Hyundai offers gas incentive plan

Last summer, when gas prices were pushing above $4 a gallon, Chrysler tried to cash in and move some metal by offering a guaranteed gas price of $2.99 for three years. But that plan crashed when the price of gas plummeted. Now, Hyundai is ready to give that marketing spiff another spin.

Laurence Fishburne reprises Morpheus role for Kia Super Bowl ad

When we drove the Kia K900 recently, we asked, “Do buyers in the BMW 5-series/Mercedes E-class/Audi A6/Lexus GS class want a prestigious nameplate as much as they want radar adaptive cruise control?” In Kia's new Super Bowl spot starring Laurence Fishburne, Morpheus says yes. The Korean automaker's snatched up the erstwhile voice of Cadillac to reprise his beloved character from the "Matrix" trilogy in the hope of suggesting that reality is mutable, luxury isn't about nameplates, and the K900 will open your eyes to a world of improbable possibilities. Despite the explosions, melting dinner utensils and airborne automobiles of the ad, we actually preferred the making-of video released at the same time as the Super Bowl clip, which you can watch below.

Design Contest: 2005 World Automotive Design Competition announced

The World Automotive Design Competition, sponsored by Alias and hosted by the Canadian International Auto Show, is back with more participating design schools and an impressive list of prizes. Design students from twenty-six schools around the world have been invited to design a World Car that visually identifies its cultural origins and, at the same time, has appeal, and can be sold throughout the world, in at least five countries on three continents. The vehicle should be easily recognized as coming from a particular culture.