Archive for December 2016

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Beyond Cars (20)

  • Donald Trump Now Asking For Impossible Magic Fantasy Jet

    President-elect Donald Trump is tweeting again, and once more he’s tweeting about the F-35 fighter jet. Last week, he said the F-35 program costs have gone “out of control,” and he was right, sort of. Except now his proposed solution appears to be a physically impossible fantasy plane. God help us.

    By Michael Ballaban Read More

  • Donald Trump Has No Clue About Nukes

    Earlier this year, it became blatantly obvious that President-elect Donald Trump had no idea what the nuclear triad was. Earlier this afternoon, Donald Trump exposed himself once more as a know-nothing when it comes to nuclear weapons. Here, in short, is why it’s blatantly obvious why he has no idea what he’s talking about.

    By Michael Ballaban Read More

  • That C-130 Circling NYC Was Practicing Donald Trump's Rescue: Report

    Last Wednesday New Yorkers were bugging out over a massive C-130 military plane doing low and slow laps with a pair of helicopters over Manhattan. The military originally said it was a “routine training exercise,” but now it’s reported that it was a training exercise for pulling President-Elect Donald Trump out of the city in an emergency.

    By Andrew P. Collins Read More

  • Russia's Growing Nuclear Arsenal Is Still More Dangerous Than Any Hacking

    You might be concerned with the notion that Russian President Vladimir Putin “hacked” the U.S. presidential election, as it were. It’s psychological warfare for a new world, we’re told, and Cold War II will be fought over the internet. But Russia’s nuclear weapons didn’t die with the first Cold War, and you shouldn’t forget about them for a second.

    By Michael Ballaban Read More

  • Here's What Happens When A President And The CIA Fight

    Donald Trump pissed off many in the intelligence community (and a lot of other people) earlier this week when he derided their analysis of political hacking during the election, which pinned the blame on Russia. There’s a lot that could play out in the public arena for sure, but what is less certain is what could happen behind closed doors between Trump and the United States’ spy services. But thanks to President Richard Nixon, of all people, we’ve seen this one play out before.

    By Michael Ballaban Read More

  • The Drone Sub China Seized From Us Is Probably Just Like An Oceanographic Weather Balloon

    When you read in the news that China stole an American unmanned drone submarine from us right out of the water, it sounds pretty alarming. What is the drone sub they stole? Are they going to find out all kinds of state secrets? Will they reverse-engineer the robo-sub and turn it against us? While nobody likes to have their stuff stolen, in this case what we lost really isn’t a big deal, national security-wise.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Here's How A Warship Crew Eats In The Middle Of A Fight

    The Danish navy’s 455-foot frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes carries heavy artillery guns, missiles and machine guns to protect convoys and patrol dangerous waters. It also has 160 souls aboard, with a very efficient cafeteria to keep them fed even while the vessel is taking fire.

    By Andrew P. Collins Read More

  • Donald Trump Thinks The F-35's Costs Are Out Of Control

    President-elect Donald Trump fired off a series of tweets early this morning, as he is wont to do, this time with one of them aimed at the F-35 Lightning II program. Over the years the Joint Strike Fighter program has grown massively over-complicated and over-budget, but Trump hasn’t yet said what he wants to do about it—if he can do anything about it.

    By Michael Ballaban Read More

  • Russia's Unreliable Aircraft Carrier Just Lost Another Plane

    Russia’s aircraft carrier off the coast of Syria is continuing a fine tradition of being more of a floating joke than an actual warship. Yet another Russian Navy Su-33 fighter jet crashed in the Mediterranean Sea attempting to land on the gross as hell Admiral Kuznetsov on Saturday.

    By Michael Ballaban Read More

  • America And China's Military Beef Over The South China Sea, Explained

    President-elect Donald Trump’s unprecedented phone call with Taiwan’s newly-elected president Tsai Ing-wen has a lot to do with Washington’s often complicated military tensions with Beijing. Why? The South China Sea, a disputed swath of ocean of which China claims a majority of territory.

    By Michael Ballaban Read More

BMW (2)

Boatlopnik (1)

  • 'Tinny Bashing' Boat Hoons Are Terrorizing Australia's Waterways

    If there’s one thing I know about Australia, it’s that if something has a motor, someone will find a way to hoon it, and then someone else will find a way to complain about it. Such is the fate of what the Aussies call “tinny bashing:” hilarious acts of speed and spray. It’s like dank wheelies for boats, bro.

    By Stef Schrader Read More

Brands (4)

  • Holy Crap The Next Buick Regal Wagon Looks Gorgeous

    This, dear reader, is a 2018 Opel Insignia Sports Tourer. If you live in America there’s a good chance you don’t care what a new Opel wagon looks like because you assume you can’t buy one anyway. But you might be able to, soon! Because word on the street is this thing is the next Buick Regal wagon.

    By Patrick George Read More

Buying (26)

  • Driving A Camaro Z/28 And A Cadillac ATS-V Back To Back Proves How Great American Cars Are Now

    I have always been a big fan of American cars, terrible handling and all. None of my friends who owned Audis, AMGs, Bimmers understood this affection. I didn’t care. It was a cheap way for me to enjoy gobs of torque, and the occasional fishtailing. (Plus, while I spent $30 for an oil change on my Ford they were spending half their salary replacing the alternator in their precious E63 AMG.)

    By Torque Affair Read More

  • You Can Now Lease A Dodge Hellcat For 'Only' $1 Per Horsepower

    In case you haven’t heard, new car sales are slowing down. They’re still strong, just not insanely strong like in 2015, and so automakers are idling plants and inventory is starting to pile up. Some brands are getting creative to cars off the lot before the year is over. You can even land some great deals on cars that should be hard to get, like a 707 horsepower Dodge Challenger Hellcat for just $1 per horsepower.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • Should I Buy My Kid A Car For Christmas?

    Many parents are often torn between giving their children more than they themselves had, but also not raising them to be spoiled and expects things. This dilemma can get especially difficult when it comes to helping your kid get their first car.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • The Worst Cars And Trucks We Drove In 2016

    As we near the twilight of human-driven cars and the dawn of full autonomy, we are overwhelmed with seemingly endless good cars that blah blah blah. Whatever. The real news is how many bad cars, old and new, are still out there. And we all found a way to drive some real shitheaps this year.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • You Can Save A Ton Of Money By Buying A Performance Car In The Winter

    When most people go car shopping in the winter they make a beeline for the SUVs and crossovers, because “OMG, snow is coming!” But you aren’t most people, and you realize the planet has four seasons, not just one. If you’re in the market for a sporty coupe, now is the time to score a deal.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • The Best Cars And Trucks We Drove In 2016

    Much like kicking Anakin Skywalker into a river of lava, we end 2016 with some bittersweet memories of the good times in between the bad. Yes, we do march into an impending dystopian future, but we drove some nice cars on our off days.

    By Andrew P. Collins Read More

  • These Are The Most And Least Expensive Cities To Buy A Used Car

    I tell people all the time that cars, especially pre-owned ones, are more like real estate when it comes to the prices in various metro areas. A recent study looked at used car prices across the country to figure out which cities pay more and which metros are getting the bargains.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • You Can Now Buy A 460 Horsepower C7 Corvette For Under $40,000

    I distinctly remember when someone I know bought a brand new 2014 Corvette Stingray C7 a little over two years ago for almost $80,000. I drooled over it, rode in it and thought: “Man, I hope he lets me drive it.” It’s almost like he could read my mind and immediately gave me a look that said, “You should consider yourself lucky that you’re even sitting in the passenger seat.” In response to that I told myself, “That’s ok, I’m going to buy this in five years for half of what you paid for it.”

    By Torque Affair Read More

  • The Volvo S90 Is The World's Best Car At Just Being A Damn Car

    Every car nowadays has to be some other dumb thing. “It’s not a car, it’s a lounge,” they say. “It’s not a car, it’s a fighter jet,” they bray, ignoring the fact that fighter jets primarily exist to kill people. Cars are active “urban utility lifestyle vehicles,” or “technology.” But what if—and I know this sounds crazy—what if a car was just really good at being a car? That’s the 2017 Volvo S90.

    By Michael Ballaban Read More

  • The Fiat 124 Spider Is Actually The Perfect City Car

    What does one look for in a city car? Good visibility, ease of parking and at least some general zippiness, I would assume. Massive amounts of horsepower, probably not. Curiously, though, the concepts of a “city car” and “Fiat 124 Spider” didn’t merge until I was done driving it in decidedly un-city places.

    By Kristen Lee Read More

  • The Right Way To Buy A Car As A Christmas Gift

    Believe it or not, those corny commercials are accurate: people really do buy cars as gifts around Christmas time. So if you are feeling vehicularly generous this holiday season, here are some rules to follow.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • You Can Buy The Best Modern 3 Series For Under $25,000

    If you have $25,000 to spend on a car you have tons of quality choices, but it can be awfully hard to beat a gently used BMW 3 Series. And right now is a great time to pick up a “Jalopnik Special” 3 Series for a reasonable price and plenty of warranty left.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • Can A Dealer Lie To Me About My Credit Score?

    Negotiating the price of a car is relatively easy. However, actually getting a loan for your car can get a bit murky due to the nature of the lending industry and how “credit” is determined, which can lead to some dishonest practices.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • The Ford Focus RS Is The Cheapest M Car You Can Buy New

    I don’t think any car in 2016—as in, a car that you can actually buy, unlike certain others that shall remain nameless—debuted with as much hype as the new Ford Focus RS. It’s not every day America gets the kind of forbidden turbocharged Euro-hatch hotness that would have been unthinkable just a couple years ago. I have driven one now, and I can tell you that not only does it live up to the hype, it’s also the best and cheapest M car you can buy new.

    By Patrick George Read More

  • Should I Spend $30,000 On A Car Or An Airplane?

    Usually people ask me to help them to decide which car to buy, and sometimes the cars they are considering aren’t similar at all. Justin from California is torn between taking his Volkswagen diesel buyout and getting another car—or a plane. The answer is not as simple as you think.

    By Tom McParland Read More

Culture (57)

  • Guaranteed-Not-To-Happen Predictions For Cars In 2017

    Predictions are notoriously difficult things to do well, especially since I just found out that the “prescience juice” I bought online seems to just be blue Gatorade with a bunch of baby laxatives mixed in. That’s why this year I’m trying a different tactic, giving you guaranteed predictions of things that won’t happen, automotively, next year. Hope this helps.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • How Do You Quiet Your Inner Road Rage Demon?

    Roads are dangerous places to be. Even without all the careless or reckless drivers, straight-up accidents still happen. But what happens if something isn’t an accident? I’m talking road rage incidents.

    By Kristen Lee Read More

  • Tell Me The Funniest Car Joke You Know

    They say laughter is the best medicine and they’re right. One of my favorite things to do is laugh. I’m always looking for a good laugh. Especially if it’s about cars.

    By Kristen Lee Read More

  • What Were The Best And Worst Cars You Drove In 2016?

    2016 is, thankfully, almost over. All the best musicians died, very few of the movies were any good, and global fascism appears to be hip and cool again. But! The cars we Jalops drove were great. And also bad. Now we want to hear how your driving year went.

    By Patrick George Read More

  • Your Guide To The Major Automotive Holidays Of The Season

    It’s the holiday season, and that means that there’s a whole panoply of holidays and customs to navigate, and you need to be ready. The automotive world has a number of major holidays this time of year, and it makes sense to know what they are. You don’t want to tell someone “Happy Honda Days” and find out they celebrate Toyotathon!

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • The World's Most Baffling Car Collection Is For Sale On Craigslist

    I completely understand how some people get very focused on one particular type of car. Sometimes it’s fun to specialize, to get really into one brand or model, and maybe even collect some important variations of one kind of car. That I get. What I don’t get is this guy in Richmond, VA, who has a collection of 22 Chrysler LeBaron convertibles. Aside from wearing a cantaloupe like a hat, I can’t think of anything else that more clearly says “I’m fucking insane.”

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • This Is The Only Car Ever That Required You To Play A Game Before Driving

    In the long history of motoring, the unspoken goal of the starting process is to make it as easy and invisible as possible. Cumbersome cranks gave way to a combination of keys and starter buttons, then to just a twist of a key, and now many new cars just use a simple button. One time, though, on one car, there was a totally different goal: to make starting the car a challenge. To make it require effort. To make it a game.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • What Was Your High School Parking Lot Like?

    At my high school, the student lot was reserved for the seniors. If you had your license and a car when you were a junior, you were to park on the street. And let me tell you: that senior lot was more than exciting enough.

    By Kristen Lee Read More

  • Professional Gamer's Audi R8 Is The Latest Victim Of The Mustang Menace

    Nordan Shat, a member of the professional esports team FaZe Clan, received a supremely unpleasant surprise thanks to a wayward Ford Mustang earlier this month. His Audi R8 was about to be loaded onto a trailer to be shipped to his new home when a Mustang peeled out Cars-and-Coffee-style into the R8, totaling it instantly. Sad!

    By Stef Schrader Read More

  • Your Stories Of All Wonderful Cars You're Mourning

    So much of what drives our love for cars is also a sense of nostalgia. We yearn for the cars that are no more. And even though the cars probably won’t get resurrected, they are still fun to think about. Isn’t that part of the charm?

    By Kristen Lee Read More

  • Show-Car Owner Uses Forza 6 To Plan An Unbelievably Fast Photoshoot

    The build was coming down to the wire, and this show car-owning automotive photographer knew he had only a short window to get official photos taken of his car at a race track that wasn’t exactly around the corner from him. There wasn’t much time to plan—that is, if he’d gone the traditional route with it.

    By Jared Auslander Read More

  • Of All The Cars Named After U.S. States This Is The One You Never Heard Of

    Once you start thinking about it, there’s a surprising number of cars named after American states. There’s one, though, that I’m pretty sure you’ve never heard of. I mean, with our audience, I’m sure someone has, but it’s still wildly obscure. That’s reason enough to get me excited and want to share this useless bit of automotive falderal with you, so, you know, hold on tight.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • There Are Now More Than 10,000 McLarens In The World

    The Saab 9-4X. The Pontiac Solstice Coupe. The Mercedes C55 AMG. These are all cars that are exceedingly rare, compared to the staggering numbers of McLarens that have now been built. As of today, depending on how you count it, McLaren has made more than 10,000 cars.

    By Michael Ballaban Read More

  • Comment Of The Day: Triple Play Edition

    It’s true, all of it. All the horror stories you hear about Comcast customer service. I don’t know if you live in an area where you have to deal with that or not, but it was one of the biggest downsides to living in Washington D.C. when I was there.

    By Patrick George Read More

  • The One Time Jay Leno Was Wrong About Cars

    Jay Leno knows a lot about cars, way more than I will ever know in my lifetime. He knows the modern cars, the classics, the weird stuff and everything in between—but when it comes to paying for them his advice is a bit limited.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • What Is The Name Of Your Mobility Startup?

    Silicon Valley startups are magical and made of rainbows and are instrumental in changing the world. But they all have to start somewhere, usually with a name that is catchy and grabby for millennials. What is the name of your startup?

    By Patrick George Read More

  • What Car Are You Mourning?

    Cars, like everything else in life, come and go. When some cars fade away, we’re glad and relieved. For others that we loved and admired, their deaths bring us the lonely agony of loss and despair. And so, we mourn them.

    By Kristen Lee Read More

  • Watching A Seatbelt Pre-Tensioner Work In Super Slo-Mo Is Fascinating

    I’m not sure how aware you are that there’s a very good possibility that you’re driving around with explosives right by your ass cheek. It’s okay, though—those explosives are there to help you in case you wreck. More importantly, they’re fun to cram full of paint and watch in super slow-motion.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • I Invented Car Sharing Back In 1989 And I Can Prove It

    Car sharing companies like ZipCar and Cars2Go are staples in cities over the world. They address a need, common in many large urban areas, for on-demand occasional car use, all without the hassles of traditional car rental. As of last year, car sharing is a $400 million industry in the U.S. alone. It’s a good idea. It’s also an idea I came up with about 27 years ago, and I just found the 5.25-inch floppy disk that proves it.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • John Glenn Had The Coolest Car Of Any Astronaut

    When most people think about what the original group of American astronauts were driving back in the ‘60s, usually Corvettes come to mind. This is a safe bet, because six of the original Mercury Seven astronauts drove ‘Vettes. You math whizzes may note that there’s one astronaut left over. That astronaut was John Glenn, and the car he chose over a Corvette had a quarter the number of cylinders and was about half the size. The first American in orbit drove an NSU Prinz.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • A Car You Never Heard Of: Bohse Eurostar

    How many times have you been this close to buying an old Lada sedan, but stopped yourself at the last minute because you just can’t deal with all that weather protection, you fear body rust, and you just can’t even with a traditional three-box design? If this sounds familiar, boy do I have the car for you: a Bohse Eurostar.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Would You Drive This? Car Full Of Gel Edition

    Let’s imagine that, in the very near future, there’s been a breakthrough in nanotechnology. One of the results of this breakthrough is a sort of multi-purpose nanotech gel that’s can effectively replace the entire interior of a car. Would you drive a car filled with nothing but a gray goop?

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Is An Elevator A Vehicle?

    Okay, everybody, put down your Game Boys and hash pipes and satisfyingly heavy rubber mallets and listen up, because I have an important question. A question about vehicles, and how we classify what is or isn’t a vehicle. So, here goes: is an elevator a vehicle?

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Comment Of The Day: V8 Swap Edition

    When I stroll the city streets at night, the cold, wet air settling over at me, I gaze at each of the cars parked on the curbside and I wonder: how can I stuff a V8 into that?

    By Patrick George Read More

  • What Are Your Best Winter Car Tips?

    Whether we like it or not, winter is coming for many of us. (Before you start, Southern Californians, shut up.) And I’m hittin’ you fine people up for some good winter car tips.

    By Kristen Lee Read More

  • How A Craigslist Scammer Tried To Steal My Mom's Car

    So, I try to be a good (enough) son. After we found my mom her adorable new 1957 Edition Fiat 500, I offered to handle the sale of her 2003 Volkswagen Passat for her. Finally, after months and months of careful procrastination, I finally got it all ready for sale, and almost immediately I was the target of a Craigslist scammer. Because, you know, everyone sucks, sometimes.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Top Six Winter Driving Tips!

    If you’re like me, you’ve noticed that the dew on your outdoor sleeping litter has been getting more and more frozen in the mornings, and your daily claims of hypothermia have been getting more and more accurate. That’s because winter is coming, and with the coming of winter comes every freaking car website publishing a freaking list of freaking winter driving tips. So let’s get this over with.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • I Had No Idea This Bizarre Nissan Existed Until This Week And Now I Need One

    The car world is full of wonder and mystery! Even when you’re steeped in it every waking hour of your day like I am, it’s still wide and weird enough that you can learn about new things all the time. Case in point: Nissan’s Autech Zagato Stelvio AZ1. It’s like 1980s Japan, 1980s Italy, and all of my dreams got together and had a forgotten magical orphan baby, and I want to adopt it forever.

    By Patrick George Read More

  • Comment Of The Day: I'm Ready For The SATs Edition

    Last night, the third episode of The Grand Tour aired. After watching it, Ballaban and I had a rather heated discussion about it in the Jalopnik Slack channel before bringing it over the Kinja for all of you fine people to enjoy.

    By Kristen Lee Read More

  • Designer And Artist Makes A Car That Rethinks The Very Concept Of What A Car Is

    Designer and artist Joey Ruiter has been playing with the aesthetics of vehicles and transportation for a long time. His futuristic, brutally minimal take on vehicles ranging from snowmobiles to motorcycles to bikes to dune buggies are already radical re-imaginings of transport, and now he’s set his austere, potent eye on street cars with his latest work, Consumer.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • It's Time To Evaluate Your Car Prejudices With This Handy Quiz

    As much as we hate to admit it, we all harbor unconscious prejudices. This is especially true with regard to cars, where many assumptions are made based on very little information. So in order to determine the exact nature of one’s own internal automotive prejudices, we’ve developed a simple test.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

Crashes and Safety (14)

Entertainment (15)

Ford (2)

  • The Ford Focus RS' Drift Mode Is Actually Way Faster Than You'd Expect

    We recently got our hands on a Ford Focus RS to see if the much-ballyhooed Drift Mode is actually any faster than the car’s more normal high-performance Track Mode, or if Drift Mode was just a bunch of pointless powersliding. As it turns out, on loose surfaces, Drift Mode is way, way, way faster than we expected.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • Taking The 2017 Ford Raptor Off-Road Is Like Driving With Cheat Codes

    I feel like we’ve been waiting for the new 2017 Ford Raptor forever. I mean, it’s hard to not get stoked about a daily-drivable high-speed off-road truck. This week we finally got to let it loose in exactly the kind of extreme sandscape you see in the commercials, and once again, it’s almost too good—but at a price some may not be willing to pay, and I don’t mean the MSRP.

    By Andrew P. Collins Read More

Motorcycles (7)

  • This Artist's Work Is An Unvarnished Look At Women Motorcycle Riders

    Grace Roselli is a Brooklyn-based artist, photographer and motorcyclist. Her current work, The Naked Bike Project and Protective Gear Series, are results of mixing those passions. Roselli’s purpose is to explore how women riders fit into, and are perceived by, society with and without their “protective gear.”

    By Andrew P. Collins Read More

  • Here's How To Winterize Your Motorcycle The Right Way In Seven Steps

    As temperatures drop, dread sets in for East Coast riders who know that the end of riding season is upon us. But don’t worry, we sat down with somebody who actually knows what they’re doing to come up with the comprehensive seven-step plan to protecting your vehicle while it sits out the winter.

    By Andrew P. Collins Read More

  • How To Start Riding Motorcycles For Real After You Do The MSF Course

    So you’ve passed the MSF course, took the state written test, and got your motorcycle license. Congratulations! You’ve now picked out your shiny new (or, more likely, dingy used) bike and are ready to tackle the open road. You are a well trained, highly proficient rider. Except you’re not. As we discussed before, the MSF course is a great environment to learn the bare basics of control and operation, but does not really prepare you for the real world.

    By Andrew Fails Read More

  • All The Coolest Bikes Of The New York Motorcycle Show

    The annual New York Motorcycle Show is on right now, and most of the major bike brands are showing off their latest and greatest vehicles for you to fart on and peep at over at the Javits Center. Take a couple laps around the floor with us and check out some favorites!

    By Andrew P. Collins Read More

  • The Total Idiot's Guide To Doing Basic Motorcycle Repairs

    I’ll be honest: I’m a terrible mechanic. I’ve got a scar on my forearm from the last time I changed the brakes on my Mini. Any repair work I’ve ever done has been a financial decision, not a leisure one. But! Even someone like me, who has the dexterity of a drunken penguin, can do basic motorcycle maintenance.

    By Andrew Fails Read More

News (235)

Nice Price or No Dice (21)

Porsche (5)

Racing (57)

Reviews (4)

Spacelopnik (3)

Technology (26)

  • Tesla's Ability To Sell Cars In Missouri In Limbo After Local Court Ruling

    This year marked Tesla’s foray into a legal battle at the federal level to win the right to sell vehicles using the direct sales model the company prefers. Until that’s settled, however, roadblocks for the company remain: In Missouri this week, Tesla’s license to sell cars in its Missouri showroom expired, following a local judge’s decision — and the state reportedly denied its online renewal request.

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • Lyft Driver Charged In Stabbing Shouldn't Have Been Eligible To Even Work

    In a month where ride-sharing companies almost considered leaving a state entirely over background check policies, this latest incident is likely to reignite questions about the companies’ own efforts: A Boston Lyft driver who’s accused of stabbing a passenger on Christmas Day had a prior conviction that, according to Lyft’s background check standards, should’ve made her ineligible to drive for the company.

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • The Biggest Car Technology Stories Of The Year And What's Next

    As this whirlwind pile-of-shit year comes to a close, it’s probably best to remember that, if you squint hard enough, a silver lining can appear and make you forget momentarily the imminent doom that lays ahead. 2016 was all about the continued convergence of the auto and tech sectors, and what’s coming next will be big for the brimming autonomous market—and may bring some hope for us drivers, too.

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • Obama Trying To Make Life Hell For Trump On Auto Regulations: Report

    During his campaign, Donald Trump pledged to reduce regulations on U.S. businesses in ways that could reshape the trajectory of the automotive industry. But as a parting gift to Trump, President Barack Obama is pushing through various last-minute initiatives that could make it harder for him to do that.

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • Uber Has Had A No-Good Very Bad Month

    A driver allegedly stabbing a passenger, reports of significant financial losses, losing what’s essentially a dumb PR battle with California regulators. For a year that’s basically been the equivalent of bad performance art, Uber is finding numerous ways to end 2016 on a sour note.

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • Google Mishap Traps California Limo Driver In 'Lyft Hell'

    “Hello? Hold on one second ...” “Uh, hi, yeah, one second ...” “Sorry, I have to take this ...” “You need a ri—sorry I’ll be right back.” Earlier this month, this was the life of Matthais Leul, who is a limo driver in California. He is not Lyft HQ, though Google seems to suggest otherwise.

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • Uber Taking 'Millions' In Tax Deductions By Lying To Employees, Lawsuit Alleges

    Uber is recruiting software engineers and employees by promising stock options worth “hundreds of millions of dollars,” only to later grant far less valuable options, a lawsuit filed Monday alleges. The move, the complaint says, permitted the ride-sharing company to take “millions of dollars of tax deductions which it otherwise would not be entitled to take.”

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • I Let A 2017 Mercedes E300 Kind Of Drive Me Around

    I have no shame. I’ll knock down people’s doors until they give me the keys to what I want. Mostly it makes me look desperate and pathetic, but sometimes it works. This time around, the folks over at Mercedes-Benz of Austin gave in to my desperation and were kind enough to allow me to get my hands on their brand new 2017 Mercedes E300. If you’ve read some of my other articles about the M5 or the Porsche, you might be wondering why I would bother with anything other than an AMG.

    By Torque Affair Read More

  • Let's Geek Out Over All The Fascinating Technology Used In Rogue One

    Part of what makes the Star Wars series great is all the attention paid to the details of the long, long ago, far far away galaxy everything resides in. I saw Rogue One this weekend, and I’m happy to say it’s crammed full of all sorts of exciting technical stuff, and now you and I are going to scrutinize the crap out of it. Prepare yourself for some painfully geeky shit.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Why Uber Is Continuing To Hemorrhage Cash

    Uber is continuing to bleed money, even as it shut down its operations in China, according to news reports. The company has reportedly lost more than $2 billion this year alone, and it’s in part because an Uber ride is really quite a bit more expensive than what you actually pay for.

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • GM's Future Of Cars As Being A 'Second Office' Sounds Pretty Unpleasant

    As if enduring a long work commute to start your workweek isn’t dreadful enough, General Motors CEO Mary Barra is apparently envisioning a future where your vehicle’s equipped with self-driving technology that facilitates the environment of a “second office.” Rather than enjoy a leisurely commute at the behest of your vehicle, motorists can replace the stress of a typical traffic jam with answering emails from the moment you shove off for work.

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • Don't Believe The Hype About A Driverless Society Being Just A Few Years Away

    In 2009, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman spoke to a reporter about the excessive expectations that some people draw from movies. He highlighted how some hope for a life that mirrors Hollywood, and are eventually let down by reality. In the car world, autonomy is pegged as the ideal future, but will it happen as soon as our tech overlords say it will?

    By Ryan Felton Read More

  • Here's A First Look At Google's Self-Driving Chrysler Pacifica

    In May, Fiat Chrysler partnered with Google’s self-driving team (now called Waymo) to codevelop self-driving vehicle technology. Almost immediately, the two started tearing into a Pacifica Hybrid minivan, making modifications to allow the car to accommodate Google’s long list of sensors and computers. Now, after seven months, they’re done. Here’s a first look at a completed fully self-driving Chrysler minivan.

    By David Tracy Read More

  • Uber Is So Petty That It Won't Pay $150 For A State Permit

    In less than a day this past week, Uber launched its “self-driving” ride-hailing service on the streets of San Francisco and got orders from California regulators to shut it down. And in the pettiest story development there is, the Verge reports that Uber refuses to apply for a $150 permit in order to run the cars legally.

    By Alanis King Read More

  • Google's Self-Driving Unit Is Now Its Own Company Called Waymo

    Hot on the heels of a report that Google is abandoning the idea of a standalone self-driving car in order to partner with existing automakers and focus on ride-sharing, we finally know what the tech giant wants to do: it’s spinning off that unit into a separate company called Waymo. Waymo! Here’s what Waymo’s gonna do.

    By Patrick George Read More

  • And You Thought Car Concepts Were Wacky Before

    Car concepts tend to be a stretch, sure, and they often don’t make it to the road in their full-fledged concept form. But this concept that Rinspeed plans to take to the Consumer Electronics Show is almost too much. Yes, you are seeing that photo correctly. That is a freaking garden in an electric car.

    By Alanis King Read More

  • Michigan Commits To Most Open Self-Driving Laws

    Autonomous car research and tech is booming right now, and it’s evolving and developing so quickly that sometimes it pushes into spaces yet undefined by legislation. Today, Michigan signed a new law into place that should allow the testing and selling of self-driving cars to absolutely flourish in the state.

    By Kristen Lee Read More

  • Here's The Clearest Indication Yet Apple Still Wants In On Self-Driving Cars

    After years of being shrouded in mystery, Apple’s car program came to a screeching halt this year with the world never having seen as much as a prototype. But Apple has reportedly shifted from building an actual car to devising software and systems for autonomous driving, and a recently-uncovered letter to federal regulators is the biggest sign yet that the tech giant hasn’t given up in the self-driving car arena.

    By Patrick George Read More

The Morning Shift (21)

Trucks (22)

Wrenching (17)

  • eBay Challenge: Exotics That Will Be Affordable Again After The Market Crashes

    Those eyeing the used car market for the past few years will have seen a sharp increase in the prices of some otherwise unloved exotics. However, nothing is forever, and with the Federal Reserve’s upcoming interest rate hike, it’s all but a certainty that the market will take a dump harder than the aftermath of Taco Tuesday. Your eBay challenge this week is to find the exotics that will become affordable after the rich are forced to eat their shoes.

    By Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez Read More

  • Mighty Car Mods Totally Lost Their Battle With Roadkill

    If you’re like me and commit yourself body, mind and soul to the uncaring void that is the internet, you’ll have known that two of the biggest automotive YouTube channels came together for a budget build-off using Craigslist and whatever local connections they could exploit. However, for those that haven’t watched the epic collaboration, I’ll spoil it for you by saying that Mighty Car Mods got their asses handed to them.

    By Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez Read More

  • Here Are Ten Uber Cars That Don't Suck For Less Than $25,000

    Every time your hired Uber driver pulls up in a 250,000 mile Prius on its last legs, you die a little inside. That’s why I asked you ride-hailing fools for suggestions on the best cars that would qualify for Uber, under a $25,000 budget on eBay, and it literally brought a tear to my eye. Not really, but anything’s better than a Prius.

    By Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez Read More

  • How To Defeat The Average Mechanic's Greatest Nemesis

    Last year I set to replacing the drum brakes on my old Toyota. I started by asking friends how hard the job was, and they all said the same thing: “Fuck drum brakes.” Drums are definitely more of a pain than discs. But don’t worry, they’re not as hard as everyone seems to say, especially if you watch this video.

    By Andrew P. Collins Read More

  • eBay Challenge: Uber Cars That Don't Suck For Less Than $25,000

    When your plane lands and you make the choice to skip the taxi line and reach for your Uber app, it’s a certainty that the car coming to pick you up is going to be about as exciting as a routine colonoscopy. That’s why it’s your job, this week, to find the best cars for Uber drivers under a $25,000 budget, because those guys ain’t made of money, you know.

    By Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez Read More

  • How To Turn A Totaled Lotus Evora Into The World's Best Daily Driver

    The reason all those stupid car rescue and rebuild reality shows do so well is because they prey on that part of your brain that has convinced you that you can get something for nothing, if only you get the right deal. Well, here’s what that looks like without a network budget, completed by one determined guy in a cold Oregon garage. Clear your schedule for the rest of the day.

    By Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez Read More

  • Christmas Decorations On Cars: Yes

    I freaking live for the two-to-four weeks a year it’s socially acceptable to turn my truck into a rolling preschool crafts project. Bring on the bows, wreaths and superfluous blinking lights!

    By Andrew P. Collins Read More

  • Where The Hell Are All The Affordable Toyota Supras?

    The Toyota Supra has ascended to sheer unobtainium status in the used car market in less time than anyone imagined. However, the fact remains that there should, in theory, be a fair few that are in need of work and able to be had for a song. The question is, where the hell are they?

    By Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez Read More

  • eBay Challenge: Forgotten Supercars For Less Than $35,000

    If you’re an avid Craigslist peruser as you should be, you’ll have noticed that finding an exotic supercar on a budget is becoming harder by the day. However, hard doesn’t mean impossible. Your challenge this week is to find forgotten exotic gems for less than a $35,000 budget. This will not be easy.

    By Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez Read More

  • I Just Sold A Jeep I Loved And Now I'm Heartbroken

    I know I have a problem; I’ve always known. My brothers, parents, and even readers remind me all the time: “David, you need to stop buying Jeeps. You’re in over your head.” So a few days ago, I took one step to try and deal with my addiction. But now I just feel terrible.

    By David Tracy Read More

  • Genius Invents App To Remotely Open His Miata Headlights

    Sure, we’re all carrying around more computing power in our pockets than all of America had throughout the 1980s—but what does it really matter? Are we any happier? The answer was no, until very recently, when a Swedish guy made a smartphone app to remotely control his Miata’s pop-up headlights.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • What Is The Best Wrenching Music?

    A reader shot me an email earlier this week desperately asking for advice about which tunes to crank whilst wrenching. Not to keep the poor bastard confused and listening to static coming from his garage’s AM radio, I’m here to provide help.

    By David Tracy Read More

  • Here's How Ridiculously Expensive It Is To Replace A Windshield On An Aston Martin

    Exotic car ownership is a bit of an experiential mixed bag. Sure, it’s interesting to be the person that gets the most attention at the gas station, but you’re nevertheless plagued by problems of the common driver, with the added sting of prices for repair procedures being every bit as comical as they are terrifying. I learned this lesson the hard way by replacing the windshield on my Aston Martin V8 Vantage. I’m still recovering.

    By Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez Read More

  • Here's How All Of The Fluids In Your Car Can Kill You

    As someone who finds himself covered in automotive filth quite often, I decided to do some research to see just how dangerous all the fluids in my car are—you know, just to have a better idea of how many years I’ve got left to live. My conclusion: probably not many.

    By David Tracy Read More