The good oil: Back to the 1970s for Lizzy

University student Lizzy Marola was trying on a pair of Hollister jeans when the shop assistant told her about the jeanmakers' 'best bum' contest. Photo / Supplied

University student Lizzy Marola was trying on a pair of Hollister jeans when the shop assistant told her about the jeanmakers' "best bum" contest. The prize was a car. Lizzy (above) showed off her jeans-clad derriere on Facebook and the "yes" votes came rolling in. Now she's driving around the South Carolina campus in a 1978 Volkswagen Kombi, complete with surfboards and a leather couch.

Hearing danger in soft-tops

Scientists at the St Louis University School of Medicine and the Ear Institute of Texas have found that drivers of convertibles who routinely motor along at 90km/h "might be subjecting ears to unsafe noise levels". Measuring five different soft-tops - including a Nissan 350Z, Porsche 911 and Saab Aero - the researchers found that each of these produced noise levels beyond those set by the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Tops up, the Saab was the quietest, the Porsche the loudest. Tops down, GM's Saturn Sky was the loudest, measuring an ear-splitting 91dB at 90km/h and 98.7dB at 120km/h.

Ford leads the chat brigade

Marketing research firm Virtue has just released its "Virtue 100", a list of the 100 most-discussed brands in the US. The car industry isn't the most-discussed sector, or even the second-most - those honours go to consumer electronics and fashion/retail. Cars come in third, the top five led by Ford (11 overall); Mercedes-Benz (12); BMW (13); Honda (20); Ferrari (27). Nissan was 30th overall, Audi (35), Toyota (40), Suzuki (45), Volkswagen (49), Dodge (52), General Motors (54), Porsche (57), Chevrolet (59), Jeep (61) and Kia (62). The list is based on how much conversation each brand is generating.

Urban life for most of us

Roughly 50 per cent of the world's population now lives in urban areas, says a joint US-European study. By 2030, that figure should hit 60 per cent. That's one of the reason why carmakers are constantly updating electronic systems, to help motorists navigate the new megacities swiftly and efficiently. Such satellite-navigation aids will become critical for economic, social, and safety reasons, says the study.

Direct line to pet owners

Subaru says 66 per cent of its owners in the US own pets. That's one of the reasons why it's sponsoring Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl programme, to lure pet owners away from the couch on Super Bowl Sunday, next week's all-American football final. Subaru figures that backing the puppy love campaign makes more marketing sense than spending around US$3 million ($3.8 million) for a 30-second television ad during the Super Bowl.

We are the world

Colorado senator Suzanne Williams has been a strong advocate for the use of seatbelts and child seats in cars. But her two grandsons weren't belted up when Williams' collided with another vehicle near Amarillo, Texas. The crash ejected one of the boys from Williams' SUV. The senator was seen scooping up the injured child and putting him back in the SUV - where she belted him in.

alastair.sloane@nzherald.co.nz