Category: Entertainment

Football fans likely remember Super Bowl XXXI. Played on January 26, 1997, it saw the Green Bay Packers end a very long Super Bowl drought by beating the New England Patriots 35-21. Meanwhile, a vehicle that most car fans are likely to forget was in the mix – a 1997 Plymouth Neon in Espresso trim, painted green with gold trim. Considering the Pac’s colors are green and gold, you probably see where this is going.

According to Chris VanKilsdonk at CV Wholesale in Green Bay, the Neon’s color combo was noticed by a local casino. It was purchased by said casino to use as a promotional giveaway later in 1997, but not before getting autographed by the Super Bowl XXXI champs. That includes legendary quarterback and hall-of-famer Brett Farve, who led the team to victory that year. In an email to Motor1.com, VanKilsdonk explained a Wisconsin resident won the car at the casino and kept it garaged for the last 26 years, accumulating 11,000 miles. It was traded in at CV Wholesale, and it will soon hit the auction block on Bring A Trailer.

As far as Neon’s go, this example is well-optioned. It’s listed as a Highline model with the Espresso appearance package that, along with Espresso graphics, included a decklid spoiler and a power bulge hood, among other things. Beneath the bulging hood is the DOHC version of Chrysler’s 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder, producing 150 horsepower. That’s not a bad figure for a NA four-pot in 2023; back then it helped the Neon garner a popular following in the club racing scene thanks to its power and spirited suspension. It’s a following that still exists today.

With a bunch of NFL player autographs on the trunk and an automatic transmission shifting gears, this ultra-low-mile Neon likely isn’t a good autocross candidate. But it could be a wicked cool collectible for a diehard Packers fan. To the dealer’s credit, photos at the online listing highlight some small paint scuffs and dents on the surface that might otherwise be passed off as normal wear. Photos underneath show a clean undercarriage, and the brown cloth interior looks straight from the ’90s. The car also comes with its original manuals and some maintenance paperwork.

It’s hard to say if there are any first-gen Neons left in the world with mileage this low. But it’s safe to none have autographs from a Super Bowl championship team.

If you watch a lot of Netflix, keep an eye out for more EVs from General Motors’ brands. To announce the new partnership, the automaker and the streaming giant are teaming up for a Super Bowl commercial starring Will Ferrell.

The commercial kicks off with Ferrell driving a GMC Sierra Denali EV through the post-apocalyptic Las Vegas in Army of the Dead. Ferrell is cruising through the hoard of zombies talking about the partnership between GM and Netflix.

The ad then shifts to Ferrell climbing into a Chevrolet Blazer EV. It follows a scene from the early portion of Squid Game where the protagonist climbs into a vehicle and a cloud of gas causes him to pass out.

Next, the scene switches to Bridgerton‘s set. Ferrell is in flamboyant Regency-era clothing, and a Cadillac Lyriq is following behind him. Ferrell clarifies that the EVs would only appear where they make sense, so don’t expect to see one show up in a historical drama.

Similarly, the next bit has Ferrell dressing as Dusty from Stranger Things. You’re not going to see a Chevy Silverado Trail Boss EV in the show’s 1980s setting, even in the Upside Down.

A GMC Hummer EV makes an appearance when a runaway bride climbs into the truck.

The final part of the ad returns to the Army of the Dead set. However, this time Ferrell is a zombie, and another undead monster is riding with him.

General Motors has lots of electric models coming from its various brands in 2023. Unless folks pay close attention to the EV market, this might be many Super Bowl viewers first look at models like the Blazer and Silverado EVs. 

For example, the Silverado EV’s WT trim arrives in spring 2023, and the RST joins the lineup in the fall. The Blazer EV is on the way in the summer, and the Equinox EV is also coming in the fall.

The Cadillac Lyriq is already on sale, but the brand is lowering the price for the 2024 model year to around $60,000. Meanwhile, the GMC Sierra EV that has such a prominent role in this commercial doesn’t arrive until early 2024.

Volkswagen is launching a 360-degree global campaign to coincide with the release of Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” in theaters starting February 17. The German marque company will put its all-electric vehicle, the ID.4, in the spotlight with custom content inspired by the movie.

The VW ID.4 will be featured as Ant-Man’s family car in the film, and Volkswagen aims to reach millions of people worldwide with this integration. Volkswagen sees the Ant-Man character as a perfect fit for the brand as it is relatable, authentic, and has a great sense of humor.

The campaign will kick off with a jointly-created custom spot that will be shown on social media, TV, and in movie theaters. You can watch the VW ID.4 ad atop this page, which featured Ant-Man’s daughter, Cassie Lang, in a suit while trying to sneak out from her dad using the EV. At one point, you could see the ID.4 shrinking, just like most of the vehicles used by the main characters in previous Ant-Man movies.

The ad was directed by long-time Marvel Studios collaborator Anthony Leonardi III, and the effects were brought to life by the award-winning VFX team from Framestore. A behind-the-scenes featurette will also give viewers a look at the making of the film and the placement of the Volkswagen ID.4 electric compact SUV during production.

Ant-Man is one of the most likable characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has been featured in two previous films. The first “Ant-Man” film was released in 2015, and the sequel “Ant-Man and the Wasp” was released in 2018. In the second movie, the main characters drove a Hyundai, which was a product placement deal between Marvel Studios and the car manufacturer. The most notable car in that film was the Hyundai Veloster that was dressed up, Hot Wheels style.

As mentioned, “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” will be hitting theaters on February 17. We expect more appearances of the EV in the film. In the meantime, the video below shows the movie’s latest trailer.

The next time you start a Netflix show, it might have a new star on screen – an EV. General Motors and Netflix are partnering to “give electric vehicles the stage they deserve,” and that means putting GM’s EVs in some of the entertainment service’s most popular shows and movies. GM and Netflix will launch a commercial during this year’s Super Bowl on February 12 to kick off the campaign.

Will Ferrell, who has starred in previous GM commercials, is back, this time exploring the worlds of Netflix’s most recent fan-favorite shows. The two short teasers GM released ahead of the complete commercial have the actor asking for directions from a zombie inside Army of the Dead and have him getting philosophical in the backseat of the new Blazer EV with a lowly Squid Game worker in the driver’s seat.

“Entertainment has a huge impact on culture,” said GM Global Chief Marketing Officer Deborah Wahl. “We want to make EVs famous on streaming, small and silver screens to build an EV culture through storytelling that incorporates the experiences of driving and owning an EV.”

Some of the select Netflix shows in which you’ll see GM’s EVs include season four of Love is Blind, season 7 of Queer Eye, and the new Unstable. The shows will feature the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, the GMC Hummer EV pickup, and the Cadillac Lyriq. The Bolt EV and Blazer EV will also make appearances.

In addition to putting GM’s new cars in prominent roles on the screen, Netflix will also be educating its creators on how electric vehicles can assist in storytelling. Netflix will also be taking actions to become more sustainable behind the camera, electrifying where it can and optimizing its energy use.

GM isn’t a stranger to knowing how movies and TV shows can influence pop culture. The fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro graced the silver screen in two Transformers movies before it went on sale for the 2010 model year. While GM’s EVs won’t be the stars of the show like the Camaro was over a decade ago, it should raise awareness about the automaker’s newest EVs.

Okay Fast and Furious fans, are you ready for one more ride with this team – sorry, family – of renegade street racing superheroes? They’ve faced drug cartels, terrorists, special forces teams, evil special forces teams, and a spoiled kid driving a Honda S2000. They’ve jumped cars across skyscrapers, out of airplanes, stopped an airplane, and even flown a Pontiac Fiero to space. What could possibly come next?

The complete answer to that question comes in May, when the tenth film in the Fast franchise reaches theaters. For now, we know it simply as Fast X, and thanks to a teaser photo recently shared online, we know the first trailer for the film is just 10 days away. Circle February 10 on your calendar, because it marks the beginning of the end of the road that begins … wait, where were we?

Actually, we do know a little bit about this movie. We know that Brie Larson and Jason Momoa have joined the cast, playing the roles of Tess (Larson) and Dante (Momoa). Whether they are good guys or bad guys is unclear at this point, but we know the previous lead baddie Cipher (played by Charlize Theron) will return.

Rumors have also suggested Gal Gadot will return to the franchise as Gisele, but those are unconfirmed and she’d not currently listed with the cast on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB). Gisele was presumably killed at the end of Fast 6, though technically she disappeared into the darkness without being seen again. Considering Sung Kang’s character Han was brought back after getting blown up in Tokyo Drift, bringing back Gisele should be a cakewalk. And yes, Sung Kang is listed as part of the Fast X cast.

We also know the movie has endured some controversy during its production. Veteran franchise director Justin Lin stepped down from that role last April, allegedly due to creative differences with Vin Diesel. Lin is credited as a writer and stayed on as a producer, leaving director duties to Louis Leterrier.

The Fast and Furious franchise is expected to wrap up after the 11th film. Judging by the wording in this teaser, it seems the finale will take place over the course of two movies. We will get a taste of that on February 10 when the first video trailer is released.

If you’ve been on the market for a new vehicle in the last 10 years or so, chances are high that you’ve watched at least one video by Doug DeMuro. DeMuro’s YouTube channel currently has more than 4.5 million subscribers and is one of the largest and most popular when it comes to new car reviews. Meanwhile, his automotive auction platform Cars & Bids has gathered more than $230 million in cars sold since 2020. The two business entities will be now combined into one single business after a huge $37 million investment.

The investment comes from The Chernin Group (TCG) and as part of the deal, Ro Choy takes the role of Chief Executive Officer. Some of Choy’s previous positions include CEO of Eaze – a cannabis on-demand marketplace – CEO of BitTorrent, and CEO of Luxe, an on-demand valet parking app acquired by Volvo. His first career steps were at eBay Motors and Bain & Company.

“Cars & Bids provides a great digital auction experience for automotive enthusiasts, and we auction some of the coolest cars in the world – and the investment from TCG ensures it’s only going to get better,” Doug DeMuro comments on the deal. “I’m also thrilled to combine my YouTube channel and Cars & Bids into one entity, creating one great place for enthusiasts to buy, sell, and learn about cars.”

The new business will focus on accelerating growth through increased investment in content and technology. DeMuro is already among the most popular car reviewers in the United States with between 15 and 20 million views each month. His auction platform, in turn, has so far hosted more than 10,000 auctions, including rare and expensive machines such as a 2006 Ford GT (sold for $395,000), Lamborghini Murcielago Coupe (sold for $417,000), and others. 

In recent years, Cars & Bids has become much more than just an auction site. It’s a place where you can find electric vehicles like Rivian and Tesla, enthusiast vehicles like the Ford Bronco, and even rare sports cars like a 2000 Nissan Skyline GT-R sold on the site for $125,000. With the new investment, the goal of the team is “to bring even more content and a best-in-class auction experience to car lovers everywhere.”

The 1966 Batmobile was a work of art, a true symbol of justice and power. Driven by Adam West, it was the brainchild of legendary car designer George Barris, who was tasked with creating a vehicle that would strike fear into the hearts of criminals and bring hope to the citizens of Gotham City. The result was a sleek, black machine that looked like nothing else on the road.

The 1966 Batmobile quickly became a cultural icon, inspiring countless imitators and inspiring a generation of fans. Kids everywhere dreamed of getting behind the wheel of this amazing machine, and even grown-ups couldn’t help but be in awe of its sleek lines and advanced technology.

Case in point: an Ohio man, only known on YouTube as the Batcarguy, who made a replica of the Caped Crusader’s iconic vehicle. And frankly, he was successful in doing so. According to the creator, people ask him if the buttons and switches work at car shows. Even better, the guy recreated a chase scene with the joker, intended to “demonstrate” the car’s gadgets. You can watch that scene in the embedded video above.

We’re not sure of the base vehicle for this replica, but it’s important to note that the on-screen version was based on the 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car.

The Batmobile was equipped with a wealth of gadgets and weapons, from a Batcomputer that could track criminals and decode encrypted messages, to a Batray that could project a smokescreen or a bat-shaped emblem to confuse and disorient its enemies.

But what truly set the Batmobile apart was its incredible speed and agility. With its powerful engine and low, aerodynamic design, the Batmobile was able to outrun any other car on the road, leaving criminals and their getaway vehicles far behind.

It’s cool to see all those things in Batcarguy’s replica. We’re not sure about that last bit about performance, though.

UPDATE: Jay Leno is having a rough time. In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Leno announced he was in a motorcycle recently. “Then just last week, I got knocked off my motorcycle. So I’ve got a broken collarbone. I’ve got two broken ribs. I’ve got two cracked kneecaps,” he told the paper.

The crash happened on January 17 while Leno was riding a 1940 Indian motorcycle when he started smelling leaking gasoline.

“So I turned down a side street and cut through a parking lot, and unbeknownst to me, some guy had a wire strung across the parking lot but with no flag hanging from it,” Leno told the paper. “So, you know, I didn’t see it until it was too late. It just clothesline me and, boom, knocked me off the bike.”

CNBC allegedly canceled the Jay Leno’s Garage TV series, according to an unnamed source from the network speaking to The Hollywood Reporter. Motor1.com reached out to CNBC for confirmation of this report.

To be clear, there’s no indication that the TV show’s cancellation has any effect on the long-running Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube channel. Leno continues to post weekly videos there where he drives various new and classic cars.

Jay Leno’s Garage first aired on CNBC as a special in 2014. Before that, the show was an NBC.com web series. In 2015, it became a regular series on the network. Since then, there have been seven seasons of episodes.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the decision to cancel Jay Leno’s Garage comes as part of a larger strategy shift in strategy at the network. During primetime, it intends to focus on reruns of Shark Tank and Undercover Boss and showing original business documentaries.

During the TV show’s run, Leno had some big guests. During the second season, Joe Biden was a guest while he was Vice President, and he returned as President during season seven. George W. Bush came onto the program for a segment in season three. 

The TV show was a bit different than the YouTube series. The online version generally focuses on one vehicle and often includes the owner to provide some personal context about the machine. Then, Leno and the guest go for a ride. The CNBC program added some more action to this recipe by including segments with drag racing or other stunts.

Leno has had a relationship with NBC since taking over The Tonight Show in 1992. As host, he would occasionally highlight his automotive enthusiasm and some of the interesting vehicles in his collection. However, the Jay Leno’s Garage YouTube series and later TV show really showed viewers the breadth of the machines that he had accumulated.

In November, Leno suffered burns to his face and hands when there was a gasoline fire on a car he was working on. He spent time in the hospital but had a successful recovery.

In December 2021, Motor1.com covered Scuderia Ferrari Formula One driver Carlos Sainz Jr. visiting the Prancing Horse to spec his car through the brand’s Tailor Made personalization program. Now, he has finally taken delivery of the custom 812 Competizione.

The Ferrari is a major upgrade for Sainz. His current car is a Volkswagen Golf. His parents bought him the hatchback as a gift when he turned 18. He kept it even while racing in F1 for the Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari squads.

Sainz says he prefers cars in dark colors. He specified his 812 Competizione in a deep shade of gray with a satin finish that alters the color slightly depending on how light hits the body. The wheels are black. Red brake calipers and subtle stripes add a little brightness to the exterior.

Join owners and enthusiasts discussing this topic at FerrariChat.com!

Sainz also personalized the interior. The carbon-fiber tread plates have “Smoother Operator”  on them in silver. The carpets have his 55 racing number as part of the stripes. The rest of the cabin is dark gray with red accents to match the exterior.

The engine’s sound gives Sainz a thrill, but that’s not too surprising. The naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 makes a wonderfully aggressive noise. On the road, he enjoys going through the gears just to hear how the powerplant’s note changes.

Ferrari is making 999 examples of the 812 Competizione coupe and 599 units of the Competizione Aperta with a removable carbon-fiber roof panel. The V12 under the long hood pumps out 830 horsepower (619 kilowatts) and 510 pound-feet (692 Newton-meters) of torque. It can rev to 9,500 rpm. A seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox handles sending the power to the wheels.

The coupe can hit 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 2.85 seconds and 124 mph (200 kph) in 7.5 seconds. The top speed for it is 211 mph.

Sainz had a good 2022 season in F1. He finished fifth in the drivers’ championship and scored nine podium finishes. His best result was winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.