There are lots of ways to celebrate an important birthday, and all of them are well deserved. You can throw a big party, buy yourself something nice, or – if you're the altruistic type – do something for others in need. The latter is how Chrysler has opted to mark the 30th anniversary of its Dodge Grand Caravan and
A few weeks ago we brought you news of a one-off Mustang Cobra Jet that Ford was donating to charity. The car was set to be auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Hyundai, Mazda and Ford have initiated programs to aid victims of the recent floods across Colorado. Hyundai is stepping in to give help directly to drivers, offering those with flood-damaged vehicles a $750 credit on a new Hyundai. "At this stressful time, the last thing flood victims should be concerned with is how they are going to replace their water-damag
Prototypes developed by major automakers typically remain in said company's custody, but every once in a while, one trickles out into private hands. And that's just what we have here. Ford is donating a one-of-a-kind factory prototype for the 2014 Mustang Cobra Jet that will be auctioned off later this month by Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Soc
105-year-old Edythe Kirchmaier is quite a woman. Not only is she California's oldest driver – she just renewed her license this January after passing the test without incident – she has a perfect 86-year driving record without so much as a parking violation. In fact, she's been driving for so long that she learned how on a Ford Model T (how many people alive today have even driven one of those, much less learned on one?). On top of all tha
Key to production of any kind is efficiency - the ability to achieve maximum productivity with minimal effort or waste. Toyota has become a master of efficiency, with streamlined manufacturing operations around the world. In fact, the Japanese brand has become so well known for efficient operations that it now offers consulting services for organizations and companies outside the auto industry.
Toyota showed us a Spongebob Squarepants-themed Toyota Highlander last week. Kia has now revealed a Justice League themed Sorento. Can we just have normal, competent crossovers without all the animation frosting, please?
What did those "Helping Hands" end up doing, push the dang car for a month? Toyota in late May announced its first-ever Prius MPG Challenge pitting non-profits against each other for bragging rights over who could use the least amount of gas driving their Prius Plug-in. With t
The General Motors Foundation has provided a $100,000 grant to the American Red Cross to assist with relief efforts in West, Texas. Last Wednesday, the fertilizer plant in the town of 2,800 people caught fire and then exploded, the blowup registering as a 2.1-magnitude earthquake and felt up to 45 miles away. Fourteen people died, ten of them the firefighters and first responders who were there to put out the fire and get people to safety, 200 people we
The spectacular partnering of Kia and DC Entertainment (the company we grew up loving as DC Comics) continues here at the New York Auto Show, with this Wonder Woman-inspired 2013 Kia Sportage. Ardent Autoblog readers will undoubtedly remember the fruits of earlier Kia/DC efforts:
While Chrysler has been behind the Super Bowl's most talked-about commercials for the past few years, this is the first year the automaker has added an element of charity to its marketing plans for the big game.
Kia, DC Entertainment and Super Street magazine worked as a team to develop this one-of-a-kind Superman-themed Optima Hybrid that made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show today. The joint effort is designed to raise awareness for DC Entertainment's "We Can Be Heroes" campaign, a charitab
Nobody likes getting a ticket from the police, but a $300 fine given to David Hill of Wichita, KS could prove to be some of the cheapest PR a charity could receive. Hill had his Ford F-350 Super Duty covered in 856 Christmas lights to help raise awareness to his charity, One Spark Can Start a Fire, when a Wichita police officer pulled him over and ticketed him for being a distraction on the road and illegally displaying red and blue lights on a
Chrysler is moving to start a charity in honor of CEO Sergio Marchionne. The company's board of directors has voted to create a foundation to grant educational awards. Ronald Thompson, Chrysler's lead director, said the charity is a fitting tribute to Marchionne and all he has accomplished since coming to the American manufacturer.
Ferrari has managed to raise $1.5 million for victims of Hurricane Sandy during an auction in Austin, Texas for the very first F12 Berlinetta in the US. The funds will go to the American Red Cross and be earmarked for Hurricane Sandy relief. Ferrari started bidding on the F12 at $315,888, but the most powerful production mod
Stop lurking around your local Ferrari retailer, as the first F12 Berlinetta set to arrive on North American soil won't be sold through traditional channels. Instead, the Italian automaker will auction off its all-new flagship in Texas next weekend in an effort to help victims of Hurricane Sandy. According to Ferrari, proceeds
Kia, like just about every other business, is trying hard to find its way in the ever-evolving world of social media. Some might say the Korean automaker is trying too hard, though, judging by responses to its new Facebook campaign. The initiative was born out of an attempt to build the company's Facebook likes, while at the same time raising money for charity with a program called "1 Like = 1Da
DC Entertainment is leading a charity campaign called "We Can Be Heroes" to raise awareness of hunger in The Horn of Africa. With help from artist Jim Lee and Rides magazine, Kia has joined the Justice League with a Batman-themed Optima SX apparently inspired by the Dark Knight's darkest nights.
It isn't always kittens and cotton candy when a client splits with an advertising agency, especially at the end of a long relationship. If either side makes a statement at all, it's usually full of platitudes and the kind of celebrity divorce tone that leads you to wonder, "What happened there?"
