Hyundai pulls out of all motorsports in North America [UPDATE]

Following word from Rhys Millen Racing that its main sponsor, Hyundai, is withdrawing support from its Formula Drift and Global RallyCross Championship campaigns, the Korean automaker has confirmed to Autoblog that it is ceasing all motorsports support programs in North America.

With Hyundai building sales and financial momentum not just in NA but in virtually all markets in which it competes, the timing of the pullout from racing seems curious, but Hyundai reportedly wants to focus on new marketing strategies. Hyundai never really attempted to crack mainline motorsports series here in North America like NASCAR or IndyCar, instead preferring to get a toehold in racing via edgier (and less costly) extreme-sports-style forms of competition like rallycross, hillclimbs and drifting.

Millen's operation says it is looking for new sponsors and partners for next season, but Hyundai's support of the team will evidently remain until the conclusion of its 2012 seasons.

Hyundai will continue motorsports programs elsewhere in the world indeed, is debuting a new i20 racecar concept at today's Paris Motor Show with which it plans to return to the World Rally Championship, a series it exited back in 2003.


UPDATE: Hyundai spokesperson Jim Trainor has provided us with the following statement:

"Hyundai Motor America has made a decision to step back and re-evaluate its motorsports strategy in order to determine what is best for the brand following the conclusion of the 2012 Global Rallycross and Formula Drift seasons. We are also reconsidering our continued involvement in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, having achieved the world record in a Hyundai Genesis Coupe this year."

Via: Hyundai pulls out of all motorsports in North America [UPDATE]

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Ferrari aims to set record at Silverstone with thousand-car parade

The record for the longest parade of Ferrari models was set back in 2007 when 385 examples lapped Silverstone at the same time. That record was broken with 490 cars sometime thereafter, but the Maranello automaker's London-based unit is gearing up to shatter the record once again.

So far, Ferrrari North Europe has registered a whopping 600 cars to participate in the event during the Ferrari Racing Days event at Silverstone. That would be enough to take back the record on its own, but the organizers are hopping to attract another 400 participants over the next few months to make it a nice, round 1000 vehicles.

That'll set the bar high enough when the event takes place on September 15, but to see what the previous run of 385 cars looks like, take a stroll through the high-resolution image gallery above.
Via: Ferrari aims to set record at Silverstone with thousand-car parade

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Old timey Toyota Tundra being auctioned for charity in Orange County

No, your eyes do not deceive you, that's a 2011 Toyota Tundra masquerading as a vintage pickup. Not an awesome old Toyota Hilux pickup, but something decidedly more domestic. Of course, a new Toyota doesn't look anything like a 1950's truck. Neither does a modern Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado or Ram, for that matter, which is why this whole enterprise is so bizarre.

If you're wondering where to place the blame, the truck is the product of the apparently fertile imagination of one Clint Bowyer, Toyota-sponsored NASCAR driver and seemingly all-around good guy. Bowyer will be auctioning off the custom truck at the Barrett-Jackson Orange County auction, to be held June 22-24 in Costa Mesa, CA, with the proceeds going to charity. That lucky organization is the Emporia Community Foundation, based in Emporia, KS, Bowyer's hometown.

While Bowyer said in a statement that he, "wanted to take a brand new Toyota Tundra and make it look like it had been sitting, working on a farm for 50 or 60 years," in reality the pseudo-patina is the creation of custom painter Jason Jewett.

Scroll down to read the full press release.
Via: Old timey Toyota Tundra being auctioned for charity in Orange County

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2013 Ford Fusion campaign will feature 'Idol's' Ryan Seacrest

Just when you thought you could get away from Ryan Seacrest...

The host of Fox's "American Idol" will be featured in an upcoming advertising campaign that will pitch the 2013 Ford Fusion.

Seacrest will help spearhead Ford's "Random Acts of Fusion," which will introduce the model to potential consumers across the country prior to its official debut. Ford will run the campaign through radio, broadcast, social media and Internet channels.

"Through this innovative approach, countless people will have an opportunity to take part in once-in-a-lifetime experiences with the Fusion before it even arrives in dealer showrooms," Ford said, and we're still trying to figure out exactly what that means, but that's the power of suggestion.

Ford has been an 'Idol' sponsor since Season 1 a decade ago, and its promos ever since have included providing the two 2008 finalists with new Ford Escape Hybrids, giving away an American Idol Edition Fusion Hybrid (complete with an in-car karaoke set-up) to a contest winner in 2009 and a 2010 promo that let Idol finalists design their own Ford Fiestas.

Last month marked the best May ever for the Fusion, which moved 26,857 units, up 8.9 percent from a year earlier. Through the first five months of the year, Ford sold more than 112,000 Fusions, making it Ford's second-most popular to its F-Series trucks.
Via: 2013 Ford Fusion campaign will feature 'Idol's' Ryan Seacrest

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Buick Regal Grand National documentary Black Air coming in August

Black Air, the documentary on the Buick Grand National, is set for release on December 11 of this year. On August 4, however, the first 20 minutes of the film will be screened at the at the national meet of the Buick Performance Group in Hebron, Ohio.

The film, by Andrew Fillipone, Jr., looks at a car that is as much of an anomaly now as it was during the years it was built, from 1984 to 1987. The Regal Grand National, a boxy black coupe that still sported Buick portholes emitting the superheated air from a 3.8-liter turbocharged V6, had little to say to its brethren like the Buick Century, Skylark and Park Avenue. And any speaking it did do was usually centered around tire smoke and bystanders gasping, "Golly..."

You can watch the trailer below. And if you're near the National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio on August 4, you know whose party to crash.
Via: Buick Regal Grand National documentary Black Air coming in August

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Lexus launches "Unleash The LFA" contest [w/video]

Lexus' annual Golden Opportunity Sales Event is in effect, and an additional bit of golden yellow to go along with it this year is the Unleash the LFA sweepstakes. The deal is simple: you log onto your Facebook page, check out the Lexus Facebook page, submit your personal details to enter the contest and then spread the link to your Facebook friends.

Having done that, you'll be entered for the chance to unleash the LFA yourself. If you win, you'll be flown to the Skip Barber Racing School in Salinas, California for some personal training from ex IndyCar and NASCAR driver and reigning Grand-Am champion Scott Pruett, behind the wheel of an LFA. The contest ends August 21, and of course the odds are long, but since you'll be on Facebook anyway... and, come on, have you heard the LFA? If you need a reminder, you'll find one in the video below.
Via: Lexus launches "Unleash The LFA" contest [w/video]

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Autoblog Podcast 295 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern

We're almost ready to record Episode 295 of the Autoblog Podcast, and we're joined this week by Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood and Adam Ferrara of Top Gear USA on the History Channel. You can check out the topics below, add your own to the Q&A and join us live via UStream, as well. Keep reading for our embedded UStream player, and thanks for listening!

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode 295

• Jeep Liberty dies so that Wrangler Pickup truck may (maybe) become reality.
• Five popular cars to avoid according to Consumer Reports
• Dodge out of NASCAR

Via: Autoblog Podcast 295 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern

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