Filed under: SUV, Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, Ford

It is with mixed emotions that we share this particular video, which stars two young boys who lost their mother, Nicole Miller, in 2004 after the Ford Explorer she was riding in blew a tire and rolled, causing her fatal injuries.

A sad story indeed, and we’re quite certain everyone involved wishes that Mrs. Miller were still alive and that her boys would not have had a reason compelling them to make the tribute video in the first place. Certainly, the powers-that-be at the automaker hate seeing the Blue Oval’s name brought up again in connection to older Explorers and the well-known lawsuits lodged against it after a number of owners reported rollover accidents.

While acknowledging the tragic loss of life, it’s important to remember that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated the Ford Explorer and found it just as safe – or just as dangerous, as the case may be – as any other sport utility vehicle of the same era, which, importantly, was before stability control had hit the market in real numbers (and long before it became federally mandated, which was only recently). Independent tests were also carried out, none of which found the Ford Explorer to be particularly unsafe. Vehicles with high ground clearance and four-wheel drive are often afflicted with a higher center of gravity, making them easier to roll than passenger cars that sit closer to the ground.

For what it’s worth, Firestone did recall 14.4 million tires, including the ones fitted as standard equipment on many Ford Explorers built between 1991 and 2000, due to “a safety-related defect” (read: tread separation). But it isn’t Firestone that the Miller boys’ video targets, it’s the Ford Motor Company.

In response to a query from The Huffington Post, Ford spokesperson Marcey Evans said that the automaker was “familiar with this tragic accident and our sympathy goes out to the family involved.” Evans added, “We believe it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time as the family has brought a lawsuit against Ford, which is coming up for trial later this year.”

In any case, we’ve included Ryan and Gergory’s video after the break. It’s a heartstring tugger that sets new lyrics to Vanessa Carlton’s hit song A Thousand Miles, so bring tissues.

Continue reading Brothers make tribute video for mom who died when Explorer rolled

Brothers make tribute video for mom who died when Explorer rolled originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Hatchback, Hyundai, Humor, Racing

We can think of a handful of automobiles that appear to be closer to golf carts than what we’d otherwise think of as “cars”. Like the Smart ForTwo, for example. Or the Tata Nano. Rhys Millen’s Hyundai Veloster rally car, on the other hand, is not the first vehicle that would come to mind for schlepping clubs around the fairway, but Rhys himself appears to think otherwise with this latest video just released by Hyundai.

In the clip after the jump, you’ll see what happens when Millen gives new meaning to the notion of picking the right driver for the course. The added bonus of using competition machinery in place of the usual putter put-putters is that you just might get to the green before your ball does. And that could come in handy on the PGA Tour. Watch all the way through to the end for the blooper reel.

Continue reading Rhys Millen’s Hyundai Veloster rally car is about par for the course

Rhys Millen’s Hyundai Veloster rally car is about par for the course originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Videos, Comparisons

Car and Driver is back with its annual Lightning Lap roundup for a sixth year, with 20 of the world’s best vehicles taking to Virginia International Raceway to lay down the quickest time around VIR’s 4.1-mile Grand West Course.

Included in this year’s running is a suitably diverse spread of sports cars and sedans, ranging from the lowly Volkswagen Jetta GLI to the formidable Porsche Panamera Turbo S – a difference of 350 horsepower and over $168,000. And, just to add a bit more spice to the festivities, C/D introduced a new class (LLT) to include two trucks in the running: the BMW X5 M and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.

But what C/D gives, it taketh away. Gone is the LL5 class ($250,000 and up) and so are the LLU cars, like the Mosler MT900S, the current Lightning Lap champion. And we’re perfectly okay with that. After all, we’re more interested in how the Lotus Evora S hangs with the Porsche Cayman R and where the BMW 1 Series M Coupe stacks up against the Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca – and not just for convoluted naming conventions. Check out a video after the break for a taste and then head over to C/D for the full story.

Continue reading Car and Driver Lightning Lap is back, throws two trucks into the mix [w/video]

Car and Driver Lightning Lap is back, throws two trucks into the mix [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Videos

Flip through the pages of CAR, EVO or Top Gear, and it’s obvious the British motoring press has an unhealthy obsession with getting sideways. Not that we can blame them. We enjoy a healthy dab of oppo as much as the next guy, but when the Pistonheads hive-mind starts crying foul about opposite lock shenanigans, you know it’s getting out of hand.

Despite this, AutoCar has started up its own version of Blendtec’s puerile “Does it Blend?” series with Will it Drift?

After putting the latest BMW M5 to the test, next up is Mugen’s interpretation of the Ariel Atom. But will its 270 horsepower four-pot be enough to overcome the R-compound rubber? And if it does, is the wheelbase too short to keep the slide going? Hit the jump to find out.

Continue reading Mugen Ariel Atom… will it drift?

Mugen Ariel Atom… will it drift? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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