Jalopnik: Obsessed With The Cult Of Cars

Official Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 Photos, Looks Ready for Race Day

You knew it was coming, and we've seen a head-on shot of the Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 race car, but now the full studio set is out for the ogling. The standard issue and Euro-only Scirocco has been modified with more turbo pressure pushing output to 325 HP, while the chassis has been widened and lowered, aero bits added, full roll cage and gutted interior with a rally style shifter falling close at hand. We think it looks rather smashing in its blue and white livery and kinda wish the normal Scirocco had more of these styling elements. Of course, every car wold look better if there was a "Race Car" box on the options list. Look for the Scirocco GT24 to run at the 24 hours of Nürburgring in June and details about the car below.

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3:40 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
0 views, Comment

Safety

California To Allow Windshield-Mounted GPS, Finally

California is really going balls to the wall with laws regarding driver distractions. The hands-free requirement is inching closer to being implemented and that animal petting law is still going through the ringer. But in an odd move, California is now proposing a law that would allow drivers to have windshield-mounted GPS units. Oh, you didn't know? Yeah, having a windshield-mounted GPS is illegal in California and punishable with "obstructed view" citations. The specifications behind this new law isn't being accepted well among the GPS faithful. More »

3:20 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Travis Hudson
70 views, 5 comments

Latest by TheTooth: @TheTooth: I also find it safer to look at than the built-in units I've had on past cars. Now I don't actually have to take my eyes completely off the road to look at it. more »

Veritas RS3

Mystery Solved! Veritas RS3 Going Into Production

When we first saw the Veritas RS3 testing on the Nürburgring, we assumed it was just a one-off of some sort. But then it popped up again in a video from BridgeToGantry, and we started wondering if there was more to the story. Surely it couldn't be, not in today's crazy world, that a sleek monoposto would actually be built as something that mere mortals can buy. Despite our doubts, we now hear that Veritas is indeed planning on producing the RS3 single-seat roadster, complete with a 5.0-liter V10 from the BMW M5.

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3:00 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Mark Arnold
155 views, 7 comments

Latest by reefer: @Bentos, Der Frischmacher!: haha, good stuff man. That's what I thought when I saw this, what rich playboy that is actually able to afford this would actually travel solo? more »

Novelties

Who Needs Ramps? Bobcat Loads Itself Onto Flatbed

When there's a problem, there's always an ingenious way to solve said problem (usually ball bearings). Case-in-point is this Bobcat. Using maneuvers reserved for the most agile gymnasts, the Bobcat manages to balance itself on two wheels, prop itself onto the truck and use a combination of movement from the Bobcat and the flatbed truck to load itself. That's pretty spectacular, but how do you get the Bobcat off the truck? [Neatorama]

2:40 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Travis Hudson
783 views, 20 comments

found on eBay

Cracked Up Noble M400 On eBay, Maybe Bigger Brakes Are In Order

Would you love to have a Noble but can't wait for the M600 and don't have the scratch to buy a new M400? It's your lucky day because there's a gently crash 2007 Noble M400 just waiting for you in Indiana. On top of being a sweet shade of p**sy magnet yellow and having only 8706 miles, it only needs a radiator, condenser, windshield and some super easy fiberglass work at the nose. At least, that's what the seller says. We suspect this one might have lived a very hard 8700 miles. But hey, only a $35,000 reserve! Act soon while supplies last. (Thanks Jon)

[eBay Listing]

2:20 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
278 views, 8 comments

Latest by kingedwin: Project Car Hell, anyone? more »

Ad Watch

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Gets You The Ladies

You would think that a gorgeous high-performance supercar would practically sell itself. Add that Lamborghini badge into the equation, and the marketing department isn't left with much to do, right? Well apparently not. As you know, the real people that buy six-figure exotica aren't usually hardcore enthusiasts. Rather, they're often rich guys looking for something loud and flashy to show off to the ladies. So, Lamborghini has decided to target the target demo with this ad that reminds those poor rich suckers that they don't have a life, and they need to buy a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. Once you have one, brunette models will throw themselves at you, nightclubs will seat you in the VIP section, paparazzi will stalk you, and that deep void in your soul will be filled.
[YouTube via autoblog]

2:00 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Mark Arnold
663 views, 23 comments

Latest by Shaman: Fitted standard with vacant streets and open roadways populated only by attractive single white female pedestrians. more »

Plymouth

Rip Van Winkle's Hemi GTX at Estate Auction

FROM CARDOMAIN CAR BLOG: By Rob Einaudi Editor-in-Chief This '68 GTX has been sitting for 40 years and has just 5,831 miles on the clock. And it's not on eBay. It will be sold alongside a bunch of tractors, antiques and miscellaneous junk at an estate auction in Malvern, PA on the weekend of June 7. More »

Novelties

Ana Really Likes Her Lexus LS400

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classic ad watch

Power For Towing Or Just Plain Easy Going: Holden Wagons!

Only Australians would make an early-80s station wagon advertisement that showed family-haulin' wagons getting sideways and backwards in hoonage sessions culminating in crazy jumps. We see the six- and eight-cylinder-equipped Holden Commodore and the (Cavalier-based) Holden Camira being put through some highly entertaining paces. Our only problem with this ad is the lack of wagons doing jumps with trailers attached. More »

1:20 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Murilee Martin
290 views, 7 comments

google street view

Google Street View Drives By Shooting?

Hardigree may poke fun at the rough streets of Ray's beloved Detroit from time to time, but if these photos are what they look like they are, there's some dirt on Chicago too. Judge for yourself, but we can't help but see something going terribly wrong in these images captured in the windy city by the Google Maps Street View camera-mobiles. We've spotted everything from car accidents to Steve Job's Mercedes on the all-seeing cameras, but this takes it all to a new level.

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1:00 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Mark Arnold
2,655 views, 51 comments

Latest by Mazda-Eric-with-1cup-arugula: @rlj676: i tend to type/say what i think all the time, which tends to not always be the best idea :) more »

saab turbo x

2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo X: First Drive, Again

When our fearless leader so elegantly blew the clutch on the only Saab 9-3 Turbo X in the country after the performance sedan spent a long tour of Europe and a hard day under the boot of Jan Magnussen, we thought getting an honest review of the car would be nigh impossible. We also thought Wert would never live down that new nickname — Chief Transmission Destroyer. But he has, and after the boss-man agreed to stay off the track until he got a few more heel-toe lessons, the fine folks at Saab invited us to sample the Turbo X again earlier this week at Saab's home-away-from-home — Boston. Having just returned from Beantown and some time reflecting on the drive, we have to admit, our world has been gently rocked.

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12:30 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,029 views, 20 comments

Latest by contender: @Mr.Fresco: This (or a camaro) as an investment?!?? To diversify your portfolio do you also invest in high-end stereo equipment and cell phones? I may have to fire my adviser. more »

Jalopnik Reviews

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Part Three

Why you should buy the 2009 Jetta SportWagen: You want a Euro wagon and don't have the stash for an Audi S4 Avant or the desire to stuff your friends in an A3. The question of how you're going to get all of this stuff back to your loft from Trader Joe's is a common one. Subaru? Nothanku. You are a keeper of the greatest of automotive secrets: wagons make the best cars.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: They're going to soon be selling this exact same car in a torquey turbodiesel and a zippy turbocharged gas version. You think of wagons as something your grandma drives. You do have a stash big enough for an Audi S4 Avant. You have no friends, you rent and everything you own could fit in a Del Sol.

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12:00 PM on Thu May 22 2008
By Matt Hardigree
677 views, 22 comments

Latest by Matt Hardigree: @Mad_Science: I haven't been in the newest WRX wagon so it's hard to say, but it looks bigger. Straight-up comparison there's a couple of extra inches of legroom and an addition 22 cubic feet of storage space relative to the more »

Question of the Day

Does Every Vehicle Need A "Performance Version"?

In general, the cars we prefer are the performance-minded versions of pedestrian models. We'd rather have an R32 than a standard Rabbit and we'd rather have a Mazdaspeed3 than a Mazda3 sedan. But this doesn't mean that every souped-up model is a lock. Does anyone really need or want a crew cab Dodge Ram SRT-10? Does the Mercedes Vito van really need a Sport X model? We love the Turbo Dodge Caravan, smart move Chrysler. Though we're tempted to ask Lexus what they were thinking with the Lexus IS-F. Does anyone really want that car? More »

11:40 AM on Thu May 22 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,030 views, 79 comments

Latest by subsammy: On the "package" front: A manufacturer adds a package that has leather seats sunroof and limited slip and has 1 assembly modification and gets all the buyers looking for leather OR sunroof OR limited slip because it only comes as more »

2011 Chevy Volt

2011 Chevy Volt To Be Priced Under $30,000?

While the 2011 Chevy Volt is proceeding down the path from vaporware to successful range testing to production ready, its price seems to remain stubbornly in the land of the lost. The original goal was to have it on the road for around $30,000, in April, Maximum Bob dropped the bomb saying the price may come in at $48k. Well, Minimum Rick seems to be following his "Wait a month and clean up after Bob" modus operandi yet again. Wagoner, who definitely gives a shit about global warming, is now saying the Volt may actually come in below the original target. More »

11:20 AM on Thu May 22 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
964 views, 19 comments

Latest by offyatindy: @thebike45: A recent Business Week article suggests that GM is developing the batteries. I am all for a car that will travel 40 miles on battery...My morning commute is only 10 miles...At $30,000, the price is right. more »

Industry News

Ford Dramatically Shifts Production, Hits Big Red Reset Button, Revises Profit Estimates

Ford today launched a volley of media notices relating to their product mix and production schedule for 2008. Overall production looks to be around 510,000-540,000 units in the third quarter and 590,000-630,000 units for the fourth quarter, down as much as 20% and 8% compared to 2007, respectively. At the same time Ford announced it was going to increase production of the Focus, Fusion, Edge, Escape and their Lincoln, Mercury twins. This means the cuts will come primarily in the production of trucks. Said Ford CEO Alan Mulally, "The challenge affecting the entire industry is the accelerating shift in consumer demand away from large trucks and SUVs to smaller cars and crossovers — combined with a steep rise in commodity prices and the weak U.S. economy." Translation: we guessed wrong on our product mix. In addition, the company announced that they plan to break-even and not, as they hoped, post a profit for North America (though they're doing well in many other markets). Full press release below the jump. More »

11:00 AM on Thu May 22 2008
By Matt Hardigree
493 views, 20 comments

Latest by adidascrosscountry: "...This means the cuts will come primarily in the production of trucks. " Well Duh! They make it sound as if this is voluntary. I have to say that it is shocking, just shocking, that it's been two times in the more »

honda cr-z hybrid

Hybrid Honda CR-Z Gets Green Light

After yesterday's announcement of the Hybrid Honda Fit and continuation of the Civic Hybrid, Honda has announced it will be building a hybrid version of the radical CRX inspired Honda CR-Z Concept. This sounds like the standalone model Prius fighter noted yesterday as it will be adapted for five door, five passenger duty. We don't really care about the marketing, but we're just excited by the idea of compact, tossable high fuel mileage hot hatch. [Carscoop]

10:20 AM on Thu May 22 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,226 views, 30 comments

Latest by Ben Wojdyla: @Rabbi Dave: Reading? People still do that? I thought we all just clicked on the pretty pictures. more »

custom cars

Second Tandem Axle Rabbitamino Discovered, They're Breeding

While woefully lacking in the mid mounted 500 cubic inch Cadillac engine and scissor doors department the first tandem axle VW Caddy we discovered had, this one succeeds in another area - it's an actual Rabbitamino. If you look carefully at the hind end of this one, you can see the telltale signs pointing out this started life as a VW Rabbit and was chopped up into the masterpiece you see today. We're also digging the extra clean super-long wheel well and cool canvas bed cap. Unfortunately, this came from actual photographs in the Hemmings archives so you know all we know, still, this would make a kick-ass motorcycle carrier.

10:00 AM on Thu May 22 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
651 views, 16 comments

Latest by maxforrest32: @ß®@ƒƒ: I only stick around to see that image of the chick smoking a cig on the deck of what looks like a Soviet Era apartment complex in the middle of winter that pops up for the Gawker Artists ad... more »

2009 Subaru Exiga

Subaru Exiga STi?

It's got a sleek aero-kit, bronze-colored wheels, and a scoop on the hood. But, is this an STi version of the forthcoming Subaru Exiga? Have our cries been heard? Does mommy have a new rally-rocket? More »

9:40 AM on Thu May 22 2008
By Mark Arnold
1,079 views, 12 comments

2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo X: First Drive, Again

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