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Driven by Ezra Dyer for Popular Mechanics, the Local Motors Rally Fighter ate up a 40-mile trail outside Phoenix in just three hours. The usual time for 4x4s? Eight. Nice. Wanna know more? You'll need to buy the magazine. [PopMech] More »
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Jalopnik commenter Scoutch has a day job many of us might try for free: Building stuff in the labs of Mythbusters. Check out his take on what's it like to drive a Porsche 928 with its body bolted on backwards. More »
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The Mythbusters crew and Popular Mechanics will test later this month the old claim that the Porsche 928 could go faster if driven backwards. To do so, they flipped a 928's body to face the wrong direction. More »
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Oh my goodness, the National Association Of Stock Car Auto Racing (as opposed to the national association of stock car boat racing) is full of cheaters! Stone-cold cheatin' to victory in every race, ever. America expects better from former moonshiners. More »
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You know you're in the Malaise Era when the best quarter-mile times for the wildest street cars money can buy are barely into the 14s. But still, who doesn't want an '81 Aston Martin Volante or BMW M1? More »
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Get it? That makes the story recalled! Ha! You know, because, uh... ah, hell, OK, we made it up. But the story is still cool. [Popular Mechanics] More »
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Earlier this week former Tesla spokesman Daryl Siry, writing for Wired, reported small electric automaker Aptera's co-founders had been shoved out amid financial turmoil. Popular Mechanics quickly retorted back they were just "on vacation." Looks like Wired was right. More »
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Combining a motorcycle v-twin with three wheels certainly isn't the most logical path to a sports car, but you can't argue with the results. Popular Mechanics reviews two: the Liberty Ace and Blackjack Zero. [PopularMechanics] More »
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Will using the heater cool the engine? Is using the A/C better than rolling windows down on the highway? There's a lot of hearsay on summer driving techniques, Popular Mechanics finds out the truth. [PopularMechanics] More »
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Hankering for some cheap off-road fun? Popular Mechanics has put together a rough guide for mud-plugging on any budget. Pictured is PopMech autos editor Ben Stewart demonstrating how not to go off-road. [Popular Mechanics] More »
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PopMech's Ben Stewart put the Fastskinz MPG-Plus vinyl vehicle-wrap system through the paces to determine if it increases fuel economy. So, does it work? What the hell do you think, of course it doesn't. [PopMech] More »
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OK, we're calling bullshit on the muscle car "comparisons" being run by everyone from MotorTrend to Popular Mechanics. Sorry, but it ain't a real comparison until you've run 'em in one place at one time. More »
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Touted as a way for small, efficient engines to produce big power, turbochargers are thankfully making a comeback. But how exactly do they work? Popular Mechanics explains with a horribly-colored graphic. [Popular Mechanics] More »
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In honor of today's love-fest on television today toward "Cadillac One," Popular Mechanics put together a list of the top seven Presidential limousines since the advent of the internal combustion engine. [Popular Mechanics] More »
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The Carpocalypse stole much of the glitz and glamor from this year's Detroit Auto Show. Popular Mechanics takes a look back with a list of the ten best Detroit reveals of all time. [Popular Mechanics] More »
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A beleaguered exec's loss is your gain by following Popular Mechanics' advice to pick up an Elise or Quattroporte for the price of a Honda Accord...or less. Here's their ten best picks. [Popular Mechanics] More »
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We knew the 2009 Corvette ZR1 was fast, but until now, we didn’t know how fast it could be in the hands of anyone other than GM’s official test drivers. It appears Popular Mechanics has strapped its own timing gear to the ZR1 and hit the go pedal. We’re kind of relieved they pulled times slightly slower than those officially quoted by GM. Despite the ridiculously accessible nature of its performance, the ZR1 is a real driver’s car that actually requires some driving. It’s nice to see that variations in driver skill, surface and other variables actually have an effect on it, rather than relying on electronics capable of completely removing humans from the equation. Hit the jump for the results. More »
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Mike Allen over at Popular Mechanics put together a handy list of the top five reasons for tire failure. We figure it's important stuff since, you know, your tires are pretty much more important than any other part of your car — they're what the whole rest of the vehicle rides on. Believe it or not, there's more that can be wrong with your tires than just underinflation, so check out the list below the jump. More »
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While we’re were busy salivating over the 62 MPG VW Golf BlueMotion, our friends at Popular Mechanics were in Iceland putting the regular 2009 Volkswagen Golf VI through its paces. “We just improved the old car," VW’s board member for product development told them. And that’s exactly what PM found, reporting that it’s basically a Mark V with revised looks, a much better interior, new engines and better handling. Those engines are the most interesting thing. According to PM, the US market Golf VI (or the Rabbit, as it's called here) will definitely be getting the 2.0-liter TDI and maybe, just maybe, the 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged, supercharged gasoline engine that’s capable of both 0-60 in 8 seconds and returning 39.2 MPG. More »
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We've told you about Nissan's new electric concepts. Now the trendy technicians over at Popular Mechanics have actually flown to Japan to drive the electrified Nissan Cube, the EV-02, and lived to tell the story. The lithium-ion battery-powered box on wheels is said to be just the start of Nissan's big li'l electric vehicle efforts, but how does current concept impress? [Popular Mechanics] More »
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It's strongly rumored the diesel version of the Audi TT could find its way stateside. With that in mind, the boys over at Popular Mechanics packed their bags and boarded a midnight plane to Blighty to try one out. In a cable back to their New York HQ, they report the oil-burning 2008 Audi TT 2.0 TDI is smooth, refined and makes overtaking easy as a wiggle of your big toe. Exclusively available in the UK with a 6-speed manual, they calculated their average fuel economy during a mix of city and highway driving to be 39.1 MPG (US). That's while making 258 lb-ft and reaching a top speed of 140 MPH, mind you. Please, god of cars, bring us this beautiful torque-heavy 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Please! More »
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The lucky buggers over at Popular Mechanics recently got their hands on the revised 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. With a larger 4.8-liter, 420 HP engine and modified suspension, they find the $119,500 British sports car to be more refined, more focused, faster, and a welcome antidote to the "stuffy" DB9...if still not quite up there with the Porsche 911. Should you have the means, they highly recommend picking one up, as long as it comes with the optional Sport Pack. More »
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Though we've yet to get our Cheeto-stained hands on the 2009 Porsche 911, the testers at Popular Mechanics had the chance to roam the Stuttgart roads in a few variations, finding the new model to be Porsche par excellence. They also found the new Porsche's wizardly dual-clutch PDK gearbox to be a vast improvement over the previous Tiptronic transmission. And those famous Porsche flat sixes? Both the Carrera and Carrera S get power increases to 345 and 385 horsepower, respectively, while also improving fuel economy. It seems the minor visual tweaks hide the important and immediately noticeable physical changes beneath. More »
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Adam Carolla, car guy, comedian and now, the new host of the US-Spec version of Top Gear, took a break from show-prep to talk to Popular Mechanics about the new NBC show. PopMech manages to get Carolla to reveal a lot about the show, including answers on why the ZR1 isn't top on his list of cars to review, his issues with Transformers (Shh, don't tell Wert!) and a denial of the assertion they can't diss the cars. Basically Carolla says it'll be exactly like the British version. Pop Mech also name-drops Jalopnik in a question about his style. Question and answer back-n-forth below the jump. More »
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Our esteemed editor, Herr Wert, penned a piece for Popular Mechanics about the demise of the futuristic concept car and the rise of practically-production concepts like the Honda Pilot and Dodge Challenger, which will end up being nearly indistinguishable from their production versions. The good days of the turbine-powered Firebird II are gone, though we hope they will come again. [Popular Mechanics] More »
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We dug this up at Photobasement and we don't share their sentiments about it. Whereas they seem to be totally against a "dog in a bag on the side of the car" we are decidedly pro-"dog in a bag on the side of the car". First appearing in the June 1935 issue of Popular Mechanics the incredibly inventive doggie bag (not to be confused with the bag received at a restaurant) keeps your car clean of troublesome pooch sheddings and waste matter while your dog gets the fresh air he wants strapped to the outside of your moving car. Okay, so maybe it's not advisable to drive down dirt roads, through forest fires or around tight turns, but we still think this is awesome. We're thinking it needs a clever marketing name, like the Romney bag perhaps? Full article below the jump. More »
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Travis brought news of the release of plans for Robert Q. Riley's very cool XR-3 diesel-electric hybrid, but how would you feel about a much earlier PopMech version that comes as a mini truck/car? Finkbuilt has dug up plans for the Suburba, a DIY three wheeled running chassis that can be bodied however you like. We dig this version that's got a hint of Ford Econoline missing a wheel inspiration. After the Peel P50, this may be the best possible candidate for some big stinky motorcycle engine transplant. More »
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We hear today is Jim Dunne's last day at the magazine all about Mechanics that are quite Popular. To be honest, who knew he was even still alive? I mean come on — he's been a spy shooter for like, ever. But we tip our fedoras to the man who made spy shooting lucrative — since 1837 — for folks like Brenda Priddy, Glenn Paulina and the rest of their ilk and salute this man we hope remains "still alive" for many more years. More »
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The popular kids just are just smitten with the showing of Mercedes-Benz this year. First Popular Science picked the 2006 S-Class as the Grand Award winner among its Best of the New for 2006. Now, Popular Mechanics has named the Merc CLS 500/55 winner in the design category of its Best New Cars and Trucks of 2006. Considering all the trouble some Mercedes cars have had with its electrical systems this past year, we doubt Popular Electronics will chime in on a hat-trick anytime soon. More »
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