Archive for December 2021

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Audi (1)

  • 2022 Audi R8 V10 Performance RWD: First Drive Of A Paradoxical Supercar

    Years ago, I had a chance to take an Audi R8 on a track, but I gave away that chance. I gave it away to repay a sort of karmic debt because I gave the opportunity to a Jalopnik reader that was instrumental in helping me recover my beloved Beetle when it was stolen all those years ago. Since that time, the chance to drive an R8 hadn’t come up again. Well, it finally did, and in a dramatic way—Audi put me behind the wheel of an R8 in the Canary Islands, and one of their PR people gave me a pa

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

Beyond Cars (12)

  • Colorado Cyclists Traced A Ring Of Bike Thieves Down To Juárez, Mexico Using Facebook

    A ring of thieves in Colorado has been indicted in a bicycle burglary ring that spanned state lines and international borders and amounted to nearly $1.5 million in value of stolen goods and property damage. The thieves targeted mountain bikes throughout Colorado’s Front Range, transported the bikes to the Texas border and finally sent them across to be sold in Juárez, Mexico.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • This 1948 Palace Royale Camper Lets You Travel Through Time With Style

    Vintage campers can be an exciting way to travel the country. Forget acres of flat walls and swoopy graphics when you can arrive in something that will grab an entire campground of attention. This 1948 Palace Royale travel trailer for auction on Hemmings is dripping with style. Even better, you can pair it with a matching 1952 Chevrolet Suburban.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • Nine E-Bike Batteries Cause Huge NYC Apartment Fire

    An apartment fire in Manhattan’s East Village has again brought the safety of e-bikes under question. While a convenient method of short-range personal travel, e-bikes have proven to be a persistent danger if not meticulously maintained.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Amazon Tells Driver To Stay In Her Van During Tornado Or Lose Her Job

    Many, if not all of us have had bad days at work. It’s making a living, not making margaritas, right? Maybe your boss has wanted something unreasonable done, or a client has suddenly and unexpectedly really needed your deliverable by EoD. Most of us, however, haven’t had a work day as bad as one Amazon driver: Forced to, potentially, choose between her living and her life.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • This $776,000 RV Is A Mobile Penthouse With A Rooftop Lounge

    If you’re spending the kind of money on an RV that could buy you a number of houses, it’s bound to be flush with luxuries. Even with that expectation, this Mercedes-Benz Atego-based RISE 4x2-950 by Stone Offroad Design stands out for how absurd it is.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • It's Taylor Swift's Birthday, So I'm Writing About Why She Needs Over 160 Semis To Go On Tour

    You’re on Jalopnik and you’ve clicked on a story about Taylor Swift. I’m not here to fault you. I will admit here on the site that employs me, that I can’t help but continue to purchase her albums and rock to them quite shamelessly in the comforts of my own home and car. It’s okay. We’ll enjoy her music and the intricate work that goes into putting together her pièce de résistance—her performances, together.

    By Lalita Chemello Read More

  • A Shipping Container Might Be The Most Bizarre Thing To Camp In

    Shipping containers have a lot of uses outside of getting goods around the world on the backs of ships, trucks and trailers. But I have to admit, I haven’t thought about the potential of using one as a custom camper. Now for just $4,000, you can have a 10-foot container turned into a discount travel trailer, if that’s your jam.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • This $80,000 Cozy Cabin Of A Tiny House Used To Be A Box Truck

    While searching for this week’s Dopest Cars finds I came across a creation that made me drop my jaw and rub my eyes. Once I confirmed that my vision was indeed functional, I clicked on the ad and flipped through the pictures. This 1999 Ford E-450 for sale started life as a box truck, but now it’s a tall cabin that actually looks pretty cozy.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • Now The SEC Is Looking Into What Tesla Knew About The Fire Risk Of Its Solar Panels

    Reports of fires related to Tesla-installed solar roofs from homeowners and multinational corporations are nothing new, but now the Security and Exchange Commission is stepping in. The department is reportedly investigating a complaint from whistleblower Steven Henkes, a former field quality manager at the company, that Tesla did not adequately inform shareholders of the risk of fire associated with its panels.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • California's Small Engine Sales Ban Goes After RV Generators Too

    A couple of months ago, California stunned landscapers and homeowners with proposed legislation to ban the sale of new small off-road engines. But the legislation doesn’t just impact lawncare as it also seeks to replace the generators used in RVs with battery power stations as well. RV owners, buyers and dealerships are concerned.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • Please Buy This $700 Team Saturn Race Bike So I Don't Have To

    Every few years, America decides that it will compete with the rest of the world in soccer, and we all watch with some understanding as we get clobbered in the World Cup. Every few years, America decides it will compete with the rest of the world in cycling, and we all watch with some understanding as we get clobbered in the Tour de France. Every few years, America decides it will compete with the rest of the world in producing fuel-efficient compact cars, and we watch with some understanding as

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

BMW (1)

  • BMW To Debut Color-Changing Car At CES

    Over the past few years, the Consumer Electronics Show has become a go-to spot for automakers looking to make tech-heavy reveals. Audi used the event this year to unveil the prototype e-tron GT, Mercedes used it to reveal its Hyperscreen, and Hyundai and Uber teamed up at the 2020 event to reveal a still-imaginary flying rideshare network.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

Boatlopnik (11)

  • Jet Skis Are Basically Water Cars Now

    Jet Skis used to be the motorcycle of the water, right? They were small and relatively light and nimble, at least compared to boats, and they could rip away all day, doing high speed water maneuvers. And if you dug too hard into a turn or carried way too much speed, it’d high side your ass just like a motorcycle would. These days modern Jet Skis have as much tech as your average luxury crossover, and command incredible high prices as a result.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Two MTA Employees Wreck The MTA's Only Boat

    New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) handles the city’s public transport, such as subway trains, buses and railways. But, one area it doesn’t handle is the city ferries. So why then does the MTA need a boat, what happened to that boat, and what were two people that know nothing about sailing piloting it?

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • F1's Red Bull Racing To Set Sail For The America's Cup

    The phrase “Formula One of sailing” has become the common parlance in America’s Cup circles over the competition’s recent editions. Its use is meant to bring attention to the even greater use of technology in sailing’s most prestigious regatta. Now, that analogy is becoming literal.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Giant Kites Are Coming To Pull Ships Across The Ocean

    The shipping industry is getting some bad press these days. If it isn’t the delays caused by container shortages or blocked shipping routes, it’s concerns about the industry’s impact on the environment. Now, one company is preparing a novel way of cutting emissions from vessels by pulling them across the ocean with the power of the wind.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • Watching A 45-Ton Boat Get Pulled Out Of A Frozen Lake Will Ruin The Rest Of Your Day

    Part of the beauty of YouTube is that you can find content covering just about anything. Sometimes, you run across something that you just can’t help but hook your peepers onto. A boat out on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota didn’t get pulled out of the water before the lake froze over. The recovery operation is going over 16 hours strong and I can’t stop watching.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • This Weird Luxury Submarine Is A Living Room Under The Sea

    It has come to my attention that RVs, motorcycles, private jets and off-road vehicles aren’t the only things to have started selling like hotcakes since the start of pandemic. Apparently, rich people also can’t get enough personal submarines. Before you finish grappling with that factoid let me introduce you to one of the latest luxury subs dropping into the water. The Triton 660/9 AVA is basically a living room/lounge that you can take 660 feet underwater.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

Buying (44)

  • Carvana Literally Dropped Off A Customers Hyundai Genesis

    Carvana touts its delivery service as an integral part of how convenient online car buying can be. I mean, who wouldn’t want their vehicle literally dropped off at their door? But I don’t think customers want their vehicles dropped in the literal sense of the word. But as Motor1 reports, that’s exactly what happened with one Carvana customer.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • The Kia Carnival Is Better Than The Kia Telluride

    This year, the Kia Telluride SUV has been outselling the Kia Carnival minivan four to one. That’s frustrating — after putting a couple hundred miles on both of them, I think it’s obvious the Carnival is the better car.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • McLaren's Plug-In Hybrid Hypercar Has Been Delayed Thanks To The Chip Shortage

    The proposed date for McLaren’s Artura to reach customers was in Q3 of 2021, which quite obviously has come and gone without any of the hyper-expensive hyper-cars actually rolling off the production line. The car was originally shown to the world back in February of this year, and order books opened at the same time. With deliveries now slated for July of next year, it’s looking like everyone who ordered one back then is going to have to wait at least a year and a half to get their British plug-

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Look At This Wildly Rare South African VW Camper On Bring A Trailer

    You know how cool Volkswagen Type 2 campers are, but they’re just too damn fast? Of course you know that. We all know that. If only there was some way to add a little more weight and a little worse aero to them, right? Then they’d be perfect. Well, you’re in luck, because a South African company called Jergens managed just that, and made some incredibly cool VW campers as a result. There’s one on Bring A Trailer right now, as we speak!

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • I've Maxed Out My Montero! What Car Should I Buy?

    Wesley has had a 1996 Montero since he was 16 years old. He has a lot of fun with the Mitsu, but it’s time for an upgrade. He is torn between another off-roader or something that is more engaging on the tarmac. What car should he buy? 

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • This Might Be The Most Ridiculous Dealer Markup On A Pickup Truck

    Inventory shortages have dramatically decreased supply, but Americans still want to buy cars. We all know this creates a situation where dealers can charge almost whatever they want for a vehicle. Pickups are always in demand, and you would expect a markup on something like a Raptor or a TRX, but this Nissan dealer takes the cake on a Frontier.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • The Average Used Car Now Costs $27,500

    New data from Black Book, a Hearst company, shows the average used car price now sits around $27,500. As reported by another Hearst company, Car and Driver, this price represents the average list price among 95 percent of available used vehicles listed for sale at both franchise and independent dealerships. The compiled data shows used car prices averaged $27K last month, and now stand at $27.5K for December.

    By Lalita Chemello Read More

  • Tesla Appears To Be Selling New Cars With Batteries From 2017

    Determining what year a car is can actually prove to be a trickier question than you’d think. The year the car was actually manufactured is a huge part of it, of course, but what about a car made from unused old stock? Or there’s the case of VW’s mascot Beetles, named Max, all of which look like 1963 cars but were actually built in 1964. Currently, this question is on my mind because Tesla seems to be selling a lot of 2021 Model 3s that may come with battery packs built in 2017. What’s going on?

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Let's Just Take A Moment To Revel In The Beauty Of The 2022 Genesis GV70

    I’ve already given the 2022 Genesis GV70 the full review treatment, but this is one of those vehicles I just can’t stop thinking about. Style, comfort, class, and a low price tag make for a heady blend that shows just what a luxury masterclass Genesis has created — and a big part of that comes down to its looks.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • F-150 Lightning Orders Haven't Even Started But The Truck's Markups Are Already Here

    Ford has presented some ambitious EV plans this year. A huge part of those plans rests on the shoulders of one vehicle’s upcoming launch: the Ford F-150 Lighting EV. And the people are hyped, having already put in more than 160,000 reservations for the electric pickup. The dealers are hyped too, with a newer, better and more profitable opportunity. Get ready, the F-150 Lightning markups have already begun.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • Everything But The Most Expensive Miata Is Manual Now

    The Mazda Miata is a firm favorite here in the office, so whenever there’s an update to the beloved two-seater we pay close attention. For 2022, there’s big news for all of the stick-shift fans as Mazda is killing off the automatic gearbox on two of the car’s trims.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • These Are The Worst Vehicle Markups I Found In 2021

    Outside of this year not being much better than 2o20, it was an absolute dumpster fire of a year to buy a car. The pandemic sent unexpected shockwaves through the auto industry: From disrupting microchip production, which in turn resulted in vehicles either not being finished or not being built at all to dealers receiving less and less inventory. And with dealers in a “we know what we have so either pay it or walk,” mode, markups were suddenly everywhere and out of control.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • The 2022 Genesis GV70 Is What Luxury Should Have Been All Along

    The first time I saw the 2022 Genesis GV70 in the flesh, I got a little wobbly in the knees. I have yet to review a car that I couldn’t see myself driving, but after I climbed out of the GV70, it was the first time I’d experienced the kind of pure, unadulterated craving for a new vehicle that I’ve heard enthusiasts talk about for years. It’s a sensation I was expecting to feel behind the wheel of a fastback Mustang, not a luxury SUV — but now I can’t stop thinking about this damn car. I don’t ju

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • These Are The Absolute Worst Kind Of Dealer Markups

    In this bonkers new car market, prices over MSRP are more common than not. We have numerous posts about dealer markups on various models that will boggle the mind of anyone who is even somewhat rational about car purchases. But the most egregious markups are not on the cars you expect, and this kind of price gouging does the most damage to buyers who need a car versus folks who want a car

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • Here Are Some Of The Surprisingly Good Car Deals I Was Able To Find This Year

    I shop for cars for a living and this has been a tough year to do so. Supply shortages on new cars coupled with rapidly rising prices on used cars have forced a re-evaluation on what really constitutes a “deal.” That said, I was able to score some competitive prices on a few models through a combination of luck, creativity, and good connections.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • The Morgan Plus 8 GTR Didn't Need To Look This Good

    Someone at Morgan seems to have stumbled upon a few Plus 8 models that were squirreled away and went unused for the last three years. At least, that’s how Morgan framed the release of its most powerful car ever, the Morgan Plus 8 GTR. So the V8 Morgan is coming back for a small run, but it’s limited to the number of chassis the coachbuilder retrieved from a third-party. Morgan says it’s making only nine of these and hasn’t mentioned anything about pricing.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • There Are No More Cheap Cars

    The price of cheap, compact cars like the Mitsubishi Mirage and Chevrolet Spark is steadily going up — and no, not even looking for a used version will save you money.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • The 2022 Polaris Slingshot Spoke To The Deepest Parts Of My Fun-Loving Soul

    There’s a part of my soul that I’ve nicknamed the Butt Rock Dad. It’s that bit of me that can listen to Van Halen every single day without ever getting tired of David Lee Roth’s howling, that enjoys the look of a well-mown lawn as I sip a cool beer, that indulges in terrible puns that make everyone around me embarrassed. It’s also the part of me that wants to forego my normal, frugal sensibilities to indulge in something so impractical and striking that people will start wondering if I’m having

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Buying And Selling Cars As A Woman Remains Awful

    When 26-year-old Harley Gambetta tried to sell her Citroën C1 to We Buy Any Car, a UK-based car buying service, she was greeted with a salesman who texted her to offer a trade: He’d give her a better deal on her C1 in exchange for sexual favors. Welcome to life as a woman trying to buy or sell a car.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • The Nissan Z GT500 Is The Super GT-Spec Z Of Your Dreams

    Do you remember playing Forza or Gran Turismo as a kid? Back before you really knew the intricacies of tuning, when you would just slap all the highest-rated parts on a car and hope for the best? You’d end up with cars that had enormous wings, huge fender flares, and non-factory engines. If you were really lucky, and picked everything well, it might even come together as well as Nissan’s new Super GT Z.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Let Me Introduce You To My Sick New 1996 Pontiac Firebird

    This weekend, I ripped the sleeves off all my ratty band t-shirts, crushed a can of Bud Lite against my forehead, and thrashed my mullet to some classic Anthrax. I’m just kidding; I took delivery of my 1996 Pontiac Firebird. So, basically the same thing.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • My Husband Bought Me A Manual 1996 Pontiac Firebird As My New Daily Driver Even Though I Can't Drive Stick

    When my husband and I bought our 1996 Chevrolet Suburban, our main goal was that we would use it to bring my precious Mazda2, with its expired plates, back from Canada to Texas when the borders opened. That hasn’t happened, and it’s looking all the more likely that there’s going to be a period of time where the ‘Burb is in Canada and I have nothing, so we’ve been shopping for a daily for me that’s under $3,000 and can be easily flipped later. We’ve decided on a manual 1996 Pontiac Firebird. Ther

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • My Favorite Part Of The 2021 Genesis GV80? Its Chunky Steering Wheel

    In a luxury vehicle, the truly lush elements come in the small details. Sure, there’s lots of tech, and the handling is great, but what’s going to set you apart are those smaller, ergonomic details that just make you feel good. And in the 2021 Genesis GV80, I couldn’t get over how substantially thick the steering wheel felt.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • California Car Dealer Sues BMW And Mercedes Over Lease Buyout Restrictions

    If you were leasing a car, there was a time when you could trade that leased car to any dealership instead of giving it back to the brand you got it from. Due to the used car shortage, several automakers are no longer allowing these third-party lease buyouts, and a California luxury car dealer has filed a lawsuit against Mercedes and BMW due to these new restrictions.

    By Tom McParland Read More

  • The 2022 Honda Civic Si Joins The Dealer Markup Circus

    The ink isn’t even dry yet on some reviews of the 2022 Honda Civic Si and dealers are already slapping markups on cars they don’t even have in the showroom. They sit perched at their dealership desks, hungrily rubbing their hands together in anticipation of someone who just has to have the first of something, anything. We don’t know of any victims so far to the new Civic Si inflation, but there’s no surprise that two dealers have already marked them up, with one claiming it was a mistake. I’m no

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • Use This Perspective Shift To Make Car Shopping In This Terrible Market Bearable

    Dealer inventory is low and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. If you don’t need to make a car purchase right now it’s probably wise to wait a year or more, but according to Kelly Blue Book, only 16% of shoppers plan to delay their purchase. So if you must buy something now, a perspective shift is needed to avoid a lot of frustration.

    By Tom McParland Read More

Culture (59)

  • This Is How Your 2021 Automotive Predictions Fared This Year

    At the start of 2021, I asked you fine folks of Jalopnik for your automotive predictions for the upcoming year. Would 2021 be the year of the flying car? Would we see more cheap vehicles? Today, we’re revisiting some of those predictions to see how they fared.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Here's How A 425,000-Mile Tesla Model S Has Held Up

    Electric cars have grown more popular in the past five years than in any other time in automotive history, but that short time period has left a lot of questions about how these vehicles will age and wear. Now, High Mileage Reviews is checking out a 2015 Tesla Model S 70D with 425,000 miles on the odometer to help us get a better sense of what we could expect from a well-driven EV.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • All You Need To Drive A Ferrari F40: Post-It Notes And An F1 World Title

    It’s been five years since Nico Rosberg shocked the racing world by announcing his retirement just days after winning the 2016 Formula One World Championship. From his role as a pundit on F1 television coverage to team ownership in Extreme E, Rosberg has remained an active presence in motorsport despite ending his career as a driver. Though, he’s probably best known nowadays for his vlogs on YouTube.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Here Are The Electric Cars Kris Jenner Got The Kardashians For Christmas

    I have never once wished that Kris Jenner was my mother, but after seeing the electric cars she got her fellow Kardashians and Jenners for Christmas, I actually kinda wished she’d adopt me for the season. That’s because Jenner didn’t buy some standard EV like a Tesla Model S or a Porsche Taycan. No. She bought everyone Mokes.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • I Have Seen The Worst Vanity Plate

    Tesla might have left California for Texas, but California is still very much Tesla’s symbolic headquarters, with almost half of U.S. Teslas registered there, and, as such, there are lots of Elon Musk superfans here. California also has lots of vanity plates, I have learned. I have also learned that the two things are a dangerous mix.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Uber And Lyft Could Soon Have A Hard Time Denying Drivers Full Worker Status

    The legal test that determines whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee could be under scrutiny from the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB recently invited public briefing on how to classify workers, which means the federal government is possibly considering changing those guidelines, per Bloomberg. So cue the PR blitz from Uber and Lyft.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Here's What It Looks Like Inside Your Tires As You Drive

    It’s springtime! Time to start working on your project car, learn a new wrenching skill, discover what everything is under the hood (and how it works), or just spruce up your daily driver. All month, we’ll be looking back at our best informative, maintenance and DIY articles from Jalopnik’s near 20-year history to get your ride ready for the road.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • The Studebaker Museum Wants To Restore Fozzie Bear's Studebaker

    Even if you’re not an expert in ursine biology, noted Muppet comedian Fozzie Bear displays his bearhood in two very unmistakable ways: first, he wears a hat, and second, he can be found in a bear’s natural habitat: a Studebaker. Well, that particular Studebaker, a 1951 Champion, is in desperate need of renovation, and the Studebaker Museum in South Bend, Indiana is trying to raise funds to restore this important automotive cinematic icon.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • I'm Pretty Sure This Is The Only Car Ever With A Penis On Its Hood Ornament

    Hood ornaments are interesting, if kind of archaic things. Normally, they depict the logos and branding (however weird) of a given carmaker, though they occasionally make the leap to actual sculpture, like the stylized bird on an old Voisin or Rolls-Royce’s famous Spirit of Ecstasy. Generally, human penises are not depicted on hood ornaments, at least not on ones from OEMs, but I think I’ve found the lone exception, on an extremely obscure and unlikely car: the Onix Marfy.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Apple Really Wants You To Use Its Maps App, Now In 3D

    Apple is adding more detail and accuracy to its Maps application in an attempt to lure you away from using Google Maps or Waze. The latest iOS and Maps update introduced detailed city experiences to a handful of major cities, along with better 3D views and reportedly better navigation on routes that travel along complex highway interchanges. I’m looking at you, Dallas.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Watch A Finn Blow Up His Tesla Model S With Dynamite

    In the lovely little village of Jaala, Finland, there lives a man named Tuomas Katainen, and Tuomas is the owner of a 2013 Tesla Model S. At first, Tuomas enjoyed his Tesla, but then it started throwing all kinds of codes and spent a month in a dealer’s shop, where it was discovered that it needed an entire new battery pack. For 20,000 euros. Luckily, Tuomas had a backup plan in place: blow it up with dynamite.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Audi's Charging Lounge Is The EV Equivalent Of Flying Private

    Filling up your gas tank is one of the least luxurious aspects of owning a car, and electric vehicle charging only exacerbates the issue by making you wait longer — which you can do in your vehicle, while running errands, or by killing time in the Bob Evans’ next to the poorly-lit charging stations. Unless you’re an Audi owner in Germany. Now you can reserve a charging space at a charging lounge, so you can wait in class.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Your Guide To The Major Automotive Holidays Of The Season: 2021 Edition

    Do you feel that in the air? That intoxicating feeling, warm on the inside, fighting with the crisp coldness of the wind, that lets you know that the Time of Saleabrations is upon us? Of course you feel it. And while you may be tempted to just wish everyone you see a Happy Honda Days, praise Soichiro, or maybe give a smiling Merry Toyotathon, the truth is that there are so many more ways to saleabrate the season, and it’s your duty as an open-minded potential car buyer to know them. So let’s get

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Wheel Of Fortune Denies Woman Audi Q3 Over Mere Seconds

    As a frequent consumer of the Game Show Network due to a lot of childhood illnesses, one of my lifelong dreams has been to appear on Wheel of Fortune — but a minor technicality on the show just deprived a contestant of a brand-new Audi Q3, and I’m thinking the magic of the game show may have just died this Christmas season.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Here's Why Tesla's Elon Musk Is Talking About Web3.0

    Tesla founder Elon Musk is voicing his feelings on a brand-new and still hypothetical version of the internet called “Web3” or “Web3.0.” Right now this web version is just a concept, but Web3 is supposed to be a decentralized version of the internet based on blockchain technology.

    By Andy Kalmowitz Read More

  • Blip: This Could Be For Any Car

    I know what this 1977 GMC brochure is getting at—we tend to call high passenger volume cars “people movers,” but, really, if you take a step back, all cars are fundamentally “people movers” more than anything else, so this is kind of like the most generic possible brochure template, like those cans of BEER in Repo Man or something.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • I Regret To Inform You That The Grand Tour's French Special Is Very Good

    For many folks, the Top Gear and The Grand Tour trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond are the last word in automotive content and humor. For me, it has been the trio that my husband has insisted upon making me watch (ugh) while also telling me I should be more like Jeremy Clarkson (no). However, I regret to inform everyone that The Grand Tour’s new special about French cars, “Carnage à Trois,” is very good.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Look At This Hilariously Crooked Jeep Wagoneer Badge

    Building cars is hard. They’re so full of little parts and big parts and all of them have to go together just so or everyone starts complain about panel gaps or the way trunk lids close or any number of other fussy details. It all seems extraordinarily difficult. Then, there are some aspects to building cars that don’t seem all that hard, the sorts of jobs you could probably pull off in your driveway with a ruler and a bit of care. It’s those things that Jeep seems to be struggling with, at

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • I Bought A 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E For My First Project Car

    Just a few weeks ago, I wrote about a video game that can help the least mechanically inclined learn the basics of cars and how certain automotive systems fit together, without having to actually get under a car. Between my play time, years of working on some things with my father, and the maintenance I’ve conquered on cars by myself, I decided it was time for a real project car. My mission? Have fun. Get frustrated. Finally get through the container of Orange Goop I have next to our soap dispe

    By Lalita Chemello Read More

  • Blip: What's The Key Detail Here?

    As far as photo setups go for mid-century French cars go, this isn’t all that weird. Mom in a Renault 4CV, with kid and dad climbing on the hood, determinedly snapping photos, and sure, the intensity is a little comical. But that’s not the key part here.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • The 2022 GMC Hummer EV's Easter Egg Jab At The Tesla Cybertruck

    Rivalry is an aspect of the automotive industry that has always existed and will always exist. While every manufacturer has its vocal supporters on social media, it’s so entertaining to see automakers directly take shots at each other no matter how subtle they may be. Recently, it was discovered that General Motors included a joke aimed at one of their newer competitors in its latest model.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • NBC's American Auto Could Use A Bailout Too

    The American automobile industry has significantly shaped the country’s society over the entirety of the 20th century and beyond, for better or worse. From its government bailout to the last decade of recalls, scandals and numerous headlines: The auto industry and Detroit are targets rife for commentary, criticism and ridicule.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Here's What Those Brushes On Escalator Sides Are For And Why I Don't Think They Work

    I understand that escalators aren’t technically vehicles. I think elevators are, at least as much as a cable car or a funicular is, but escalators are more like motorized architectural elements. Still, we use them for diagonal transport quite often, and as I have been in a bunch of airports recently, I’ve spent a lot of time on escalators lately. And every time I’m on one, my foot is drawn to that band of stiff brushes along the lower edge of the escalator. What are those brushes for? Why are th

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • What Feature Will You Suggest For The 2022 Hummer EV Edition 1?

    The 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 is a masterclass in “how ridiculous of a vehicle can we make,” and if its various and sundry absurd features aren’t enough for you, you’re encouraged to make your own suggestions about what you’d like a future Hummer EV to have. In fact, there’s a suggestion box built right into the gear selector.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Blip: Pao Progress

    For today’s Blip, I figured I may as well give a progress report on the Pao, which had its face based in by a deer. I’m happy to say it’s coming along well, if slowly, but that’s okay as it’s given me some time to really get to know the Yugo. I checked in on it today, and was happy to see progress!

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Read This: How New York City Taxi Workers Won Their Protest

    In mid-September of 2021, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance began what would become a 45-day protest against regulations that left taxi drivers swallowed up by debt, left with few options and, in many cases, considering, attempting, or committing suicide. A new feature from The Nation shows how fierce unionization and solidarity held the city of New York accountable and changed the lots for taxi drivers.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Blip: Late Edition, But Not That Kind Of Late

    I know it’s late in the day for a Blip, but I figured I should probably post something because while I was out for a couple of days to give a talk in Seattle, Rory seems to have implied that I died in his excellent post about mechanical cam-driven sequential turn indicators, but as far as I can tell, I haven’t died, at least not in any ways that are clearly visible externally, and I just wanted to clear that up because I’m tired of getting weird texts from people asking if they can have my shoes

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • The 22 Most Pointless Cars To Import In 2022

    Every year, thanks to the 25 Year Rule, a new crop of cars becomes legal to import in the United States. Good cars. Wonderful cars. Cars that were too amazing to be sold in the American market. And also these things.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • Bet You Don't Know How Old Sequential Turn Signals Worked

    As our own Jason Torchinsky would love to tell you, when sequential turn signals appeared on the 1964 Ford Thunderbird, it was major moment in the history of indicators. Unfortunately, as I’m sure you’ve heard, Jason is no longer around to tell you anything about it. The basic sequential light idea spread through the Ford lineup and into the Mopar lineup, and again, as I’m sure Jason would or would have been happy to tell you, changed the way we think about vehicle lighting forever. But have you

    By Rory Carroll Read More

  • No, A Car Subscription Service Is Not Like Spotify

    Every time I see the news that Toyota is adding a subscription fee to use its remote start feature or that Tesla will charge owners to use technology they already bought, I get angrier. The absolute audacity. I refuse to buy into this concept, where you spend tens of thousands of dollars on a product only to find out that, in addition to your monthly payment, you’ll also be racking up additional charges to, I don’t know, use the dual-zone climate control you already thought you bought.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Don't Do This With Your Dog

    So first off, I have to give credit where credit is due. My husband consistently sends me crazy Reddit videos and threads of insanely stupid things people do in their cars, or in the shop … it’s how we speak to each other. This video was one of those exchanges, where a dog appears to be ‘driving a Tesla down a public road. And now, I’m left with a lot of questions and some theories as to what’s actually happening.

    By Lalita Chemello Read More

  • Holy Crap You Used To Be Able To Get Corvettes With Gigantic Gas Tanks

    Earlier today, when I was taking the piss from that New York congressional candidate who claims to use about 60 gallons of gasoline per week, I found myself researching fuel tank sizes of various cars in a vain attempt to figure out what the hell this guy must be driving. I never really hit on a definite answer, but in this research I learned something I never knew before: Chevrolet once offered the Corvette with a “big tank” option. And the “big” in that name really isn’t kidding.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • The Lada That Brought Me To Jalopnik Will Be The First Jalopnik Staff Car

    Back in 2008, I was a longtime reader of this site who dreamed of being like the people who wrote here. There were a lot of in-jokes and running gags in those days, and one of them was the idea that anyone would be dumb enough to actually buy one of the cars that Murilee posted in her recurring Project Car Hell series.

    By Rory Carroll Read More

  • That 6.2-Liter LS3 V8 Powered Tesla Has Finally Hit The Road

    YouTuber Rich Benoit has been spending much of 2021 making an absurd goal a reality. Benoit and his friends have turned a flood-damaged car into the world’s first V8-powered Tesla. The masterpiece has finally hit the road. Let’s check out the work that went into building it.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • Watch The World's First Bugatti Chiron Dyno Test

    If you’re reading this site, you’re likely familiar with the Bugatti Chiron. It’s the ultra-powerful, ultra-expensive, top-shelf Bugatti — and one of the last of its kind, before the company merged with EV maker Rimac. But what many people don’t know are the true horsepower and torque figured for the car. Sure, Bugatti has released numbers, but those are just for advertising, right? What does the real car, in the real world, actually make?

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • This Has To Be The Most Humiliating Christmas Tree Transport In History

    If you’re heading to the Christmas tree farm to pick up a fresh, real Christmas tree this year — perhaps for the first time in your life — please remember not to tie your tree to the roof through the windows if you intend to open your car door and drive home at any point. Please learn from BMW X5 Guy.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Traffic Jams: Sidney Gish - 'Sin Triangle'

    I don’t care what my Spotify says my “aura of the year” was — this is my song of 2021. Boston-based singer-songwriter Sidney Gish released her last album, No Dogs Allowed, in 2017. On it, there’s a song called “Sin Triangle.” I first heard it in October and it has remained ringing in the echo chamber of my skull for the entire duration since. I have no problem with this.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Traffic Jams: GoGoPenguin - 'All Res'

    Now that Spotify Wrapped is taking over everyone’s feed, it seems like a good time to share the music we jam to in our cars. Music can absolutely make or break the best drives, and some tracks are also a good shot of energy for dreary Monday mornings like this one.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Blip: I'll Be Out This Week Driving A Descendant Of This

    This week I’m going on one (likely) last press trip, with Audi to, of all places, the Canary Islands to drive the R8. Should be fun! I guess Audi is blowing through some end-of-year money or something? I’m excited and curious about the R8, and also going to try and hunt for anything interesting or weird around the area, so I’ll try to keep you updated. If you have a weird car in the Canaries, put it somewhere I can see it, please.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • This May Be The Secret To Why We Find Some Cars Weird-Looking

    Why do we find some cars uglier — or at least weirder-looking — than others? This is a question that has driven people mad, but as humans we can’t help but explore it. Recently, a friend of mine in the Automotive Wondering world has developed a theory that may explain, at least in part, why some cars look, well, just wrong. I call it the Indicator Brow Paradox, and I’d like to know what you think about it.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Here's 5 Car-Shaped Whistles Cooler Than That Tesla Cyberwhistle

    Yesterday, Tesla did one of those things were they turn some stupid joke made by their reclusive CEO Elon Musk into A Thing that Teslaterians can be convinced to buy, like those absurdly overpriced satin shorts or that absurdly overpriced tequila. This time the joke is a real knee-slapper referencing all of the recent whistle-blowing from people alleging racism and sexual harassment at Tesla facilities, so Tesla is selling some little stainless steel whistles shaped like Cybertrucks! Get it? A w

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Blip: Meet The Meat Wagon

    This old 1966 Ford Taunus wagon brochure image is interesting for a few reasons: first, the idea of a slide-in plastic liner for a station wagon—like a bedliner on a truck—is kind of brilliant, and I can’t believe no company offers anything like it today.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Traffic Jams: The Linda Lindas - 'Nino'

    It’s the end of a post-holiday week, and the last thing anyone wants to do is work. Even worse than working, though, is the actual drive to work. You’re stuck in the slowest lane of traffic, no matter which lane you’re in, and it just makes you want to scream. Well, scream along to this: The Linda Lindas’ new single “Nino.”

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • We Talk About Reliable Cars All Wrong So I Fixed It

    We’ve all heard talk about particular cars’ reliability over and over again, and we all generally understand what’s meant by that. Essentially, we mean will the car break down on you or not, stranding you and leaving you with a lot of expensive repairs or will you never have to worry about it? The problem is that we’re asking way too much from that one word, “reliability.” In reality, reliability is more of a spectrum, with multiple factors in play, so maybe it’s time to expand how we talk about

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Hear Me Out: Modern Concept Cars Are Bad Concepts And Bad Cars

    Have you seen a Marvel movie recently? It seems like no person, anthropomorphic fox, or sentient AI is free from their grasp on culture these days. You know the third act, where every character you’ve come to appreciate (or at least recognize) is suddenly replaced by a PlayStation 4 cutscene version of themselves? Just computer-generated action figures doing backflips at each other, a muddy mess of impossible stunts that’s neither noteworthy nor impressive.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Watch A Sim Racer Hoon A Championship-Winning Pro Drift Car

    If you’ve ever played a Forza Horizon game, you know the feeling: You’ve built out your perfect drift machine (mine is a widebody 2020 Supra with a 7.2-liter V8), dialed in your suspension settings (a touch more front camber and rear sway bar than the game suggests), and you’re getting comfortable in the Drift Zones; hanging the tail out through sweeping turns, mashing the handbrake for that last little bit of horizontal slide before a corner. “Hey,” you think to yourself, “I’m getting pretty g

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • We Asked An Expert If Pictures Posted On Reddit Are Really Of A Legendary Lost Bugatti

    Ever heard of Le Voiture Noir? The name just means “the black car,” but this black car was very special, because it was one of four Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantics built, and of those four, three are still accounted for. No one knows what happened to the fourth one, the black one. The noir one. But now someone on Reddit has posted pictures of a car claiming to be it, so I reached out to a Bugatti expert to see if I should get my hopes up.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • The Infiniti G Was A Better Four Door Sports Car

    There was a time when the Nissan Maxima could have been considered, dare I say, cool. But then came along its way cooler cousin, the Infiniti G35, the Japanese attempt to take on the BMW 3 Series in the sport sedan wars of the ‘00s. And it successfully did the sporty sedan better than its aforementioned cousin.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • I'm Driving Across America Again But This Time I Almost Have A Plan

    When I drove from New York City to Los Angeles and back last year, I largely did it by making things up as I went, so committed was I to the idea that the best road trips are spontaneous ones. That decision, in retrospect, was what some may call “stupid,” given that it led me down the God-forsaken highways of Nebraska, the highways of the damned. This year, I’m trying something new, which is “almost having a plan.”

    By Erik Shilling Read More

Car Design (5)

  • Tesla Cybertruck Spotted With Hilariously Huge Windshield Wiper

    I just want to say right up front that I don’t think all of the shock and scorn being heaped upon this wiper by Twitter and elsewhere is really merited. I mean, rain exists, and that’s a massive sheet of glass for the windshield, so something has to wipe it off, and that something is going to have to be, well, big. I know I don’t defend the Cybertruck too often, but this is what wipers look like, people. Well, maybe not, as Elon claims it’s not the production one. There are a few other changes w

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • The Most Confusing Turn Signals In The Auto Industry Are Probably Here To Stay

    The turn signals on the current Mini Cooper are almost like one of those annoying brainteasers that sets the word “yellow” in blue text and asks you to name the color shown. Slicing the Union Jack into halves, then stuffing each half in each taillight seems like a cute, on-brand idea with absolutely no possible downside until you see it in practice.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • The 2022 Hyundai Staria Evolved Past Center Console Cupholders

    The Hyundai Staria made a strong first impression with its futuristic yet familiar design. I mean, really, this is just a Pontiac Trans Sport (or Lumina, or Silhouette) for the modern day. But as much as I love the exterior, it’s the interior that I can’t look away from, because of the Staria’s dashboard cupholder. I can’t decide if it’s the best cupholder I’ve ever seen — or the worst.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • This Chinese Carmaker Is Building Cars From Histories That Never Happened

    I think it’s well understood that what generally qualifies as the best sort of automotive design are ideas that are new, novel, and break some new ground, always moving forward, always advancing. That’s all great, but when it comes to stuff people just like, the rules are pretty different. For example, if I had a bee sting for every time I’ve heard someone say they want a vintage-looking car with a modern drivetrain, I’d have died a painful death many times over. Chinese carmaker Songsan seems t

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

Chevrolet (2)

Concept Cars (8)

  • Uber Wants Drivers To Foot The Bill For Its Greenwashing

    Uber has an awful record of exploiting workers. In the US, the ride-hailing firm and its rival Lyft have both backed bills to limits workers rights, and Uber only started offering its UK drivers pensions after a court ordered it. Despite successful efforts to avoid recognizing the people who do the labor that creates its revenue as “employees,” it’s still lost $25 billion dollars since 2016, and it’s not exactly clear how they plan to make money.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • This 1930s Prototype Was More Aerodynamic Than Almost Any Modern Car

    In the early decades of the automobile, engineers took on the challenge of adapting airplane design to cars. Many of these streamline cars were done just for style, but Karl Schlör had something else in mind. His late 1930s creation, the Schlörwagen, was more aerodynamic than most cars today.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • The Original RAV4 Concept Looks Unbelievable Next To The Current Crossover

    Surely, you know of the Toyota RAV4 even if you can’t remember exactly what it looks like at this moment. If you can’t, don’t sweat it because neither can I; I had to look it up just now to reacquaint myself. Apparently, these days you can order one in blue with a white roof, which strikes me as a thinly veiled attempt to remind buyers of the FJ Cruiser, a vehicle that had 20 times more personality.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Late Designer Virgil Abloh's Take On A Maybach Is Fearless

    Influential fashion designer and LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) creative director Virgil Abloh passed away on Sunday after a two-year battle with cancer. Before his death, Abloh had been working on a concept Mercedes-Benz alongside the automaker’s design chief, Gorden Wagener. That car was called the Project Maybach. Following Abloh’s death, the manufacturer brought the car’s debut forward; visitors can see it today only at Miami’s Rubell Museum.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • You Know, BMW Already Designed The Perfect M1 Successor Once Before

    BMW knew exactly what it was doing by naming its new 750-horsepower, plug-in hybrid SUV simply “XM.” Fans knew it, too. The XM isn’t obviously based on any existing BMW car or SUV, like M cars tend to be. It’s its own thing. When it begins production next year, you won’t be able to get an X-sans-M. This is a standalone model that belongs entirely to BMW’s performance division. The last time BMW made a car like that, it was called the M1.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

Crashes and Safety (15)

  • Land Rover Discovery Sport Rolls Over After Hitting A Toyota GR Yaris

    I hope I’m not the first person to tell you that sport utility vehicles have a higher risk of rolling over than most other passenger vehicles. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, most SUVs have a roughly 20 percent chance of rolling over in a single-car accident. Coupes and sedans tend to have a ten percent chance of rolling over. This difference is primarily the result of SUVs having a higher center of gravity. A recent incident caught on dashcam in Birming

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • It's A Miracle No One Was Seriously Injured In This 40-Car Wisconsin Crash

    Interstate 94 in west-central Wisconsin was the site of a massive wreck early Thursday morning when a tractor trailer slid on the icy pavement into the median. The truck caught fire and trapped two cars underneath, consequently resulting in a string of separate collisions. Somehow, authorities report no one was seriously injured.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Colorado District Attorney Moves To Reduce Truck Driver's 110-Year Sentence

    Colorado First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King has formally requested a hearing that may allow District Court Judge Bruce Jones to reduce the 110-year sentence of 26-year-old truck driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, the Denver Post reported Tuesday afternoon. Aguilera-Mederos’ tractor-trailer crashed into stopped traffic on I-70 after coming down from the mountains outside Denver in 2019. The wreck involved 28 cars and resulted in four deaths.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Two Teens Arrested, One Gator Killed In Florida Crash

    While nothing that happens in Florida is really that surprising anymore, the occasional new story raises the bar. In the latest story coming from the Sunshine State, The Guardian reports two of the victims in a crash over the weekend were alligators.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • This Is Why You Keep Your Distance From Semi Trucks In Storms

    Do you ever feel a sense of unease as you pass a semi on the highway? Something about the imposing wall of blank, white metal makes the situation feel dangerous, like you shouldn’t spend a second longer than you have to in making a pass. That instinct may be overkill in most situations, the truck probably won’t actually hit you, but storms can be a terrifying edge case — as this video out of Nebraska shows.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Drunk Pilot Crashes Ultralight Plane Into Subdivision Front Yard

    Remember the beginning of Independence Day, when we first meet Randy Quaid’s character? He’s in a red biplane, drunkenly crop-dusting the wrong property before landing on a local road. While the character saw redemption later in the movie, it seems an Indiana pilot has decided that this version of Russell Casse is the one to idolize — only with out quite as smooth a landing.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Owner Of Stolen BMW That Slammed Into A School Bus To Pay Thousands

    We recently wrote about the incredible damage caused by a stolen BMW crashing into a school bus so hard that it rolled over. There’s an update to the story and it’s a sad one. Not only will the owner of the car not be seeing any money from their insurance, but they’re being told to pay for the crash cleanup.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • Biden's Infrastructure Bill Nixes The Auto Industry Propaganda Term "Car Accident"

    President Joe Biden’s massive infrastructure bill is seeking to change everything about the automotive and transportation industries, from the function of our headlights to the sustainability of our ports. Buried in all those pages, though, is something smaller: A change in the way we refer to car crashes, which is designed to move away from the auto industry propaganda term “car accident.”

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • A Ford Pinto Was Found In A Creek 45 Years After Its Owner Disappeared

    The Troup County Sheriff has reopened a decades-old cold case in Georgia, following the discovery of a 1974 Ford Pinto in a creek. The Pinto belonged to Kyle Clinkscales, an Auburn University student last seen on January 27, 1976 — about 45 years ago. The 22-year old was reportedly driving from his hometown of LaGrange, Georgia back to his university in Auburn, Alabama when he went missing.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Older Drivers Are More Likely To Die Driving Older Cars

    The average age of cars on the road keeps going up, and as these cars get older they are becoming less suited to the drivers most likely to own them. A new study from the IIHS says that older drivers are at much greater risk of getting hurt or killed in their so-called “retirement cars.”

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Semi Truck Drags Sedan Down Illinois Highway

    If I hear about a passenger car being involved in a collision with a semi-truck, I’d assume that would be nothing left resembling an automobile. The driver usually doesn’t survive the incident or is seriously injured at best. I would never believe that the driver would be waving out the side window to another car, but that’s how events played out on a highway outside of Chicago, Illinois earlier this week.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

Crime (10)

Entertainment (8)

  • One Of The Most Ambitious Racing Games Of All Time Was Inaccessible To Western Players For 22 Years. A Dedicated Group Of Fans Fixed That

    The two best-selling games on the original PlayStation were Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy VII, with 10.85 million and 10.02 million units sold, respectively. As for third and fourth, that would be Gran Turismo (2) again and Final Fantasy (VIII) again also. If you owned a PS1 and one of these disparate franchises wasn’t represented in your collection, people were allowed to ask you why. Those were the rules.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • It's A Race To Win An Untitled Film With Lewis Hamilton And Brad Pitt Attached

    It’s great to be a race fan and cinephile as of late, as racing biopics and new series continue to flood your streams and screens. Films like Rush, and Ford v. Ferrari, along with Netflix’s behind-the-scenes look at the highest echelon of racing, Formula 1, in Drive To Survive, has opened the floodgates to more films, series and documentaries coming to your favorite channels. Now, the latest project expected to grace Hollywood is said to involve seven-time World Champion and Mercedes driver Sir

    By Lalita Chemello Read More

  • Forza Horizon 5 Deserves Game Of The Year Consideration At The Game Awards

    It’s that wonderful time of year again, when the shadowy cabal that forms the jury of The Game Awards gets together to definitively decide which games are Good, and which games simply Are. This year, however, there’s an elephant-shaped hole in that hallowed room: A near-perfect Forza game, and no Game Of The Year nomination.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Gran Turismo 7 Brings Back Another Fan-Favorite Fictional Circuit In A Big Way

    When Trial Mountain appeared in the first trailer for Gran Turismo 7 more than a year ago, longtime fans pumped their fists into the air. The fictional circuit — present in every Gran Turismo except for the Prologue entries and GT Sport — will return fully remodeled in 4K, with variable weather and time-of-day change taking advantage of the full power of the PlayStation 5. It will be a treat for anyone who grew up with these games, and it’s not the only nostalgic gift Polyphony Digital has packe

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Grid Legends Simulates The Action And Chaos Of Racing — Not The Art

    When Codemasters’ Grid returned to us after five years away in 2019, reception was mixed. The game was billed as a reboot — that much was clear from the minimalist title, plus the return of some beloved locales from the original game, like San Francisco and the fictional Okutama road course. But something was missing. The racing felt passable, but the limited content and barebones career resulted in a lot of repetition. And Drift mode, one of Grid ’08's most addictive aspects, was nowhere to be

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • I Guess Anyone Can Become The Best Car Mechanic For Just $2.99 Plus Tax

    I may be yelling into the void here, but I’m sure there are plenty of you that love cars and don’t understand the entire mechanics of a vehicle. And that’s ok. Not all of us were born from our mothers’ wombs with wrenches in-hand and a need to take everything encountered apart, just to eventually put it back together.

    By Lalita Chemello Read More

Events (1)

  • Michigan Is Absolutely Desperate To Get The Detroit Auto Show Back

    It’s been almost three years since the last North American International Auto Show, more familiarly known as the Detroit Auto Show, after its 2020 and 2021 shows were canceled because of the pandemic. And automakers were already starting to move on from auto shows before all that, anyway, but not the state of Michigan.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

Ford (7)

Found For Sale (17)

  • A Low-Mileage Hummer H2 Just Auctioned For $58K Because BaT

    If you’re reading this, you already know the current car market, new and used, is busted. There are no good deals, no hidden gems, no smart buys. Everything is roundly terrible. But it’s especially in times like these that we must be vigilant and keep our heads cool. Which is exactly what doesn’t happen on Bring a Trailer every single day.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Now That's Some Good Patina

    It seems these days everyone is worried about their collector cars having as few miles as possible on the odometer. They want to hold things as objets d’art, rather than their intended purpose as machine to move humans around on roads. I reject the notion that enthusiasts should preserve things as perfect copies of how they left the factory. I’d much rather put a few hundred thousand miles road tripping in a machine like this Ford Country Sedan wagon.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • This Hemi-Swapped Plymouth Prowler Finally Backs Up Its Looks With Power

    When the Plymouth Prowler first graced us with its presence, 25 years ago, it was not particularly well-loved. It had a loud-but-slow six-cylinder, a four-speed automatic, and nearly half of its parts were shared with sedans or minivans. The first of those issues was the big one — when Chip Foose originally penned the design study that would become the Prowler, it had a Hemi V8 mounted behind those two seats.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • This Wrecked Carrera GT Is The Cheapest Way Into Porsche's Coolest Car

    The early-to-mid 2000s were a banner era for bedroom poster cars. You had the Lamborghini Murciélago, the Maserati Mc12, even the Bugatti Veyron greeting children every morning as they rubbed the sleep from their eyes. But those children have grown up, started to earn YouTube or TikTok money, and with that new money bought their own cars.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • I Hate How Much I Love This Janky Convertible Porsche Cayenne

    One of my favorite SUVs of all time is the Volkswagen Touareg and its platform mate, the Porsche Cayenne. The Touareg is an off-road sleeper while the Cayenne is a giggle. I mean, it’s an SUV that can tow your race car to the track then itself go racing after you break your race car. It’s hard to improve on such a great vehicle, but I think someone might have actually figured it out. There’s a Porsche Cayenne for sale for $45,000 with a convertible top and I hate how much I love it.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • The Mythical Chopped Jeep Cherokee XJ Is Up For Sale Once Again

    One of the best things on Twitter is an account called Bustleton Auto; I’m sure some of you have heard of it. It’s genius. Each day it posts mangled, seemingly AI-compiled low-res images of cars “for sale” that don’t actually exist, alongside makes and models like CZHOTY TROND that I suspect have been borrowed from a list of names of companies that sell Bluetooth adapters on Amazon. Bustleton does this like 10 times a day, for free! You can’t beat it.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • This 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo Is Buckwild Engineering At Its Best

    Have you ever heard of the phrase “scope creep”? It’s what happens when you don’t lock the requirements down on a project early enough. Everyone starts thinking of little features, bits and pieces that would be neat to include, and suddenly your project’s scope is wildly larger than the original plan. I can’t say for certain that a motorcycle with tri-spoke wheels, a longitudinal V-twin, and a turbocharger is the result of scope creep over at Honda, but I wouldn’t bet against it.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • The Panoz Roadster Is What Happens When A Mustang Grows Up To Be A Sports Car

    What’s the first car you think of if you’re looking for a cheap enthusiast car from the 1990s? There’s a good chance your brain just threw up a picture of a Fox Mustang in your mind’s eye. Ford made hundreds of thousands of those front-engine rear-drive machines, and while most of them came with garbage Lima four cylinders and even worse V6s, they’re easy enough to swap V8s into, and the aftermarket is perhaps most readily available with hop up parts.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Roll Up To The Euro Car Meet In This Galant AMG And See What Happens

    Some of the most respected automakers and performance divisions in the business began life as rogue consultancy firms, willing to tinker on the vehicles of anyone who’d pay them. Like Porsche and Lotus, AMG once upon a time teamed up with an unlikely partner — in this case, Mitsubishi — to create something that is entirely unfathomable today: the Galant AMG. And there’s one live on auction over at Cars & Bids at this very moment.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

GMC Trucks (1)

Honda (2)

  • The New Civic Type-R Looks So Much Better Than The Old One

    If cars could send postcards, the Civic Type-R’s would make you jealous right now. “Greetings from Suzuka,” it’d read, with that big Ferris wheel in the background of Japan’s most famous racetrack. Today, Honda released photos of its next-generation hot hatch testing around the circuit it owns, ahead of its full reveal next year.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

Hyundai (2)

Jalopnik Explains (1)

  • Best Of 2021: How Not To Set A Bead On A Tire

    Was 2021 a great year? Not exactly! But we did have some posts that did good traffic. Take a walk down memory lane with us, as we think back on 2021, a year that will seem much better by this time in 2022.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

Jalopnik Investigates (1)

  • He Raked In Thousands To Build A Drift Heaven. Members Say They Got Scammed

    For decades, American drift enthusiasts have gazed longingly over the Pacific, dreaming of visiting their own motorsport Mecca. Japan is not only the birthplace of nearly every legendary drift car, but it’s home to the ultimate track for the slideways enthusiast: Ebisu Circuit. Seven (well, now six) drift-ready courses, on-site storage for practice cars, and three weekend-long drift festivals every year. Paradise for those who can’t get enough of rev limiters and tire smoke.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

Motorcycles (11)

  • This Motorcycle Is Ace And You Should Buy It So I Don't Have To

    I’ve always been a sucker for old Hodakas. They’re simple and good-looking machines that have everything you need for a fun day on two wheels, and nothing you don’t. With a 100cc two-stroke engine it has just enough power to get you into trouble and back out of it again. You have to respect these little machines, because they were literally built to have the shit kicked out of them day in and day out on the trails and harsh roads.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • This 350cc, 100 MPH-Capable Honda Monkey Sounds Like A Great Way To Die

    The little Honda Z50 Monkey is a bike loved by riders of all ages for how fun they are. They’re also a great platform for custom builds, as we’ve seen with the Virtual Steering Monkey. Another kind of custom Monkey has come up for sale and this one is a certifiable deathtrap. This 1973 Honda Monkey has the beating four cylinder heart of a Honda CB350F and it could take you faster than any tiny motorcycle should go.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • The 2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak Is A Whole Lot Of Everything

    Pikes Peak is a totally bonkers place. For most of the year it’s a serene 25 mph road twisting and winding its way up the face of a gorgeous mountain. For a few days each year, however, it’s home to the wild west of motorsport where people go to extremes not normally allowed anywhere. This dichotomy is part of the race’s appeal, taking a step beyond what average drivers even deem possible.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Every Motorcycle I Rode This Year: Ranked

    It’s hard to have a bad time on a good bike, and let me tell you folks, the bikes are good these days. It still blows my mind that I manage to ride motorcycles for a living sometimes, and all I have to do is pass my own personal judgement of those motorcycles on to you fine people. You’ve probably read some of my reviews this year, so let’s put them all in context. Here’s everything I rode this year and what order I rank them.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • What Do You Want To Know About The 2022 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak?

    It’s fair to say that I really like the Ducati Multistrada. I liked the old 1260 S, and while I have not yet ridden the new V4-powered model, it looks the business, and is packed with all kinds of wild new-to-motorcycles tech. It’s not really a performance bargain, but it’s got a lot of go to match its show. And the newest version, the Multistrada Pikes Peak, cranks the performance knob up a few notches.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • The 2022 Ducati DesertX Brings Italian Excitement To Middleweight Adventure

    After nearly two months of new motorcycle product unveils, largely made up of new variants of existing models, Ducati has finally got around to telling us about the bike it teased way back in September. The DesertX first made its way to the stage at EICMA in 2019, but that concept was based on the existing Scrambler platform. In order to stack up against the competition in the middleweight ADV segment, Ducati had to wad that design up in a ball of paper and throw it in the wastebasket.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Harley-Davidson Pan America Recalled For Unintended Quick-Disconnect Seats

    Adventure motorcycles are built around the concept of freedom. Whether that’s the freedom to set off on an around-the-world adventure, or simply freedom from the tyranny of traffic lanes en route to Starbucks, they want to give you the sense that you have no restrictions, nothing holding you back. Unfortunately, the Harley-Davidson Pan America has introduced a new kind of freedom: Your passenger’s freedom from the rest of the bike.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Nicholas Hoult Has Taste When It Comes To Motorcycles

    There is something about the Japanese custom scene that really understands the look and feel of vintage Americana. For that reason I’m hardly surprised that Go Takamine, founder of Brat Style with custom motorcycle shops in California and Tokyo, managed to build this pitch-perfect hardtail Indian custom from a brand new Chief. It’s fantastically simple with big chunky tires, polished bits only where necessary, brass accents, and astonishing minute details that only show themselves when you get u

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

News (90)

  • Mercedes-Benz Pulls Chinese Ad Over Racist Eye Makeup Accusations

    A Mercedes-Benz ad aired on Chinese social media website Weibo has since been pulled after users claimed makeup featured on one of the models reinforced racist beauty standards placed on Asian women by Western nations, the Communist Party’s Global Times reports. The controversy comes in the wake of an already-heated discussion resulting from a similar ad by a Chinese snack retailer.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • The Ford Maverick Is Getting More Expensive

    Did the 2022 Ford Maverick’s low price tag and simple features woo you? You’re not alone, but it looks like the compact truck is about to see some price increases, as noted in the Maverick Truck Club forum and reported by Autoblog.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Google Maps Directed Drivers Down Dangerous Roads During Record Lake Tahoe Snowfall

    This December is already one of the snowiest ever in the Lake Tahoe region, with 202 inches having fallen in the month so far as of Tuesday. Naturally, bad weather results in road closures. But modern navigation software simply doesn’t take no for an answer, and so Google Maps — among other navigation companies — has sent drivers down sketchy, dangerous paths to reach their intended destinations, as SFGate reported yesterday.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Judge To Reconsider Trucker's 110-Year Sentence After DA Backpedals

    Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, the truck driver sentenced to 110 years in prison earlier this month, may have a ray of hope on the horizon. After the Colorado District Attorney’s office formerly requested the sentence be reduced, Judge Bruce Jones has decided to take up the case. Less than one month from today, on Jan. 13, 2022, Aguilera-Mederos will know whether he’s spending the rest of his life in prison — or just the 20-30 years now requested by the DA.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Ford And GM Are Neck And Neck

    At the close of the stock market yesterday, Ford was worth more than GM for the first time in five years, an accomplishment that I’m sure got Ford CEO Jim Farley some pats on the back, even if both Ford and GM’s valuations pale in comparison to Tesla.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Former Baywatch Actress Arrested After Assaulting Man On Delta Flight

    Back in the 1980s, Patricia Cornwall appeared on both Baywatch and Married... With Children under the stage name Patty Breton. She’s also been a Playboy model and NFL cheerleader. But recently, she made national headlines for allegedly attacking a man on a Delta flight and getting herself arrested.

    By Collin Woodard Read More

  • More Autonomous Semis Are Hitting Texas Highways

    With Texas serving as one of America’s busiest trucking byways, it’s no surprise that the Lone Star State has also become the de facto home of autonomous trucking trials. Now, a new company called Embark is bringing its driverless semis to a route on I-10 between Houston and San Antonio, the Houston Chronicle reports.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Inflation Affected Cars More Than Anything Else In The U.S. In 2021

    Inflation affected car ownership and its related expenses more than other essential goods and services in the U.S. this year. Never mind that the inflation rate reportedly increased to 6.8 percent, the highest number in 40 years. And never mind that it’s hurting poor people the most. For now, let’s focus on the effects rising prices have had on anything car-related.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • A Cat Was Rescued From This Moving Nissan Rogue's Engine Compartment

    Sometimes it seems like everything is bad. The world is on fire, there’s a global pandemic, and the Nike car is very probably not coming next year. Once in a while, however, a good story cuts through the gloom — something that makes the sky seem a little brighter, the grass a little greener, and the internet not quite so internet-y. Today, that story is this: One family adopted a kitten after firefighters rescued it from their engine bay.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • This Report Of Total Vehicles In Operation In The U.S. Is Full Of Weird Details

    Experian is one of those nosy, unaccountable, totally opaque credit reporting companies that knows what your credit score is and what you were thinking about the last time you masturbated and the current contents of your stomach, and they’ll sell that information to whoever has the cash. [They’re probably most famous for a number of recent high profile data breaches that exposed the private data of millions who never signed up to do business with them. —ED]

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • General Motors Pulls In-Person CES Appearance Over Omicron Fears

    The 2022 Consumer Electronics Show is circling the drain as many major displayers pull their commitment to the show. General Motors, despite telling media as recent as Wednesday that it would still attend the show as other companies pulled out, has decided on Thursday to make its CES display an all-digital affair without any in-person component on the floor in Las Vegas. As the wildly contagious Coronavirus Omicron variant spreads throughout the world, Vegas in early January seems like a really

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Pour One Out For The Lotus Elise, Evora, And Exige

    Lotus’s entire current lineup died earlier this year to make way for Lotus’s Emira future, though Lotus kept producing the last Elises, Evoras, and Exiges throughout 2021 in farewell. That all ended Wednesday in Hethel, United Kingdom, with production officially done.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Four Injured In Possible Explosion At A Texas ExxonMobil Oil Refinery

    The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is reporting at least four people were injured in a large explosion reported early this morning at an ExxonMobil refinery in Baytown, Texas. One of those people is in critical but stable condition, the other three are hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

    By Andy Kalmowitz Read More

  • Justice For Luxury Dealer President Who Was Murdered And Dumped In The Desert

    Southern California news outlets report that over three years after his death, a local luxury car dealership owner and his family are finally getting justice. Rouchen “Tony” Liao was kidnapped and held for ransom in 2018 before his body, which still hasn’t been found, was dumped in the desert. But his killers have finally been caught.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • Elon Musk Doesn't Actually Live In That $50,000 Texas Home

    Despite what Elon Musk — and many Elon Musk fans — like to say, Elon Musk isn’t actually living in that $50,000 prefab tiny home in southern Texas. He’s actually living in the Austin, Texas mansion of a friend named Ken Howery, the Wall Street Journal reports.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Shunji Tanaka, Designer Of The Mazda Miata, Has Died

    Car enthusiasts around the world recognize the first-generation Mazda Miata as an icon. Its shape, a smoothed-over ‘90s rendition of classic ‘60s British roadsters, remains one of the most friend-shaped cars ever built. Sadly, the man who brought us that shape, Shunji Tanaka, passed away earlier this month at the age of 75.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Tow Company Fined For Illegally Selling Sailor's Car

    A tow truck firm in Washington State has been fined after it towed and sold a serving Navy sailor’s car while they were overseas. Lawmakers in the state of Washington have come down hard on a Kitsap County towing company, which impounded and sold the car illegally.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • Dealer Repossesses A Teen's Car Five Months After He Paid Cash For It

    Buying your first car as a teenager, is a rite of passage and the freedom a car affords at that age is unmatched. But to have that dream derailed by a salesperson’s and dealership’s shenanigans sucks. As CBS Dallas/Fort Worth reports, that’s what happened to one teen whose first car was repossessed five months after he paid cash for it.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • Trucker's Prison Sentence Sparks A Trucker Boycott Of Colorado

    The reaction to Rogel Aguilera-Mederos’ 110-year prison sentence has been immediate and widespread. On Thursday, the 26-year-old truck driver was found guilty on 27 different counts related to a deadly incident on Interstate 70 in Denver, Colorado. The brakes on Aguilera-Mederos’ semi-truck failed, and he crashed into stopped traffic, killing four people. The extraordinary severe mandatory sentence has faced widespread disagreement, even from the judge and the victims’ families.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Holy Crap A Tornado Launched A Corn Cob Through A Tractor Windshield

    Are you afraid of corncobs shooting through your windshield while you drive? No? Oh, look at you, big shot. Big brave driver isn’t afraid of vegetables shooting through their windshield. Tough guy over here, driving without fear of a cob packed full of delicious yellow kernels penetrating their windshield at incredibly high speeds. You might be singing a different tune if you were the driver of this John Deere tractor caught in the recent Kentucky tornadoes. Because that’s a corn cob embedded i

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Texas Auto Dealer Indicted In Murder-For-Hire Plot

    Erik Charles Maund, a 46-year-old auto dealer executive from Austin, Texas and part of the Maund Auto Group, has been indicted in a plot to kidnap and kill a Nashville woman and her boyfriend, local news station KXAN reports. And yes, the story is as wild as it sounds.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Another Driver Finds An Apple AirTag Tracking His Car's Location

    A lot of times, news stories about new crime trends turn out to be fake or at the very least overblown. But it’s starting to look like there actually is a real trend of people using Apple AirTags to track cars they plan to steal later. The latest story involves a Detroit man who says he found one on his 2018 Dodge Charger Scat Pack.

    By Collin Woodard Read More

  • Missing Mystery Pilot Of 2017 'Pilotless' Crash May Have Been Found

    In March of 2017, Canadian authorities in Manitouwadge, Ontario, were alerted of a plane crash in a nearby wooded area. Air Force and helicopter transport were deployed to help survey the woods for wreckage and potentially any survivors. But while the wreckage was located and collected, one mystery remained: Where was this plane’s pilot? Nearly five years later, and authorities may finally be closer to having more answers.

    By Lalita Chemello Read More

  • Look At This Strange Little Boxy EV Hiding In Toyota's New Lineup

    Earlier today, Toyota had a huge “media briefing” about the famously technically conservative company’s plans to enter the battery-electric vehicle market, and as fitting a company of the size and might of Toyota, there was a lot there. Not the least of which was the number of proposed cars shown—this wasn’t an event showing one BEV idea, it was as they said, a whole “showroom of the future,” which in my head is read with dramatic echo effects and a thunderclap. Of this showroom of the future (k

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Six More Women File Sexual Harassment Lawsuits Against Tesla

    One day after Elon Musk was announced Time’s Person of the Year (a distinction surely not given due to financial interests on the part of Time’s owner), six women have filed separate suits against Tesla alleging that the company fostered a hostile work environment at its Fremont, California plant and other facilities. This comes one month after former employee Jessica Barraza filed a similar suit and after Erica Cloud came forward to Reuters with similar allegations.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Time Magazine's Owner Loves Elon Musk So Much That He Has A Financial Interest In SpaceX

    Time magazine named Elon Musk its “Person of the Year” on Monday, as I’m sure you’ve heard by now. The profile paints Musk as a dreamer and a manic genius with a prickly personality, more in the vein of Steve Jobs than Jeff Bezos, extolling his long shot goals and accomplishments before giving brief mention about a third of the way down that— surprise, surprise — he’s not a nice guy!

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Mercedes-Benz EQS Recalled Because Drivers Can Watch TV

    Hands-free cell phone use is encouraged for drivers behind the wheel these days, but what about hands-free television watching? A glitch in the Mercedes-Benz EQS’s massive infotainment system forced that question to be answered, and the answer is that drivers watching TV behind the wheel will get your car recalled.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • The 2023 Genesis G90's Interior Is The Perfect Kind Of Posh-Sexy

    Recently, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I am not always the low-maintenance human I’ve claimed to be for most of my life, and I came to that realization behind the wheel of a Genesis. Now, the Korean automaker has released the first photos of its 2023 Genesis G90's interior, and I have to admit that I am all kinds of interested in lushing it up in the backseat of its long-wheelbase version Because I’m Worth It.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Corvette Plant Shutters After Tornadoes Wreak Havoc Across Six States

    A potentially record-breaking storm system has left devastation across six states and at least 90 dead. The late-season storm generated multiple tornadoes, including one that may have traveled 227 miles, potentially breaking a 96-year-old record. The storms also hit GM’s Bowling Green Assembly Plant and the National Corvette Museum.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • New York Congressional Candidate Claims To Use An Absurd Amount Of Gas

    At the moment, gas prices are pretty high. That sucks. The average is currently $3.30 for regular, $3.97 for premium, and that’s about a buck more than last year, at least. It is finally trending down a bit, and there are plenty of reasons why the price is what it is right now, but for people running for elected office, blaming a member of the other party for high prices is a classic campaign strategy. Or, if you’re like New York Senate candidate George Santos, it can be an amazing opportunity t

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Watch Toyota's CEO Drift A GR Yaris Alongside Its Race-Prepped Twin

    We as car enthusiasts are always told that “the suits” are to blame for our problems. They kill off our favorite deeply unprofitable cars, they cut costs at the expense of reliability. It’s a rivalry as old as time — enthusiasts and businesspeople are like oil and water, jocks and nerds, slobs and snobs. One man, however, embodies the Hegelian synthesis to this dialectic: Mr. Akio Toyoda.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Off-Road Recovery YouTuber Charged With A Felony Count Of Insurance Fraud

    Matthew Wetzel of Matt’s Off-Road Recovery on YouTube has been charged with one second-degree felony count of insurance fraud. His towing company is accused of fraudulently collecting money from the American Automobile Association. It’s a charge that carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • Watch This Scary Video That Illustrates A Lot Of What's Wrong With Tesla's "FSD"

    Over the weekend, video of an incident in what was reported to be a Tesla Model Y was posted to Youtube. The video, which was later removed from YouTube shows the crossover, which was reportedly running Tesla’s “Full Self Driving” level two driver assist system veers toward an oncoming car before the driver grabs the wheel to disengage “FSD” and leaves the road. The video was reposted on Twitter.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Global Urea Shortage Could Park Diesel Trucks

    Freight trucks worldwide are starting to be sidelined by a urea shortage. A wide-ranging variety of factors, from rising fertilizer and natural gas prices to an export prohibition, have strained the world’s supply of urea.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Delaware DOT Misspells "Delaware" On Highway Exit Sign

    Okay, I have to admit that I have zero footing to be throwing judgment at anyone for misspellings. There are moments when I get fatigued and let errors slip through despite rereading. Though, it should be essential to correctly spell the name of the state that your government agency represents. If you work for Massachusetts or Mississippi, it can be understandable on occasion. If this is happening in Delaware, it’s not.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Volvo Says Data Was Stolen In Cyberattack

    Research and development data was stolen from Volvo after a cybersecurity breach, the company said in a statement Friday. There is no reason to think this doesn’t have the makings of a corporate espionage thriller. There is, sadly, also no reason to think it does, either.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Transgender Drivers Are Getting Blocked From Working For Uber

    Uber is sending out very mixed signals about the company’s inclusiveness regarding transgendered and nonbinary drivers and those aspiring to be. As the Los Angeles Times reports, transgender drivers who attempt to sign up to be drivers, or drivers just trying to update their employee records are getting rejected, even locked out from working or signing up with the gig service.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • 54 Dead, Over 100 Injured In Mexico Truck Crash

    A truck carrying dozens of people believed to be migrants coming from Central America crashed in Mexico on Dec. 9, 2021, the New York Times reports. At least 54 people are dead and over 100 have been injured.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Minneapolis Police Chase Ends With 2 Dead, 3 Injured

    Here’s yet another chapter to add to our storybook of police chases ending in deaths. Today’s story takes us to Minnesota where a police pursuit early Thursday morning has so far resulted in the death of two people, with three others recovering from resulting injuries

    By Lalita Chemello Read More

  • Cop Caught Illegally Hunting From His Cruiser With A Felon

    In the latest installment of “the rules don’t apply to me” saga that is global policing in 2021, a Louisiana officer has been caught illegally hunting from the back of his cop car. To make matters worse, he was joined on the hunting jaunt by a convicted felon.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • Tesla Owner Claims Their Model Y Was "Recalled" For Delaminating Battery Cells

    The idea that Tesla has quality control issues isn’t exactly new. The American automaker has such a long history of poor QC, it would take thousands of words to list them all. But that doesn’t mean Tesla isn’t still innovating new ways to make its cars unreliable. The latest example appears to be delaminating battery cells.

    By Collin Woodard Read More

  • Driver Dead As Car Crashes Into River Above Niagara Falls

    A car crashed into the Niagara River, ending up incredibly close to the edge of the waterfall, reports ABC News. The wreck claimed the life of the car’s only occupant, a woman reported to be in her 60s. Her name hasn’t been released yet in order to give authorities time to notify her family, but she’s said to be a local who lived nearby.

    By Collin Woodard Read More

  • California Sued Honda Over Lawn Mower Engines Again

    California recently clamped down on emissions of small, off-road engines in things like lawn mowers and generators. As a result, Honda, which produces these small off-road engines alongside its range of planes, cars and robots, has been fined nearly $7 million by the state for breaching these rules.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • A Black Family Was Kicked Off An American Airlines Flight. Now They're Suing

    Incidents on flights have been on the rise lately. Even with FAA crackdowns in the form of fines and jail time, things haven’t seemed to calm down. While a passenger being unruly on a flight is usually more than enough of a reason to remove them, some passengers are being removed for no good reason. As the Independent reported, one family found out that even doing nothing will get you removed from a flight.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • 85-Year-Old Woman Dies In Ohio Police Chase Crash

    Last Friday, an 85-year-old woman became yet another of victim of a police vehicle pursuit. In the last month alone, multiple news outlets carried the unfortunate stories of people who died when police decided to engage in a car chase.

    By Lalita Chemello Read More

  • Indiana Donut Shop Ad Begs Drivers "Please Don't Crash Into Us"

    Munster, Indiana seems to be a hotspot for cars crashing into buildings. No one is exactly sure why, though, and locals are left to protect their buildings with bollards and large flower pots, wondering if some of the buildings are cursed, local news source NWI reports.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Two-Thirds Of Milwaukee's Stolen Cars Are Made By Kia Or Hyundai

    Milwaukee is set to surpass 10,000 vehicle thefts this year. The bulk of those stolen vehicles are Hyundais and Kias — and the city seems to be so fed up that local ABC News affiliate WISN 2 reports city officials are considering suing the automaker because of the thefts.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • Tow Truck Driver Briefly Becomes Tow Truck Pilot, Is Arrested

    We’ve all dreamed of flying cars at some point in our lives. From young kids, imagining the freedom of flight and the surely cotton-candy-flavored taste of clouds, to the filthy rich who need a substitute for their private jets because like hell are they flying with poors. One brave tow truck driver attempted to make that dream of automotive flight a reality — and it seems he, very briefly, pulled it off. Then he was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Check Out This Chart Showing The Most And Least Efficient Electric Cars

    When talking about electric cars, most of the focus tends to be on range. And to a certain extent, that makes sense. A car that can go 300 miles without charging will probably be more convenient to own than one that only has 100 miles of range. But the other side of that coin is efficiency. Do you know which EV is going to make the most of the electricity you pay for? That’s a little more opaque.

    By Collin Woodard Read More

  • Legendary Drift Course Ebisu Minami Is Dead To Drifters

    When you hear the word Ebisu, what comes to mind? Hot Version battles at the Higashi circuit, or in-car footage of laps on the Touge Course? Maybe your fondest memory is that Noriyaro video, touring the entire facility in the rain and the Beer Can Skyline.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Mexico May Sue The U.S. Over EV Tax Credits

    The Build Back Better Act still has yet to pass the Senate or be signed into law, but it’s already facing pushback. And not just from Republicans. Mexico has threatened to sue the U.S. over a section in the bill that would subsidize union-built electric vehicles, the Washington Post reports.

    By Collin Woodard Read More

  • How Low Is Too Low For A Military Flyover?

    The U.S. armed forces putting on displays of military spectacle before sports events is pretty awesome on the one hand and a blatant attempt at recruitment on the other hand. However, the military shouldn’t put the public at unnecessary risk by the display itself.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Despite Reports, Ford Says Its F-150 Lightning Is Not Delayed

    Earlier today, there was a bit of confusion surrounding the Ford F-150 Lightning and when the trucks would eventually be delivered. Social media posts, an article that’s since been taken down on Teslarati.com, and a forum post on F150Gen14.com all said that the EV truck would be delayed until September of next year. Now, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • One BMW Driver In Manhattan Reminds Us To Not Park In Front Of A Fire Hydrant

    If you live in a big city and just park any kind of way or think you can park where you want, you could be potentially endangering someone’s life. On November 24th in Manhattan, some idiot thought it was a good idea to park his BMW 5 Series in front of a fire hydrant. And as luck would have it, a fire broke out. And firefighters did what they had to do to put the fire out by running the hose through his car.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • UAW Members Are Voting To Take Back Control

    The feds did not take over the UAW after a slow-motion corruption investigation that resulted in prison sentences and over a dozen arrests, but they did make the union accept an independent monitor, and also ask its member to decide how they want to elect UAW officers. So far, on that second point, members are speaking loud and clear.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • The Aston Martin V12 Vantage Will Be Another Swan Song For Internal Combustion

    The gasoline-powered world is dying, and the electrified world struggles to be born: Now is the time of monsters. Specifically, the time of monster engines in any chassis they can be wedged into. Swan songs for internal combustion are all the rage right now: The Corvette Z06, the Dodge Demon, even Lamborghini and Lotus are getting in on the fun.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

Nice Price or No Dice (21)

Nostalgia You Can Taste (1)

Planelopnik (13)

  • Thousands Of Flights Are Being Cancelled Due To Omicron

    Earlier this week, the CDC updated its guidelines on returning to work after a positive Covid test based on a study that could have been titled, “Delta Airlines said please and c’mon, just look at that face, how do you say no to that.” While airlines breathed a sigh of relief, broader response was less positive. Now, it seems it all may have been for naught: Despite the rush to get crews back on planes, thousands of flights are still being cancelled due to positive Covid cases.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • CDC Shortens Covid Isolation Period Because Delta Airlines Asked Nicely

    The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (motto: Saving Lives, Protecting People) has been the leading source of information about combatting the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States. It was the source of the initial 14-day isolation guidance from 2020 and the shorter, 10-day isolation period once vaccines started to roll out. Now, the CDC has shortened that recommendation to a mere five days.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Thousands Of Flights Cancelled Over Holiday Weekend Due To Omicron

    Many widely foresaw that staffing shortages would cause mass flight cancellations over the holiday season at the start of November. Still, very few thought the spread of a new coronavirus variant would be the primary cause. Over four thousand flights in the United States have been canceled today and across the Christmas weekend. The number of canceled flights soars over ten thousand when flights in other countries are added to the total.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Airplane Passengers Twice As Likely To Catch COVID-19 Omicron Than Delta Variant: Report

    The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has begun its worldwide spread just before the holiday season, and now the International Air Transport Association is saying that passengers are two to three times more likely to catch COVID-19 while flying as opposed to the previous Delta variant — but without any hard metrics, it’s hard to tell just how dangerous the variant can be.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Families Of 737 MAX Victims Allege Secret Deal Between Justice Department And Boeing

    If you’ve ever seen Law and Order, you’re probably familiar with the concept of a plea bargain. It’s that ultimatum the detectives always deliver, where someone can confess to a crime, rat someone else out, or otherwise cooperate in exchange for a lighter punishment. When Boeing was investigated the 346 deaths caused by 737 MAX crashes, the company received a similar bargain from the U.S. Justice Department — one that the victims’ families now say violates their rights.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • A Boeing 747 Once Flirted With Supersonic Speed During A Steep Dive

    Thirty years ago, a Boeing 747 freighter rolled into a steep dive without the pilots noticing. The aircraft would lose 10,000 feet of altitude and reach speeds of at least 0.98 Mach, flirting with supersonic speed and causing structural damage. This is what happened over Canada on that day.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • Pearl Harbor Forced A Plane To Fly Around The World To Get Home

    President Roosevelt called December 7, 1941 a “date that will live in infamy,” an apt description for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Over 2,500 people were killed, another thousand were wounded and the Pacific naval fleet was crippled. For the crew of one Pan American flight, the attack forced them to do what hadn’t been done before: Fly a commercial flight around the world.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • A Mysterious Issue Is Causing Paint To Peel Off Of Airbus A350s

    Qatar Airways has had a lengthy dispute with Airbus over paint quality problems that it says led to deterioration in composite areas of its Airbus A350 aircraft. The airline has grounded 20 of the planes and put half of its retired fleet of A380s back into the sky to fill the gaps. Now, a recent report reveals that it’s not just Qatar having problems.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • The Freaky Super Guppy Aircraft Is Helping Humans Get Back To The Moon

    NASA is on a mission to get humans back on the Moon, with the goal of boots on the surface in 2025. Helping NASA achieve this mission is one of the most distinctive and rarest planes in the sky: a transport aircraft called the Super Guppy. The plane just delivered the heat shield skin for a future Artemis mission.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

Porsche (2)

  • I Drove A Base Porsche 911 With An MSRP Of $116,000

    For a lot of people, the Porsche 911 is the default semi-pricey sports car. It’s what the successful doctor/lawyer/dentist buys when they’ve made it, and it’s been the subject of effusive praise in the automotive press since it hit the scene in the 1960s. It’s a great car and to varying degrees always has been. It’s also always been something of a value, at least when compared to comparable “exotic” sports cars. Depending on spec, a 911 could have been the cheapest and or fastest way into a real

    By Rory Carroll Read More

  • What Do You Want To Know About The 2022 Porsche Taycan GTS

    Oh dang, it’s an electric Porsche wagon that doesn’t have the extra body cladding and taller ride height. That’s bound to be a winner of a package, both in the looks and performance department. As is typical with Porsche’s GTS badge, the Taycan GTS offers unique styling, a bit more power and performance than the S model, and a whole bunch of standard features that would cost a lot more in options on other non-GTS models. Is the Taycan GTS a bargain, then?

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

QOTD (45)

  • These Are Your Most Overrated Cars Of All Time

    This is a list full of disappointment, rife with shattered expectations and haunted by the sense of being underwhelmed. It’s telling that a Tesla leads. What it says, I’ll let you decide. I’m surprised that BMW has not fared well, and at the same time, I’m not.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Here Are The 10 Worst Engines You've Ever Driven

    Was 2021 a great year? Not exactly! But we did have some posts that got a lot of attention. Take a walk down memory lane with us, as we think back on 2021, a year that will seem much better by this time in 2022.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • These Are The Cars You Wanted Dead In 2021

    Automakers killed off so many cars this year, but it seems the bloodlust of Jalopnik commenters runs deep. This morning, we asked what cars you think should’ve died in 2021, and you came out in force to name nearly everything — supercars and super cheap cars alike. We’ve got our ten favorite answers here, so you can picture a world without any of them. God help us all.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • What Car Should Have Died In 2021?

    2021 was a difficult year for the automotive industry. Between the chip shortage, the magnesium shortage, and the slow car sales those begat, this certainly hasn’t been the best year to be an automaker. It’s led to the deaths of many a fine vehicle, but maybe not as many as it should’ve. So, to rephrase the day’s big question: What car are you most surprised survived 2021?

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Where Do You Go For Those Hard-To-Find Car Parts?

    Anyone who’s worked on their own car, particularly older models, knows the feeling. There’s a part you need, and you can’t find it anywhere — parts shops haven’t seen it in years, dealers don’t carry it, and the local pick-n-pull just shrugs when you ask. In these times of crisis, where do you go to find those rare parts?

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • These Are The First Cars You Love And The Ones You'd Rather Leave Behind

    For some, a first car is a platonic ideal. It’s tied to so many memories, so many firsts, that no method of transportation will ever be better. For others, a first car is the lowest of the low — something to start from, before moving up. For many of you, though, your first car was somewhere in between.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Do You Still Love Your First Car?

    Your first car is a lot of things: A coming-of-age checkpoint, a first taste of true personal freedom, and a way for your parents to make you shuttle your younger siblings around for a change. For many people, a first car is something to reflect on with rose-colored glasses, to remember fondly for all the things it enabled them to do. What about yours?

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Here Are Your Biggest Holiday Grievances

    In the spirit of the holidays, we thought it was time to give everyone a place to let out their grievances from the past year. Let’s be honest, 2021 has been a real mixed bag for most of us.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • What Are Your Biggest Grievances?

    I’m told there’s a holiday tradition here in the U.S., where friends and family gather together and share all the issues they’ve had over the past year. It’s a chance to air your grievances, no matter how big or small.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • These Are Your Favorite Automotive Pet Names

    Pets: Whether you have one or not, it seems everyone’s at least considered adding a furry (or scaly, feathery, creepily hairless) friend to their household. As it turns out, quite a number of you considered giving that pet an automotive name — and many of you even followed through. All pets may be good boys and good girls, but some are good-er than others: Here are our ten favorite automotive pet names from your suggestions.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • What's The Best Car-Related Pet Name?

    It’s that wonderful time of year when cold weather and terrifying COVID case rates send everyone back into their homes to hibernate. To mitigate the cabin fever, it’s also the time of year when people are giving and receiving pets as holiday gifts. This is generally a pretty bad idea, but if you’re dead-set on it, we can at least help you out with the name.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • These Are Your Your Sketchiest Car Buying Stories

    A new (or new-to-you) car is the second-biggest purchase most people will ever make. Somehow, though, that doesn’t stop the transaction from being a minefield of scams, frauds and overall sketchiness. You’ve all had some interesting experiences buying and selling cars, and we’ve picked our ten favorites from your submissions. Enjoy!

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • What's Your Sketchiest Car Buying Story?

    We’ve all been there. You’ve got a car listed on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, and the prospective buyers that come through always seem a little off. Maybe they take three days to respond to a message, but get mad when they don’t hear back from you in an hour. Maybe they offer payment in gift cards, NFTs, or new Trident Layers. Everyone has a sketchy car sale story, what’s yours?

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Here's How You Cope With Holiday Travel And Traffic

    Some of you may be fortunate enough to stay put for the remainder of 2021, but a great many more of you, myself included, will not be so lucky. Depending on how far you have to go and when you’re making your trips, the travel may suck.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • How Do You Cope With Holiday Travel And Traffic?

    There’s no secret to a perfect holiday commute when everyone else is on the road or in the air at the same time, for the same reason as you. Despite your best efforts, it’s probably going to suck. But we make the most of it every single year, for good reason. Today’s question is about managing the stress of holiday travel and traffic.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • What's The Worst Winter Driving Advice You've Heard?

    Winter is coming. Ok, maybe it is. You wouldn’t know that in most places across the U.S. where snow has been known to already linger on the ground, where the mercury is approaching 60 this week. But global warming or not, it’s best to be on the safe side and prepare for the potential colder temps that lie ahead.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • Here Are Your Most Evil Ideas For Car Subscription Services

    This morning, we asked you for your worst, most mustache-twirling ideas for subscription-based car features. Anything the CEO of a car company could charge extra for, with bonus points to those who made something so insidious that buyers would actually shell out every month. Well, the results are in: You’re all evil and I now live in fear of the horrors your minds can conjure. But, so I don’t have to bear the burden of these nightmares alone, here are the top ten picks from your suggestions. Hav

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • What's The Worst Subscription-Based Car Feature You Can Imagine?

    Carmakers keep moving toward charging buyers monthly for things that used to be a one-time fee. Toyota has been making headlines for it recently, but Tesla and BMW are no strangers to this trick either. So, to keep up with all the incredibly profitable cool kids at their lunch table, we’re all going to join in the fun.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • What Beloved Car Movie Actually Sucks?

    The holidays are coming, which means you’ll hopefully be able to spend time relaxing with the important people in your life very soon. With your newfound freedom from the 9-5, you might find yourself on the lookout for a good movie to watch while you hide indoors from the chaos on the street.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • These Are Your Favorite Car Ads

    We asked, and you answered. Here are your picks for the ten best, most impactful, or most memorable car ads you’ve ever seen. Some of these, honestly, I wish I’d come up with in the question. Let’s see them.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • What's The Best Car Ad?

    In our cyberpunk dystopian present, we’re inundated with advertisements every day. Ads for products, for subpar employment, or for the military-industrial complex. Sometimes, however, those ads are for cars — and that’s where they can get fun.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • These Are The Cars That Have A Good Side And A Bad Side

    Car design is a funny thing. I remember the first time I saw the new Supra, I hated its bloated, bulbous haunches. Then one day for reasons I can’t and will never be able to explain, it clicked. Meanwhile, the C8 Corvette still hasn’t for me and at this rate probably never will.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Which Car Has A Good Side And A Bad Side?

    There are many good looking cars; there are many ugly ones. But perhaps the most tragic are those that look great, but only from certain angles. Shift your perspective just ever so slightly and it all falls apart. “The designers were so close,” they leave you thinking. Today we’re asking you: which car has a good side and a bad side?

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • These Are The Least Durable Cars Ever Made

    Reliability can mean a lot of different things. It can be a car that will last a lifetime with a little TLC, or it could be something durable that can keep running despite the bumps and bruises.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • What's The Best Budget Car For Learning How To Wrench?

    I’m happy to admit that I don’t know how to fix most things that go wrong on a car. I can change a tire, top up the fluids, swap out any headlamp bulbs that need replacing, and that’s about it. But I always wanted to know how to fix anything that goes wrong on a car.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • What Non-Car-Focused Movie Has The Best Cars?

    The Fast and Furious series is great: It brings together ridiculous stunts, exotic locations and a loose storyline that’s all held together by the message of family. It’s fun, what’s not to like. Oh, and there’s some incredible cars throughout the 10 films we’ve had so far.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • The Most Embarrassing Cars To Take On A First Date

    Don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t judge a car by its owner. What car a person drives shouldn’t really matter in the grand scheme of attraction. But guess what? It matters. Everything is on the line and that beater you want to roll up in, could be the make or break of that very first date.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

  • What's The Most Embarrassing Car To Take On A First Date?

    The pandemic is over, apparently, and we’re allowed out of the house again –hooray! That means, you might be out to meet someone new one day soon. And if that’s the case, it’s important to arrive in the right attire and behind the wheel of the right car.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • The Best Places To Buy A Car In 2021

    It’s becoming increasingly hard to get your hands on your dream wheels. Used car prices are up and the ongoing chip shortage is continually affecting new car inventories.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • Where Is The Best Place To Buy A Car Right Now?

    One of the more annoying things that I’ve had to get used to on my stateside move is the addition of tax on top of price tags. I’m sure you’re all used to it now, but it always irks me that you have to guess or calculate what the final price of a purchase might be.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

Racing (82)

  • Carlos Sainz Thinks His Hybrid-Electric Audi Is At A Huge Dakar Disadvantage

    Having previously won the Dakar rally with Peugeot, Mini, and Volkswagen in his long off-road career, Carlos Sainz the elder (father of the Ferrari F1 driver) has what it takes to step into a new program and develop it into a winner in this race. In Audi’s first year running a series hybrid-electric machine in the long-distance rally raid, Sainz feels that the regulations have not been set up in a way that will allow the e-tron to compete on level ground with its all-gasoline counterparts.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • MG Only Ever Built One Truly Cool Car

    There is never a time when I am not fantasizing about the wonderfully weird MG Metro 6R4. It’s easily the coolest car ever to be sold under the MG brand, and arguably the coolest car to come from the British Isles in history. Don’t fight me on this, I’m right. While ostensibly based on the best-selling city car of the era, the 6R4 featured a Cosworth DFV-based 3-liter V6 mounted out back, driving all four wheels. It was a Group B special, and it did pretty okay in rallycross, but was ultimately

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Formula E Is Exploring Hydrogen Power For Gen 4

    Formula E is making rapid progress in the world of electric motorsport, quickly developing through two generations of chassis and motor technology. The third generation specification is set to introduce rapid charging during pit stops and massive increases in power and speed, bringing it up to the task of an FIA World Championship. There are still limitations to electric motor racing, but the series is developing in leaps and bounds. It does that by looking much farther into the future than just

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • NASCAR Driver Who Vowed Not To Get Political Embraces Political Cryptocurrency Sponsorship

    Two weeks ago, NASCAR driver Brandon Brown called himself a victim of circumstance. He won his first Xfinity Series race at Talladega in October; during a post-race interview, fans in the stands nearby started chanting “fuck Joe Biden.” The NBC reporter speaking to Brown, either through a hopeless attempt to cover up the profanity or total obliviousness to what was actually being said, remarked, “Let’s Go Brandon.” And thus, a new merchandising opportunity for the disgruntled right wing was born

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Mercedes Will Race With A Silver Livery Again In 2022: Report

    Mercedes-AMG has consistently been among the best engines in Formula One since it re-joined way back in 1994. Partnered with McLaren the engine powered drivers’ championships in 1998, 1999, 2008, and again in 2009 when it fortuitously supplied engines to champions Brawn GP. In 2010 the famed Silver Arrows were back on the grid when the three pointed star purchased Brawn and began building an empire. Since the dawn of the turbo hybrid era, Mercedes has built the best car and employed the best dri

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • ORECA To Compete In The 2023 Dakar Rally

    While Audi makes its final preparations for its electric debut at the Dakar Rally next weekend, another sports car stalwart has declared its intentions of contesting the cross-country desert rally with an alternative powertrain. ORECA announced that it has partnered with the SMG rally-raid team to enter the 2023 Dakar Rally.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Sébastien Loeb Returns For The WRC's New Hybrid Era

    Next month at Rallye Monte Carlo, the FIA World Rally Championship will start a new era with the introduction of the new hybrid Rally1 regulations. Now, it has been officially confirmed that one of the sport’s legends will be rejoining the field. Sébastien Loeb will be driving a Ford Puma WRC Rally1 for M-Sport in the Puma’s competitive debut.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Spa-Francorchamps Reveal Photos Of Renovation Work

    Safety is probably the second most frequently discussed topic about the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps at the moment, only behind compensation for the spectators of the rain-stopped 2021 F1 race. Over the past year, the iconic Belgian circuit has had two massive pile-ups at the exit of Radillon during the Spa 24 Hours and an F1-supporting W Series race. Of course, it has also been two years since Anthoine Hubert lost his life in another multi-car incident at the same section.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • When Grands Prix Were Held On Frozen Lakes

    Even as the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship stretched to mid-December, there was still zero chance that a snowflake would ever touch a racetrack on the schedule. The championship’s global itinerary ensures that no race is held in truly frigid conditions. Although, this wasn’t always the case for the highest category in international motorsport.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Long Live Christian Horner

    Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Formula 1 driver’s championship this year, in a season that will be debated for ages, and also the last one before major rule changes go into effect next season, intended to help level the playing field. One thing is for sure: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner will be there, too, hoping to spoil things for Mercedes again.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Dallara Secures IndyCar Chassis Supply For Many More Years

    IndyCar had its most recent chassis refresh with the introduction of the Dallara DW-12 in 2012 which, as of next week, will have been a decade ago. The previous generation chassis, the Dallara IR-03 was pushed into service in — as you might suspect — 2003, and served until 2011. By 2011 the IR-03 (later referred to as IR-05) was feeling quite long in the tooth, so it makes sense that this current DW-12 chassis feels as though it has been with the sport since the time of the dinosaurs.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Ferrari Boss Reminds Us Why 2022 Is Going To Be A Good Year For F1

    As exciting as the 2021 Formula 1 title fight was, it was a surprise to have close competition under the current regulations where the racing historically hasn’t been close. That prompted sweeping changes for 2022, where cars will utilize ground effects and do away with much of the furniture atop bodywork that makes following and side-by-side running difficult. Then we should have a real, multi-team battle on our hands — you know, if all goes according to plan.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • F1 Has Something Worse Than Refunds For Everyone Who Suffered Through Spa

    Last week, we were lamenting the sport for the way race director Michael Masi was able to twist the rules of a safety car restart to impact the fate of the 2021 championship. And before that, it was the series’ rush to finish a brand new circuit in a country with a poor track record when it comes to equality and human rights.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • There Should Be A Short-Track Oval Series For All The Disused FIA GT3 Machinery

    IMSA GTD, FIA GT, World Challenge, DTM, GT Masters, N24, VLN, SuperGT, and various SRO series, to name a few, are all run with FIA GT3 specification cars, and literally thousands of them have been built over the years. And that’s just the top-level professional stuff. It seems like every country in the world has its own pro-am or pure am GT3 series. Hell, how many Porsche customers have bought GT3 Rs to run in Porsche Club events?

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • The World's Wildest Alfa Is A Hillclimbing Legend

    I have long been a fan of Alfa’s diminutive 4C. It’s a great little car, what with its carbon chassis and Italian good looks (okay, that’s subjective). It’s never been the fastest thing on four wheels, but it has provided many drivers with a fun experience that isn’t really like anything else. These cars are even better when they’re turned into race cars. Like this Picchio-built hillclimb car with an AER-built 700-horsepower 2.0 turbo. Yeah, that’s good.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • I Can't Believe I Need To Say This, But Nicholas Latifi Did Nothing Wrong

    On Tuesday (Dec. 21), Williams driver Nicholas Latifi took to Twitter to make a statement on the abuse he’s received following the events of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix almost two weeks ago. Latifi’s crash on lap 52 of 58 stemming from a battle with Haas’ Mick Schumacher inadvertently spoiled what would have likely been an otherwise uneventful procession to the end of the race and Lewis Hamilton’s eighth drivers’ title. Instead, the crash brought out a safety car and a one-lap battle to t

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • NASCAR Loses Its Most Kid-Friendly Sponsor

    The iconic M&M’s NASCAR liveries will have its last hoorah during the 2022 season before Mars, one of NASCAR’s longtime sponsors, steps back from the series. With it goes one of NASCAR’s most kid-friendly sponsors and a reason for new fans to find interest in the sport.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • The Daytona 24 Will Host Its Largest Grid In Years

    Rejoice racing world, for the resurgence of sports cars is among us. In the aftermath of the collapse of LMP1 and GTE classes around the world, I’d figured we were heading for a racing doldrums for a while, at least in sports car competition. IMSA seems to be the exception proving the rule, considering it today told Racer.com that the field for the Daytona 24 was at capacity with 60 cars confirmed, and several more on the wait list. 60 cars taking the start will be an improvement of 11 cars over

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Ducati's First Electric Motorcycle Is Built For Racing And Looks Damn Good

    The all-electric MotoE series has been running three years strong now, supporting the top MotoGP championship at a handful of races per year. It’s a spec series where all teams use the same bike — the Energica Ego Corsa — that offers about 160 horsepower and has clocked as much as 160 mph at some tracks on the calendar. That’s quite a ways off from the 220 mph that the premier-class rockets hit on Mugello’s mega-long straight, but then MotoE is still in its infancy, and the racing is nevertheles

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Audi Wants The FIA To Know It's Really Probably Definitely Joining Formula 1, Maybe: Report

    It’s no secret that Audi and Porsche been deeply involved with shaping Formula 1's future engine regulations, with eyes toward becoming involved in the sport in one capacity or another. Both brands have pushed hard for the adoption of synthetically-made fuels and increasing electric power within the hybrid mix. Porsche’s name has been bandied about as merely an engine supplier at least, or a full factory-backed effort in the best-case scenario. Meanwhile, their intramural rivals over at Audi see

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • The Chequered Year Turns F1's 1970 Tragedy Into An Exceptional Motorsport Narrative

    When Ted Simon sat down to write The Chequered Year, it looked like the biggest story of the season would be the introduction of March, a brand-new team that endeavored to field as many cars as possible by selling chassis to teams in need. Instead, it was a season that saw the deaths of Bruce McLaren, Piers Courage, and Jochen Rindt — the latter of whom became the sport’s only posthumous World Champion. And Simon describes it all in spectacular fashion.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • NASCAR's LA Coliseum Track Will Cost $1 Million To Build

    NASCAR has released a new render of the temporary quarter-mile short-track inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that will host the 2022 season-opening Busch Light Clash exhibition event. And, I’m ready to enjoy another round of Pixar’s Cars jokes.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • What Gifts Were Given In F1 To Say Farewell This Season?

    The end of the FIA Formula One World Championship season usually means saying farewell to at least one driver in the field. Add in the drivers already in F1 who leave their current teams to move to other teams, and there’s a decent amount of driver movement each season.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Porsche Has Released The First Photos Of Its LMDh Prototype

    As Porsche ended the 2021 motorsport season with its annual season-ending “Night of Champions” event, the German manufacturer announced its plans for the 2022 racing season and beyond. The state of the marque release covered everything from Formula E to customer GT3 programs, but the highlight was arguably the update on Porsche’s return to the top category of sports car racing.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Mohammed Ben Sulayem Elected FIA President

    Yesterday, Mohammed Ben Sulayem was elected President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile after the organization’s annual general assembly meeting in Paris, France. The former rally champion turned motorsport administrator received 61.6 percent of the vote. He replaces Jean Todt, who held the position for three four-year terms.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Mazda Says A Final Goodbye To Its Fans

    The Mazda prototype program hasn’t always been the fastest or most reliable car on the grid, but since the RT-24P debuted in 2017 it has definitely been the prettiest. It’s been a long and hard road for the Mazda prototype program over the years, but since the team shook the monkey from its back with a Watkins Glen victory in 2019, it has been running up front pretty consistently ever since. In the final three seasons of the program, the car took a 12 Hours of Sebring win, a Petit Le Mans win, t

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Formula E Just Set A Really Low Cost Cap

    Formula E is pretty much the least expensive way to get an FIA World Championship, and it’s about to get a good bit cheaper to run. In the wake of three major manufacturers announcing departures from the sport, the series is getting serious about cracking down on costs. Current estimates, according to Motorsport.com, place team budgets around 40 million Euros per season. The new rules would cut that down to a third of current. Teams are expected to race around the world in electric open-wheel ma

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Watch NASCAR's Next-Gen Cup Car Crash In Testing At Charlotte

    NASCAR has been putting its Next-Gen Cup Series car through its paces before the new machine actually hits the track in earnest for 2022 — and we’ve gotten footage of one of the first big crashes, this time at Charlotte Motor Speedway. And it can give us some clues about how the car will hold up next year.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • It's Definitely Time To Repave Laguna Seca

    Let’s get something out of the way right now, Laguna Seca is the greatest race track in the history of race tracks. Don’t fight me on this, it’s great, it just is. It hosts the best events, some of the most iconic moments in history have happened there, the weather is always pretty good there, and don’t get me started on how awesome the morning fog is. I love it, and wish I could spend a lot more time there. But the facilities are somewhat lacking, and the pavement is getting a bit long in the t

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • How Wayne Taylor Racing Preps For A 10-Hour IMSA Endurance Race

    Ahead of this year’s Petit Le Mans, I had a chance to sit down with the Wayne Taylor Racing team’s three drivers — Alexander Rossi, Ricky Taylor, and Filipe Albuquerque — about what it takes to prepare for a 10-hour race... and I walked away learning a lot more than I anticipated.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Yuki Tsunoda Was The Abu Dhabi MVP

    Yeah, it’s Tuesday and we’re still talking about that ridiculous F1 race this weekend. While everyone was paying attention to the horrible shitty race stewarding and an absolutely abysmal final five laps for both Lewis Hamilton and the sport in general, an F1 rookie was putting down a monster lap and securing his best finish ever. On the final lap Tsunoda managed to catch and pass a Mercedes to take fourth place, his highest position in F1.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Nikita Mazepin's Season Ended The Only Way It Could

    Nikita Mazepin was supposed to go racing again on Sunday, like he has 21 times this year, having qualified last, like he almost always does. But Mazepin didn’t go racing after testing positive for Covid, though asymptomatic. It was a strange ending to an almost hopeless season for the Russian.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • So Long, James Hinchcliffe, And Thanks For The IndyCar Memories

    I started watching IndyCar because a close friend of mine knew I’d started watching Formula One, and she sent me a playlist of James Hinchcliffe videos and told me to “watch these.” Four months later, I was at my first IndyCar race, and I fell in love. Now, James Hinchcliffe — the gateway drug to one of America’s finest forms of motorsport — is stepping back from full-time competition.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Give It Up For Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, Who Did The Impossible In 2021

    While everyone’s hearts were pounding over the last-lap shootout in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that almost wasn’t but then was, Carlos Sainz turned in a third place finish that cemented fifth spot in the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship. That officially made him Best Of The Rest. And it’s an especially impressive feat, considering his teammate at Ferrari is two-time race winner Charles Leclerc, a dude generally considered to be pretty dang good, and Sainz just showed up in Maranello la

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • IMSA's GTD Pro Class Is Coming Out Swinging

    IMSA’s GTLM class had been slowly dying for at least a few seasons, and has finally been shuffled off the track for the 2022 season. As you should probably know by now, the class has been replaced with a new factory-backed pros-only class called GTD Pro, which is exactly what it sounds like. These are more or less the same GT3 machines that have been racing in GTD since the merger of ALMS and Grand Am in 2014.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Formula One Is No Longer A Sport

    Formula 1 has always sought to tweak its regulations to keep the racing exciting. The rule changes have impacted different teams in a variety of ways, but were always done under the guise of maintaining fair, entertaining racing. But when those rules change frequently, or lack overall consistency in all-important decisions for what’s happening on-track, that’s when outcomes like Sunday’s at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix become incredibly problematic.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • How Lucy O'Reilly Schell Used Motorsport To Fight Fascism

    If Lucy O’Reilly Schell’s name sounds familiar, that’s likely because you’ve recently read Faster: How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Beat Hitler’s Best by Neal Bascomb, which tells the story of how she funded a Grand Prix team for Jewish René Dreyfus in the hopes of beating the dominant German teams of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime. But that’s only one part of the story of a woman who was an exceptional racer in her own right.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • These Are Some Of Racing's Biggest Announcements Of 2021

    2021 has been a very long year, especially for motorsport fans. From IMSA’s Rolex 24 at Daytona in January to this past weekend’s controversial conclusion to the Formula 1 season in Abu Dhabi, it has been a hectic twelve months of competition.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • How Michelin Managed 7,800 Tires At IMSA's Petit Le Mans

    Bringing tires to an IMSA race is no easy task. There are three different varieties of tire being used on track at once. You have to think about rain. You have to think about compounds. And for a 10-hour race like Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, the challenge is even greater. So I followed Michelin around for a weekend to see how its tire operation compares to something like what Pirelli does for Formula One.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • FIA Dismiss Mercedes Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Result Protest

    The aftermath of the controversial finish was immediate and will continue for the foreseeable future. The race concluded with a one-lap shootout created by FIA Race Director Michael Masi through drastic measures in quickening a safety car restart. Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team filed two protests against the final classification of the race and Max Verstappen. The race stewards dismissed both protests.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Max Verstappen Wins F1 World Championship In One-Lap Shootout

    After a nine-month 22-round season, the FIA Formula One World Championship ended today with Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in the United Arab Emirates. For only the second time in the championship’s history, two drivers started the season’s final race equal on points atop the Drivers’ Championship standings.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • How To Predict The FIA Presidential Election

    In six days, either Graham Stoker or Mohammed Ben Sulayem will be the next President of Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. I’ve lost patience waiting for the FIA General Assembly meeting. I just want to know the outcome at this point. I’ve combed every source of information that I could lay my eyes on to pull together some semblance of a vote tally ahead of Friday’s election. I even asked people on Twitter for their opinion. However, the only people who actually matter are the voters, th

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Enzo Fittipaldi Escapes Jeddah F2 Crash With Only A Fractured Heel

    As Oscar Piastri finished third ahead of Robert Shwartzman to secure the FIA Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship, one of the drivers who competed in the previous round was not present in Abu Dhabi. Enzo Fittipaldi, who drove for Charouz in Jeddah, is still recovering after fracturing his heel in a tremendous crash on the grid during the start of that round’s feature race.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • How The UAE Hosted Its First Grand Prix 40 Years Ago

    This weekend Formula One will end their dramatic season with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in the race’s titular emirate. While the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix became the first and so far only Formula One World Championship race in the United Arab Emirates in 2009, it was not the first race to be referred to as a grand prix within its borders.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • It Sure Looks Like This Is Lewis Hamilton's To Lose

    Practice sessions in Formula 1 tell you something, for sure, about a given driver’s chances on Sunday, but it’s always incomplete information at best. Teams are still experimenting and drivers are still testing the limits of the track. Still, as a rough guesstimate of Sunday’s finishing places, you could do a lot worse. And so far so good for the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, after he finished with the fastest time in FP2, the fastest session of the day.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • That Belgian Grand Prix Farce Could Decide The F1 Champion

    For the first time in decades, there’s a real possibility that the Formula 1 season could finish with a tie. And if that’s the case, F1 has a way to settle things and find a winner. But, it does mean we have to talk about that awful Belgian Grand Prix again. I’m sorry.

    By Owen Bellwood Read More

  • The Other F1 Championship Battles You're Forgetting About This Weekend

    Everyone’s talking about Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen entering the Formula One season finale tied in points, but let us not forget that we have some other battles taking place further down the grid to earn a handful of those coveted points — and the prize money that comes with them.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Why Do You Hate Max Verstappen?

    Max Verstappen is like black licorice: You either love him or you hate him, but you’re probably not sitting in that vague middle ground of “eh, I’ll eat it if it’s there but I won’t seek it out.” And haters, it’s your time to shine. I want to know why, exactly, you don’t like the Red Bull Racing Formula One driver.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • A NASCAR Driver's Wife Was Jeffrey Epstein's Alleged "Sex Scheduler"

    In 2013, NASCAR driver Brian Vickers married a woman named Sarah Kellen, whose alias of Sarah Kensington may have been familiar to anyone who’s read through the countless flight logs and court allegations surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That’s because Kellen was one of Epstein’s personal assistants and one of the many accomplices who helped him procure underage girls for sexual purposes.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Zak Brown Offers Historic Monza Drive To Chaz Mostert For Winning At Bathurst

    Zak Brown is best known these days for being the head of McLaren Racing, but he’s got his fingers in a lot of different motorsport pies. Brown also co-owns United Autosport, which is currently partnered with two other iconic international names Walkinshaw Racing and Andretti Autosport to form the Walkinshaw Andretti United Supercars team down under. That team employs one Chaz Mostert, who partnered with Lee Holdsworth to take the Bathurst 1000 victory from pole this weekend.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • I've Never Seen A Formula 1 Race But Here's How Max Verstappen Can Win This Weekend

    I’ll admit it: Before working at Jalopnik, I had never seen a Formula 1 race. Since starting here, I still haven’t seen one. In fact, I just had to lean around my computer monitor here at the office to ask our own Owen Bellwood whether you’re allowed to spell it “Formula One.” I am a neophyte to these ways, and that makes me perfect for developing new F1 strategies. Fresh eyes, as they say.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • The Last Time F1 Drivers Were Tied Heading Into The Final Race Was 1974

    While it’s not uncommon that Formula One World Championships come down to the wire in the final race of the season, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have achieved a truly rare feat by coming into the Abu Dhabi weekend with a tie in points. That has only happened once before, at the 1974 United States Grand Prix.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Should Max Verstappen Just Crash Into Lewis Hamilton To Win The Championship?

    Heading into the Formula One season finale at Abu Dhabi, Championship contenders Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are tied in points. If both drivers race, it’s likely that whoever finishes higher will take the Championship. But if neither driver finishes the race, Verstappen wins thanks to the fact that he has one more win than Hamilton. We’ve all been thinking it, so I’m just going to ask outright: Should Verstappen just crash into Hamilton and take the Championship?

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Next Year Is Already Looking Sub-Optimal For Valtteri Bottas

    You have to feel for Valtteri Bottas. Sure, he carries a chip on his shoulder that reemerges every time he does something good, and that can be off-putting. But the guy is a roundly capable competitor that’s had the unenviable position of partnering with Formula 1's best-ever driver for the past five seasons.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • M-Sport Stuffed A Fiesta In A Fiat Panda And Made A Rally Car That Never Existed

    M-Sport’s continued participation in the World Rally Championship for the last 25 years is something to be admired. During a large chunk of that, the team had the backing and cooperation of Ford, operating as a factory team. But since Ford officially pulled out of the WRC in 2012, it’s been shouldering that responsibility as a privateer yet continuing to prepare and run the Fiesta. Sébastien Ogier claimed two of his eight drivers’ titles with the team in 2017 and 2018.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • COTA Will Be Partially Repaved To Keep Racers Happy

    The red, white, and blue circuit just outside Austin, Texas is one of the most interesting race tracks on any series calendar. It’s also constantly sinking and settling because of the typically clay-like soil of the local area. Just two winters ago a bunch of the circuit was ripped up, including the back straight, to remove some pipes that went under the track surface and repair the bumps that had been created where they were. This February the track will again be demolished a few layers down to

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • The Motorsport World Owes Cheryl Linn Glass, The First Black Woman Of Racing, A Place In History

    Cheryl Linn Glass’ name could have been one that defined a generation of racers but has instead faded from the annals of motorsport history, loaded down with the heavy burden of a life lost too early. The first Black woman to race sprint cars professionally in America, eyes set firmly on an Indianapolis 500 entrance, Glass had all the makings of a racing pioneer come to life.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • I Don't Know Who Green-Lit Grand Prix: The Book, But It's So Astoundingly Bad

    We all know that Grand Prix is one of cinema’s most iconic depictions of motorsport — a classic that has withstood the test of time and introduced countless generations to the glory that was Formula One in the 1960s. So, when I learned that there was a novelized version of the movie written by Manning Lee Stokes, I had to see what that was all about. And folks, I hate to report that the novel is so bad that I have no idea how it was published.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Hamilton And Verstappen Collide During Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    The first-ever visit to Saudi Arabia for the FIA Formula One World Championship had everything someone could currently expect from modern Grand Prix racing but turned up to eleven. First, a new race in a country with a questionable record on human rights. Second, a new narrow, high-speed street circuit was constructed for the race in a city near the coast. Third, FIA race officiating is far past questionable from race control to the marshal posts. Finally, the dramatic moments allow everyone to

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • The Rally Champion Who Could Be FIA President

    Yesterday, I talked about Graham Stoker and his campaign to be elected FIA President. Today, it’s time to discuss his opponent for the position, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the first non-European to run for the presidency of motorsport’s international governing body.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • FIA And FIM Jointly Launch World Rally-Raid Championship

    Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, the world governing bodies for automobile and motorcycle racing respectively, jointly launched a world championship for cross-country rallying last weekend. The World Rally-Raid Championship will be co-sanctioned by both organizations. After 117 years, this is the first time that both organizations cooperated to create a single world championship.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • The Lawyer Who Could Be FIA President

    Two weeks from today, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile will have a new president for the first time in 12 years. The two candidates hoping to succeed Jean Todt as the leader of motorsport’s governing body are Graham Stoker and Mohammed Ben Sulayem. It isn’t surprising if you have never heard of either candidate before. Neither candidate has an international profile in the same area code as Todt’s when the former Scuderia Ferrari team principal announced his candidacy.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • F1 Drivers Use Platform To Advocate For Human Rights Ahead Of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

    This weekend, Formula One will be racing in Saudi Arabia, which hasn’t exactly been a huge hit. Yes, there are the practical concerns (the track, after all, was desperately unfinished just two weeks ago). But Amnesty International also alleged that F1 was contributing to the sportswashing of the country, which essentially means that F1 racing there will overshadow ongoing concerns with human rights. Two drivers, though, have used their platform to speak out.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Formula E Unplugged Could Have Tried Harder To Be Different From Drive To Survive

    Just about every racing series in the world has looked at Drive to Survive, the Netflix docuseries dedicated to dramatizing Formula One — but so far, only Formula E has actually attempted to release something. Formula E Unplugged is a short series totally available on YouTube… and it could have benefited from attempting to be something more than a formulaic repeat of Drive to Survive with electric cars.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Meet Lia Block, Ken Block's 14-Year-Old Daughter And New Star Of Hoonicorn Vs. The World

    The Hoonicorn Mustang trembles beneath Lia Block as she sits at the line, waiting for the signal to launch off the start and beat NHRA driver Alex Laughlin to the finish. The engine she’s controlling makes 100 horsepower for every year she’s been alive, but 14-year-old Lia Block is more ready for this moment than most professional drivers. Never mind the fact that her competition is a 4,000-horsepower C6 Corvette. She’s here to win.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Turns Out PT Cruisers Were Made For Rallycross

    Growing up, we’re told everyone is good at something. There’s a purpose and a hidden talent imbued in every creature, we just have to find it. Cars are like people in that way, but for two decades, the PT Cruiser has been a vehicle in search of a calling. It took a lot of spray paint, bruises and bumper shrapnel, but at last the mad geniuses of Nitro Rallycross have found that calling.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • You Can Watch Every Single Moment Of Robby Gordon's Baja 1000 On YouTube

    Trying to find coverage of the Baja 1000, an off-road race held in the Baja California Peninsula ever year, can be a daunting task if you’re the kind of person who wants to follow every moment of the action. And that’s why it’s such a damn miracle that Robby Gordon and Team Speed filmed every single moment of the race and posted it to YouTube for our viewing pleasure.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

Spacelopnik (9)

  • NASA Hired A Bunch Of Theologians To Study How People Will React To Discovering Aliens

    NASA asked 24 of the world’s leading religious experts and scholars, or theologians, for help figuring out how people are going to react if aliens exist. This bit of news coming right after the successful launch of the James Webb Space Telescope — which is supposed to uncover more than we’ve ever known about our universe — is suspicious to say the least. I don’t know, it feels preventative. Prescient, maybe?

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • China Files UN Complaint After Space Station Dodges SpaceX Satellites

    Outer space is, in a word, big. Our known universe stretches so far in every direction that we can only estimate how big it might be, and likely never know for sure. The area immediately surrounding Earth, however, is much more compact — and, thanks to Elon Musk’s Starlink, getting a bit too crowded. At least that’s what China claims in a letter to the UN, following multiple near-misses with the SpaceX satellites.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Billionaire Space Tourist Says Critics "Are Perhaps Those Who Have Never Been To Space"

    I want to start off by declaring that personally, I do not have a problem with rich dudes going to space, because if I did, I’d be a big (okay, bigger than I am currently) hypocrite, since I would love to ride in a cramped Soyuz and rocket into space to float around in the International Space Station. No question. Of course, there are plenty of people who think this sort of thing is a waste of resources that could be spent helping people on Earth, and when that was suggested to billionaire Yusak

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Good News, Astronauts: This REI Sleeping Bag Will Prevent Squashed Eyeballs

    Apparently, squashed eyeballs are a pretty serious problem in the space-going world. Spend enough time in zero-gravity, and the fluids in your body all just gather in your skull and put a lot of pressure on your peepers. Thankfully, there’s a new sleeping bag that’ll suck all those head juices back down to the rest of your body where they belong, the BBC reports. Congratulations, astronauts!

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • How To Watch Good Morning America's Michael Strahan Go To Space

    For thousands of years, when humans were tethered to the Earth, we looked to the sky and dreamed of flight. When we achieved that, we looked higher; setting our sights on the final frontier. After decades of research and sending scientists out among the stars, that dream of reaching beyond our world can be realized by a new group: Bored rich people.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Nissan's Lunar Rover Prototype Could Hint At Styling For Next-Gen Nissan Rogue

    Nissan has been working with Japan’s space exploration agency, JAXA, to develop a lunar rover prototype with Nissan-developed electric all-wheel control technology derived from Nissan’s e-4ORCE system developed for their upcoming electric crossover, the Ariya. It has also been speculated, solely by me at this point, that the Nissan-JAXA rover may also be a testbed for future Nissan SUV styling that we could see on the next-generation Nissan Rogue.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

Subaru (2)

  • The 2022 Subaru WRX Is Too Grown Up For Its Own Good

    As much as I’d like to think I’d be a great product planner, I really don’t envy the people in charge of bringing the new Subaru WRX to market. It’s a car that has to be a sport sedan that’s also a daily driver. It has to make you feel like you’re driving a street-legal rally car while also being practical enough to pick up the kids and make grocery runs.

    By Collin Woodard Read More

  • What Do You Want To Know About The 2022 Subaru WRX?

    Not long ago, we got our first look at the new 2022 Subaru WRX, and the internet was not happy. The turbocharged flat-four may make 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, but did that matter? Not at all. Not when there were wheel arches with black body cladding to complain about.

    By Collin Woodard Read More

Technology (43)

  • Europe's Best-Selling EV Is... The Tesla Model 3

    The Tesla Model 3 has only been in Europe for a couple of years now, but it has been an instant hit. In 2021, it is expected to be the best-selling EV there, topping competitors like the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Renault Zoe, according to a new report. You can see why Tesla CEO Elon Musk is so anxious to get Tesla’s factory in Germany up and running.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Cosworth Once Built A Single-Cylinder F1 Engine That Hit 20,000 RPM

    We’ve all heard of Cosworth’s three-cylinder engine test bed, used to develop the 1,000-horsepower V12 for the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Dedicated Cosworth fans may even have seen the company’s other three-cylinder test engine, used for the Gordon Murray T.50. But few people have ever seen this: The 90 HP, single-cylinder test engine that led to the company’s three-liter Formula 1 V10.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Mazda Admits You Need Two Cars To Justify MX-30 Ownership, Provided The Second Isn't Another MX-30

    Mazda’s first fully-electric vehicle, the MX-30 crossover, has a range of 100 miles. For now Mazda’s only importing 560 for sale in California, a state that happens to be quite large. However, California also mandates that manufacturers sell cars without internal-combustion engines as part of their fleets, leading to the suspicion that the MX-30 is merely a compliance car and the company never expected to sell many examples. I subscribe to this notion, but I also think Mazda’s making its lack of

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Waymo Likes What It Sees In Zeekr

    Waymo is widely agreed to be the furthest along when it comes to making an autonomous car that is some level of actually autonomous, as opposed to the ones that merely say they are. So it says something that Waymo said Tuesday that it was collaborating with Zeekr, the Geely-owned EV brand. Well, mostly it speaks to the credibility of Zeekr and Geely, since it’s hard to be sure about any new EV brand.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Use This Lada's Window To Chop Your Next Salad

    You know when you’re driving home from the grocery store and start wishing you could just start prepping your dinner while still behind the wheel? No? Just me? Well, you’re going to start thinking about it once you see this Lada’s ultra-powerful window perfect for chopping veggies.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • How Big Tech Is Taking Over Your Next Vehicle

    Automakers are increasingly partnering with Big Tech companies to give those companies exclusive access to your vehicle. But is this a form of monopolization that’s going to cause problems down the line? Are policymakers going to be forced to regulate connected technologies in cars to prevent three companies from cornering the connected vehicle market? A new Politico article from Leah Nylen investigates the stakes.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • You Can Swap An EV Battery In China For $7

    If the future of automobiles is truly going to be electric — and at the moment that’s what it looks like — then batteries should be easily swappable. Period. I know most of the industry is loath to do this, with big-deal companies like Tesla coming out definitively against it, but the truth is even if swappable batteries aren’t what the carmakers want, it’s much, much better for consumers, and that’s who I care about. Those CEOs can eat dog food for all I care. Don’t believe the claims that batt

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • Goodyear Has A New Noise-Reducing Tire For Electric Vehicles

    Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is getting in on the specialty tire game for electric vehicles with its new all-season ElectricDrive GT tire. Basically, this bad boy is designed to reduce road noise and last longer in the face of unique EV-related challenges.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Tesla Will Disable Video Games In Teslas In Motion

    On Wednesday, NHTSA said it was investigating the fact that you could play video games in a Tesla while the car is in motion, because that seems like a poor idea. On Thursday, NHTSA said Tesla told it, uh, sorry, I’m sorry, I’m trying to delete it.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Here Are The Ways Shutting Off 3G Is Going To Suck For Your Car And You

    I’m not sure if anyone sat you down already to tell you, but the old 3G cellular network that you once loved—the one it’s possible you sent your very first sexts on—is shutting down. Most of us have moved on to newer devices that don’t rely on this network anymore, with one possible exception: your car. Many cars use the 3G network for a variety of features, and with the network going away—the industry calls it “sunsetting,” which is somehow creepier—those cars may find themselves unable to do t

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • BMW X7 Cupholders Can't Get Wet Because They'll Set Off The Airbags, Lawsuit Says

    If you’re the kind of person to have open cans of soda or cups of coffee in your cupholders, you’re probably going to want to avoid the BMW X7 for a while, since one class-action lawsuit is alleging that, if the X7's cupholders get wet, they can set off the airbags. That’s a pretty significant design flaw for that part of your car that should be designed to occasionally get a little wet.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More

  • Bentley Plans Its W12 Retirement: Report

    Volkswagen has made a W12 for some Audi, Bentley, and Volkswagen cars since 2001, but the end for the W12 is in sight, according to a new report. It will be used in a new Bentley Mulliner based on the Continental GT for 2023, but, after that, that might be that.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • The New Tesla Roadster Is Still Just An Idea

    It was in November 2017 when Tesla first unveiled the second Roadster, promising incredible numbers — a 1.9 second zero-to-sixty time, for one — though the most incredible number was 2020, the year Tesla said the Roadster was scheduled to start production. Obviously, that never happened, though Elon said in September production would start in 2023.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • I Competed In A Cross-Country EV Rally And It's Going To Be On TV

    Last month I flew to New York City for the first time ever to compete in a cross-country electric car rally ending in Los Angeles. The goal wasn’t exactly speed, as it was scheduled to take ten days, and we weren’t allowed to exceed the speed limit. Instead, the goal was to test the current state of charging infrastructure for road trips like this one. And wouldn’t you know it, our friends at Tangent Vector were on hand to document the whole process and turn it into what they’re calling a “docum

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Nio Has A New Answer To The Tesla Model 3

    Nio is a Chinese electric automaker that sees itself as competing with Tesla, there and elsewhere soon with its ET7, a big electric SUV that Nio sees as competing with the Model S. On Saturday, Nio unveiled the car it thinks can take on the Model 3.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • The EPA Has Woken Up

    It’s getting hard to remember now but there was a time, back in the Obama administration, when the U.S. had some of the toughest emissions standards in the world, before the Trump administration’s attempt to undo them. It seems that the EPA is going back to tough.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Waymo Self-Driving Test Vehicle Hits Pedestrian But Waymo Says A Human Was Driving

    On Thursday, a Jaguar I-Pace outfitted with Waymo’s extensive autonomous driving sensors hit a pedestrian on a rainy evening in San Francisco’s Height neighborhood. Luckily, the injuries to the pedestrian don’t appear to be major, and Waymo has stated that the car was being driven by a normal, moist human as opposed to being under the control of Waymo’s self-driving system.

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • The Wuling Hong Guan Mini EV Cabrio Is Really Happening

    The SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture has produced one of the most successful electric cars in China, the Wuling Hong Guan Mini EV. This electric car is so popular among Chinese drivers that Wuling is making a cabrio model for 2022 despite convertibles not selling well in the country, as Car News China reports.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Toyota Is Playing With Our Emotions Again

    Toyota’s been more conservative than most about pushing toward an all-electric range of cars, but that appears to be changing. The company unveiled a barrage of EV design studies on Tuesday, some of which even wore Lexus badges. There were crossovers and retro-inspired SUVs, as well as kei cars and conventional sedans. But two particular concepts within the group caught my eye specifically: the Toyota Sports EV and Lexus Electrified Sport.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Harley-Davidson Is Getting In On Wall Street's EV Hype

    Special-purpose acquisition companies have been all the rage during the pandemic, a way for electric vehicle companies like Nikola and Fisker to go public without going through a traditional initial public offering process, which critics say is because those companies simply wouldn’t weather the scrutiny of a regular IPO process. You can soon count Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire among them.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • The Secret To Adopting Electric Cars More Quickly Could Be On The Used Car Lot

    Used cars are finally becoming popular in China, where car buyers have traditionally preferred new cars over used ones by a wide margin. The growth of China’s used car sales applies to electric cars, too, with sales of used EVs nearly doubling to 47,000 in 2020. The China Automobile Dealers Association expects that number will be bigger by the end of 2021, as Bloomberg reports.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Nickel Mining Is Killing The Rainforest In The Philippines

    The demand for battery metals as the auto industry switches to electric cars is forcing us to trade the problem of carbon emissions for destructive mining. Whether it’s lithium in Chile, cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or manganese from nodules in the Pacific, metals mining is taking off without enough scrutiny.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • A Brief History Of Gasoline: They Lied About The Science

    As today’s installment begins, gunpowder powerhouse and expanding chemical giant DuPont and its future ward, General Motors, will soon come together, with the duPont family very much in charge. Along with Standard Oil of New Jersey, today’s ExxonMobil, they will soon be in the business of selling leaded gasoline, with a joint venture known as Ethyl Gasoline Corporation. But their lead-loaded assault on the planet won’t get off the ground without the services of two engineers in GM’s employ – one

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • Quit Your Job Elon Musk!

    You could be charitable and say that Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s mind is sometimes simply too searching, too curious, too relentlessly inquisitive. Or you could say that, like most Twitter users, he’s too frequently lazy and bored. Whatever the case and whatever the level of seriousness, Elon did float one good idea Thursday night on the platform, which is that he was considering whether to quit his jobs.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • I Found A Song That Breaks Android Auto When You Listen To It

    In general, Android Auto is great. Much like Apple CarPlay, it provides a streamlined and convenient user experience that automakers are unlikely to ever replicate. Modern infotainment systems are infinitely better than they used to be, but it really just makes more sense to simply mirror your phone. Especially now that the wireless version exists, it’s basically a perfect system. Except when it’s not.

    By Collin Woodard Read More

  • Volkswagen Confirms Production Of The VW ID California

    The VW ID.Buzz is an all-electric van that is apparently coming to America, an exciting prospect for those who always wanted a Type 2 but never took the leap. The VW ID. California, meanwhile, expected to be an ID.Buzz but for camping and overlanding and the like, and an all-electric VW bus that is also possibly rugged.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • The Fact You Can Game While Driving A Tesla Reminds Us The NHTSA Is Totally Inept

    We’re not even halfway through the week yet and The New York Times has torn into Tesla not once, but twice. The big story alleges that the company essentially faked its “Full Self-Driving” promotional video by pre-setting a route for the vehicle to follow, a route that it failed to navigate without hitting something. The second, lesser-but-still-concerning piece of news pertains to Tesla Arcade, the manufacturer’s in-car gaming service, and the fact that it allows drivers to play some games on

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Model 3 Owner Says Tesla "Cheaped Out" On Quality For 2022

    The used car market right now is, in a word, wild. People who recently picked up a new car are finding themselves beset on all sides by buyers who want to pay top dollar — even above sticker price. Such was the situation with one Tesla Model 3 owner in Connecticut, who was given an offer he couldn’t refuse for his 2021 Model 3 Long Range. He replaced it with a 2022 Model 3 Performance, but now feels the quality has sharply dropped from his old car.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • The Car Used In Tesla's Promo Video For Autopilot Hit A Barrier During Filming According To A New York Times Story

    There’s an excellent story on The New York Times right now, a look inside Tesla’s development program for their semi-automated driver assist systems that the company confusingly (perhaps deceptively) calls Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. The article is full of interesting insights from sources inside the company, but there is one detail that I’m finding really incredible right now: during the filming of an Autopilot demonstration video, one that comes out and says the car was “driving itself”,

    By Jason Torchinsky Read More

  • This Car Show Looks To The Future To Celebrate Electric Propulsion

    The times they are a-changin’. There was a time not that long ago when emissions regulations were considered the downfall of automotive enthusiasm. After that fuel injection was considered the downfall of automotive enthusiasm. Now electrification is currently being demonized as the downfall of automotive enthusiasm.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Electric Car Conversions Are Going After The Wrong Cars

    The auto industry’s transition to electric is now a matter of “when” rather than “if,” which means millions of ICE cars will slowly become obsolete. This leads to the problem of what to do with those cars, prompting a cottage industry of EV conversion startups that claim to repurpose combustion powered cars, as Reuters reports. These conversions might be useful if they applied to average cars, but a lot of these startups are going in another direction first.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • There's A Fingerprint Sensor In Your $100,000 Mercedes-Benz To Sell You Stuff

    The latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a fingerprint sensor nestled below its infotainment screen; the new EQS has one ahead of the armrest. They’re physical, capacitive sensors like those that have been in smartphones for years. As it stands, you can use them to attach your preferences — like seating position, for example — to biometrics. When you get in the car, you simply press your thumb in the right place and the whole interior will adjust to your liking.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • There's A New All-Electric Ranger But It's Not A Ford

    Last year we told you about Polaris and Zero Motorcycles joining forces to build electric side-by-sides and UTVs, and some other potential future off-road projects as well, like snowmobiles. The first piece of this electrified off-roader puzzle is the new Ranger XP Kinetic. That’s right, it’s an electric Ranger, but it’s not built by Ford.

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • Doug DeMuro's Video On The Rivian R1T's 'Quirks And Features' Is 45 Minutes Long. Literally.

    The Rivian R1T is the coolest pickup truck ever made. Not only do I believe that to be true (okay, I do find older trucks to be cooler, but I’ll assume Doug means “coolest when new”), but that’s also the title of former Jalop, YouTube baller, and auto sales businessman Doug DeMuro’s recent video. Watch as the King of Quirk ogles over the quirkiest new pickup truck in the world.

    By David Tracy Read More

  • The i7 Is BMW's Answer To The Mercedes EQS

    There is a whole economy of photographers who take “spy shots” of preproduction cars and then sell those shots to publications, including, in the past, rags like Jalopnik, but, increasingly, manufacturers are opting to cut out the middle man and release their own pictures. Cue the BMW and the i7.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

Tesla (2)

  • Watch Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta Tackle The Tail Of The Dragon

    The Tail of the Dragon is one of the most famous roads in the United States. Its 11 miles are home to 318 tight, twisty, blind corners that make it a thrill for drivers and motorcyclists alike — but an incredible risk for the unprepared. So, where on that spectrum does Tesla’s FSD or what we here at Jalopnik refer to as Tesla’s Level 2 driver-assist system fall? YouTuber CGP Grey risked his own skin to find out.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • Watch A Tesla Model S Plaid's Brakes Catch Fire During Testing

    The brakes on the Model S Plaid have come under fire recently for poor heat dissipation. Throttle House was one of the first to make the brakes a sticking point, but even Hagerty’s Randy Pobst (as told by Jason Cammisa on the Carmudgeon Show podcast) had little confidence in the heavy sedan’s ability to slow itself. Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained “definitely wouldn’t say they are” phenomenal track brakes based on how much mass the Model S Plaid carries, and the speeds it can achieve.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

The Morning Shift (20)

  • Not Another Rivian Delay

    It looks like everyone is taking the end of 2021 to break the news that 2022 is going to be ... as much of a slog as the rest of the pandemic. All that and more in The Morning Shift for December 29, 2021.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • Do We Want All Of These Electric Car Mines?

    You can say that EVs are a threat to the status quo of gas-powered cars. You can say that they are a continuation of the status quo of car dependency. Either way, nobody really wants to actually dig up the stuff we need to build them. All that and more in The Morning Shift for December 22, 2021.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • Shipping Costs Are Higher Than Ever

    I would not want to be working in a port right now. Or working as a truck driver. I’m not alone there, either. All that and more in The Morning Shift for December 20, 2021.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • For Rivian, Now Comes The Hard Part

    Rivian can’t build the dang trucks fast enough, Volkswagen won’t be able to build enough of anything next year and Ford’s big, tough SUV leaves room for improvement in safety. All that and more in this happy Friday edition of The Morning Shift for December 17, 2021.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Support For EVs Is Far From Certain

    A major country is cutting its EV incentives for the second time in a year, gas prices are falling in Japan, and we have another driverless car crash. All that and more in The Morning Shift for December 15, 2021.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • Don't Expect Any New Car Deals This Year

    Electric charging stations might be coming to a block near you, Tesla’s talking about dogecoin, and Toyota has reversed itself. All that and more in The Morning Shift for December 14, 2021.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Automakers Have A New Bad Obsession

    Tornadoes have stopped production of the Chevy Corvette, lithium prices are up because of EVs, Lancia, and over-the-air updates. All that and more in The Morning Shift for December 13, 2021.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • Amtrak Will Suck Even Harder Early Next Year

    Amtrak is doing Amtrak, telecoms are ruining your car, and Dieselgate is alive and well in the statehouses of America. All that and more in this Friday edition of The Morning Shift for December 10, 2021.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • A Carmaker's $23 Billion Plan To Keep You Paying Long After You've Bought Your Car

    If you look at headlines about Stellantis’ new money-making scheme, things seem pretty innocuous. “Stellantis Bets on Software,” says the Wall Street Journal. “Stellantis launches $23 billion software push,” says Automotive News. Software sounds good, right? Well, something else is at play here: subscription services that keep you paying long after you’ve bought your car. All that and more in The Morning Shift for December 7, 2021.

    By Raphael Orlove Read More

  • Toyota Can't Do This Alone Anymore

    Toyota needs local support to make an affordable, small EV sedan for China, Honda’s got a nasty recall looming and just two weeks after a triumphant resurgence, the Apple Car has hit a predictable setback. All that and more in this Friday edition of The Morning Shift for December 3, 2021.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

Toyota (3)

Trainlopnik (3)

  • It's A BusTrain

    A small town in Japan just celebrated the maiden voyage of its first dual-mode vehicle that combines a train and a bus, and comes with little train wheels that hoist its rubber tires into the air so that it can sit onto the tracks and oh, my god this thing is precious! And why, yes, that is a surfing shrimp painted on its side!

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • University Students Once Robbed A Commuter Train As A Prank

    In 1963, a train on the shortest commuter rail line in America was stopped then robbed while it was on its way to its destination station. The robbery was performed by Princeton students dressed up as cowboys on horseback who somehow got away with it.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

Transportation (3)

  • Escaped Horse Runs Onto Massachusetts Highway

    I’ve seen some strange things while driving on highways that I wished were recorded on camera, from the just disappointing like discarded furniture sitting on the shoulder to the absurd like a tow truck centipede. Yes, a tow truck towing a disabled tow truck towing another disabled tow truck. However, I’ve never seen an unattended horse on an active highway. Now, I have.

    By Ryan Erik King Read More

  • Heavy Rains Caused Incredible Damage To British Columbia's Infrastructure

    The Pacific Northwest has been getting pummeled by storms that have dropped months of rainfall all at once. The torrential rainstorms have caused so much damage that at one point Vancouver was cut off from the rest of Canada. A river even carved out a new channel that goes straight through a city. Let’s look at what’s going on.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

Trucks (7)

Unpaved (14)

  • Electric Snowmobiles Were Impossible Until A Startup Got Funding To Make Them

    A new powersports company may have spurred on a flurry to produce electric snowmobiles, which had previously been written off by major manufacturers as impossible. The nascent company, Taiga Motors, announced its lineup of production EV snowmobiles in 2019. Taiga went public afterwards, merged with an SPAC, and raised $146 million, according to an Outside report.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Students In Japan Beat Suzuki To The Punch And Built A Five-Door Jimny

    The five-door Suzuki Jimny is close to becoming a reality — but not as a production vehicle from Suzuki’s partner in India, Maruti. Students from the Nippon Automobile College chopped up a couple of stock Suzuki Jimny models and welded them together to create a Jimny Unlimited, of sorts. It’s a pretty neat way to learn about building cars and what goes into the making of a road-legal machine.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • Spend A Few Minutes Watching A Trophy Truck Jump In Slow Motion

    Another day, another neat video of a talented driver doing really cool shit under the auspices of marketing for a tire company and energy drink brand. I’m going to be a little cynical for a moment and say all of these are kind of the same, and they’re all trying to live up to the hype of Ken Block’s Gymkhana series, and most of them are totally forgotten within a few hours. Case in point, this one is called AMPD2, and I’d never seen or heard of AMPD. I think BJ Baldwin has done four of those “Re

    By Bradley Brownell Read More

  • The Ineos Grenadier Doesn't Need Push-Button Ignition

    I wanted to hate the Ineos Grenadier. Really, I did. Its design is derivative, its powertrain borrowed and engineering outsourced. Not to mention, Ineos is a plucky startup that’s neither plucky nor starting up. The new automaker is the subsidiary of a large petrochemical firm. The whole thing is kind of a rich guy’s pet project so until now, I’d been dismissive. But the Grenadier is growing on me because it gives the car key the dignity it deserves.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • This Ford E-350 Ambulance Traded Its Lights And Sirens For A Lift Kit And Camper Conversion

    Decommissioned ambulances make good platforms for RV conversions or tow vehicles. The secret is out, and you can blame Bradley Brownell for that. OK, not really, because the secret was out before Bradley bought a 2008 Ford E-350 for track towing. Retired ambulances also work well for budget overland builds, like this 1998 Ford E-350 listed for sale on the Overland Classifieds forum.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • I Think This Explains Why You Can Still Buy A Jeep Renegade

    Late last week, Jeep Brazil teased a refresh of the Renegade due next year that will bring revised sheet metal and a new engine. It’s expected to be a torquey 1.3-liter turbo four cylinder that’ll support ethanol for a slight bump in power, according to Carscoops. Cabin upgrades, along with more modern infotainment suite, appear to be in the cards as well.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • Here's An Excellent Demonstration Of How Off-Road Traction Control Works

    Technology like traction control is making cars safer and giving more vehicles greater capability. Now, everyday all-wheel drive crossovers can be decent off-road. Jalopnik alum Wes Siler thinks the auto industry doesn’t really do a good job explaining how this tech works, so he put together this excellent demonstration.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • Trail Turn Assist Is The Bronco's Secret Weapon On Tight Trails

    Off-road machines are getting around limitations with some clever engineering. The Rivian R1T uses a heavy battery to power an electric motor instead of burning gasoline in an internal combustion engine. The Hummer EV can crab walk, or diagonally crawl, on trails where the biggest obstacle is itself. And the Ford Bronco can shrink its turn radius using what Ford calls “Trail Turn Assist.”

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • The Citroën My Ami Buggy Is The World's Cutest Off-Roader

    Too many off-roaders these days are big, brawny, and brash. It’s all angry-eyed Jeeps, Land Rover-styled FJ Cruisers, or the “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed” face of the new Land Cruiser. Angry Offroad is an actual site that sells actual products. Refreshingly, Citroën has come to us with a different line of thinking: What if an off-roader was just the cutest lil’ thing you ever did see?

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • The MWM Spartan EV Updates A Soviet Off-Road Icon, But Doesn't Come Cheap

    A Czech company is now offering an EV converted Soviet-era off-roader from Russian carmaker UAZ, calling it the MWM Hunter EV. The conversion company starts with a UAZ Hunter, which is just an update of the 50-year old UAZ-469, and swaps its four-cylinder combustion engine for a 120kW electric motor. The UAZ was already a neat off-roader, but adding a dead-simple (reliable) electric drivetrain to an aging but useful platform makes this conversion into exactly the kind I can get behind. Almost.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • What Do You Want To Know About Off-Roading A Volkswagen ID.4?

    Back in September, I got to hustle a Volkswagen ID.4 AWD through the mountains near Chattanooga, Tennessee. I had a blast doing it, but I wondered, how do these handle off-road? Later this week I’ll be able to answer that question when I play with a pair of ID.4s in the desert in California. What do you want to know about it?

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

Volkswagen (1)

  • Why Buy A VW Golf GTI When You Can Now Pay The Same For The Golf R At Dealerships?

    The Volkswagen Golf GTI is all-new for 2022. So new, in fact, that many dealers still don’t have them in stock. For the dealers that do have these hot hatches in stock, they’ve put them out with hot new markups. Once again, dealers have gone and made the once relatively affordable vehicle unaffordable, putting this hatch at a price level comparable to its spicy brother, the Golf R.

    By Lawrence Hodge Read More

Wrenching (17)

  • I Fixed My Dead Car For Free Using A Jumper Cable And A Crowbar

    A few weeks ago, I told you the story about how one of my many Smart Fortwos seemingly died after sitting for over a year caked up in Tennessee mud. I’m now happy to say that it not just starts and runs, but it drives! I fixed it with desperation and whatever I had laying around. In this case, that happened to be a crowbar and a jumper cable.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • Get Yourself Out Of Dangerous Situations With This Cheap Tool

    Every year, millions of cars crash in the United States. Tens of thousands of those crashes result in fatalities. If you do crash, you may find yourself trapped by a seat belt or windows that are stuck closed. In situations where escaping a wreck is of the essence, this little tool can give you an edge.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • I've Owned 25 Cars While Working At Jalopnik. Here's Where They Are Now

    With the recent sale of my Lexus LX-470 and the impending sale of my 1991 Jeep Cherokee five-speed, I’ve been thinking a lot about all the cars I’ve owned over the years since starting here at Jalopnik. So I reached out to the current owners. Some of the cars have been fully restored, others neglected, and a few ended up crushed, like my heart. Let’s take a look back at some D.T. wrenching history.

    By David Tracy Read More

  • I Killed One Of My Cars By Letting It Sit Parked For Too Long

    In a few months I will be celebrating 10 years with one of my favorite cars. My 2012 Smart Fortwo is proof that dreams can come true. But it’s also now the only car in my fleet incapable of moving under its own power. How did my car die? I let it sit outside for too long without driving it.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • This Little Drill Attachment Makes Body And Interior Work A Lot Easier

    One way to find a potential car deal in these wild times is to get a vehicle that needs a little bit of work like a new bumper or interior pieces. It’s how I got a reliable Volkswagen Touareg for just $1,700. Fixing those body and interior issues after getting a good deal can be overwhelming, but this little tool can help.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • My Car Ran Dangerously Low On Oil But Test Results Indicate That I Got Away With Murder

    I worried it was doomed. My coworker Bradley Brownell had called me from the roadside telling me my “Holy Grail” 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee had a massive oil leak, and that he had been trying to replenish the engine as quickly as he could. But inline-six had run low, Brad was in the middle of nowhere, and he had no oil on hand. I advised him to limp the Jeep to the nearest town — a call that I worried had ruined my Jeep.

    By David Tracy Read More

  • I Got Tired Of My Car Batteries Dying So I Got This To Keep Them Alive

    Over the last few weeks we’ve played around with an adhesive that does as it says on the tin; looked at the the pass-through ratchet, a tool strong and versatile enough to be your daily driver ratchet; and explored an ultrasonic cleaner, a device that cleans parts and tools without all of the hard labor. This week’s Cool Tool is a solar-powered battery trickle charger, a device that can keep your outdoor-parked cars topped up.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

  • This Was The Dumbest Attempt At Tire Rotation I Have Ever Seen

    I left New York City on Thursday, headed for Los Angeles, knowing that at some point along the way I would need to get a few basic maintenance things done on my Honda Fit. Namely, I had to get a brake fluid flush and tire rotation. I did not expect the tire rotation, possibly the simplest bit of regular car maintenance there is, to end — at a shop no less! — with a broken lug nut stud.

    By Erik Shilling Read More

  • How I Got My Car Professionally Undercoated And Injected With Oil To Prevent Rust

    In the halls of Chrysler, old-timers used to talk about a rust-proofing shop across the bridge in Canada. “Yeah, they use oil, which isn’t allowed in the U.S.,” they would say before highly recommending the treatment to preserve old cars. Now that shop is in the U.S., and I just checked it out; here’s how a company called Krown rust-proofed my 1965 Plymouth Valiant.

    By David Tracy Read More

  • I Visited An Abandoned Nazi Vacation Spot After My $600 Minivan Stranded Me In Sweden

    It was the fall of 2020, and I was galavanting around Europe in a rare diesel manual Chrysler minivan that I had bought for 500 Euros. I had just driven 1,000 miles from Nürnberg, Germany to the middle of nowhere, Sweden, and I had a Germany-bound ferry to catch in the morning. Unfortunately, I had stopped to work, and my laptop had drained the vehicle’s battery. I was stuck.

    By David Tracy Read More

  • This Handy Tool Cleans Your Parts Without Any Of The Hard Work

    Over the last few weeks we’ve looked at a multimeter, a simple tool that will save you so much diagnostic time; played around with an adhesive that does as it says on the tin; and looked at the the pass-through ratchet, a tool strong and versatile enough to be your daily driver ratchet. This week’s Cool Tool is an ultrasonic cleaner, a device that cleans parts and tools without all of the hard labor.

    By Mercedes Streeter Read More

Year In Review (8)

  • Here Are All The Cars That Died In 2021

    The air’s a bit colder now. The days, shorter. The trees are bare of their leaves and you notice your breath when you go outside. All are nature’s little ways of reminding us that while we’ll head valiantly into the new year, there are a number of cars that won’t come along for the ride.

    By Adam Ismail Read More

  • What Car Should You Buy: The Worst Entries Of 2021

    Now that we’ve seen the best entries in “What Car” from this year, it’s time for the worst ones. I’ll start by saying we have taken precautions to spare you from our bad car-buying impulses, but they don’t always work. There are rules that bar some of us from making the same recommendation all the time. Otherwise, it’d be Jeeps, Smarts, and GTIs all the way down.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • What Car Should You Buy: The Best Entries Of 2021

    Every week, folks write to us for help choosing the best car for them to buy based on specific criteria. And every week, the rest of us staffers at Jalopnik try to come up with a car that is at least as good as the recommendation from our resident car buying expert, Tom McParland.

    By José Rodríguez Jr. Read More

  • I Took 4,026 Photos At Car Events This Year, These Are My Top 18

    When I started working here at Jalopnik, one of the first things I did was buy a new camera. I justified it by saying that I’d take photos for all my reviews (which I do), but it was also just something I wanted. I wanted to shoot cars like the big kids, to have those stunning top shots, to do Tokyo Auto Salon at 50mm. Am I there yet? Absolutely not. But I’ve had a lot of fun on the path to improvement, and I’m apt to share.

    By Amber DaSilva Read More

  • These Were The Best Motorsport Moments Of 2021

    As 2021 wraps up, so does this year’s racing action — and we’ve had some damn good events this year. To celebrate, we’ve compiled some of motorsport’s finest moments of the 2021 season. Some are long, and some are short. Some are funnier than others. But with a year this action-packed, it’s been hard to narrow it down.

    By Elizabeth Blackstock Read More