Jalopnik: France

American cars just aren't French enough

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EDT

I'm no Francophile. I like certain French directors and adore certain French women. I can't stand French hip hop but I'll be damned if I don't love a French car. The stranger the better. And most French cars are weird in a way that American cars should be. More »

Eleven supercars owned by African dictator's son seized in Paris

Justin Hyde — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EDT

How do you build the world's most expensive car hauler? You do what Paris police did this week: Take a regular car hauler and fill it with 11 of the world's rarest supercars seized from the son of a notorious African dictator. More »

Why Does This Car's GPS Mock French People?

Sam Biddle — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EDT

Stereotypes: vicious, unfair, and hurtful. And perpetrated by malicious onboard guidance systems like this one, which assumes you're a Francophone just because you make the nasally laugh-moan of a Frenchman cliché. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, voiture vilain. More »

The Citroën Tubik, retro-future space van of our dreams

Raphael Orlove — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EDT

Citroën has sent itself on a bit of a retro-future trip with its Tubik concept, a 9-person "executive shuttle" concept shown for the first time at today's Frankfurt Motor Show. More »

World’s largest airliner overflies world’s tallest bridge

Peter Orosz — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:30:00 EDT

This is one of those French things. The airliner is the Airbus A380 and the bridge is the 1,125-ft tall Millau Viaduct in France, which you have probably seen on Top Gear. All that’s missing is the world’s longest Citroën SM, a splendid omelette, and maybe that museum relic of Mach 2: the Concorde. Happy Bastille Day! More »

Last Bugatti Veyron sold, other than the other ones

Justin Hyde — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EDT

The last of the 300 regular Bugatti Veyron 16.4's fresh from its factory in the French countryside has been spoken for and will be delivered next year. And you thought you would be rich enough by now. More »

French motorcyclists give new regulations le finger

Justin Hyde — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EDT

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Some 75,000 French motorcyclists embraced their country's national pastime of protesting last weekend, spurred by proposed government rules that would require florescent vests for all riders and massive license plates to aid unmarked speed cameras. Maybe that's where the Vasoline should go? Thanks Mike! More »

Renault descendents press France to pay for stealing company

Justin Hyde — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:45:00 EDT

When the Germans left Paris in 1945, Louis Renault's Nazi-helping (and perhaps sabotaging) car company was seized by the French government — and never returned. Now seven of Renault's grandchildren want the government to surrender some cash. More »

For $3,700, is this Peugeot a sweet 16?

graverobber — Thu, 12 May 2011 08:00:00 EDT

Due to attrition, French cars in the U.S. are becoming as rare as poule dents, Today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Peugeot 405 Mi16 could make sightings in someone's neighborhood a lot more common, but only if its price proves uncommonly good. More »

The French get all the cool police cars

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST

French gendarmerie will have another reason to feel superior when they roll out in one of 70 new Renault Megane Coupé R.S. hatchbacks. Top speed's boosted to 160 mph and 0-60 mph time drops to 5.8 seconds. (Hat tip m2m!) More »

The four '60s women who drove French cars from Argentina to Alaska

Justin Hyde — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:40:00 EST

Renault marks the 50th anniversary of the Renault 4 this year with a series of events around the world. It never officially made the United States — except back in 1965, when the company sent four women to drive from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska. More »

Motorcycle beach racing's never been so hypnotic

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST

This video of the "Enduro du Touquet 2011" beach race in Northern France is equal parts exciting and trace-inducing. Am I high or is the sand better in Calais? (Hat tip to @Banovsky!) More »

French Strike Closes Down 1,500 Gas Stations

Peter Orosz — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:30:00 EDT

With oil workers playing a key part, France’s ongoing strikes against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension reforms are now threatening the country’s gas supplies. More »

A Monowheel in Pre-War Paris

Peter Orosz — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EDT

Monowheels have certainly not have taken off in any big way, but just like ekranoplans you sort of wish they had. This French model from 1932 even has very clever steering. Watch the inventor do le burnout! More »

European Women, European Cars: Let's Not Get Complicated

Justin Hyde — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EDT

What is it about this gallery of old European ads from the Blenheim Gang that makes us want to drink the day away — or enjoy a "lunch at the Peugeot factory cafe" as they call it on the continent? More »

Parisian Fiat 500 To Obama: You Can Cover Your Face, But We Still Own Chrysler!

Murilee Martin — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EDT

Citroën Mehari-driving Franzouse did a double-take when he saw this Fiat 500 parked in front of a Fiat dealership in Paris. More »

Gymkhana 3: Ken Block Drifts Up A Wall

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EDT

The long-awaited, non rap-tease version of Gykmhana 3 brings much for the enthusiast to love, including spark-inducing donuts and one epic Jalopnik-inspired drift up the wall of a freaking antique French Autodrome. More »

French-Fried Gymkhana 3: Part 2 Debuts 9/14

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EDT

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The DC Shoes/Monster World Rally Team high command stopped playing DiRT 2 long enough to confirm that the mysterious Craigslist post does indicate Gymkhana 3: Part 2 will debut next Tuesday and feature wall-to-wall, rubber vaporizing action. Their response below. More »

Why NASCAR Is Boring

Sam Smith — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:40:00 EDT

According to the L.A. Times, NASCAR is looking to snap out of its current ratings and attendance slump. That the country's most popular motorsport is overdue for a makeover is not news. But why, exactly, is it so dull? More »

Ferrari 458 Burns In Paris, Still Hot Like Love

Sam Smith — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:30:00 EDT

A Ferrari 458 Italia caught fire in Paris earlier this month. Is anyone else noticing a pattern? Note to self: When winning lotto, shell out for flameproof pants. It just seems prudent. [Autogespot via TCL] More »

Caption This: Is That An Inflatable Bibendum Suit In Your Pants, Or...?

Sam Smith — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:30:00 EDT

Le Mans, June 2010. What, exactly, is going on here? What happened next? Do we even want to know? And why does the smile on his face look so... dirty? Photo Credit: Bill Caswell/Chaos Motorsport. More »

If You Buy Just One Book About Engines This Year, Buy This

Pete Vack, VeloceToday.com — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EDT

Veloce Today's Pete Vack recently took a look at Griff Borgeson's The Classic Twin Cam Engine, a dive into the origins of the modern overhead-valve powerplant. Tech geekery? Intrigue? Crazy Frenchmen? This is where your engine came from. —Ed. More »

Play Forza Motorsport 3 In New York, Win Track Drive In Audi R8

Sam Smith — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EDT

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Audi and Microsoft are sponsoring a Forza Motorsport Le Mans battle that will take place in New York June 12th. The lucky winner will get to drive an R8 at Infineon Raceway. Game on! [Audi] More »

Why The Bugatti Veyron Costs $1.7 Million

Sam Smith — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:30:00 EDT

The most complicated and technologically advanced supercar in the world turns five years old in 2010. In honor of that birthday, we've decided to revisit some of the Bugatti Veyron's more impressive statistics. This is what $1.7 million buys you. More »

This Is How Jay Leno Starts A Gang War

Sam Smith — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:17:00 EDT

2009 Pebble Beach Concours, 1928 Bugatti T37A, ill gang sign all up in your grille piece. Ettore, we pourin' this case of Castrol R out for you. Molsheim represent. More »

Citroën SM: The History Of The 140-mph French Supersled

Aaron Severson — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Aaron Severson, editor of Ate Up With Motor, explains what happens when a bunch of tech-mad Frenchmen buy an Italian supercar factory and drink too much at lunch. This is the history of the space-age Citroën SM. —Ed. More »

Peugeot 504-amino Down On The Paris Street

Murilee Martin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EDT

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. Today's International DOTS-O-Rama continues with a Dangel Peugeot 504 pickup, shot in Paris by Franzouse. More »

Citroën DS Develops Huge Panel Gaps Due To Excessive Phrog Slammin'

Murilee Martin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

You'll need to suspend your disbelief while watching this 2000 music video by Da Slammin Phrogz, because nodding-dog dolls wouldn't get enough bounce action to function while perched in a suspension hydropneumatique-equipped Citroën. Ditto for the gill-style door panel gaps. More »

The Unlicensed Chinese Bugatti Veyron Phone: Dial "M" For Molsheim

Sam Smith — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST

The sales pitch for this thing is priceless: "Looks like a model car? It is in fact a fashionable car-shape mobile phone. FM radio let you keep pace with the nowadays events." Ooh! You don't say! More »

Because The Goddess Never Goes Out Of Fashion

Murilee Martin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST

La Déesse (also known as the Citroën DS) does everything from saving heads of state from assassins' bullets to highlighting the latest Paris fashions… 55 years after its creation. What other car could do that? More »

Can You Identify This Mystery Car?

Murilee Martin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

The reader who sent in the shots of this lil' yellow devil suggests that we do a "Guess This Car" quiz. So take your best shot at identifying this machine, then make the jump to check your answer. More »

Peugeot 204 Down On The Saint-Brieuc Street

Murilee Martin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. Let's make this a DOTS-O-Rama Sunday with a nicely preserved Peugeot in its homeland. More »

France's Amazing Presidential Car Museum

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

A French museum has amassed a collection of cars that used to belong to world leaders, including the DS Charles De Gaulle was blown up in. Motorbiker.Org's Mike Werner takes us on a tour. More »

Renault 5 Takes Off-Road Shortcut In Pursuit Of Citroën CX

Murilee Martin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

We can't tell you what cheezoid cop show you're watching, nor can we tell you why the chiseled good guy in the Renault 5 is pursuing the obvious baddie in the Citroën. More »

Ford Transits Down On The Paris Street

Murilee Martin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. Some examples of the British Van Expeditionary Force, courtesy of PCH Poster Child Franzouse! More »

NASCAR Founder's Grandson Popped For DUI, Cocaine And Street Racing

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EDT

A blasted-looking J.C. France, grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France and Grand-Am racer, was arrested in Daytona Beach with his "housemate" for an illegal trifecta: drug possession, street racing and DUI. Yup, Cocaine is a hell of a drug. More »

Doomed Detroit Iron Sings The Praises Of The Peugeot 207

Murilee Martin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

OK, so we've got this alternative universe in which new Peugeots are sold in Southern California, and in that universe are singing Detroit junkers! More »

Jalopnik's 9 Favorite Vintage Citroën Commercials

Murilee Martin — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EDT

It's a shame that the Citroën brand never really made it big in North America, because nobody does weird ads like Citroën. Post-apocalyptic scenarios, brain-scrambling animations, and- of course- the giant robot head of Grace Jones! More »

Calais To Prague In £150 Cars: The Czech Wrecks Rally

Murilee Martin — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EDT

Driving $500 cars from New York to New Orleans sounds like fun, but those BABE Rally guys must be made of money! How about 1,500 miles in cars that cost £150 (about $247)? More »

Ten Great International Driving Trips

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EDT

Following yesterday's sojourn across the United States we'd open our minds and borders with ten great international drives chosen from the "Drives of a Lifetime" list from National Geographic: Traveler. More »