MEDFORD, Ore., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ — For the cost of just one $5 ticket, one lucky participant can win a brand new PT Cruiser from Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Medford. However, five area high schools are already winners.

Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Medford teamed up with Kids Unlimited for the 2nd annual Kids Unlimited-Lithia Give-Away. The partnering organizations began selling the $5 tickets early this year and will continue until the April 7 Grand Prize drawing. A full ninety percent of the proceeds will be distributed among North Medford, South Medford, Crater, Phoenix and Eagle Point High Schools. The remaining ten percent will go to support Kids Unlimited.

“At Lithia Motors we put a premium on giving back to the community,” said Rich Summers, General Manager of Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Medford. “And as residents of the Medford area we want do everything possible to support our schools and teachers in doing their invaluable work, so this program is a natural for us.”

“Last year we exceeded our goal and raised $29,000 for the schools. This year we hope to blow by that number and provide an even greater return,” said Summers. “With the experience and expertise of the Kids Unlimited team, as well as the donated air time and promotional efforts provided by the Radio Medford Group and Charter Communication, we think we can hit even our most lofty goals.”

“The strength of our community is built upon the quality of the youth we develop through our schools, our extra-curricular activities, our sports and our youth enrichment activities,” said Jane McAlvage, Project Manager with Kids Unlimited. “The Kids Unlimited-Lithia Give-Away is a great opportunity to support these programs and we’re counting on the community to come through for us again with strong ticket purchases.”

Funds raised by the Kids Unlimited-Lithia Give-Away are used to support high school programs that link students with quality leadership and enrichment activities.

For more on the program or our dealership, visit us on the web at www.lithiadodge.com.

For more information on Kids Unlimited’s youth programs, visit www.kidsunlimitedoforegon.org.

Just watch the video - you’ll never see these high-dollar rigs getting dirty like this again…

And sadly, it’s proof - the jeep might get you farther down the path, as in this vid, but the jeep driver is just stuck deeper, now, farther from home…

Major dumbass awards to these buffoons for taking these rigs into mud like that on stock street tires.

If you’ve never seen this display at an auto show, it’s amazing. It’s a few years old now, but still impressive.

It works kind of like an ink-jet printer in that it very precisely controls (through thousands of small valves) the images shown with the water as it falls. That’s right - program in a Trail Rated badge image, and it’s rendered in water as it falls almost 25 feet.

It’s impressive - for sure.

Excellent work on this vid. The author clearly states what won’t be covered, then starts in with the CJ-2A and proceeds through the SUV-style models.

12 minutes, so book some time and grab a cup ‘o tea before hitting play.

OMG - I’m not really sure what to say about this thing - really.

It’s got zero articulation, chain drive, balloon tires, it floats, can climb vertical walls (to a point) and has absolutely no roll-over protection.

Calling it a tractor would be too polite - but hey, I’ll bet someone’s commuting with it in Russia…

Totally off topic here gang, but useful, so here ya go…

Found this today - figured I’d share:

Desktop Conversion Tool

You get a plain-jane looking little tool that allows an almost limitless number and types of conversion to be made:

feet >> meters - that kind of stuff

Here’s what’s covered:

density
distance
energy
flow
light
mass
power
acceleration
amount of a substance
angle area
computer
concentration
pressure
speed
temp
time
torque
volume - wet
volume - dry

…and you can set up a “Custom” section, too, if you so choose to build your own conversion of some sort…

Heck, NASA is even using this on the Space Station.

It’s free. You can donwload an .exe file (look away Ben) or download the zip, uncompress, then install.

This is a great little tool, IMO. Probably not the only one, but handy to have and you can’t beat the price.

Jeep(R) Gets in on the Action at the 2007 Winter X Games and Launches the Jeep Safe Way to Play Campaign

* Jeep teams up with Dr. John R. Tongue of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and professional snowboarder Stacy Thomas to provide important winter sports safety messages

* Nearly 400,000 sledding, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling injuries reported annually

ASPEN, Colo., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — With millions of people planning to watch the athletes at this year’s Winter X Games perform bold and daring stunts, the Jeep(R) brand is launching the Jeep Safe Way to Play campaign to communicate important safety messages to consumers before they head to the slopes and try to imitate what they’ve seen on television.

To help get the word out, Jeep has partnered with Dr. John R. Tongue, fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and professional snowboarder Stacy Thomas to spread awareness of winter sports safety measures that can often reduce the chance of injuries and keep everyone safe.

“More than 12 million Americans will take advantage of the winter season and spend time outdoors sledding, skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling this year,” said Dr. Tongue. “Of those, nearly 400,000 — or approximately one out of every 30 — Americans will sustain a winter sports-related injury.

“Our goal is to make sure consumers embodying the adventurous Jeep motto, ‘go anywhere, do anything,’ are acting in a safe and intelligent manner whether they’re on the slopes or in their own backyard.

“A proud sponsor of the Winter X Games since 2002, Jeep has been dedicated to safety and outdoor action sports for more than 66 years. The Jeep Safe Way to Play campaign combines Jeep’s commitment to safety and adventure in an effort to ensure that the same attention to safety designed into every Jeep vehicle is carried over to sledding, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.

Jeep Tips to Play By

As part of the Jeep Safe Way to Play campaign, Dr. Tongue and Thomas encourage consumers to follow these important safety tips as they head outdoors this season:

General Winter Sport Safety Tips
* Protect your noggin: Children 12 years and younger should wear helmets
when sledding, skiing or snowboarding and everyone should wear a helmet
when snowmobiling to prevent head injuries. The most serious sledding
injuries and most common skiing injuries result from collisions with
fixed objects, such as rocks or trees. Wearing a helmet can help reduce
the seriousness of these injuries.
* Use the buddy system: Never participate in winter sports alone. Always
select a partner and be sure to stay together when playing outdoors.
* Dress for success: It is important to choose proper clothing when
heading outside. Wear layers of light, loose, and water and wind-
resistant clothing. The water-resistant outer layers will help keep
participants dry when they fall and the layers will accommodate the
body’s changing temperature. Bright colored clothing is the best
because it can be seen at a great distance.

Sledding Tips
* Ride in style: The safest way to ride a sled is to sit in a forward-
facing, feet first position. To decrease the chance of injury, avoid
sledding downhill head first.
* Think with your head when choosing a sled: Avoid sleds that are made
out of thin plastic sheets. They can be pierced and steered by sharp
objects that may be buried in the sledding path. The safest sleds are
equipped with runners and a steering mechanism.
* Supervise your children: The majority of sledding injuries occur in
the areas at the end of a sledding path. Adult supervision is needed to
ensure that children sledding down the hill do not collide with other
children at the end of the path.

Skiing/Snowboarding Tips
* Fall like a pro: Learning how to fall is just as important as learning
how to ski or snowboard. Whenever possible, skiers and snowboarders
should fall forward or sideways instead of backwards to decrease the
chance of a serious knee injury.
* Watch the weather: Skiers and snowboarders should keep a look out for
icy patches and be prepared to make adjustments for ice, deep powder
snow and wet snow while on the slope. As snow gets packed down and
turns firm, skiing and snowboarding becomes more difficult and runs
down the hill become quicker.
* Don’t start cold: At the start of each new day, skiers and
snowboarders should take a couple of slow runs to warm up their bodies
and become familiar with the slopes.

Snowmobiling Tips
* Drive on the right side: When traveling on snowmobile trails always
stay to the right - just like driving on the road - and always slow
down at the top of a hill, cliff or snow bank to help prevent
collisions with oncoming snowmobiles or unforeseen objects.
* Use designated hand signals: It is often difficult to hear over the
noise of snowmobiles, so keep the lines of communication open with hand
signals. Before heading out with a group, identify hand signals that
can be used to tell others when to speed up, slow down, stop,
turnaround, etc.
* Leave a note: Before departing on a snowmobile trip, always leave a
note describing where you’re going, who you’re with, when you plan to
return, and what equipment you have with you. Leave the note with a
friend, at the front desk at a hotel or with someone who will notice if
you do not return in a timely manner.

Driving Tips
* Drive slowly: When driving in the snow, do everything slowly. Even
when driving vehicles that are equipped with the newest safety
features, like the traction control system and electronic stability
program that come standard on all Jeep vehicles, drivers should
accelerate, turn and break slowly and gently.
* Watch for ice: Be aware of potential icy areas such as shady spots and
bridges. Even if it’s blue skies and sunny, it’s still icy on bridges
and in the shade throughout the winter months.
* First Aid Kit: You should keep first aid items (bandages, aspirin, and
wraps) in your vehicle in case someone gets injured on their way to or
from winter sporting activities.

“The Jeep brand has a full-line of 4×4 vehicles designed to get families to and from their destinations safely this season,” said John Plecha, Director - Jeep Brand Marketing and Global Communications. “Through the Jeep Safe Way to Play campaign, we hope to make sure that drivers and families are just as safe on the slopes and sledding hills as they are in all seven Jeep brand vehicles.”

The Land Rover Range Rover Awarded Third Consecutive Automotive Loyalty Award by Polk

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Land Rover was honored by R. L. Polk & Co. during its eleventh annual Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards ceremony at the 2007 Automotive News World Congress in Dearborn, MI. Range Rover won the Prestige SUV category for the third consecutive year.

“We are elated that our customers are loyal to the Range Rover,” said Kevin Donovan, Market Manager for Land Rover North America. “To lead the Prestige SUV segment for three consecutive years reflects our customers’ passion for the unique driving experience provided by this award winning vehicle.”

The Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards recognize manufacturers for superior owner loyalty performance. Loyalty is determined when a household that owns a new vehicle returns to purchase or lease another new vehicle of the same model or make.

Land Rover has produced preeminent sport-utility vehicles since 1948 and has positioned itself globally as a brand synonymous with adventure, innovation and understated luxury. The Range Rover, Land Rover’s flagship model, epitomizes these attributes.

Land Rover North America is part of Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover with headquarters in Irvine, California. Land Rover established operations in the U.S. in 1986, and now imports and distributes Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and LR3 vehicles manufactured by Land Rover in Solihull, England. Land Rover’s worldwide operations are wholly owned by Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan. For information about the Land Rover retailer nearest you, call 800- FIND-4WD or log on to www.LandRoverusa.com.

Vehicle specifications and features are subject to change. For the latest Land Rover pricing and product information, contact Land Rover North America Corporate Communications at (949) 341-5800. Land Rover-related press releases and electronic photos of the company’s products are available on-line in the Land Rover section of Ford Motor Company’s news media website (media.landrover.com).

Chrysler Group Announces Pricing for the New 2007 Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee CRD

* Full-size, diesel-powered sport-utility vehicle for under $39,000

* Up to 30 percent improvement in fuel economy and 20 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions

* Class-leading torque and driving range (450 miles); outstanding towing

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Chrysler Group announced today at the Washington Auto Show pricing for its first diesel-powered, full- size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) to be offered in the United States. The 2007 Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee with a 3.0-liter common rail turbo diesel (CRD) engine will begin to arrive at Jeep dealerships in March.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited CRD will begin at $38,475, including $695 destination. The 3.0-liter V-6 CRD engine will be available on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and Overland 4×2 and 4×4 models.

“The Chrysler Group is leading the way to bring the advantages of diesel to various U.S. vehicle segments,” Tom LaSorda, President and CEO, Chrysler Group, said. “Chrysler Group will continue to build upon our diesel leadership in the years to come. We believe that clean diesel technology can and should be a part of the national energy solution. It’s crucial that our country’s policymakers set regulations that encourage a diversity of approaches to reducing our dependence on oil.”

The new 3.0-liter V-6 CRD engine, built by Mercedes-Benz, produces 215 hp (160 kW) @ 3,800 rpm and 376 lb.-ft. torque (510 N*m) @ 1,600-2,800 rpm and gets an estimated fuel economy of 20 miles city and 25 miles highway for 4×2 models and 20 miles city and 24 miles highway for 4×4 models. Most recently, the engine earned a spot on “Ward’s 10 Best Engines” list.

The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD offers class-leading torque, outstanding towing capacity (7,400 pounds), and class-leading driving range of approximately 450 miles. Clean diesel technology also improves fuel economy by up to 30 percent and has up to 20 percent fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited CRD

With an MSRP of $38,475 for 4×2 models and $41,715 for 4×4 models (including destination) the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited CRD includes Sirius Satellite Radio, Quadra-Drive II(R)*, five-speed automatic transmission, 17- inch aluminum wheels, memory system (seats, mirrors, pedals, etc.), air conditioning with dual-zone automatic temperature control, rain sensitive windshield wipers, premium leather seats, SmartBeam headlamps, tire pressure monitor, engine block heater, and AM/FM/six-disc CD/MP3 radio. (*4×4 models only)

Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland CRD

With an MSRP of $41,960 for 4×2 models and $45,395 for 4×4 models (including destination) the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland CRD includes a five- speed automatic transmission, Quadra-Drive II*, 17-inch chrome clad wheels, ParkView rear back-up camera, ParkSense(R) rear back-up system, skid plates*, trailer tow package, tow hooks*, engine block heater, Sirius Satellite Radio, DVD-based AM/FM/six-disc CD/MP3 navigation radio and UConnect(R) hands-free communication system. (*4×4 models only)

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel will offer excellent performance, increased fuel economy, class-leading torque, towing and a driving range of 450 miles - the equivalent of driving from Washington D.C. to Boston,” said Craig Love, Vice President–Rear-Wheel-Drive Product Team, Chrysler Group. “Unlike past experiences Americans may have had with diesel engines 20 years ago, the 3.0-liter CRD available on the Jeep Grand Cherokee is engineered to be a smooth-running, quiet, clean engine. Consumers may forget that they are driving a diesel vehicle.”

The Jeep brand also announced last year that the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee would have a flex-fuel capable 4.7-liter SOHC V-8 engine, which gives customers the ability to use a fuel with an 85 percent concentration of ethanol (E85) in their vehicles. Flex-fuel vehicles support renewable sources of fuel and reduce emissions. The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee continues Chrysler Group’s commitment to alternative fuels and technology.

More than 60 percent of the Chrysler Group vehicles sold in Western Europe are diesel powered. Between 2003 and 2007, the Chrysler Group will triple the number of diesel offerings outside North America. Of the estimated 20 vehicles available, 12 or more will have the option for a diesel powertrain (up from four in 2003).

The Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be manufactured at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. The Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be fueled with B5 (5 percent) biodiesel at the assembly plant to help increase the awareness of biodiesel. The 3.0-liter V-6 CRD engine is built at the Mercedes-Benz Berlin Marienfelde Plant in Berlin, Germany.

Well, I saw an old ad today for the Dodge GTX sold in South America in the late 60’s. That got me to thinking and I found this little number on YouTube.

It’s a scene from something - the whole thing is in Spanish, but hey, there’ snot much talking, yet a whole lot of tires squealing.

It’s a decent chase scene with all the hallmarks of low-budget shooting: