Ford spoofs Cadillac ELR with latest ad

Rule Number One of advertising is, "kick 'em when they're down." Or was that Sun Tzu...or Bone Thugs-N-Harmony? Either way, while Cadillac catches flak for its controversial ELR ad, the above Ford ad with a C-Max Energi is either a shameless ripoff or a smashing riposte. (This, of course, depends on your affinity for European-derived plug-in crossovers.) Instead of a white guy, it's a black lady.

Aston Martin enters V12 Vantage (2009) at Nurburgring 24hrs

Aston Martin V12 Vantage race car By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 27 April 2009 09:52 Aston Martin will enter a V12 Vantage in the 37th Nurburgring 24-hour race on 23-24 May, along with ‘Rose’, the yellow V8 Vantage that was first entered at the infamous ‘Ring race in 2006. Aston claims the V12 Vantage racer will be pretty close to production spec, bar a revised suspension set-up, some safety modifications (a roll cage) and a reduced kerbweight (goodbye stereo system and other goodies). There are also new Pirelli P Zero slick tyres.

Mercury lives--on the auction circuit

James Dean famously drove one in Rebel Without a Cause, and perhaps Mercurys have never been cooler. That was more than 50 years ago and the brand is now on the verge of extinction. But as Plymouth, Pontiac and even Edsel have shown, some brands have legs that stretch long after new cars are gone from dealerships.