Jalopnik - Obsessed with the culture of cars

Why Harley-Davidson Used Four Camshafts For Pushrod V-Twins

staff@jalopnik.com (Benjamin Gracias) — Sun, 03 May 2026 00:25:00 +0000

Pushrod V-Twins had a very unique design that involved the use of four camshafts connected by meshed gears. The reason for this was more than experimentation.

Meta Will Harvest Sunlight With Satellites To Keep Its AI Data Centers On Earth Going At Night

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Sat, 02 May 2026 03:25:00 +0000

Meta has partnered with Overview Energy, with the claim that 1 GW of energy could be sent to existing solar farms on earth by 2030, even when it's dark out.

This Foldable Space Saving Spare From 1967 Was Too Clever For This World

staff@jalopnik.com (Andy Kalmowitz) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:25:00 +0000

Over 50 years ago, there were collapsible spare tires available that expanded when air was added, and saved a lot of space in the trunk of your car.

Astoundingly, Two Separate Companies Tried Rotary-Engined Chainsaws

staff@jalopnik.com (Nico DeMattia) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:05:00 +0000

While most people might know rotary engines for their use in cars, a pair of companies made use of them in chainsaws - and those chainsaws aren't easy to find.

Why Picking A Good Cable For Android Auto Can Be More Complicated Than You'd Think

staff@jalopnik.com (B. L. Johnson) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:25:00 +0000

Android Auto is widely available, but just any USB cable won't do to connect your smartphone with your car. It needs to be the right length, quality, and more.

Brake-By-Wire Sounds New-Fangled, But It's Been Around For 25 Years

staff@jalopnik.com (Charles Krome) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 16:25:00 +0000

If brake-by-wire doesn't sound like a new thing to you, that's because it isn't. So how come everyone is talking about it again and what is Bosch up to?

How Engineers Made An Engine That Ran On Gas And Diesel At The Same Time

staff@jalopnik.com (Nico DeMattia) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:25:00 +0000

Trying to mix gasoline and diesel in most engines will only lead to problems in the long run. But engineers have found a way for the fuels to coexist.

9 Of The Greatest V8 Diesel Engines Ever Built And The Vehicles They Powered

staff@jalopnik.com (Josh West) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 20:45:00 +0000

Mighty V8 diesels come from a variety of brands, both foreign and domestic. Several of them spring from the holy war between Ford and Chevy.

What Is Turbulent Jet Ignition And How Is It Different From An Everyday Spark Plug?

staff@jalopnik.com (B. L. Johnson) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:05:00 +0000

Originally used in Formula 1 engines, Turbulent Jet Ignition allows Stellantis models to produce impressive power even with smaller engines. Here's how.

With How Gas Prices Are Going, Bet You Wish Thorium-Powered Cars Had Become Real

staff@jalopnik.com (Benjamin Gracias) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:05:00 +0000

Gas prices have become terrible in recent years, but some thorium-powered concepts promised to eliminate the need for it. They never came to pass, though.

Are Modern Truckers Still Using CB Radios?

staff@jalopnik.com (Andy Kalmowitz) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:25:00 +0000

One of the biggest use cases is local travel advice and warnings about accidents and other road hazards.

D.C. Car Theft Ring Allegedly Used $500 Tool To Steal Over 100 Cars

staff@jalopnik.com (Ryan Erik King) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:25:00 +0000

The inexpensive key-programming device was used to steal vehicles before the plates were switched out, the VINs were changed, and the GPS devices were reset.

Here's Every V12 Car You Can Still Buy

staff@jalopnik.com (Charles Krome) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:25:00 +0000

V12 engines are expensive and complicated, so they're also rare. But five manufacturers still offer them in new vehicles, across eight different models.

Even SpaceX Doesn't Believe SpaceX's Hype About Space AI And Moon Cities

staff@jalopnik.com (Nicholas Werner) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:23:36 +0000

Remember those halcyon days when SpaceX believed it was on the cusp of transforming humanity?

These 7 Brand New Motorcycles Still Haven't Made The Switch From Carbs To Fuel Injection

staff@jalopnik.com (Ivo Gievski) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:45:00 +0000

Most modern motorcycles make use of fuel injection for the incredible power the system can provide. But a few still rely on carburetors even today.

The Knight Sleeve Valve Engine Was Charmingly Weird

staff@jalopnik.com (B. L. Johnson) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:25:00 +0000

Have you ever heard of the Silent Knight? It was a unique engine that ditched noisy valves for a weirder, quieter, and more complex design that guzzled oil.

Why Did Ram Switch Back To The CP3 Pump?

staff@jalopnik.com (Monday Goma) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:25:00 +0000

When the 2019 Rams were introduced in 2019, their 6.7-liter diesel engines used CP4.2 injection pumps, before reverting to the CP3, but why did they switch?

GM Patents Tech That Monitors How You're Loading Your Pickup Truck So It Can Tell You You're Doing It Wrong

staff@jalopnik.com (Justin Hughes) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:01:30 +0000

The system could detect uneven loads, or loads that exceed a truck's payload, factoring in suspension compression and whether the trick is parked on a slope.

Hyundai Ioniq 3 'Aero Hatch' Looks Sensationally Funky And Debuts Hyundai's Major Infotainment Overhaul

staff@jalopnik.com (Daniel Golson) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:41:53 +0000

I mean, come on. How can you not love this thing?

5 Of The Best Folding E-Bikes, According To Consumer Reports

staff@jalopnik.com (Charles Krome) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:25:00 +0000

Folding e-bikes are a practical short-distance transport option, whether you chuck one in your trunk or use it to commute, but which one should you go for?