie in the pits and paddock. And Newman loved a good practical joke, even when it was played on him.

During a weekend race at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., several drivers conspired to pull a fast one on him. They hired a bus and sent it to a local home for the aged, telling the residents that actor Paul Newman had invited them for lunch and a day at the racetrack. About 40 ladies jumped at the offer.

Newman was at the track when a crewman came in and said, "Paul, there's a bunch of people out here who say they're supposed to have lunch with you."

Newman came out of his motor coach with a smile and played the role of gracious host at a hastily arranged lunch for the adoring ladies.

When the Indy Racing League was formed, Newman/Haas stuck with CART and Newman tried numerous times during the 12-year split to broker a deal to get the rival organizations back under one banner.

Once, when a deal appeared close in the late 1990s, Newman summoned a writer to his motorcoach at Portland, Ore., and demanded: "Write about this now and we'll put some pressure on these people to get this done," he said, with a profanity tossed in to underline his point.

It finally did get done, but not until this past February.

Newman was thrilled by the unification, even though it was the IRL's IndyCar Series that wound up the winner of the internecine warfare.

"It's about time," Newman said. "Now, we can tell potential sponsors we have a future and mean it, and we can develop great, young drivers that will attract new fans to the sport. The future looks much brighter now."

As he passed his 80th birthday, he remained in demand. He managed to combine acting with racing by providing the voice of a crusty 1951 car in the 2006 Disney-Pixar hit, "Cars."

Newman drove his last race as a professional in the 2005 Daytona 24-Hours and even ran some hot laps around his beloved Lime Rock Park in August.

As the years went on, people kept asking him when he was going to quit racing. His reply was standard.

"That's what Joanne keeps asking me," he said.

Got the workbench done and the lights!! I'm very happy with both lol. Still have a few fans to put up but that should be done with in the new week or so. Also started on the shops trim work.

The next direction in automotive wheels may be clear wheels, like the Radurra by Forgiato. After spending a lot of time and money on those new high performance disc brake calipers and rotors, keep them out where everyone can see them. These clear wheels with a hard coated polycarbonate center let you look right through to the suspension and brake components behind them.



The Radurra is available in twenty and twenty-two inch sizes and are custom made for both automotive and motorcycle applications. You have your choice of a variety of color and finish options.



The Radurra was just unveiled at SEMA so if you hurry you could be one of the first to mount a set on your ride. If you don’t mind a lot of wheel cleaning these will look great but brake dust could be a bit of an issue and how resistant the polycarbonate finish is to scratches will determine how long the crystal clear look remains, although the cars these wheels are intended for are sure to get some high level care.

The current credit crunch can affect your insurance rates.

JoAnn McCord of Renton contacted KOMO News when her insurance company commented on her credit card activity.

"They sent me a letter and they said that since I had opened three credit cards within a 2-year period, that they couldn't give me the discounts that they normally would," she said. "I don't think credit cards have anything to do with your ability to drive."

But the insurance industry sees it differently.

According to one study, more than 90 percent of auto insurers use some form of credit scoring to determine your insurance risk and help set your insurance premiums.

And it doesn't stop with car insurance.

Companies are increasingly using credit information to calculate homeowners and renters insurance.

Their reasoning? The way you manage your financial affairs is a good predictor of your insurance risk.

As it turns out, McCord has excellent credit and gets great insurance discounts. But she's still disturbed that her rates just jumped 5 dollars a month- and her insurance company is nosing around in her credit.

"Because the amount of money I owe has nothing to do with my driving, especially when I'm paying my bills every month and I'm never late," she said.

Consumer advocates don't like it either, arguing that good drivers with bad credit can end up paying 20 to 50 percent more in auto insurance premiums.

But unless congress steps in to change it, your credit can be used as a factor in your insurance rates. They do not look at your full credit report, but do use factors surrounding your credit score to calculate your insurance score.

Tighter credit policies may mean quiet changes your credit score, so pay attention to due dates, balances and credit limits, which can be modified without notice.

Ok so when I had my house builted in 2001 I also had a work shop builted at the same time with the plan being I would fix it up after I moved in. Well that never happen lol. So about 6 months ago I'm working in my shop and I start thinking what happen to my dream shop?!?! So here is a photo history of the work that's been done so far to the shop.

CU 2008 Car Show "Sept 7th"

All the proceeds from this show are going to the Mary Bridge Childrens Hospital (Tacoma).

It will be Sunday, Sept 07 at the Les Schwab Tire Dealership in
Puyallup.

"10 most and least expensive cars to insure"

Chances are it's the price of gas, not auto insurance, that's driving you to the poor house.

But if you want to cut your auto insurance premiums to the bone, stay away from small, fast cars.

"It's a common denominator among vehicles that have the highest losses -- a lot of smaller, sportier vehicles, says Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.


10 most-expensive cars to insure


The 10 vehicles that account for the highest dollar amount of losses for insurance companies (starting with the most expensive) are:

1. Cadillac Escalade EXT 4WD
2. Subaru Impreza WRX 4WD
3. Hyundai Tiburon
4. Mitsubishi Lancer
5. Scion tC
6. Acura RSX
7. Nissan Sentra SE-R
8. Suzuki Forenza
9. Nissan Sentra/Mitsubishi Eclipse
10. Chevrolet Cobalt two-door

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, based on 2004-2006 models

"Contrary to the idea that smaller cars can help you avoid crashes, the data shows that small cars get into more accidents," he says. "If you feel like you have a vehicle that can zip in and out of traffic, chances are you'll do that."

Each year, the institute, and its sister organization, the Highway Loss Data Institute, analyze the actual insurance losses associated with the most popular vehicle makes and models. Since insurance companies use similar kinds of data to set premiums, the rankings give consumers a window into how their vehicle choices affect their auto premiums.

And, once again, the data suggests that small cars and speed are an expensive combination for insurers -- especially with a young driver behind the wheel. (To compare insurance policies and quotes, visit Insureme.com, a Bankrate company.)


10 least-expensive cars to insure


The 10 vehicles that account for the lowest dollar amount of losses for insurance companies (starting with the least expensive) are:

1. Ford Five Hundred 4WD (now the Ford Taurus)
2. Buick Rendezvous 4WD
3. Buick Lucerne/Buick Rainier 4WD/Honda Odyssey
4. Ford Freestyle 4WD/Subaru Outback 4WD
5. Buick Rendezvous/Honda Pilot
6. Chrysler Town & Country LWB
7. Honda Pilot 4WD
8. Buick LaCrosse/Chevrolet Uplander/Ford Escape/Volvo V70
9. Dodge Grand Caravan/Ford Freestyle 4WD
10. Ford Explorer 4WD/GMC Sierra 1500 4WD/Toyota Highlander/Toyota Sienna

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, based on 2004-2006 models

"Sporty cars tend to be driven in ways that lead to more crashes," says Rader. "They also tend to be driven by younger, riskier drivers." And smaller cars also tend to be more affordable, which makes them more attractive to those same younger drivers, he says.

"The Subaru Impreza WRX, the Mitsubishi Lancer, the Acura RSX, the Nissan Sentra SE-R -- these vehicles have the highest rates of collision," says Rader. "And age is a part of it. It's how these vehicles are driven."

The car that comes in fifth on the "most expensive to insure" list, the Scion tC, has one of the youngest demographics. Thirty-five percent of drivers are under 25, says Kim Hazelbaker, senior vice president for the Highway Loss Data Institute.

But the car at the top of the list, the Cadillac Escalade, bucks the trend. So why is a luxury SUV most commonly driven by a more affluent and comparative older clientele on the list? Two words: theft magnet.

"The Escalade has a lot of buzz in the entertainment industry," says Rader. "You can't watch an episode of 'Cribs' without seeing an Escalade. So it's desirable."


Check your car's insurance track record


• Want to see how a vehicle ranks as far as claims? Check out your current vehicle, next car or dream ride at www.iihs.org.
• Or discover which vehicles rank best and worst in seven different insurance claims categories at www.iihs.org.


So desirable that owners face a comprehensive premium of six times the national average, says Hazelbaker.

"It's one of the iconic vehicles that continues to be popular with pop culture stars, so it continues to be popular for people to steal," he says. Plus, "everything in an Escalade bolts into a Suburban," he says.

Least expensive to insure
The vehicles that are likely to have the lowest insurance costs? Today's version of the good old fashioned family car, says Rader. These skew toward large sedans, or midsize SUVs or minivans.

"They tend to be driven by people who are not as likely to speed or drive recklessly," he says.

And they also aren't as likely to be used to commute to and from work, says Hazelbaker. That means the cars aren't on the road during rush hour, which also lowers their risk.

"We have an awful lot of soccer mom cars on that list," he says. "The (Buick) Rendezvous, the (Subaru) Outback, the (Honda) Pilot, the Chrysler Town & Country -- all of these are sort of 'mommy mobiles.'"

And none of the vehicles on the cheapest to insure list "are very large," either, says Hazelbaker. "As the size of an SUV or pickup goes up, you do have higher losses."

The all-around least expensive to insure? The Ford Five Hundred, the study found. A medium-sized, affordable sedan now known as the Ford Taurus, "it's probably driven by a favorable demographic in a favorable way," he says. "It's a suburban family second car."

Cars of this type "are probably living in a garage," which makes them less of a theft target. Plus they tend to be less desirable to thieves, he says.

"If you're going to pick out something to steal, what would you choose?" says Hazelbaker.

When bigger isn't better for premiums
But larger vehicles don't automatically mean lower premiums. Some super-size vehicles could actually increase the cost of your insurance.

When two cars collide, the average repair cost for each is about $3,000, says Hazelbaker. But some larger vehicles are routinely linked to higher-dollar damage to other cars. And that could cost you in terms of more expensive insurance.

The top five linked to highest dollar damages to other cars, according to the institute are as follows.


5 cars with highest-cost damage claims:


1. Hummer H2 SUT 4dr 4WD
2. Hummer H3 4dr 4WD
3. Hummer H2 4dr 4WD
4. Dodge Ram 2500 mega cab 4WD
5. Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4dr


"They're big, heavy vehicles that tend to inflict a lot of damage on what they hit," says Rader. See the top 10 list.

Keeping premiums down
Want to keep your premiums low? Talk to your agent before you buy your next vehicle, says Loretta Worters, vice president of the Insurance Information Institute, an industry organization. Once you've narrowed your choices to two or three models, ask if any of the premiums will be significantly different. Note if any of the models have high repair costs or theft rates, she says.

It can be tricky. Even different models of the same car can have different costs when it comes to insurance. "A different motor or different luxury items" can change your premium, says Worters.

One example is a convertible. That ragtop could cost you more than the hardtop version of the same car, says Worters. A convertible is "easier to get into, so it might be more costly," she says.

Another tip off to high-priced premiums: higher-priced cars.

"The more expensive the car is, all things being equal, the more it's going to cost to insure," says Dick Luedke, spokesman for the State Farm Insurance Cos.

And each car has more than one score to consider. The same car that shows lower-than-average losses in terms of inflicting damage might be worse in terms of theft. But insurance companies, and the premiums, take the whole package into account.

So what categories make the most difference, when it comes to your premium?

"The biggest portion of auto insurance is for liability," says Luedke. Next is collision and comprehensive, fairly equally. And after that comes medical payments, he says.

Smart money: Look at your car's scores in all categories, but in the end, shop safety. Pick up great safety information, like crash tests results, rollover ratings, recalls, service bulletins and consumer complaints with the following sites.


Car safety information Web sites


• The Center for Auto Safety
• The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
• AllDataDIY.com
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety


And the car is only part of the equation. You, your lifestyle and your driving record will also have a sizable impact on the premium. To calculate your premium, insurance companies analyze everything from your age, residence, and driving patterns to your prior driving record and credit history.

When it comes to the premium, says Hazelbaker, "the person in the vehicle makes the most difference."

To the Many Friends of Camaro:

We know it seems to many of you this day would never arrive, but on Monday, July 21, 2008, at 4:00 PM, EDT, Ed Peper, Chevrolet’s General Manager, and Ed Welburn, GM’s Director of Design, will unveil the details of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. This unveil will be the first step in answering the many questions (or should we say confirming the many rumors) surrounding the new Camaro.

Due to many factors, we are not able to extend an invitation to the entire Camaro community to join us in person for the dual, simultaneous unveilings that will take place in Warren, MI, and Los Angeles, CA.

We understand many of you may be disappointed not being able to see the car “in the flesh” that day (and therefore give you a reason to meet us at Indy in September); therefore, we are arranging a live webcast of the Warren unveiling on the GM Next website.

On Monday, July 21, just before 4:00 PM, EDT, go to http://camaro.gmnext.com and click on the "Camaro webcast" link at the top of the page (the Camaro link goes live July 17) to tune in the unveiling. If you cannot watch the webcast live, no worries, an archive of the broadcast will be available on GMNext.com and Chevy.com/Camaro.

Speaking of Chevy.com/Camaro, the next evolution of the site will also debut late Monday afternoon. The next evolution will include images of the production model, exclusive production animation, and a downloadable PDF file containing specifications on the 2010 Camaro. After the webcast, come on over and see the changes for yourself.

If all your questions are not answered during the reveal, a web-chat on the 2010 Camaro will take place the next day (Tuesday, July 22) at GMNext.com. The chat will start at 9:30 AM, EDT, and will feature experts from Chevrolet Marketing, Design and Engineering.

Since Camaro’s production announcement in August 2006, many people throughout GM have been passionately developing a car worthy of its heritage that features beautiful styling, segment-leading performance, excellent fuel economy and advanced technology. Quite honestly, we can't wait to show you all the work on Monday.

Hey Chevy fans be sure to check out my Camaro Club here on Motortopia. If you like what you see then I welcome you to join Camaro Cruzers.

Happy Cruzing...
Ray
(aka no1camaro)