Archive for June 2011

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Brands (2)

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    1961 Dodge Dart Seneca Is A Well Restored Ugly Duckling

    We can't imagine anyone in their right mind expected their money back when they began the process of restoring this four door 1961 Dodge Dart Seneca to such a high standard, but for whatever reason they decided to do it anyways. This oddball is currently listed on Ebay looking for another well financed (and slightly crazy) car enthusiast who just can't live without the nicest restored four door '61 Dodge we've ever seen.

    By Tom Joslin Read More

Buying (4)

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    KTM X-Bow Vs. Ariel Atom 2: First Drive

    The KTM X-Bow is one of those lightweight, track-day cars long denied to red-white-and-blue car nuts. But looking on in envy is so last year. QuattroWorld's Josh Decker and eGarage.com's Ben Abrams were among the first to score a drive of the KTM X-Bow on U.S. soil. — Ed.

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    Lotus Evora S: First Drive

    If you ran out and bought a Lotus Evora last year, you're an idiot. If you'd waited, for a paltry four grand more, you could have had this — the Lotus Evora S. And instead of a flawed and compromised edge-of-exotic beauty, you'd now own a flawed and compromised edge-of-exotic beauty that manages to be the best luxury sports car you can buy for under $100,000.

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec: First Drive

    The Hyundai Genesis sedan never adhered to the German model of tight-handling saloonry. Instead, its territory is the budget-conscious middle between beige Japanese technobarges and the rear-drive sedan Buick wishes it had the balls to build. Now Hyundai's created a sharper version with a more powerful engine. But is it a true performance sedan?

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    The Ten Best Cars For A Tech Billionaire

    Tech billionaires have more money than god and control over the internet, which makes them god-like. What mortal chariots are worthy of such wealthy, nerdy masters? Here are the ten cars you said were the best choices for a tech billionaire.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More

Culture (27)

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    Ten Cool Modified Jeeps

    Most Jeeps are already distinguishable from the mass of beige by their legendary capabilities, yet for many owners the stock jeep is merely a canvas. Yesterday we asked Jalopnik readers for their favorite modified Jeeps. Here are the ten coolest.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    The Ten Creepiest Vans

    There's a certain undeniable air about the van. Utilitarian, sure, but also scary. Mysterious. Unwelcoming. Yesterday we asked Jalopnik readers to find the most unnerving examples of the genre. They delivered these ten creepy vans.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    What's The World's Creepiest Van?

    Poor vans. They're the workaholics of the automotive world, living productive lives carrying plumbers, holiday gifts, flowers, dog groomers — you name it. And then, after a few years of wear, they turn all creepy. What's the world's creepiest van?

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    Who Invented The World's Very First Car?

    Who invented the first car? If we're talking about the first modern automobile, then it's Karl Benz in 1886. But long before him, there were strange forerunners to the today's cars, including toys for emperors, steam-powered artillery carriers, and clanking, creaking British buses.

    By Alasdair Wilkins Read More
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    COTD: The Old Man And The Mountain Edition

    There was one other record that fell in this weekend's brace of mountain-climbing festivities: the top-speed record at Mt. Washington was raised to 114 by Jerry Driscoll, 68, who drove the homebuilt car he set the previous speed record in 13 years ago. Speed can come from unexpected places, as Jstas tells in his comment on fast cars and high-school bullies:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    The 2012 BMW M5 Looks Epic In Forza 4

    Buyers of an up-priced "Limited Collector's Edition" version of Forza Motorsport 4 will be "the first in the world" to get behind the wheel of the 2012 BMW M5 — well, other than us. Here's more details on the "LCE" pack — along with a stunning first gallery of M5 in-game renderings.

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    The Ten Best Nürburgring Laps On Video

    In its heyday, the Nürburgring was such an unforgiving racetrack drivers dubbed it "Green Hell." Many drove it, few mastered it, and those who did became legends. Here are the ten best recorded 'Ring laps according to Jalopnik readers. Watch and learn.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    iRacing Nerds Will Never Leave Their Basements Again

    iRacing may be the World of Warcraft for obsessive racing geeks, but that doesn't mean it's not a fine game. The Boston-area company will release version 2.0 this August, having upgraded the graphics, aero and tire modeling. Red mist, meet basement.

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    The World's Worst Custom Car Can Be Yours For $71,000

    It's been about a year since we last spotted the "Dragon Vette," a customized Corvette so hideous we dubbed it "The World's Worst Custom Car." Now the owner is looking to sell it for just $71,000. Someone needs to buy it just to put it out of it's misery.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    COTD: Car Wash Rap Stars Edition

    Rhett & Link are a couple of filmmakers who travel the country making local commercials for businesses, the kind once rife on TV stations with any self-respecting auto dealer or dry cleaning operator, or in this case Hollywood's Presidential Car Wash. It's a creative outpouring similar to RyGuy's reflection on how a be-scooped and wing'd Alfa came to be that way, a close winner in a day filled with COTD-worthy posts:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    The Ten Most Badass Fire Trucks

    What starts with 'F', ends with 'UCK' and is totally awesome? If you said a gigantic, eight-wheeled fire truck with a water cannon on the roof and a deep hatred for burning things, you'd be right. Here are the most badass fire trucks according to Jalopnik readers.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    The Awesome Age Of The American Automobile

    Back in the 1930s, America made cars that were the envy and the standard of the world. It wouldn’t surprise Peter Heydon, a retired professor of English from Michigan. This is his big green Lincoln K Series V12 Le Baron Coupé from 1935.

    By Peter Orosz Read More
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    The Lowest Mileage AMC Pacer In Existence

    According to the current owner this 1977 AMC Pacer is the lowest mileage example in the world. Although proving that claim is nearly impossible, considering the fact this Pacer has traveled a mere 12 miles in its 34 years we find it pretty easy to believe.

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    The Most Important Lamborghini That Never Was

    This is not a cutaway illustration. It’s the Marzal, the most important Lamborghini that never was. The love child of 50 square feet of glass and half a Miura engine, it was the epitome of Lamborghini’s pre-supercar design philosophy. Last month, the only one made was sold for $2.1 million.

    By Peter Orosz Read More
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    How To Mount A Bike To Your Ferrari Convertible

    Can you eat your cake and have it, too? Can you drive your Ferrari F355 convertible for half the day, then, effortlessly, switch over to a bike despite having no roof or trunk on which to mount it? If you're this enterprising driver the answer is "rich people can make anything happen."

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    Ten Amusingly Dumb Car Inventions

    Since the invention of the car, enterprising individuals have been trying to make our lives better behind the wheel. When they succeed they improve our lives, when they fail they make us laugh. Here are the ten of the dumber car inventions as selected by Jalopnik readers.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    The Ten Coolest Le Mans Prototypes Of All Time

    The big race is this weekend, so we're taking a look back at ten of the coolest racing prototypes to have sped around the track at La Sarthe as selected by Jalopnik readers. These selections include both prototype class cars and the pre-1992 proto-prototypes.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    What's History's Most Awesome Failed Electric Car?

    Getting bitten by the electric-car bug isn't just a 21st Century phenomenon. There's a whole history of failed electrics from which to draw, when considering what might have been. What's the most awesome failed electric car ever?

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    How Forza Motorsport 4 Will Change Car Culture Forever

    With Forza Motorsport 3, Microsoft's Turn 10 Studios tried creating the greatest racing game of its generation. Arguably, it was. On October 11th, when Forza Motorsport 4 is released for Xbox 360 they're setting their sights higher — creating the next generation of car enthusiasts.

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    1956 Chevrolet Nomad Has Serious Project Car Hell Potential

    Looking at cars for sale is a big part of the automotive obsessed lifestyle. Every once in a while when you are scanning ads one car will stand out for no particular reason and stay with you. That is exactly what happened when we came across this 1956 Chevrolet Nomad currently on Ebay, and a strong desire to own it has been with us ever since.

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    Ten Insanely Badass Tuner Cars

    Sometimes a great car just isn't great enough. Sometimes an otherwise crappy car needs a giant mid-mounted engine. When a driver screams for more, the tuner's there to answer the call. And you answered our call by selecting these ten insanely badass tuner cars.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    The Most Redneck Car In All Of Britain

    Following the call of fellow countryman David Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel," a British gentleman has turned his 17-year-old Mitsubishi SUV into the very model of a modern Montero General Lee. All it took was some decals and three lift kits.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    The Porsche 928 As The Ultimate Male Ego Booster

    Did you ever think of the 928 as an omnipotent Greek deity transmogrified into a giant aquatic bird who seduces—or, depending on the interpretation, rapes—the mother of Helen of Troy? Photographer Alex Rank did! Click through to experience this classical reinterpretation.

    By Peter Orosz Read More
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    This Is Proof An F1 Champ Named His Car After Kylie Minogue

    It is documented around that internet that Red Bull’s mercurial world champion gives his racing cars tongue-in-cheek names in the tradition of pilots naming their fighters and bombers (and supersonic man-rockets). Here’s the cockpit of Kinky Kylie, his 2011 car.

    By Peter Orosz Read More

Crashes and Safety (3)

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    Lexus Attacks Two Classic Cars

    These photos of a woman in a Lexus jumping a curb into a classic Pontiac Lemans and '40 Ford Roadster during a Southern California car show prove one thing definitively: your car is never truly safe from the beige plague. But what exactly happened here?

    By Matt Hardigree Read More

Ford (1)

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    How Ford Builds The Greatest Track Day Mustang Ever

    Today I toured Ford's Flat Rock Mustang assembly plant to check out the special assembly line set up for the BOSS 302S Mustang, the new man-of-the-track version of the Boss 302, a car we called "the best Mustang ever." God, do we love manufacturing porn.

    By Ray Wert Read More

Found For Sale (2)

News (141)

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    Five Seats To Save Your Penis From Your Bike

    Your bike is destroying your penis. Unless you are a woman. In which case it's destroying your vagina. There is a solution. But nobody wants to use it because it's embarrassing. It doesn't have to be. We're here to help.

    By Mat Honan Read More
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    Record Manhattan Lap Would Net 857 Points On A Driver's License

    After yesterday's video of a new record for fastest lap around Manhattan, Alex Roy, the former record holder, provided us with this list of 151 moving violations — for 857 theoretical points — he claims he would have received had he been caught in 2001. That's enough to have his license suspended almost 78 times.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    Porsche Returns To LeMans' Top Class In 2014

    After 15 years away from the top class at the 24 Hours of LeMans, Porsche says it will return in 2014 to the race its won 16 times with a factory-built prototype. Will Porsche go wheel-to-wheel with corporate cousin Audi? UPDATED

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    These Beautiful Velocity Stacks Are Works Of Art

    Velocity stacks are the lace teddies of high-performance engines. So when Chicagoland's Fluid Motorunion wanted aluminum horns for their project BMW M3, they ran to the AutoCad and created a mockup. Then, they carved out these nasty sombitches in three dimensions.

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    Penis-Saving Saddle Gallery

    Adamo Time Trial What it is: An open-nose saddle that still lets you use your legs to help steer your bike for performance on the road, but with sloped front arms and open space beneath your perineum to protect your penis. Who it's for: Racers and performance-oriented cyclists and triathletes. Price: $225

    By Kyle Wagner Read More
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    Driver Sets New Record For Fastest Lap Around Manhattan

    UPDATE! When illicit speed racer Alex Roy circled the Island of Manhattan in 2001 he set the known record for fastest time at 27 minutes while reaching speeds of 144 mph over the 24.48 mile distance. For legal reasons, he never released the tape. A new driver's now done it in 26:03. Here's the video.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    Six-Wheeled Minivan-Pickup Needs A New Shelter

    The General Motors composite-body minivans of the early 1990s earned their "dustbuster" nicknames for the resemblance to other home appliances that suck. One example was transformed into a six-wheel pickup that's apparently for sale. Silhouette-amino? Words, unlike plastic, fail.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    BMW Dealer Puts $40,000 Markup On 1M Coupe

    The BMW 1M has softened the hardened arteries of auto reviewers around the world, from Jeremy Clarkson to our own Mike Spinelli. One California BMW dealer hopes to capitalize on high praise and low supply with an insane $40,000 markup.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    What's The Coolest Modified Jeep In The World?

    In addition to their extreme capability and Benny Benassi-soundtracked fist-pumping duties, Jeeps are a canvas for their owners' own sense of motoring artistry. Indeed, they're among the most toyed-with vehicles in history. What's the coolest modified Jeep in the world?

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    Remember When Car Ads Had Balls?

    While skimming GM's archives I came across this 1954 marketing pamphlet called "The Cold Facts." The leaflet, unlike today's milquetoast, middling marketing materials, actually takes a hard swing against Ford trucks. Whatever happened to auto advertising with balls?

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    The Hidden Car Tech Changing How You Drive

    Car technology has advanced to the point that many drivers have no clue just how much their machine is driving them. Wired's Keith Buglewicz explores the latest tech that's affecting how we drive — for better and worse. — Ed.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Ten Cars For Bullies

    Whether their car is to compensate for lack of parental love or just to aid in terrorizing the local kids, bullies are notorious for driving obnoxious vehicles. Here are the ten most brutish bully cars, as selected by Jalopnik readers.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    The 2011 European Grand Prix In Crayola

    It would have taken Libyan technicals racing Wally powerboats at Monaco to top the previous race in excitement, and all that at Valencia, a track where overtaking is conspicuous by its absence. It wasn’t the most exciting race, but it was an opportunity to study the finer points of Formula One often lost in the usual drama. Warning: spoilers.

    By Peter Orosz Read More
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    Adam Carolla's "The Car Show" Features Worst Damn Set

    Many questions abound about how "The Car Show with Adam Carolla" will differentiate itself from "Top Gear USA" since both shows are about car guys hanging out and driving cars. This first trailer shows the first big difference: a really crappy set.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    The Ten Lamest Automotive Genres

    Sometimes automakers or customizers decide building a great car in a conventional category is too hard and instead decide to create a new type of car altogether. When they succeed it's great, when the fail you have one of these ten lame automotive genres selected by Jalopnik readers.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    Google's Driverless Cars Are Now Legal In Nevada

    A state bill with new rules for self-driving cars just passed, allowing Google's fleet of hybrid vehicles to hit the road in Nevada soon. Google had been lobbying for the bill for weeks, saying they're safer than human-driven cars.

    By Kwame Opam Read More
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    This Is What A $217,800 1963 Volkswagen Bus Looks Like

    You read it right, a few VW buyers got caught up in the "Barrett-Jackson experience" while they were bidding on this immaculate 23 window Bus at the company's annual Orange County auction last night. When the smoke cleared a high bid of $198,000 had purchased the 1963 Volkswagen you see here ($217,800 after buyer's fees).

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    Custom Dodge Dakota 6x6 Is Hard To Explain

    We've seen a few 6x6 trucks before, but never one quite like this. This 2003 Dodge Dakota was given the 6x6 conversion without the custom show truck treatment that we would expect to come with it. Currently for sale on Ebay, this six wheel Dakota is equal parts weird and hard to explain.

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    Squishy Roads Are No Match For The 1979 Jeep Cherokee

    The idea of using an SUV as a family car was still a fairly novel concept back in 1979. That didn't stop Jeep from singing the praises of their station wagon alternative Cherokee and it's family hauling ability. While conventional two wheel drive station wagons didn't have a chance of making it through squishy roads or rough terrain, as you can see from this vintage advertisement they were no problem for the full size 4x4 Jeep Cherokee.

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    COTD: Fangio And The Machine Of Time Edition

    Today was the centennial birthday of Juan Manuel Fangio, a man we've written about at length for reasons that should be self-evident. While there's tremendous video of Fangio online, this one seems appropriate for today — a moment from 1979 when Fabio was handed back the keys to his W196 Mercedes to drive around the Australian Grand Prix course with Jack Brabham. Except Fangio did not drive or parade — at age 68, he raced, flat-out, wearing the same safety gear he sported in the 1950s. You see

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Peter Falk, Actor Who Made The Peugeot 403 Famous, Dead At 83

    He was the glass-eyed comedic genius who turned a nebbishy Los Angeles detective with an Italian last name into a cult hero. Part of that heroism began at the casting of a strange, box-like French car. Starsky and Hutch had their Torino, Columbo had his Peugeot 403.

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    How To Hack Electronic Road Signs

    Two-and-a-half years ago we published a handy guide on how to hack an electronic road sign. Since then, America has found itself drowning in a sea of zombie warnings — and Jalopnik has become the unofficial whipping boy of the highway Lite-brite hacking community.

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    Chevy Dealer Will Sell You A New Caprice Police Car

    When Chevrolet announced last year it would import the Australian-built Chevy Caprice sedan as police-only fleet car, enthusiasts begged for a civilian version to no avail. Now one Maryland dealer says it will buck GM and sell 13 Caprices to the public. UPDATE: It's legit — but not for long.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Bill Caswell Crashes Out At Pikes Peak

    Maybe it was a bad omen to post video of Bill Caswell almost crashing out at Pikes Peak because, as we've just learned from commenters and friends, he crashed out during qualifying this morning.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    What's The Lamest Automotive Genre?

    Automotive genres are as changeable as the generations of humans who buy cars. Every time some focus group identifies a new niche, out come the slide rules. Sometimes, this fails miserably.

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    The Most Majestic French Failure Ever

    What is it with the French and their magnificent market failures? This is the Citroën SM Opéra, a galactic market failure which makes galactic market failures like the Renault Avantime (total made: 8,557) look positively submicroscopic. For this, to be specific, is one of the eight Citroën SM Opéras ever made.

    By Peter Orosz Read More
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    Help Find The Woman Who Ran Over This 7-Eleven Employee

    For some immigrants to the United States, the broadest window into our culture comes from working behind the counter at a 7-Eleven. Unfortunately that includes run-ins with America's less welcoming occupants — like people who hit 7-Eleven employees with their cars and nonchalantly stroll away.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Why Lincoln Should Die

    Ford may spend $1 billion in yet another extreme makeover for Lincoln, with a flurry of new, tech-laden models aimed for Lexus, Cadillac and BMW. Ford should save its pennies and just kill Lincoln.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    The Ten Best Promotional Vehicles

    Promotional vehicles aren't always the fastest out there, because then we'd miss what they're promoting. Instead, they embrace the subtle art of looking good even while standing still. Here are the ten best moving billboards as chosen by Jalopnik readers.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    The Strangest Racing Crash You'll Ever See

    You won't believe how two racing motorcycles got so ridiculously tangled up during a crash at this past weekend's Promosport event at Magny-Cours. The crash continues even after the riders are off as the bikes curl around one another like a gas-powered top. C'est étrange!

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    Did A Delta Employee Pee All Over This Guy's Luggage?

    It's been a bad month for Delta. On the heels of the firestorm over baggage fees the airline was charging soldiers returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan comes a story from a British man named Sy Haze, who is accusing Delta of peeing all over his clothes and stealing aftershave from his luggage, among other things. Let's go through the list of offenses, shall we?

    By Matt Cherette Read More
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    The Amazing DIY Ikea Dream Garage

    Living in Los Angeles as a car guy typically means either being wealthy enough to afford a garage (i.e. Jay Leno) or flexible enough to wrench in an AutoZone parking lot. Alas, Jack Olsen's managed to find an incredible compromise.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    ABC News' American Idiocy

    Last week, ABC News set out to show how buyers should care how much of their vehicles were "Made in America." It even set up a website showing how "American" certain models were. Here's how badly they got it wrong.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Porsche Attacking Pikes Peak In 911 GT2 RS After 1,110-Mile Road Trip

    Porsche will campaign a new 911 GT2 RS at Pikes Peak at the end of this month in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS under command of seven-time champ Jeff Zwart. And to prove their cars are as awesomely reliable as they are reliably awesome, he'll do it in a car he drove 1,100 miles from Porsche Motorsports HQ.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    Photos Of Ryan Dunn's Final Moments

    In addition to the photo he tweeted out late Sunday night, TMZ has snagged a roll of shots of Ryan Dunn at the bar ahead of the "Jackass" star's tragic death early yesterday morning. While he certainly looks like he's enjoying himself, there's no evidence to suggest that he had so much to drink that he was unable to drive.

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    COTD: Rare Earth Edition

    Much like the onetime Motown chart-toppers Rare Earth can keep knocking out "Get Ready" to moderate crowds every summer, Slid Pissed was able to find a groove regardingFerrari driver-on-Crown Vic driver violence:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Jackass Star Ryan Dunn Dies In Car Accident

    Ryan Dunn, who will forever be known for sticking a Hot Wheels car up his own ass in the movie "Jackass," and another as-of-yet-unidentified person, both died in a crash outside of Philadelphia early this morning. UPDATED.

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    What Is Your Favorite Inline Six Engine?

    Six pistons in a line—a wonderfully simple design that produced a well balanced, reliable and vibration free engine. Even though the modern V6 has pushed the inline six dangerously close to extinction, the configuration has been used to produce some pretty great engines in the past. What is your favorite inline six engine?

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe Was A "New Category Of Automobile"

    Based on the fact Ford deemed it a "new category of automobile", it appears they were rather proud of their redesigned 1987 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. A power boosting intercooler and "a computer controlled suspension" (complete with idiot light) were added to the quirky four cylinder Turbo Coupe among other updates and improvements. Shown here in a very 80s advertisement, it was clear both Ford and whoever narrated this advertisement were very serious about the new Turbo Coupe.

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    How Audi Uses Race Crashes To Make Cars Safer

    Dindo Capello's face turns from joyful to terrified. His friends are peppering him with questions, but his eyes are fixed on a video monitor, where a helicopter-borne camera is panning over the scene of an accident. Capello's trying to gain as much information as possible on the health of his friend and Audi teammate, Mike Rockenfeller.

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    The Second-Best Photo From The Vancouver Riots

    Even as the remains of vehicles still smoldered in downtown Vancouver after Thursday's hockey hooligan riots, many Vancouverites vowed to set things right. Here's one way they did it: Covering a police cruiser in scores of thank-you post-its.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Ten Outrageous Auto-Themed Father's Day Gifts

    This Sunday is the one day a year when we can say thanks and give our dad a tie. Or, if you're a good offspring, one of these way cooler presents. They were suggested by you and are guaranteed to be cooler than whatever you had planned.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    How We Filmed Ourselves Alone In An Empty Dallas Airport

    The video of two car guys exploring an empty Dallas airport exploded on the web after we posted it here yesterday, with many wondering if the video was real. Jalopnik spoke with the film's two creators last night to get the inside story of how — and why — they did it.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    What's The Most Outrageous Auto-Related Father's Day Gift?

    It's that time of the year when dad gets paid back for the year's advice on watches, women and tie-tying. Buying gifts for car-freak dads who have everything requires serious next-level thinking. What's the most outrageous auto-related Father's Day gift?

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    COTD: Sky Below Ancient Wheels Edition

    It's been several years since we've mentioned the Napier-Ralton, the land speed car built in 1933 that hit 144 mph on the Brooklands course in England thanks to a 25-liter, 500-hp W-12 engine that's still cranked and run to this day. A different kind of Sprinter, one great with Mazda, caught Zerobandwith's imagination to such a degree that we'll let the Toyota misplacement slide:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    How Did This Car Get Inside Of This Van?

    The film Borat allegedly unfairly portrayed Kazakhs as a bunch of trashy Central Asian simpletons. So wrong. This photo proves that Kazakhs are actually trashy Central Asian geniuses. But how — and why — did they do it? Let's find out.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    COTD: Cale Yarborough Edition

    We'll keep the barn door on Nascar-hating closed for the moment and say only that it was damn time the first driver to win three championships joined what can now properly be considered a Hall of Fame. Cale Yarborough was known for a lot of close races and the occasional crackerjack fistfight, but he also won four Daytona 500s. Sometimes you have to be tested to learn perseverence, a trait Half the wheels questioned when confronted with the latest in Libyan rebel ingenuity:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    How Your Car Could Sense Whether You're Driving Drunk

    America's roadgoing drunks still account for a third of all traffic deaths despite years of public outcry and shame. Now researchers say vehicles have enough technology to sense an impaired driver at the wheel — with the right software.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Do Not Buy Used Fuel-Efficient Cars Right Now

    What do OPEC and Prius owners have in common? They both screw you when gas prices go up. Buyers looking to lower their fuel costs with an gas-sipping used car should wait as the value of those vehicles likely peaked this week.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    The X-Prize Farce

    The $10 million Automotive X-Prize was billed as a "Revolution Through Competition," which backers said would promote real-world-capable 100 miles per gallon vehicles that are "safe, affordable and desirable." The reality is it's a complete farce.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Hitler's Personal Plane Was Powered By This US-Designed Engine

    The first BMW product may have been an aircraft engine, but it took help from the United States to return BMW to their roots after World War I put an end to German aircraft engine production. This BMW 132 radial nine began life in 1926 as the Pratt & Whitney Hornet and went on to power thousands of Luftwaffe planes, including both of Hitler’s personal planes during his reign over Germany.

    By Peter Orosz Read More
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    COTD: Spotted At The El Morocco Edition

    In 1950s-era Manhattan, the El Morocco was one of the hot places to see and be seen, the kind of club that eventually went out of style not long after Studebaker's dreams of luxury motoring died. There's no physical remnant of the El Morocco today, but it lives on as a throwaway reference in dozens of songs and movies — much like Lincoln may attempt to trade on a remembered past, as philaDLJ anticipates:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    A Secret Treasure Trove Of New York City Taxis

    This brand-spankin'-new yellow New York taxi-ready Ford Crown Victoria fleet I stumbled across yesterday, springing up like a patch of daisies through the cracks of the concrete urban jungle of Hoboken, New Jersey, is both poignant and beautiful.

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    Who Should Be Cast In Slingshot, The Bill Caswell Movie?

    Hurt Locker star Jeremy Renner will produce and star in "Slingshot," based on Bill Caswell's BMW rally-underdog story. Renner's already pegged himself in the lead role, but what about other characters? Who should be cast in Slingshot, the Bill Caswell movie?

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    Audi, Corvette Win Insanely Close 2011 24 Hours Of Le Mans

    Endurance races are typically won by laps, but this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans was won by seconds after Audi and Corvette held of fierce competition despite crashing down to their final cars. The best racing, the biggest crashes, the closest times, and a very special victory for the Americans and Germans.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    Watch Allan McNish Destroy His Audi R18 In Horrific Crash

    The first major accident of the day with the #3 Audi R18 of Allan McNish crashing into the #58 Ferrari 458 Italia in ridiculous fashion. McNish went in too fast, smashed the Ferrari, and went tumbling into the tire wall. Everyone's ok but, warning, it's horrific.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    1990 BMW 318 Is Back With A Vengeance

    If you wanted a sporty three series BMW in the early 90s but didn't have an M3 budget, the 318is was the Bimmer for you. After disappearing from the BMW lineup for the second part of the 80s, the four cylinder 318 returned for 1990 bringing with it the new IS model. As this classic ad points out, what was once just the entry level BMW had become the entry level BMW with a vengeance.

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    COTD: Sir Stirling's Scalextric Edition

    Sir Stirling Moss may have retired from all forms of competitive driving, but one suspects he will be tinkering with cars as long as he's able, at least based on how he used to spend his free time with the Scalextrics. Which brings us to another moving on moment: Today's the last day for Adrian (aka @Diffeomorphic on the twitters) to be assisting with sorting through comments every day to help us find the winner. Fittingly, it was one of Adrian's picks that won today: the Guacanator's idea for

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    The Shape-Shifting, Fuel-Saving Metals Of The Future

    Active aerodynamics have long ago filtered down from track cars to high-end sports cars, and are beginning to show up in everyday sedans. But General Motors has patented an idea to use shape-shifting materials to make them more efficient.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Sweet Tooth From Twisted Metal Is More Terrifying In Real Life

    If I could have all the hours I invested in Twisted Metal 2 on Playstation back I'd probably be able to finish War & Peace, but I wouldn't do it. Those were great hours. So the sight of Sweet Tooth from TM2 rendered in real metal is both heart-warming and stomach-sinking, which I think is the point.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    A Car Stunt So Great It's Even Awesome When It Fails

    The upright bus trick isn't a car stunt show staple like jumping normally-placed buses, but it should be. Here we see "The Crusher" attempt to launch his car into a few school buses lined-up like dominoes. It's not completely successful in terms of knocking down the Bluebirds, but it is completely successful as entertainment.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    The Dangerous Thrill Of Off-Road Parasailing

    Kevin Kewley grew up hearing stories of his parent's "infamous parasail" they'd use in an uncommon sport called off-road parasailing. Lured by tales of high-flying adventure he decided to try it himself. The results are amazing if not a little terrifying.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    COTD: "Ode To Miami Vice" Edition

    The Hemmings Motor News 25-year age limit for defining "classic" cars works pretty well as a yardstick for other cultural artifacts, like the original "Miami Vice." This homage from AmericanDLSR via Vimeo shows you don't need much more than the night, the right music and an attractive car — a formula that didn't exist before Don Johnson got his white suits. Today's comment from I work for GM offers a similar deep appreciation for the driver of the new 'Ring-blasting Corvette:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Your 2011 24 Hours Of Le Mans Day One über Gallery

    The first day of practice and qualifying at Le Mans was a busy one yesterday with Audi and Peugeot battling out it, people flying off the track, and red flags galore. Here are photos of the exciting opening to the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    Ferrari-Driving Ferrari Sues To Get Ferrari Back

    Caught driving his Ferrari 360 Modena under enough influences to spark a Grateful Dead album, New York resident James Ferrari nevertheless fought the government's attempt to seize his ride. Now a federal judge has ruled Ferrari's Ferrari belongs to Ferrari.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    The Ten Most Epic Electric Car Failures

    Backyard engineers and major automakers have been trying to get a real-world useable electric car on the market for years. Some of them come pretty close. Others are just ridiculous, and fail spectacularly. Here are the ten best electric car failures as selected by Jalopnik readers.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    COTD: A Muzzle Of Mazda 787Bs Edition

    The Mazda 787B four-rotor race car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 still stands as the pinnacle of accomplishments for Mr. Wankel's bit of combustion trickery. Dusted off for a parade lap this year (to be driven by long-time Mazda racer Patrick Dempsey) the 787B still sounds like nothing else when under full buzz. Much like Deathrabbits' unique and winner-by-acclimation post on the SUV-etched breakup note:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Apple Bans DUI Checkpoint Apps

    Apple will ban apps that warn drivers of DUI checkpoints, according to changes in the company's App Store Review Guidelines. The move comes four months after several U.S. senators called for the company to reject apps like Trapster and PhantomALERT that forewarn drivers of cops' roadblocks.

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    Nissan Rescues Dead Electric Cars With Gas-Guzzling Diesel Trucks

    The Nissan Leaf electric car's advertised purpose is protecting the environment. But with an advertised range of 100 miles-per-charge and a propensity for running out of juice early and with little warning, the company's solution in Japan involves chucking that "save the earth" nonsense out the window in favor of a big ol' diesel-engined five-ton truck.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    COTD: The Ballet Of Saabs Edition

    Symmetry has a universal aesthetic appeal, whether in particle physics or the graceful moves of early 80's Saab 9000s to the sounds of classical music. It's the same impulse that wills us to believe in karma as the symmetry of behavior, a belief reaffirmed by Twirlcan in the face of world-questioning doubt spurred by a fat man dancing on a Lambo for no reason:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    The NASCAR Champ Who Knocked Out A Reporter To Prove He Could Read

    Bobby Isaac was the champion of NASCAR in 1970, but he is little-known today. He disliked giving interviews to the press and he died in 1977. For a brief period of time though, NASCAR fans knew who he was. One year he won 17 races. Another, 20 poles. Later, he set 28 World land speed records at Bonneville. This story isn't about that. It's about his temper.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    How To Sell Your Car Using Social Media

    Most people put just enough effort into selling their used car to get the job done — maybe a few online ads at best. One British owner has launched an entire viral campaign for his Porsche, complete with music video.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    The Ten Best-Looking 16-Bit Cars

    Racing games didn't always have a million polygons and textured scenery. Sometimes, all you got were some colored pixels and chirpy music. With your help we've identified the ten best-looking cars from the 16-bit generation.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    The Ten Coolest R/C Cars Of All Time

    Driving tiny cars is awesome. Driving tiny cars over piles of dirt and terrorizing the family dog is even better. Last week, we asked you for your favorite R/C cars, and here they are. Add your favorites below.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    Engineers Can't Spell Gud

    I kid, because I'm sure this Michigan vanity plate I spotted in a Detroit suburb this week was totally just because they wanted to engineer the word "Engineer" onto the plate. I hope. I really hope.

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    The Robotic Car-Tracking Eyes Of The Law

    It's how the LAPD's Future Cruiser hunts for stolen vehicles. And how toll roads and municipalities across the country control traffic conditions. It reads license plates like the Rain Man counted cards.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More
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    Tesla Model S "Alpha" Shows Off A Sleeker Electric Ass

    Tesla Motors has dropped a crop of photos of what it's calling the Tesla Model S "Alpha," which appears to be a more production-intent version of the until-now-more-likely-vaporware-than-not electric sedan concept. It also appears to be stolen straight from either the new Jaguar XF or the Kia Optima. I guess if you can't beat 'em, derive from 'em!

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    What Car Would You Drive In A Race Across The Country?

    After viewing The Cannonball Run for the 100th time this past week we started wondering the obvious question when faced with the prospect of a high speed coast to coast automotive competition. What car would you drive in a cross country race?

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    Don't Believe Everything You Hear About The 1985 Volkswagen Jetta

    In case you mistakenly heard the redesigned 1985 Jetta was able to jump fallen trees, transport elephants or fit several dozen suitcases in the trunk, Volkswagen wanted you to know none of it was true. Following the unconventional advertising mold that served the company so well, Volkswagen drove that point home by illustrating their car faced with all of the aforementioned scenarios in this amusing piece of vintage advertising.

    By Tom Joslin Read More
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    How One Man Got Off His Couch And Became A Baja Racer

    For those who haven't seen it, "Dust to Glory" is an epic movie about what it takes to run the Baja 1000 in Mexico. There probably isn't a gearhead on the planet who hasn't watched that flick and thought, "OMG. I wanna do that." Jim Graham, co-founder of Desert Dingo Racing, is one such gearhead, and OMG. He actually went out and did that. Here's how.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    COTD: Don't Pee In Your Racecar Edition

    Liz Halliday is a successful American Le Mans racer who has somehow been keelhauled by Nissan and Sony to answer weird questions like "How do you go to the bathroom in a 24-hour endurance race?" The answer to the challenges posed by gluteal haberdashers also gave Alan505 today's award for the outlaw Outback parking challenge:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    'I Locked My Keys In My Car' And Other Reasons Roger Ailes Calls The Cops

    Jowly asshole Roger Ailes, the chairman of Fox News, is a security-obsessed paranoiac who spies on his employees, installed blast-resistant plexiglass in his office windows, carries a concealed weapon, and travels with a full-time retinue of bodyguards. All of which may help explain why the cops were called to his New Jersey home 25 times in the past five years.

    By John Cook Read More
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    This French Jet Is Flying Around With An Untested Nuke

    Below this French Rafale jet is a missile that can travel about 300 miles before deploying a completely untested 300 kiloton nuclear warhead. This shot wasn't taken at the height of the Cold War. It was taken last week. To understand why you have to understand the French approach to nuclear deterrence.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    How Do You Say "Epic Ninja Fail" In Polish?

    The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R is a lightweight, track-focused sport bike for a serious rider. People attempting to ride its handlebars from the front while being videotaped should practice on less-temperamental transportation, like a bobcat with a saddle on its head.

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Ten Cars Better Than Their More Expensive Siblings

    Top price doesn't always mean top of the barrel. Plenty of times, better, more fun cars can be had for less than their top-of-the-range counterparts. Yesterday, you answered our call for examples; here are the top ten.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    Diners Take Revenge On Asshat Parker

    Parking sideways across three parking spaces in your Ford Expedition may make you feel like a real man, but what happens when a couple of Reddit users decide to legally park in the two open spaces on either side of you? Revenge as sweet as a Bloomin' Onion.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    COTD: Effort Equals Results Edition

    "Effort equals results" is the slogan Roger Penske likes to quote his racing teams and other employees. While today's haikus were paragons of thrift, RyGuy took one post about a used Pontiac GTO and turned in a epic-length comment that's closer to a short story than a blog post:

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Robert Bleier, DeLorean Painter, Dead At 44

    Robert Bleier, the suburban dad who painted DeLoreans to ease his fight with cancer, passed away this week at the age of 44 according to the DeLorean Motor Company. He leaves behind a wife, two children, and a huge following of fellow DeLorean enthusiasts.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    The El Camino That Survived The Joplin Tornado

    The recovery from the massive tornado that struck Joplin last week remains a work in progress, and families are still mourning more than 120 victims. Here's a small good-news story about an El Camino that survived when it shouldn't have.

    By Justin Hyde Read More

Nice Price or No Dice (22)

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    For $6,000, Chase The Rising Sun

    Climate change remains a controversial subject these days, but if it's not yet warm enough for you, maybe today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Celica Sunchaser will light your fire. And perhaps its price will make it a hot commodity.

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $20,000, Pop An Econowheelie

    Ford's forward control E100 pick up was a cool truck despite its modest engine options. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe '63 offers up a 434 Chevy mill to address those performance issues, but even with that it's still kind of a drag.

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $8,500, Is This 928 Just Right?

    Upfront prices for 928s are all over the map these days, as can be their commensurate condition. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe 5-speed S falls about right in the middle of the pricing pack, but does that make it an unconditionally good deal?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
  • 0

    For $15,800, Is The V For Victory?

    Cadillac debuted its revamped styling meme with the CTS, and they re-established their performance creds with that car's rip-snorting edition, the V. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe contender rocks it in new Cadillac style, but for this particular one, does the V stand for value?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $95,900, Would You Let-It-Go?

    Before he decided to sing the body electric, Henrik Fisker liked to re-body Bimmers and Mercs. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Latigo may be an über rare example of his small body of work, but is its price electrifying?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $3,999, Zee Ex Marks The Spot

    Datsun's sports car went by the name Fairlady in its homeland, possibly explaining why a convertible version was not offered; fair ladies typically needing to stay out of the sun. That didn't stop the creator of today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe 280ZX from dropping its top, but will you find its price to be fair, ladies?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $5,000 Is This An Alfa Dog?

    The products of Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili are usually reserved for the faithful and reverent. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Alfetta however, looks to be more akin to the fast and furious.

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $19,999.98 Canadian, This Fiat Is A Fist Full Of Dallara

    They say it's better to breast feed than to use baby formula, but that doesn't mean Formula 3 builder Dallara couldn't help Fiat's baby X1/9 grow up strong and fast. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Exxie is all Dall'd up, but would you have to be a boob to pay its price?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $65,000, Bora! Bora! Bora!

    The old maxim goes that a bad penny always turns up. The seller of today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Maserati Bora is also a previous owner. That doesn't mean this car is a bad penny, but you'll still have to determine if it costs a pretty penny.

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $25,000, Watch This Escargot Topless

    A stern appearance and imposing gravitas are qualities of Mercedes' W126 S-coupes. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe 560 SEC may be a little less funereal due to its convertible conversion, but will its price be largely sobering?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $1,500, It's The El Camino Centipede

    Cars with pickup beds are awesome, right? So that means that even more bed would be even more awesome... right? Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe El Camino doubles down on both the bed and rear wheels, but is its price something that you'd have to sleep on?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $16,000, This Benz Is A 6.9 On The Reich-Ter Scale

    The Germans may have failed at world domination - twice - but they've pretty much dominated the executive sedan market for decades. Todays Nice Price or Crack Pipe Mercedes Benz is decades old, but comes with a price that could be considered a dominant feature.

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $7,000, It's A Step Van-Go

    Don McLean famously sang about driving his Chevy to the levee, where sadly he discovered they couldn't serve booze. If he had been driving today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe hot rod Step Van he could have been drinking whiskey and rye in no time, but may have found its price to be too much dough for his American Pie.

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $19,500, Quoth The Raven, Never Lift

    In The Pit and the Pendulum Edgar Allen Poe imagines a diabolical death machine involving an arcing scythe. If Poe were alive today, he might find this Nice Price or Crack Pipe Porsche 930 equally fiendish for its pendulum-like handling properties, but would he also find its price horrific?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $12,999, Be A Fresh Prince

    The Shoebox Chevys were also known as the Tri-fives because they encompassed three years in the mid fifties - 55, 56 and 57. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Bel Air is from the first of those three, but does it come with a price that's triple what it should be?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $9,495, Get The Mercury Black And Blues

    During WWII, the B-26 Marauder gained the reputation as a Widowmaker due to its high-speed landing demands. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Mercury Marauder should be less unsettling to one's spouse, but is its price too demanding?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $93,333, Two Grilles, One Coupe

    With a pair of notable exceptions, Kate Hudson looks remarkably like her mother, Goldie Hawn. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe BMW Z8 was intended to evoke memories of its progenitor, the lovely 507, but its its price too reminiscent of its cost new?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $4,000, Your Thing Could Drag On The Ground

    What if, instead of seeking world domination, the Nazis had sought to build rat rods and hold Bug-ins? Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe master beater Thing might have been the history-changing result, but is its price as low as its roof?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $18,500, Be Intimidating

    Dale Earnhardt won his 6th Winston Cup Championship in 1993, and to acknowledge that feat his Newton, NC-based Chevy dealership produced 25 custom Lumina Z34s. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe contender is one of the 12 of those to go the full Dale, but will you be intimidated by its price?

    By Rob Emslie Read More
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    For $25,995, This GTO Is All Kinds Of Nuts

    The ‘O' in GTO is for Omologato, Italian for homologated, which itself is derived from the Greek homologeo, or to agree. Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe ‘06 Pontiac GTO is derived from the Aussie Holden, but is its price something upon which we all can agree?

    By Rob Emslie Read More

QOTD (1)

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    COTD: You Don't Know The Half Of It Edition

    The video of Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima's Pikes Peaks run spawned a lot of comment about how his times should be compared to the runs of previous years which had more dirt and less pavement to work with. But commenter DrunkenMessiah had some eyewitness information that added to the already insane level of difficulty Tajima overcame:

    By Justin Hyde Read More

Racing (4)

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    What's The Most Awesome Banned Race Car?

    Motorsports rulebooks exist to, among other things, limit racecar builders' wild fantasies in the name of fairness in competition. But in probing the limits of those rules, sometimes carbuilders go too far. What's the most awesome banned race car ever?

    By Mike Spinelli Read More
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    The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix In Crayola

    After six dry races, Formula One was more than ready for a wet Grand Prix in Montréal. What we got was no ordinary wet race. It was the mother of all wet races, a deep sea battle to see if Sebastian Vettel is man or, indeed, machine. Warning: spoilers.

    By Peter Orosz Read More

Reviews (3)

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    This Is A Porsche With 10,000 Bullet Holes

    After the engine of his Porsche 911 decided to die (and take much of the cooling system along with it in some kind of powertrain suicide pact), the owner considered the $20,000 repair job and instead decided to donate the car to a non-profit. A non-profit dedicated to protecting gun rights. Let's find out what happens when you pump a car with 10,000 rounds of hot lead.

    By Matt Hardigree Read More
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    2012 BMW M5: Yes, This Is It

    This is it. Months after we drove a pre-production model out on a Swedish lake, here now are official images and details on the new BMW M5.

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    The Cooper Coupe Is The Mini Two-Seater We've Always Wanted

    As expected, Mini is bringing to market the car they always should have built — the Mini Cooper Coupe (first unveiled way back in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show). It's a two-door, two-seater potentially able to take a tiny shot across the bow of the super-compact sports car class. Daddy like. Well, as long as Daddy doesn't actually have kids or a child seat. Which Daddy don't.

    By Ray Wert Read More

Sports Cars (1)

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    Ten Awesome Women Drivers

    Throughout history women have proven they can be just as fast behind the wheel as men. Yesterday, we asked Jalopnik readers who they thought were the most iconic women drivers. Here are some of the women they singled out for their abilities and courage.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More

Technology (1)

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    The Gadgetization Of Cars Is Kind Of Ruining Them

    The antique Thunderbird parked outside on my street right now will run, approximately, forever. Unlike my Honda Civic Hybrid, which will be in the scrapheap before my baby daughter hits college. Why? Because the gadgetization of cars is ruining them.

    By Mat Honan Read More

The Morning Shift (22)

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    2013 Dodge Viper Still On Track, Japanese Auto Sales Plummet, And Lotus Unveils More Vaporware

    1st Gear: Developing the redesigned 2013 Dodge Viper SRT hasn't been easy. Ralph Gilles, who heads Chrysler Group's design organization and SRT, the automaker's performance group, says many suppliers said "thanks, but no thanks" when the automaker knocked on their doors. "It has been tough to get low-volume suppliers," Gilles says. "We have had a few hiccups here and there as we get suppliers. That type of fringe business has really dwindled. A lot of people are looking for big accounts now, but

    By Ray Wert Read More
  • 0

    Transformers 3 Is A Flame-Filled Robogasm, Obama's CAFE Dartboard, And There Can Be Only One Highlander Not Recalled

    1st Gear: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Tuesday he is optimistic regulators and automakers can reach agreement on new fuel efficiency standards for 2017-25. But automakers and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, are looking for more details. The White House told U.S. automakers last week it was considering requiring a fleetwide average 56.2 mpg for cars and light trucks by 2025 - a move that could add at least $2,100 to $2,600 to the price of cars. But regulators say owners would recoup the h

    By Ray Wert Read More
  • 0

    Europe Continues Its Anti-Auto War Of Terror, The Saab Story Continues, And TomTom's Not Going Anywhere

    1st Gear: While many American cities are synchronizing green lights to improve traffic flow and offering apps to help drivers find parking, European cities are doing the opposite: creating environments openly hostile to cars. The methods vary, but the mission is clear - to make car use expensive and miserable enough to tilt drivers toward more environmentally friendly modes of transportation. Cities including Vienna to Munich and Copenhagen have closed vast swaths of streets to car traffic. Barc

    By Ray Wert Read More
  • 0

    Will CAFE Jump To 56.2 MPG, Where's Our Jeep Pickup, And Who Builds The Volt And Leaf?

    1st Gear: The Obama administration is considering a fleetwide average of 56.2 miles per gallon for all new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. by 2025, two people briefed on the matter said. The proposal would roughly double current fuel-economy targets, and would likely raise the price of some cars by several thousand dollars. The Wall Street Journal says the proposal isn't final, and could be adjusted over the next several weeks as regulators prepare a formal draft to send to White House budget o

    By Ray Wert Read More
  • 0

    New Cars Get Worse Quality Scores, SRT Gets Branded And Big Oil Picks A Fight With Lightning McQueen

    1st Gear: We mentioned yesterday Ford's slump in the annual J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, but at first glance the rest of the industry didn't have such a great year, either. While the overall level of complaints fell a tick to 107 problems per 100 vehicles, all the gains came from old models; new vehicle problems rose 10% to 122 per 100 vehicles. The reason? Complicated entertainment technology — i.e. Ford's Sync — and "hesitation" due to weird shift patterns in vehicles tuned for maximum f

    By Justin Hyde Read More
  • 0

    Think EV Goes Bankrupt, Saab's Sob Story Continues, And Saudi Women Want Subie To Pull Out

    1st Gear: Automotive News is reporting that tiny electric car maker Think Global AS filed for bankruptcy Wednesday in its home market of Norway after attempts to keep the company going through recapitalization and restructuring failed, the company said in a statement. It is the fourth time Think has collapsed financially in its 20-year history. It turns out people don't like buying ugly little electric cars.

    By Ray Wert Read More
  • 0

    Honda Gets The Beat, Fewer Americans Will Drive Over Independence Day, And AAA Will Save Your Electric Ass

    1st Gear: Bloomberg reports that there will be 2.5% fewer Americans traveling during the five-day July 4 holiday period as higher prices at the pump crimp travel plans. The number of Americans traveling 50 miles or more from will fall to 39 million from 40 million last year, according to a forecast by the American Automobile Association. That's the third decline in four years. The long weekend runs from June 30 to July 4. Regular gasoline at the pump as of June 20, averaged nationwide, was $3.63

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    U.S. Vehicle Thefts Drop, Saab Wants To Cut A Deal, And Can Chevy Make Us Care About The Sonic?

    1st Gear: Bloomberg reports this morning that U.S. vehicle thefts dropped to their lowest point since 1967, falling for a seventh straight year as more cars were equipped with security devices and police tactics helped deter thieves, an insurance industry group said. Thefts probably declined 7.2% last year from 794,616 in 2009, according to preliminary figures released today by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The New York City region, Dallas, Los Angeles, Detroit and Miami were among 257 ur

    By Ray Wert Read More
  • 0

    A New Guinness Record For Longest Drift, Buyers Hate Ford's MyTouch, And Hungry Like The E-Wolf

    1st Gear: Mercedes demo driver Mauro Calo smashed the previous Guinness world record for the longest drift at Mercedes-Benz World by just under 1/4 of a mile with a total drift distance of 1.43 miles. The Mercedes C63 AMG, which was used for the record, was driven 8.5 times around Mercedes-Benz World's outer perimeter "until the rear tyre burst," Calo said. We don't know what a "tyre" is — but if it's anything like a "tire," we'll assume that there was a lot of scraping and sparks.

    By Ray Wert Read More
  • 0

    Detroit Wins In California, Ethanol Takes A Hit And Ford Plays Ball

    1st Gear: After years of futility, Detroit automakers are finally making gains in the one place they've always longed to succeed: California. The Golden State accounts for about 18% of all U.S. auto sales, and in recent years the share of its sales claimed by the Detroit three has been slowly declining. But thanks to a well-timed onslaught of small cars, General Motors and Ford are making inroads, while Chrysler has stabilized. How far do they have to go? The Chevy Cruze accounts for 3.3% of ret

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    Auto Sales Suck, The Mustang Won't Save Flat Rock, And Toyota's New Yaris

    1st Gear: U.S. auto sales may run at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 12.3 million this month, the second-worst pace of the year, according to Edmunds. Shortages of new vehicles in the U.S. because of the March earthquake in Japan may keep the auto-sales pace below 13 million through August, said Lacey Plache, chief economist of California-based Edmunds. The rate may peak this year at 13.7 million units in September and stay above 13 million for the rest of the year as supply recovers, Plach

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    The 2013 Nissan GT-R, Fiat Won't Blow It's Credit On Chrysler, And The New Beetle R's Coming

    1st Gear: Japan's Best Car magazine reports that a power bump for the Nissan GT-R is in the works for 2013 and it'll amount to an extra 30 horses atop the already powerful engine. A Nissan insider with direct knowledge of the program and who may or may not be related to someone at Edmunds' Inside Line — or who may or may not have helped someone related to someone at Edmunds' Inside Line get a job — told them that the GT-R's output will increase, but says Best Car's number is wrong. The good news

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    BMW's 2 Series And 4 Series Strategy, Honda Profits Plummet, And Petra Ecclestone Is Really Hot

    1st Gear: Car magazine reports this morning that BMW plans to shake up its badging strategy like a polaroid picture, turning the next-gen 1-series and 3-series sporting derivatives into the 2-series and 4-series. Two-door Ones and Threes — the coupes and convertibles — will in future be rebadged as the BMW 2-series and BMW 4-series. A decade ago, BMW had exactly the same idea and came very close to sticking a 4-series badge on to the two-door 3-series derivatives. But at the eleventh hour, this

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    Toyota's Going Down, Nissan Needs To Turn A New Leaf, And Used Vehicle Prices Keep Going Up

    1st Gear: Toyota may be in danger of losing its title as the world's biggest automaker this year, but it doesn't care, telling the world it's sworn off the pursuit of being No. 1. Executive Vice President Satoshi Ozawa said last week that quality and customer satisfaction is more imporant than volume. "There is no meaning in us being the global No. 1," he said. Toyota never said it wanted to be No. 1, only that it wanted 15% of the global market — which would all but guarantee the top spot. But

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    Toyota Profits Down, Le Mans Heats Up And NHTSA Is No Fan Of Tweeting

    1st Gear:Toyota updated its profit forecasts for the fiscal year ending in March 2012, and they're about as bad as one might expect for Japan's largest manufacturer. Profits are expected to fall 31% from last year's total to about $3.2 billion — even assuming Toyota restores production on schedule. While Toyota has made quick work of bringing back suppliers, the ongoing recovery from Japan's quake and tsunami poses other hurdles, like Japanese government requests to cut power use by 15% this sum

    By Justin Hyde Read More
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    No More Lotus Elise Or Exige For America, China Car Sales Suck, And The Saab Story Continues

    1st Gear: Lotus said it will end production in August of Elise and Exige for North America. The news was confirmed by Lotus spokesman Kevin Smith in response to an e-mail query from Edmunds' Inside Line. Lotus in the U.S. introduced the 2011 Elise and Exige in late 2010. While the Exige was carried over virtually unchanged, the 2011 Elise received an exterior freshening and new wheels. For 2011, the Elise is offered in the U.S. in two versions - the base sports car, powered by a 1.8-liter four-c

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    GM's Share Price Is Too Low, Alan Mulally Is Smiling, And We're Guzzling Less Gas

    1st Gear: The U.S. Treasury Department is reluctant to sell part of its 33% stake in General Motors back to the company at this point because the price is too low, a person familiar with the matter said. Executives at Detroit-based GM have discussed buying some of the Treasury's shares or allowing all holders of common stock to sell back shares, said the person, who asked not to be identified revealing private discussions. The Treasury doesn't want to sell GM while the shares are trading at 13%

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    Volkswagen Beetle Gets A Price Tag, Mazda 6 Is Going Japanese, And Another New Hot Hatch Not For Us

    1st Gear: Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced pricing for the new new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, the third generation of the classic "people's car". The new Beetle will start at just $18,995 for the base model, and comes equipped with a 170-horsepower in-line five-cylinder 2.5-liter engine. The sportier model (VW actually calls it the "sportiest" model, but we're holding out hope that we'll see a quicker model than this — like an "R" model maybe?) - the 2.0-liter TSI - will have a starting

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    New Cadillacs Won't Be Standard Of The World, Caterham Hits The Track, And Porsche Possibly Goes Diesel

    1st Gear: According to an interview with the Detroit News, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson says the automaker is rethinking its brand strategy — aiming for just two global brands, Chevy and Cadillac. Although Chevy's product portfolio already has a global presence, Cadillac does not. Akerson explained that in order to boost sales of luxury cars, next summer will see the launch of two new Cadillacs: the full-size XTS, which will replace the DTS and STS; and an unnamed compact that's currently bein

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    Audi R8 GT Spyder, Nissan Leaf Sales Suck, And Obama Cashes Out Of Chrysler

    1st Gear: Italian automaker Fiat agreed late Thursday to acquire the U.S. Treasury's stake in Chrysler Group for $560 million, ending the Obama administration's involvement with the Auburn Hills automaker. The move gives the Italian automaker a 52% majority stake in Chrysler. The U.S. exit ends a 30-month involvement of two administrations in saving the company from collapse, beginning with the Bush administration's decision to bail out Chrysler with $4 billion in December 2008. President Barack

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    Obama Administration Loves Limos, Sales Slide, And Ford Pickups Are Less Manly

    1st Gear: In the month of May, Ford sold more V6 F-150 pickups than they sold V8-engined trucks — to the tune of 55% to 45%. Mike Levine of PickupTrucks.com breaks it down even further, letting us know that 41% of the automaker's retail sales were of EcoBoost engines. Is this the first time V6-engined F-Series pickups have beaten their bigger competitors? We don't know and haven't heard back from Ford PR folks yet to see if it's the case. What we can say is the small-displacement adoption in For

    By Ray Wert Read More
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    A Toyota Prius Recall, The U.S. Won't Get Its Money Back, And A New Mustang SVO

    1st Gear: Toyota Motor Sales, USA today announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 52,000 2001 through 2003 Prius vehicles sold in the U.S. to replace the electric power steering pinion shaft attachment nuts. The announcement for U.S. vehicles is included in Toyota Motor Corporation's global recall of 106,000 vehicles. Turns out that if the steering wheel is repeatedly and strongly turned to the full-lock position, there is a possibility the nuts securing the pinion sha

    By Ray Wert Read More

Trucks (1)

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    1962 Steyr Puch Haflinger Is Weird Military Truck Fun In A Mini Package

    If you've always wanted a Unimog or a Pinzgauer but they are just too big, you are looking at the perfect solution. It's not a Pinzgauer post shrink ray, it's a 1962 Steyr Puch Haflinger (Steyr Puch did later design and build the much larger Pinzgauer though). This rare Austrian mini truck is currently for sale on Ebay.

    By Tom Joslin Read More

Wrenching (2)

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    The Ten Coolest DIY Cars

    The government makes it hard to sell cars in the United States, but they've left open one huge loophole for cars you build yourself — i.e. kit cars. With the help of our readers we've selected the ten all-time coolest DIY cars.

    By Martin Grossinger Read More
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    How To Build Your Own Dyno For Just $2,000

    A dynamometer, or "dyno" as they're called by you and I, is a device for measuring force, moment of force (torque), or power. In the automotive world, they're used to precisely calculate the power produced by a vehicle's engine at the wheels. A stand-alone dyno setup can cost more than $50,000. Here's how some guys decided to build their own redneck dyno for just $2,000.

    By Mike Spinelli Read More