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These 'blind' automotive world record stunts have to stop

Drivers setting world records "blind" – wearing a blindfold or with something obscuring the windshield – is the new thing for some reason. First it was an Alfa Romeo Giulia setting a blind lap at Silverstone with help from a spotter trailing behind, and now this: a stunt man doing a J-turn within a narrow path with nothing but a Nissan Juke's cameras guiding him. He matched the "sighted" J-turn record, flipping the car around in a space about 7 inches longer than the car. I have two issues with these stunts. First, there are just too many world records. Yeah, I said it. Are these meaningful? Is someone else likely to ever attempt this feat? No, because it's just marketing, both for the manufacturer and whoever's still trying to sell those annual books. Stuff like the fastest production car is fine with me. Heck, I'll even take unofficial Nurburgring times – the kind where the drivers can actually see. Second, I'm all for stunts, but do something cool! And preferably something that could only be performed with that particular car, if you're going to make an ad out of it. Yes, the Juke has an Around View Monitor system, which stitches together feeds from four cameras to make it look like the car is being filmed by a drone hovering overhead. I happen to love 360-degree cameras – they let you see things that are just not visible from the driver's seat and make parking and low-speed maneuvering really easy. But the Juke isn't the first car to offer one, and the feature isn't even new to the car. Nissan was at least forthright enough to admit that this professional driver (on a closed course!) had a bunch of practice. But this really says more about his precision driving skills than about the car, or the camera. And just so we're clear, you really shouldn't try to park a car without looking out the windows, even if you have fancy cameras. So what's next? Pretty soon there will be a record for blindest blind stunt. Let me know when someone actually does something interesting. Related Video:

Alfa Romeo's Super Bowl commercial is about dreams and reinvention [UPDATE]

Update 2: Alfa Romeo keeps rolling out the Super Bowl ads. The post has been changed to include the third ad and information about it. Update: Alfa Romeo had not one, but two new Super Bowl commercials, and this post has been edited to include the second one. Alfa Romeo's Super Bowl commercial talks about the things we've dreamed of since we were kids, like riding on dragons and flying cars. It also covers the various life lessons many of us learn, including how to be true to oneself. All the while, images of childhood, growing up, and vintage Alfa Romeos are spliced together. It covers some heartwarming ground, but it's all a bit broad and borderline vague. The idea seems to be that Alfa as a company has learned the same lessons we do growing up, and that it all pays off with its new models. The second ad is much better, and is all about Alfa's strengths: driving enjoyment, passion, and other cliched Italian automotive characteristics. It shows a new Giulia Quadrifoglio cruising some gorgeous mountain roads, and the driver talking about being one with the vehicle and loving the experience. The bit about letting something go if you love it was cheesy, but this was a commercial that really showed what Alfa Romeo is all about, and we liked it. Check it out above. Alfa's third Super Bowl ad of the night continues what the second one started. This one focuses on the most powerful Giulia's beauty, and, well, power. It's apparently both breath-taking and breath-giving. Check out the commercial above. Related Video: Image Credit: Alfa Romeo / YouTube Alfa Romeo Super Bowl Commercials Videos super bowl li

Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA heritage liveries revealed, and here's what it will cost

Alfa Romeo created the Giulia GTA as a tribute to one of its most successful race cars, and the connection between the two models won't stop at the nameplate. Buyers will have the chance to order their hot-rodded sedan in one of several heritage-laced paint combinations worn decades ago by race-winning models. Designers immersed themselves in Alfa Romeo's archives department to analyze the most emblematic color combinations worn by the original GTA and its derivatives during the 1960s and the 1970s. White with green stripes was common, as was red with a yellow front fascia. The firm often competed with red cars, so painting the front end yellow, white, or another contrasting color allowed race officials and fans to quickly identify the driver. Stylists working in Alfa Romeo's Centro Stile then re-interpreted their favorite liveries to suit the Giulia GTA introduced in March 2020. The Italian firm said availability will be limited, but it didn't reveal how many cars it will assign a classic color combination to. Those who miss out will have to choose between green, white, and red. Alfa Romeo will cap GTA production at 500 examples. Pricing on the European market starts at ˆ143,000, while the lighter GTAm model (which is included in the 500-car production run) carries a base price of ˆ147,000. These figures represent $155,000 and $160,000, respectively, though pricing for the American market hasn't been released. Every customer will receive a Bell helmet, a car cover that matches the paint, and a stint at the Alfa Romeo Driving Academy. GTAm buyers will also get a racing suit, gloves, and shoes made by Alpinestars. Dyed-in-the-wool fans will have the opportunity to take delivery of their Giulia at the Autodelta workshop in Balocco, Italy. That's where many of Alfa Romeo's greatest race cars were developed and built. Those for whom Alfa's sportiest sedan in decades will remain a dream have the car's configurator as a consolation prize. Related Video:     Featured Gallery Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA heritage liveries View 10 Photos Alfa Romeo Performance Sedan