Author Archives: jeff

Top Gear – Sept 1, 2014

Overview

Use: Media professionals demanding top-quality automotive content for print/Web. Professional artwork, editing.

What it is: What’s new, what’s hot! Wheelbase Communications is committed to broadening readership (getting non-traditional auto-section readers into your publication/Web pages) and creating as much revenue potential as possible. Top Gear focuses on the aftermarket by telling your readers what’s new and what’s cool. This column includes four items per week as well as prices (where possible) and Web site addresses.

Product specifications

Mac and PC page layout with accompanying text and art files for maximum work flexibility.
High-resolution artwork suitable for print.
Includes Photoshop layers file of main art.
Multi-platform page layout opens with either Quark Xpress or Adobe Indesign.
Layout is 8×21.5 inches (newspaper), but can be reconfigured by your designer to fit most spaces.
PDF of layout included.
About 850 words: separate text file included.
Fonts are not included, but we attempt to stay with standard system fonts. If not, just change the fonts to match your style.

Please contact us to order this feature.

WordSearch Sept 1, 2014

Overview

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

Use: Interactive content for media professionals looking to bolster recurring readership and increase the amount of exposure time for their products, whether print or Web.

What it is: Why are auto publications so dry and so serious? We’re living proof that car nuts have a sense of humor and want to have a little sugar on their Corn Flakes. Your readers will have fun with the “Driver ’s Seat” Word Search as they unearth people, places and events. Driver ’s Seat is just one step in making your auto product more interactive, which provides more exposure for advertisers and more revenue for all.

Product specifications

Due to the highly complicated graphic nature of this product, we do not yet offer a version that can be played online. Instead, visitors to your Web site can print out the crossword and play it at their leisure. Vote yes to having a playable online verion by clicking here.
High-resolution 300 dpi jpg CMYK file suitable for print and Web.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Hyundai Accent: 2006-’11 – Sept 1, 2014

Overview

Description

The Accent was and is the smallest and most affordable car in Hyundai’s lineup. The sub-compact was introduced in early 1995 as a replacement for the Excel. It was completely redesigned for the 2000 model year and received a minor facelift for 2003 at which point it was given a 105-horsepower engine. The 2006-’11 Accent’s chief claims to fame was its affordability combined with excellent fuel efficiency. These cars were among the least expensive available, yet still managed to look and feel up-to-date.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Ducati Motorcycle + VW Car = 11,000 rpm
The Octane Lounge
Sept 1, 2014

Overview

Description

And at the recent Paris Auto Show, Volkswagen rolled out what could be a true game changer on that front: its new XL Sport concept car. In a nutshell, the XL Sport weighs a featherweight 1,962 pounds and is powered by a two-cylinder, 197-horsepower Ducati Superleggera V-Twin motorcycle engine that propels it to 100 km-h (62 mph) in 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 168 mph. The engine connects to a seven-speed “DSG” paddle-shift automated manual transmission.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Ford Cortina – FineLines Sept 1, 2014

Overview

Use: Media professionals demanding top-quality automotive content for their print products and/or Web sites. Professional artwork, editing.

What it is: Many of you asked if we could put our expertise to work to create a feature that covers not just classic cars, but those vehicles that have left an indelible mark on car culture. The Fine Lines series examines significant vehicle marques, their backgrounds and their contributions to the history of the automobile. All this, with real artwork.

Product specifications

Mac and PC page layout with accompanying text and
art files for maximum work flexibility.
About 850 words: separate text file included.
Layout is 8×21.5 inches (newspaper), but can be
reconfigured by your designer to fit most spaces.
PDF of layout included.
High-resolution artwork suitable for print.
Includes Photoshop layers file of main art.
Multi-platform page layout opens with either Quark
Xpress or Adobe Indesign.
Fonts are not included, but we attempt to stay with
standard system fonts. If not, just change the fonts to
match your style.

Description

The Mark I Cortina, named after a town in Italy, was launched in June of 1962 as a replacement for Ford of England’s aging Consul model. To keep development costs down, the car made use of existing hardware, including the 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine and rudimentary suspension. However, the body style – two and four doors – was a completely fresh undertaking and was considered extremely roomy for sedans in its class. With 48 horsepower on tap, the little Ford nudged 80 mph on the top end, if the wind conditions were right.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Auto Almanac – Sept 1, 2014

Overview

Use: Media professionals demanding non-traditional and interesting automotive content for print/Web.

What it is: A treasure trove of essential automotive quick hits. After designing a highly successful Almanac for one of our daily-newspaper customers, we wondered if we could put together an automotive version. As a result, your new Auto Almanac contains trivia, concept-car spy info, auction notes and even games. All along the way, we invite readers to interact and submit their own ideas.

Product specifications

Mac and PC page layout with accompanying text and art files for maximum work flexibility.
High-resolution artwork suitable for print.
Multi-platform page layout opens with either Quark Xpress or Adobe Indesign.
Layout is the standard one-column newspaper format, but can be reconfigured by your designer to fit most spaces and shapes.
PDF of layout included.
About 600 words: NO?separate text file included.
Fonts are not included, but we attempt to stay with standard system fonts. If not, just change the fonts to match your style.

Please contact us to order this feature.

Buttons vs. Touchscreens . . .
Time for a smack-down – Sept 1, 2014

Overview

What is Auto Edit?

Welcome to AutoEdit, a new and slightly more irreverent weekly feature from Wheelbase Media.
Rather than your pages being a collection of random auto stories, the AutoEdit feature is intended to be the glue that holds it all together. Just as your editorial page is intended to be the pulse of your newspaper, Auto Edit can also be the pulse of your auto pages.

Auto edit runs 500-550 words and is all about your readers becoming more familiar with our key staff members via their personal views on the automotive world. Of all 18 of our weekly features, AutoEdit is the only one intended to provide weekly commentary. Journalistically speaking, this is just common sense since such commentary does not belong in our other news-type features.

Whether your readers agree or disagree with what’s written, they’ll know exactly how the writers of AutoEdit stand on their chosen topics. And, quite frankly, a little spirited debate is a healthy thing and that seems to be missing from more and more newspapers these days. AutoEdit is all about soul, getting back to the basics of solid content and showing readers that there are real people behind the nine-point typeface.

Story Intro

But that touchscreen. It’s right there in your face, standing in the way of adjusting something as simple as the fan speed or the radio station. Even worse is the integration, emulation or duplication of the regular features you’re accustomed to using on your so-called “smart” phone.

Please contact us to order this feature.

2015 Lexus NX – Sept 1, 2014 AutoPilot

Overview

Description

Automotive sales have been hot and one of the hottest segments is that of the compact luxury wagon.
The Lexus NX is the latest to sign on, slotting in below the current RX as the company’s entry wagon. It joins other 2015 newbies that include the Lincoln MKC, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q3 plus current members BMW X1, Acura RDX and Buick Encore.

Please contact us to order this feature.

AutoCross – Sept 1, 2014

Overview

Description

Use: Media professionals demanding top-quality automotive content for their print products and/or Web sites. Professional artwork, editing.

What it is: For the auto thrill-seeker, this is one of the most unique additions to your publication. The International AutoCross will test the knowledge of your readers with trivia that scours automobile parts bins, dealer showrooms and the history of people and places that have made the automobile what it is today. Retain readers and have them coming back on a regular basis for more. Like Wheelbase’s other features, International AutoCross comes to you formatted and ready to use.

Product specifications

Due to the highly complicated graphic nature of this product, we do not yet offer a version that can be played online. Instead, visitors to your Web site can print out the crossword and play it at their leisure. Vote yes to having a playable online version by clicking here.
High-resolution 300 dpi jpg CMYK file suitable for printand Web. Postscript file also included for even higher resolution and no bitmapping of fonts.

Please contact us to order this feature.

2015 Tech, Not So Simple Anymore! – AutoKnow
Aug 25 , 2014

Overview

Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started. If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format. Use: Media professionals demanding a variety of automotive topics for broader readership. What it is: Diversity matters. An automotive print product or Web site largely based on new-vehicle reviews is missing an enormous readership. Auto Know gives us the latitude to explore fantastic auto-related stories outside the realm of mere reviews. Whether it’s about how surround sound is engineered into a vehicle, European cars that will land on our shores, or knowing when it’s time to throw in the towel on your old beater, Auto Know is the perfect tool to capture new readers. . . with solid, interesting stories.

Product specifications

Mac and PC page layout with accompanying text and art files for maximum work flexibility.
Layout is 8×21.5 inches (newspaper), but can be reconfigured by your designer to fit most spaces.
PDF of layout included.
About 800-900 words; separate Word text included if you don’t want to use the supplied layout.
Artwork resolution (200-250 dpi) is high enough for print use.
Includes Photoshop layers file of main art.
Multi-platform page layout opens with either Quark Xpress or Adobe Indesign.
Fonts are not included, but we attempt to stay with standard system fonts. If not, just change the fonts to match your style.

Description

Cars that stop themselves, cars that talk to themselves, cars that suggest shortcuts and cars that can even drive themselves. It all sounds like something from a futuristic fantasy movie.
But it’s closer than you think with some of that finding its way into the new 2015 models. Study results showed many modern commuters spend three hours or more behind the wheel everyday, making connectivity and entertainment more of a need than a want.