That’s why I’ve decided to launch a new feature called Driveline Blog Builds (DLBB) that will highlight one vehicle project a month. I’ll have more details to post about the series in a few days, when I’ll also unveil the first DLBB project vehicle.

Here’s a preview of our inaugural DLBB vehicle: It’s a custom BMW E28 5-series that sports an E28 sub frame, E39 rack and pinion steering, and an S52 Turbocharged engine from an E36 M3. The owner hopes to race the finished vehicle in the upcoming 2009 One Lap of America, and is pushing to get the vehicle finished in time for the event.

If you know of a vehicle worthy of being featured as a monthly Driveline Blog Build, drop me an email at jeff@drivelineblog.com.

1. Send an email to jeff@drivelineblog.com with your email address and full name, along with a digital photo of your current vehicle.
2. In the body of your email message drop in a few words explaining why you think you should win this $200 prize package. (No more than 250 words, please.)

Entries must be received by 6:00pm MST on Tuesday, July 7th Friday, July 17th. The winner’s photo and written justification for winning the prize package will be posted on Drivelineblog.com on the morning of Wednesday Saturday, July 18th

Check our our original post for more details.

Now that Twitter has become a ubiquitous tool for exchanging short bits of information (in 140 characters are less), we’re starting to see an increasing number of automakers turning to Twitter to communicate with customers and prospective buyers.

Like every other new communications medium, some organizations take longer than others to hop on the bandwagon. Granted, there still is a fair amount of bandwidth-clogging TMI on Twitter, but it is useful for a variety of things. Guy Kawasaki has argued that Twitter is one of the most valuable marketing tools ever created, so it was inevitable that more companies — including some automakers — would make a foray into the Twitterverse.

I’ve put together a draft list of official automaker Twitter feeds (see below) which I’ll attempt to keep updated on a regular basis. If you know of an official automaker Twitter account that isn’t on this list, drop me an email at jeff@drivelineblog.com and I’ll add it lickety-split. (Almost forgot: You can also follow Driveline Blog on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/drivelineblog.)

Automakers Using Twitter

• Acura_Insider
• Chrysler
• fiskerauto
• Ford
• FordFiesta
• FordMustang
• FordTransitConn
• GMblogs
• GMreinvention
• JaguarUKPR
• KMA_PR
• Toyota

Just a quick housekeeping announcement: I recently began writing auto reviews for the About.com family of sites, beginning with the launch of a dedicated minivan review hub located at minivans.about.com. My first review for the new site is of the 2006 Kia Sedona (pictured above), with many more minivan reviews scheduled to get posted over the next month or so.

If you haven’t checked out the About.com auto site section, you should! About.com cars editor Aaron Gold heads up a solid group of excellent auto writers and reviewers, covering everything from SUVs to hybrid vehicles and auto repair. (Source: minivans.about.com) – [Jeff James]

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