Category Archives: Celebrity Auto News

Charlie Sheen’s Mercedes-Benz driven off cliff… again

In a bizarre incident, Charlie Sheen’s silver 2010 Mercedes-Benz was found crashed into a ravine off Mulholland Drive, nearby the actor’s home.

Police found the car around 3 AM after a civilian tip. The police contacted Sheen, who didn’t realize the car was missing.

What makes the event extra strange is that it echoes what happened to Sheen just four months earlier. In February, his 2009 Mercedes was stolen and driven off of Mulholland Drive. Sheen had left the keys in the ignition both times.

Those who can’t afford to replace their Mercedes every year might want to shop for used Mercedes-Benz on the used market. Although these cars are expensive when bought new, drivers can ride like the Hollywood stars without a Hollywood bank account.

Of course, if they live near a cliff, drivers who purchase a used Mercedes might want to consider keeping the keys in a safe place.

Los Angeles police currently have no leads on the suspect.

Diddy gives son a $360,000 Maybach

It was a sweet sixteen for Justin Dior Combs.

Combs, son of rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs (formerly known as P. Diddy), was recently presented with a brand-new Maybach on his sixteenth birthday, according to USA Today. Maybach is the ultra-luxury brand of Mercedes-Benz.

Diddy recently defended the decision on an edition of ABC Nightline, saying “I think it’s appropriate to give my kids whatever I want to give my kids,” before adding “I could do whatever I want to do and you can’t question me about it.”

The car was presented to Justin at a party that Diddy threw for the youngster in New York. The bash will be featured on an upcoming episode of MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16.”

“I’m just ecstatic right now,” the teenager told US Magazine.

Those who want to give their kids a sweet sixteen probably don’t have Diddy’s bankroll, but big deals can be found on the pre-owned market, including on used Mercedes cars. Used car dealers are a great place to look for teenager’s first cars.

Oprah Winfrey campaigns to make cars a ‘no phone zone’

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey has launched a campaign to designate Friday as a “No Phone Zone Day” in cars, joining a chorus of private and public transportation safety groups in vowing not to text or make calls while driving.

Winfrey has asked people in the April 30 episode of her show to sign an online “no phone zone” pledge – a promise not to text text while driving, not text and use hands-free calling, or not text or make calls while driving. The campaign had gathered almost 250,000 signatures by late Friday.

“A call or text isn’t worth taking a life,” Winfrey said in a statement. “We must not allow more mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, sisters and brothers to die before we take action against distracted driving.”

Texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by 20 times, a report from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded in 2009. California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington have banned all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Meanwhile, 24 states have laws banning text messaging for all drivers.

Shell partners with Penske for 2011 racing season

Shell Oil Company and Penske Corporation have announced a business alliance to increase their motor sports presence in the 2011 racing season, extending sponsorhsip to former champion Kurt Busch, who has driven the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge since 2006.

As a result, rival company ExxonMobil fired back by announcing that it is also cutting ties with Penske after this season. Its withdrawal means Penske has to look for a new sponsor for Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge.

“It has been a long and successful relationship, and we wish the Penske team continued success on the track,” the ExxonMobil said in a statement as reported by the Associated Press.

Penske’s deal with Shell will make Pennzoil the primary sponsor for Busch, who will move to the No. 22 Dodge, according to the news provider.

In a new release, Penske said that Pennzoil will become the “official motor oil” of its racing season next year, including all of its entries in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series and the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Penske first partnered with Pennzoil in 1983 as part of its IndyCar teams. The partnership won the 1984 and 1988 Indianapolis 500 Mile Races. Busch also drove a Pennzoil-supported car for another team when it won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship in 2004.

Justin Beiber gets driver’s license, will drive a Range Rover

The millions of fans of teen sensation Justin Bieber shouldn’t be surprised if they see the 16-year old singer behind his Range Rover some time soon.

The Canadian singer has reportedly received his driver’s license from the Atlanta Department of Motor Vehicles, though Bieber’s rep has not released a statement on whether or not the claims are true, according to entertainment news site TMZ.

Bieber recently revealed in an interview with the British TV show “Live on Studio Five” that R & B superstar Usher bought him a Range Rover for his birthday.

“Usher helped buy me a car. He bought me a Range Rover. I can drive. They wanted a bigger car so if I got in an accident I’m not going to get as hurt,” the teen star told the show.

Bieber is one of the youngest male artists to reach the top spot on the Billboard 200 with his new album “My World 2.0.” The record is currently held by Stevie Wonder, who topped the chart in 1963 as a 13-year-old with “Little Stevie Wonder/The 12 Year Old Genius.”

New driver for No. 88 Chevy in NASCAR

The show must go on, and despite Kelly Bires’ departure, the No. 88 Chevrolet will still be on hand for nine races this season, which could up excitement for Chevrolet fans in New Jersey.

Jamie McMurray will take over the the driver’s seat from Bires, who drove JR Motorsports flagship No. 88, according to Fox News.

“We are extremely appreciative of Kelly Bires and wish him the best,” said Kelley Earnhardt, co-owner of JRM with brother Dale Earndhardt Jr., who created the team to train drivers in NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series level.

Gloomy sponsorships were part of the reason of Bires’ departure, as media reports state the Earnhardts are practically financing much of this season out of pocket because sponsorships have been scarce.

The Earnhardts also said that the team’s “chemistry” with Bires “needed to succeed in this highly competitive industry was simply not there,” the Associated Press reported.

Bires responded, “I know I belong and will be successful in this sport. JRM gave me an opportunity, it just didn’t work out.”

McMurray will start driving No. 88’s first of nine races this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. JRM said the team secured sponsorship from Hellman’s while Suave Men will sponsor the other two.

Tiger finished 4th at Masters, image still tarnished

On Sunday, Tiger Woods officially completed his comeback to the PGA Tour by finishing fourth in the annual Masters tournament. After six months off following his Thanksgiving Day car crash, Woods competed well, but ended the day five shots behind Phil Mickelson, who won his third career green jacket.

In an effort to clean up his image, Woods was on his best behavior for most of the four rounds, but was caught on camera loudly cursing on two separate occasions on Saturday. As expected, neither his wife, Elin, nor his two children were in attendance.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that golf fans will not see Tiger behind the wheel of a car anytime soon – in commercials at least. Analysts with the historically conservative auto industry told the news source that the world’s number one golfer is still a tainted product following the news of his multitude of extramarital affairs.

The insider also said that auto manufacturers have changed the way that they advertise in the last year, focusing on appealing to specific demographics rather than going for simple name recognition.

“The attitude is, ‘Let’s do something’ instead of ‘Let’s put our name on something,'” said the analyst.

Jay-Z teaches wife Beyonce to drive in NYC

Despite having a busy professional life and upcoming concerts to prepare for this summer, rapper Jay-Z apparently still has time for the little things in life, like teaching his pop star wife Beyonce Knowles how to drive.

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, was reportedly giving driving lessons to Beyonce whois apparently doing so well that the rap mogul is already looking for his girl’s first new ride.

UK newspaper, The Sun, reported that Carter is looking at a Bentley for Knowles, but that she insists she wants something smaller.

“Money isn’t an issue but she doesn’t want to feel like she’s driving a tank, an unnamed source told the Sun. “She does want a car that is big enough to take out her family and friends if she needs to, though.”

The source added that Carter conducts his personal driving school around “mid-morning when it’s quiet.”

Jay-Z has an affinity for Bentleys, and has featured them in some of his music videos. Currently, Beyonce is sharing a pop hit with Lady Gaga for their single “Telephone,” which is accompanied by a music video that is approximately 10 minutes long and features the two singers in a Grindhouse-esque short film.

Tiger participates in first press conference since his accident

Tiger Woods made his first professional appearance of the year on Monday at the Augusta National Golf Club, a full four months after his infamous November 27 car crash. Although the world’s number one golfer read a prepared statement approximately one month ago, Monday was the first day that he fielded questions from reporters since the news of his multiple infidelities was reported.

Woods expressed contrition regarding his extramarital affairs and his deceitful behavior, even going as far as apologizing to his fellow competitors for creating a media frenzy.

“I lied to a lot of people, I deceived a lot of people,” he said. “I rationalized. I kept a lot of people in the dark. I even lied to myself.”

Meanwhile, Woods vehemently denied receiving performance enhancing drugs from Dr Anthony Galea, who is currently under investigation by federal authorities providing athletes with human growth hormone, an untraceable steroid. Woods was treated by Galea in 2008 after having surgery on his knee following his U.S. Open victory.

Tiger and the rest of the playing field will tee it up on Thursday at the Masters Invitational, the first major tournament of the year.

K-Rod flies back to Venezuela following brothers’ car crash

Early last week, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez left the team’s training facility in Florida to head back to his native Venezuela for “personal reasons.” Over the weekend, various media outlets broke the news that K-Rod was forced to fly home to tend to his two brothers, who were involved in a serious car crash.

Apparently, Rodriguez’s two younger brothers – Leandro and Erik – were in the middle of a 10-hour drive across Venezuela when the accident occurred. Erik had just taken the wheel at approximately 3 AM on Wednesday when he fell asleep and lost control of the family’s truck, flipping it multiple times. The vehicle eventually came to rest at the bottom of a ravine and burst into flames soon after all the passengers were able to extricate themselves from the cabin.

“They were sitting on the side of the road for four hours until somebody stopped by and picked them up and took them to the hospital,” said Rodriguez. “That’s when I found out and headed back [home].”

While Erik’s injuries were limited to a broken arm, Leandro suffered a broken ankle, knee and arm as well as fractures to both legs and hips, ESPN.com reports.

Rodriguez was back with the Mets on Sunday and is expected to be ready for the season opener Monday.