Jalopnik: Obsessed With The Cult Of Cars

1985 Toyota Supra

When you start the week with an old Datsun, why not end it with an old Toyota? Somehow, though, the mid-80s Supra doesn't feel all that old, in spite of its incredibly 80s lines and graphics. We saw a good example of its 4-cylinder sibling (or maybe "cousin" is a better way of describing the Celica/Supra relationship of the era) a while back, and this Toyota lives across town, near the '65 Mustang. More »

9:00 AM on Fri May 16 2008
By Murilee Martin
35 views, 2 comments

Latest by smalleyxb122: Being forced to choose between one of these and a Starion would be quite the 80s dilemma. I'd choose the Starion/Conquest over this Supra, but a 1986.5 Supra with the targa top? Then it gets tougher. Throw in the same era of more »

Top Gear

Up-Front Page Up, Top Gear USA Not Cancelled?

So despite the fact NBC "cancelled" their up-fronts this year, they still managed to put together some kind of lame event (we hear it was like a carnival or something) to drum up support for their prime-time lineup across the NBC Universal network-o-sphere. As part of that "alternative up-front", they've got a page up on NBC Universal's web site that pretty clearly shows they're soliciting advertisements for a "Top Gear"-like show. While certainly no proof "Gear" hasn't been cancelled, the news we got yesterday wasn't proof it had been cancelled either. More »

8:40 AM on Fri May 16 2008
By Ray Wert
108 views, 12 comments

Latest by Rollinjones: Featured "after market" accessory of the week. = Shame-less plug of the week, you know it will be for GM performance parts or Ford parts. Yeah Top Gear is bias towards British cars, but this is going to be an all more »

2011 BMW 1-Series

2011 BMW 1-Series Hatch Test Mule

More »

In Brief

Motive Drivers Ed: Junkyard Dogs - How to make the most of your boneyard excursions

FROM MOTIVEMAG.COM: Enter the Junkyard: Motive explores the art of picking and pulling.

Industry News

Drop-Top Registrations Drop For First Time Since 2003

Automotive News reports convertible registrations, which grew steadily the past several years in the United States, slumped in 2007, dropping 8.6 percent. It's the first year since 2003 there's been a drop in registrations of vehicles designed to let the sun shine on in — even including a 1.2% drop for both No. 1 New York and the 2006 leader, Los Angeles compared with the year before. Apparently the economy hurts everything — convertible sales included. Will the market for 'verts drop even more in 2008? Guess we'll find out about a year from now. [via Automotive News (sub. req.)]

8:00 AM on Fri May 16 2008
By Ray Wert
60 views, 4 comments

Latest by MOPAR-MAN: Living in Florida, gotta have my 'vert. more »

2009 Ford F-150

2009 Ford F-150 5.4-Liter V8 Power Ratings Leaked On To Internet

Someone attending a Ford dealer training session for the new half-ton 2009 Ford F-150 in Michigan took a picture of an information placard revealing the six-speed automatic 5.4-liter 3-valve V8 will achieve 320 horses at 5,200-rpm and 390 lb-ft of torque at 3,500-rpm. These new numbers, a modest improvement over the 2008 Ford F-150's 300-hp at 5,000-rpm / 365 lb-ft at 3,750-rpm, come after Ford let slip the numbers on the upcoming 4.4-liter Ford diesel V8 we'll see in the 2010.5 Ford F-150 and the 2010 Ford Super Duty. More »

7:30 AM on Fri May 16 2008
By Ray Wert
213 views, 5 comments

Latest by Viva La Volvo: 320HP? Does anyone else think thats low for an engine of that size? more »

moment of zen

Honda Asimo Does Detroit: Bigger, Longer And More Uncut

Our gadget-obsessed brothers at Gizmodo got us the scoop yesterday on Honda's Asimo taking a run at the job of conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra two nights ago. Little did we know Jalopnik friend of friends Fabrizio Costantini (check out his site — the man's a genius with a camera) was in charge of putting together a little video of the performance. Without further ado, here's Asimo the wonder robot. Enjoy.

7:26 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Ray Wert
357 views, 23 comments

Alternative Energy

That Old Computer Could Fuel A Vehicle

In today's episode of The Holy-Shit-Gas-is-High Alternative Fuel Chronicles, we encounter researchers in Romania and Turkey that have devised a way to turn the circuit boards from old electronics into a potential fuel source. The process uses a combination of catalysts, high temperatures and chemical filtration to extract toxins from old electronic junk that could be a fuel for vehicles and more. In 20 years will you be cramming old, outdated iPhones into the gas tank of your flying car? We'd bet against it, but it shows that it's not just the United States thats freaking out about gas prices. [Live Science via Giz]

6:20 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Travis Hudson
404 views, 17 comments

Latest by Novaload: High temps and chemical extraction of toxins--I'm sure this won't create any problems. Pretty soon we'll be able to hire poor people to push our cars for us, end of oil crisis. more »

Commenter Of The Day

Commenter Of The Day: Jimmy Hutmaker Edition

Though now a much loved song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones was released as a B-side on Honky Tonk Woman, not as its own single. In the middle of the song Jagger sings

I was standing in Line with Mr. Jimmy and Man, did he look pretty ill/We decided that we would have a soda, my favorite flavor: cherry red/I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy, yeah and he said one word to me, and that was "dead"

This has been taken to mean lots of things, including an allusion to Jimi Hendrix. Out favorite origin myth involves Jimmy "Mr. Jimmy" Hutmaker, an individual with an unknown condition who wandered the streets of Excelsior, Minnesota mumbling and chewing a cigar. The story is he ran into Jagger at a drugstore after a show while Jagger was getting a prescription filled (believable so far) and then ordered a Coke but got a Cherry Coke instead, then sighed saying "You can't always get what you want." We find this dubious, but we still like the story. More »

6:00 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Matt Hardigree
695 views, 28 comments

Latest by combat chuck: AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! I finally win COTD and I totally missed my big party. Thank you, though. This is awesome. more »

Novelties

2008 Saturn VUE XE On Sale For $2.3 Million

With the emerging global Saturn Vue shortage crisis biting into the supply of crossovers, global prices of the US-ified Opel are spiking to unheard of levels. Case in point comes from Saturn of Oxford Valley — ground zero for the desperate shortages. With so few Vues on the market, and demand so incredibly high, prices there have surged to $2,293,500. Of course, this particular model may be the one equipped with 70 lbs of platinum body panels so, you know, that would be market price. [Saturn of Oxford Valley] (Thanks Dillon)

5:40 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
2,882 views, 22 comments

Latest by DoctorNine: @Novaload: I think you are right. A price like that has to include an orbital launch. more »

Choose Your Eternity

PCH, Fun With Honda Engines Edition: NSX-Powered Legend or Turbo Civic?

The '58 Lincoln put up a good showing, but in the end the Porsche 928 takes the prize, with 56% of you choosing Polyester-Clad White Powder Distributor over Chain-Smoking Rat Pack Player in Monday's Choose Your Eternity poll. But with a Datsun nearly beating a Peugeot last week, not to mention an Acura winning the 24 Hours of LeMons, we felt the need to turn Japanese for today's challenge. As always, the challenge with finding good candidates for Japanese Project Hell is that damned Japanese build quality and reliability, not to mention the ease of finding parts... but we've managed to find a couple of potentially-fast-yet-nightmarish Hondas to make your tools burn right through your flesh!
More »

5:20 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Murilee Martin
2,320 views, 47 comments

Latest by dolo54: Neither of these is hell. I see people swap engines on these cars in one day right on the street by my house. Apparently a lot of the honda engine parts are somewhat compatible. The other day this guy was more »

In Brief

Ford GT500KR Test Drive - Part 2 - Garage419

FROM GARAGE419: We take the new 540hp GT500KR to Miller... More »

5:06 PM on Thu May 15 2008

Industry News

Fisker Seeks Arbitration With Tesla In Ongoing Eco Slap Fight

It looks like Henrik Fisker and company are asking to have the Tesla suit arbitrated in Orange County. As you're all well aware, neither Fisker nor Tesla are actually making cars but are instead just suing the crap out of each other over various charges (here's an explanation of the Tesla and Fisker suit). Long story short, Tesla claims Fisker stole info when designing a sedan for Tesla. Oh, by the way, here's Fisker's Karma Hybrid sedan. Who is right and who is wrong? Who cares at this point? More »

5:00 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Matt Hardigree
331 views, 15 comments

Latest by crankcase: The suit between Magna and Tesla seems straightforward enough. For all concerned it would probably be best settled out-of-court, since the amount is "only" 5.6 million. The suit against Fisker is definitely going to be a drawn out affair. It certainly more »

Down On The Street Bonus Edition

1954 Chrysler Windsor

Much of the old Detroit iron in the eastern half of the continent has oxidized into nothingness by now, but that doesn't mean it's all gone. Virginia-based Jagvar has been kind enough to shoot some quality photos of a very clean '54 Chrysler that parks in his neighborhood. The Windsor was the least expensive Chrysler for '54, and it came with a 265-cubic-inch flathead six engine. Make the jump to read Jagvar's description.

More »

4:40 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Murilee Martin
573 views, 17 comments

Latest by crankcase: Majestic. Nice find Jagvar. more »

Novelties

Make The Pain Stop, Lamborghini Chopper

Ow ow ow ow. Even though Cadillac is planning a motorcycle for the LA Auto Show, we thought the themed chopper craze was starting to die off. Apparently if you own a Tweety yellow Lamborghini Gallardo, it's alive and well. It speaks volumes of this custom chopper that it is trailered on a wonderfully classy diamond cut steel trailer behind its Gallardo inspiration. Don't feel bad, gagging is a completely natural reaction to seeing these images.

[Carzi]

4:20 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,475 views, 51 comments

Latest by monsterajr: @Stosh: I totally agree, just because its the same yellow and has the logo on it doesn't even begin to make it a Lambo inspired chopper, which is an oxymoron in my eyes anyway. At least the Tuttles stay true more »

24 Hours of Lemons Altamont

Broken Parts And Bleeding Knuckles At The 24 Hours Of Lemons

We've seen the cars that finished the race, but what about the ones that spent more time in the pits than on the track? Our pit space was sandwiched between a couple of never-say-die teams: the Snowspeeder Pilots Association, whose MR2's engine ate its rod bearings, and Team SSPP22, whose Volvo 780 Bertone broke its steering rack as an appetizer and damn near everything else for the main course. Then there was the Wedginator, which was pushed or dragged off the track more often than British Leyland workers went on strike, and the Car & Driver Fiero, which held the dubious title of Fewest Laps Completed, thanks to clutch-related maladies. Heroes, all of them! Let's take a look at some of the repairs we caught on film in the pits; thanks to Zack Spencer and Amy Judd for their photographs.

4:00 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Murilee Martin
830 views, 30 comments

Latest by Murilee Martin: @Sideways: I'm thinking all the teams should chip in to hire a crew of guys who wait at the nearest Pick Your Part, cellphones and massive tool collection at the ready, scheduled to shuttle a load of needed parts to more »

2010 Chevy Camaro

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Interior With Automatic Transmission, Shunt In Trunk

We've seen snaps of the interior on the 2010 Chevy Camaro before, but none as automatic transmission equipped as these. Camaro5 has got a series of some real nice up-close and personal images of the Camaro to be and things are looking pretty decent. We're still not real sure on the Playstation inspired controls under the head unit, but if GM is happy licensing designs from Sony we've got no problem with it. We guess we'll find out all the details for sure later this summer at the Woodward Dream Cruise if the rumors we've heard lately and the winks and nods we're hearing from GM PR are true. [via Camaro5]

3:40 PM on Thu May 15 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
4,002 views, 34 comments

Latest by Hoffy: @NotACoolGuy: I thought that was the sequence that transformed it into Bumblebee... +40 lives of course. @Tengram: select is only if you're playing 2 player more »

2011 BMW 1-Series Hatch Test Mule

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