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GM is launching a new grassroots marketing campaign to reach out to minority groups across the country.  Dubbed ‘Ride and Drive,’ the campaign is designed to get people behind the wheel of GM vehicles without requiring a trip to the dealership.

Representatives from the company show up at places where large minority groups congregate and then let people look around and go for a spin at their leisure.  In some cases, GM is even offering incentives to take the cars out for a test drive.

The ride-and-drive events are so far being met with success.  A recent event had GM reps attend one of Detroit’s largest churches, the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, after a Sunday service.  Parishioners were invited to test drive several Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles.  GM even went so far as to offer free inspections of child car seats by their own safety experts.

In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, Pastor Charles Adams explained that the event demonstrated GM’s commitment to minority causes.  He added, “We are encouraging our church members to take care of their community by buying locally. This is an ethical purpose that is beyond profit.”

At a similar event held in Los Angeles, the automaker reached out to the Korean-American community by showcasing the new Chevrolet Camaro, which was penned by Korean-born designer,  Sangyup Lee.  GM served up tasty Korean bar-b-que from a well known local food truck while patrons chatted with company representatives.

GM spokeswoman, Carolyn Normandin explained that the Ride and Drive events are, “helping to change the public’s perception of our brands,” and are giving people the chance to experience vehicles, “firsthand, on their own terms.”  Last week, Normandin hosted another event at a Detroit coffee shop where patrons were offered a $5 coffee card in exchange for spending a few minutes to sit inside the new Buick Lacrosse and learn about its key features and options.

GM’s Ride-and-Drive events are so far proving to be a great way to gain exposure to markets that are often difficult to reach through traditional advertisements.

Normandin notes, “We know some people have never been in GM products before, particularly for a division like Buick/GMC. We know one way to help people fall in love with our products is to get them into our products and get them exposed to it.”

My brother and his wife have a bun in the oven and a serious need for a new family vehicle.  They’ve been busy getting ready for their new baby girl and asked me to help them start the initial research for their next car.

The Honk search tool was built to handle situations exactly like this so I fired up my browser to sort through family-oriented crossover vehicles with high safety ratings, ample seating, and great fuel economy:

2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Matt and Natalie have their own organic farm, complete with fresh vegetables, chickens, and a cow (yes, really – they own a cow).  It goes without saying that ‘green’ is at the top of their list.

The Toyota Highlander is one of the few family-friendly hybrids out there and I think that my brother and his family will appreciate both the great mileage and the roomy cabin.

2011 Kia Sorento

Matt and Natalie have already told me that third-row seats are a must-have.

The great-looking Kia Sorento just arrived and it’s got an optional third row of seats that will be great for the occasional carpool or visit from Uncle Josh.  It’s also easy on the wallet and it gets great fuel economy (up to 29 mpg on the highway).

2010 Toyota RAV4

In addition to two adults and two kids, this family also has two canines – Rio and Bella – to cart around.  The Toyota RAV4 scored well with people who own pets and I discovered that there’s a wide range of aftermarket pet accessories (cages, harnesses, etc) built especially for the RAV4.

2010 Mitsubishi Outlander

Matt and Natalie live in snowy Pennsylvania and they’re going to need all-wheel drive and plenty of ground clearance to handle the next Snowpocalypse.  The Mitsubishi Outlander has the most ground clearance of all the vehicles on this list and it can be had with the all-important third row.  Winter, you’ve met your match.

How now brown cow?

So what car should you drive if you’ve got two kids, two dogs, and a cow?  My vote goes to the Toyota Highlander Hybrid but we’ll have to see what Matt and Natalie pick for their family… Rumor has it that my 3-year old niece is in love with the sock monkey from the Kia Sorento TV commercial.

Now that the Oscars have come and gone, I have a confession to make: I miss Joan Rivers.

You know what I mean.  Her red carpet commentary was as over-the-top as her plastic surgery but she said what we were all thinking and she was totally hilarious about it.

That got me to thinking about all those horrible fashion label special editions that we’ve seen over the years, so I pulled together three automobiles that I think would top Joan’s list of the worst-dressed cars in the industry:

THE WORST DRESSED

2000 PT Cruiser by Louis Vuitton

I can’t figure this one out either, but I’m pretty sure that someone at Louis Vuitton got FIRED after this one-off car was commissioned for a special event in 2000.  The PT Cruiser was a fun, low-priced car for the masses.  Louis Vuitton, a high-end fashion boutique for the elite.

The two brands have virtually nothing in common and the end result was about as classy as a knockoff handbag from a Shanghai street vendor.  The exterior was painted in a bizarre aquamarine and there were gaudy chrome wheels and a nauseating monogram stripe around the beltline.  Even worse was the car’s interior, which featured drab gray leather upholstery with monogram print inserts and mismatched tobacco door pulls.

This car hasn’t been seen since the Louis Vuitton Classic in 2000 and I’m hoping that the Fashion Police have already locked it away for a life sentence with no chance of parole.

1972 AMC Gremlin, Levi’s Edition

In 1972, this match-up made sense on paper.  The AMC and Levi’s brands both spoke to middle class America and the rugged denim seemed like it could stand up to years of abuse in an automobile.  What no one realized at the time is that brass jean rivets get really, really hot when the car is parked in the sun for a few hours.

The Levi’s Gremlin was the equivalent of a dress that looked great in the fitting room but that turned awkwardly transparent when a photographer’s flash went off on the red carpet.  The only thing hotter than those rivets would be Joan’s scornful comments.

1979 Cadillac Seville, Gucci Edition

Even by modern standards, this Caddy’s fashion sense is questionable.  The Gucci Seville commanded a hefty $7,000 premium over the standard $15,000 Seville and only 200 were ever built.  That’s probably a good thing.

The interior featured a garish Gucci monogram print in canvas over caramel leather.  Outside, the car rode on special “GG” wheels and flaunted a custom hood ornament.  Unique gold keys and a full set of custom Gucci luggage completed the ensemble.

Even in 1979, I think that Joan Rivers would kick this Caddy to the curb.

THE BEST DRESSED

2006 Lamborghini Murcielago by Versace

Joan gives credit where credit is due and I wanted to give a shout-out to one vehicle ensemble that actually works.

Who is this Lamborghini Murcielago wearing?  Versace, of course!

What could be better than the pairing of these two dramatic Italian powerhouses?  Lamborghini and Versace are both icons in their respective industries, representing wealth and outrageous style.  The car featured a beautiful white exterior with matching two-tone interior.  Tasteful Versace logos completed the look and, as expected, the car wore an outrageously expensive price tag.

I think Joan would approve.

What does the color of your car say about you? Are you conservative, flashy, adventurous, eco-conscious, funny, or thoughtful?

Colors can serve as an expression of who we are, broadcasting aspects of our personality and our sense of style.  Buyers today have access to an endless array of color options from Wooden Nickel (medium dark gray) to Simple Chaos (blue) to Authentic Replica (dark red).  We’ve come a long way since the automobile was first introduced and Henry Ford famously remarked that Model T customers could have their cars painted in, “any color they want, so long as it’s black.”

So what’s up with all the black, white, and silver cars?

I ran across Dupont’s report on the World’s Most Popular Car Colors and was surprised to find that almost half of the world’s driving population gets into a black or silver vehicle every morning.  Another third of the world’s cars are a shade of gray or white.  Only the final 25% are “real” colors.

Even more interesting than the top 10 global results were the regional differences.  Europeans chose black as their top color.  North Americans and the Japanese chose white.  The booming populations of China and India enjoy silver.  What do you think these color choices say about the cultures they spring from?

The regional data also highlighted some other interesting differences.  In China, for instance, silver and black make up almost 60 percent of all new cars.  In North America, the top two colors (white and black) make up less than 35 percent.

Have the Chinese been taking their inspiration from Henry Ford or is there another reason they’re avoiding brighter hues?

The one thing the data consistently shows is that most people don’t stray far from the traditional colors of our automotive forefathers.  I think it’s a shame that when people have options like Light Intensity Orange, Crystal Crème Beige and Serious Fun Green, they more often than not choose Plain Old Gray.

Next time you’re given that choice, I’d encourage you to step out of the box and go for Running Start Yellow!

She’s a genie in a bottle and apparently… a car designer?

We’re still not exactly sure where the idea for this collaboration came from, but Chrysler has teamed up with the once-famous pop singer, Christina Aguilera to design a unique eco-friendly car for charity.  The vehicle will be auctioned off to benefit victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

To Ms. Aguilera’s credit, she and Chrysler did a superb job of transforming a Chrysler 300C into a green(er) vehicle.

The one-off car is dubbed “Eco Style by Christian Aguilera” and features a custom grille, special wheels, recycled materials throughout the interior, and the pop star’s autograph.  The use of recycled materials is extensive and incorporates cork, bamboo, recycled suede, and jute plant fiber.

And while the Eco Style is powered by a not-so-green 5.7-liter V8 engine, Chrysler is quick to point out the standard Multi Displacement System (MDS) which increases fuel efficiency in certain conditions.

Does the “Eco Style by Christina Aguilera” make you green with envy?

[Source: hollywoodscoop]