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Eleven Ways The UAW Is Like Congress

So we're sitting here in the press room of the LA Auto Show thinking about Carpocalypse Now, the fight for loans from Congress and thinking to ourselves — you know the UAW and Congress? They're really not so different from each other. It's almost like looking in a mirror. A freaky state fair carnival mirror, but a mirror nonetheless. Here's our list of the top eleven similarities between these two seemingly disparate groups. More »

3:30 PM on Thu Nov 20 2008
By Ray Wert
276 views, 8 comments

Most discussed The Name's Ash78, Housewares: If only UAW workers had to defend their jobs every 6 years. Is it 6 years? I never paid attention more »

Official Car Pundit Drinking Game

How Many Drinks Was That? Wert Discusses Ford's Capital Ideas

Ray took some time out of his busy LA Auto Show coverage schedule to speak with CNBC reporter (and possible future deputy mayor of LA ) Michelle Lee about the not-so-Big Three's Washington, D.C. problem and Ford's presence as the only domestic automaker actually showing off new cars. Take a drink anytime that Ray says any variation of the world "capital" and it should be a good Thursday afternoon. [CNBC]

3:15 PM on Thu Nov 20 2008
By Matt Hardigree
277 views, 10 comments

Most discussed The Name's Ash78, Housewares: How about the UAW allow their employers to withhold any raises until their actual worker wages catch up with market more »

Novelties

Adventures In Wikipedia Fiction: The Origins Of The Michelin Man

The brilliance of Wikipedia is vigorous peer review on even the most minute detail and completely humorless administrators. That genius produces a fairly reliable and constantly evolving public encyclopedia. Unfortunately, it also manages to kill some absolutely brilliant fiction in favor of maintaining the "truth" about past events. Take for instance the origins of the Michelin Man, an advertising icon almost as old as the tire company it represents. In the real world Bibendum, the actual name of the character, was created by an artist specifically for advertising purposes. In Wikipedia's revisionist record, the origins of the Michelin Man show the murderous past of an out of control robot on a rampage. More »

3:00 PM on Thu Nov 20 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
708 views, 19 comments

Latest by Tomsk: I'm not sure I want to know what this dude says Bib did after the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix. more »

Dodge ev

Dodge EV: 360 Degrees

The Dodge EV concept was revealed in a flourish of showmanship directly ahead of the time the not-so-Big Three went before Congress begging for a loan to retool for greener cars, but the LA Auto Show is the first time we're getting a close look at it. The Dodge EV, an all-electric version of the Lotus Europa fitted with a Dodge badge, lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor, is apparently able to hit a 0-to-60 MPH in under five seconds with a range of 150-200 miles. But what does it look like in person? Thanks to a turntable and a steady hand we've got a 360 degree look at the ~~Proton~~, ~~Lotus~~, Dodge EV below the jump. More »

2:30 PM on Thu Nov 20 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
871 views, 44 comments

Most discussed nick2ny: Relax your eyes to see them in 3d! thanks for all the stereo pairs jalop! (use the pairs more »

classic ad watch

The 1987 Toyota Corolla FX Conquers Space!

Everyone remembers the FX16 Corolla, but what about the plain ol' economical FX? It was the cheapest Corolla you could get, and the ones sold here were made in California… and it appears that most of them are still on the road today. Sure, that flat hatch looked ~~hideous~~ a little odd, but in an endearing sort of way.

2:00 PM on Thu Nov 20 2008
By Murilee Martin
371 views, 13 comments

Most discussed LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot: I wonder if you can still buy a car without a passenger side mirror anymore? more »

Save GM

Mitt Romney Changes Tune When It Comes To Michigan

If you hadn't noticed yet, Tweedle-dee, Tweedle-dumb and Tweedle-how-stupid-are-you-to-take-a-fleet-of-jets and their scary Op-Eds haven't done anything to Save GM or either of the other not-so-Big Three. The Senate is not pleased with their behavior. But here comes Mitt Romney, "favorite son" of Michigan. The guy who took tons of auto-exec money and said this before the Michigan primary:

More »

1:30 PM on Thu Nov 20 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,096 views, 68 comments

Most discussed scottcom36: Such extreme poiltical side-taking has no place on Jalopnik. Massive FAIL more »

Danger to the manifold

The Fast and the Furious Validated: You CAN Blow the Welds On Your Intake Manifold!

Every denizen of the automotive intersphere is undoubtedly familiar with The Fast And The Furious which, even with all of it's gearhead faux pas, has become a sacred icon credited with starting the spo-com revolution many moons ago. It seems one of those cult statements just became a self-fulfilling prophesy as a Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX has blown the welds on it's intake manifold. Even though the series has become a sort of guilty pleasure, we know you're stoked for the The Fast And The Furious 4. "Now, me and the mad scientist got to rip apart the block... and replace the piston rings you fried!" A quick description of what happened below the jump. [AntiRice] More »

1:00 PM on Thu Nov 20 2008
By Andrew Didorosi
2,612 views, 99 comments

Most discussed Pope Deartháir II of Awesome: Oh I love Fast and the Furious! It's like a giant game of MadLibs! "You almost had me? You never had more »

New Honeycomb Humvee Tire is Bullet and Bomb-Proof [CARDOMAIN CAR BLOG]

Comment

la auto show

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Announced As 2009 Green Car Of The Year

For all of you sitting on the edges of your seat waiting for the announcement of the 2009 Green Car of the Year awarded by Green Car Journal at the LA Auto Show, you'll be happy to know it went to the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The Jetta TDI is a fuel economy monster registering 50 MPG returns while avoiding environmentally dubious battery packs and high gravity snobbishness. The other contestants (the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the BMW 335d, Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid, and Smart Fortwo) will now have to hang their headlights in shame. Press release below the jump.

More »

12:30 PM on Thu Nov 20 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
715 views, 44 comments

Most discussed layabout: I'm guessing European laws are tougher,as it's not exactly a green car. Out of the short list i was hoping more »

Offbeat News

Dog Drives Van Through Coffee Shop Window

When touk-wearing musician Bryan Maher of Port Jefferson, New York left his van idling outside a local area coffee shop to go in for a quick chat he didn't expect his van to follow him in for a latte. His dog Bentley had other ideas. Maher left the dog in the running van (it was cold out) and during a ten minute conversation (no doubt about jamming) the hopefully-named Bentley managed to shift the van into gear and promptly pilot the old Chevy through a plate glass window. Nobody was injured and damage to the business, van, and dog were minimal. However, we suspect the dog was punished with only a half a doobie that night. [Newsday]

12:00 PM on Thu Nov 20 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,495 views, 40 comments

Most discussed timtoolman: "it was cold out" Last I looked, dogs have fur! more »

Eleven Ways The UAW Is Like Congress

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2009 BMW 7-Series, ActiveHybrid Hit LA Show Floor

Jalopnik

Eleven Ways The UAW Is Like Congress

How Many Drinks Was That? Wert Discusses Ford's Capital Ideas

Adventures In Wikipedia Fiction: The Origins Of The Michelin Man

Dodge EV: 360 Degrees

The 1987 Toyota Corolla FX Conquers Space!

Mitt Romney Changes Tune When It Comes To Michigan

The Fast and the Furious Validated: You CAN Blow the Welds On Your Intake Manifold!

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Announced As 2009 Green Car Of The Year

Dog Drives Van Through Coffee Shop Window

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