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industry news
Volkswagen will build its first American plant since the 1980's in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The city bested competing bids from Alabama and Michigan for the plant, which will cost up to $1 billion to build and could employ as many as 2,000 workers. Chattanooga had a major advantage due to the state's lack of unions and ease-of-access for European travelers. According to their plans, this 1,350-acre facility will produce 150,000 vehicles, one of which will be a new mid-sized sedan for the US market, which is set to see production in early 2011. Press release below the jump.
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Volkswagen Will Build Plant In Chattanooga, Tennessee
Volkswagen will build its first American plant since the 1980's in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The city bested competing bids from Alabama and Michigan for the plant, which will cost up to $1 billion to build and could employ as many as 2,000 workers. Chattanooga had a major advantage due to the state's lack of unions and ease-of-access for European travelers. According to their plans, this 1,350-acre facility will produce 150,000 vehicles, one of which will be a new mid-sized sedan for the US market, which is set to see production in early 2011. Press release below the jump.
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offbeat news
Packard Plant Facade To Hit The Auction Blocks
A streak of panic hit us this morning as we read that the facade of the old Packard plant would be going up for auction on August 2nd. The famous landmark serves as chicken soup for the urban blight-lover's soul, and has stood as a testament to the ebbs and flows of the auto industry since the company vacated in 1956. In the last decade, it has become one of the top destinations for urban explorers in Detroit, but time, and scrappers, are taking their toll. The facade, inscribed with the Packard name, will be sold off by RM Auctions in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and a little piece of old Detroit will go with it. [Hemmings]
jalopnik automotive amerigasm
It wouldn't be a Jalopnik Automotive Amerigasm without a nod to the places that make American automotive history so great. Eddie Izzard may joke that he's from "Europe, where the history comes from," but the relative young age of the auto industry means our automotive history is as old and rich as anyone's...and of course, more American. Whether you have plans for the Fourth of July weekend or not, there's no better way to celebrate our country's freedom than by enjoying the freedom to drive somewhere and overspend at the gift shop. Below is our list of ten great American automotive pilgrimages for those that worship at the altar of wheeled transportation.
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Top Ten American Automotive Pilgrimages
It wouldn't be a Jalopnik Automotive Amerigasm without a nod to the places that make American automotive history so great. Eddie Izzard may joke that he's from "Europe, where the history comes from," but the relative young age of the auto industry means our automotive history is as old and rich as anyone's...and of course, more American. Whether you have plans for the Fourth of July weekend or not, there's no better way to celebrate our country's freedom than by enjoying the freedom to drive somewhere and overspend at the gift shop. Below is our list of ten great American automotive pilgrimages for those that worship at the altar of wheeled transportation.
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2:00 PM on Thu Jul 3 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,980 views,
67 comments
Latest by M0L0TOV: I think it's funny how Sebring, Florida doesn't have some sort of automotive museum. I really hope in my heart of all hearts I get to see Jay Leno's garage someday. more »
news
Michigan Governor Proposes Lower Speed Limits, Removing Last Reason To Stay In Michigan
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm today suggesting the state should consider lowering its 70 MPH (which, in practice, means 80 MPH) interstate speed limit in an effort to save energy. Wrapping her statement in the "families are hurting" argument, the governor made the politically delicate suggestion minus any actual proposals to lower the limit to a specific amount. Hey, here's an idea: If you don't want to use more fuel driving 70 MPH, then just slow down. And stay the hell out of the left lane. Welcome to 1974 all over again. [Detroit News]
jalopnik does nascar
Ford Racing invited Los Jalops on a NASCAR immersion trip this past Friday. At first we were skeptical, considering the big oval hasn't traditionally been our beat, but we've never been ones to shy away from bringing you the gift of knowledge, particularly when the odor of burning Sunoco 260 is involved. Since Wert's mouth was deemed "too purdy," yours truly popped a pinch 'twixt cheek and gum and headed over to Michigan International Speedway during practice laps for the LifeLock 400 to see what the fuss was all about. Five surprising revelations after the jump.
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Five Cool Things We Learned About NASCAR This Weekend
Ford Racing invited Los Jalops on a NASCAR immersion trip this past Friday. At first we were skeptical, considering the big oval hasn't traditionally been our beat, but we've never been ones to shy away from bringing you the gift of knowledge, particularly when the odor of burning Sunoco 260 is involved. Since Wert's mouth was deemed "too purdy," yours truly popped a pinch 'twixt cheek and gum and headed over to Michigan International Speedway during practice laps for the LifeLock 400 to see what the fuss was all about. Five surprising revelations after the jump.More »
1:00 PM on Tue Jun 17 2008
By Andrew Stoy
6,308 views,
81 comments
Latest by n/a: @tenbeers: honestly, an Eddie Irvine quote? Does anyone outside of the UK give a flying fuck about that unremarkable douchenozzle? You weren't alive the last time an American driver (Phil Hill) had the talent of Eddie Irvine. And since you're so pathetically more »
industry news
Obama: Detroit Will Build Cars Of The Future
Barack Obama made his first visit to the Motor City on Monday, telling a crowd gathered at Joe Louis Arena that, "We are going to build the cars of the future right here in Detroit, right here in Michigan, right here in America." The Detroit metro area has one of the highest rates of both unemployment and foreclosure, so Obama's message found a receptive audience. Popular Mechanics is expected to post a sketch of Obama's "car of the future" later today, including an artist's depiction of its flight capabilities. More »
novelties
Wooden Tires Bring New Meaning To Term "Burnout"
Rations. Practically a dirty word in times of plenty, but when the U.S. of A. was gripped in a battle against the Axis powers, it was your patriotic duty to do without, or to innovate. Donald Gilmore, CEO of Upjohn Pharma, decided to do the latter. Facing the inconvenience of rubber rations for his 1940 Cadillac, Gilmore decided to experiment with wooden tires. While we can't imagine how much fun wooden tires would be from a traction perspective, you gotta think the actual fiery burnouts would be spectacularly cool. Full history, transcribed and with amusing observations from employees, below.More »
billetproof 2008
Billetproof Burnout Contest, Yee Haw!
All right boys, you know the rules: Chain up your axle to this here block of cee-ment, spray it all down with water, and roast them tahhrs. Whoe're makes the most smoke wins! Can you think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon in America? Didn't think so. More »
2008 orphan car show
1951 Kaiser Traveler Retroactively Busts Segments
Sure, we loves us some El Camino-izations, but what if you go beyond the mere car/truck love child? What if you could have a vehicle that blends elements of sedans, trucks, and station wagons? No, we're not talking about the Twindoor Skoda Superb, or some other newfangled crossover. We're talking about real innovation!More »
2009 detroit auto show
NAIAS May Leave Detroit If Organizers Don't Get Cobo Expansion
The complaints about the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) staged yearly in January in Detroit fall into three categories A) it's in January B) It's in Detroit and C) Cobo Hall is just too small for the event. Well after the plan was announced to expand Cobo Hall by some 120,000 square feet, the organizers are concerned the politicians in Lansing will be politicians and fail to deliver the goods on the deal. Such fears are leading to statements from show chair Joe Serra like "We want to keep it here, but time has run out." More »
offbeat news
Old Man Backs Over Cop Car... Accidentally
Everyone gets a miffed when the cops write you a ticket. Even though you may have gotten nabbed and don't feel it's fair, that's no reason to back up and over the officers squad car. Well, according to the Daily Herald, 70-year-old Henry Raskin of Niles, Illinois was pretty miffed at the ticket he received, so miffed in fact that he intended to speed away from the cop. Problem is the car was in reverse. As a result, you can see yet another classic instance of the automotive mating ritual . We're sure this was only an accident and the officer was totally understanding.[DailyHerald via Motive]
alternative energy
Flint, Michigan, Looks To Poop For Power
The city of Flint, Michigan, is planning to turn human waste into fuel to power vehicles and buildings. Mayor Don Williamson sees sewage as not only a potential fuel source for city vehicles, but as a source of jobs as spinoff businesses grow up around the planned facility. That facility would be implemented by Swedish Biogas International, who has experience converting human waste into biogas, which is a nice word for stinky methane. More »
2009 hyundai genesis
2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan Spied Testing In Ann Arbor With New, Less-Effective Organic Camo
Given that we've seen a lot of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis, you'd think we wouldn't care if one was spotted out on the streets. But thanks to Hyundai's ever-changing grille designs we're actually quite intrigued and are therefore grateful that good ol' "larithmos" over at the Motive Mag forums managed to snap these photos of the new Genesis driving through Wolverine territory. We're guessing they're going to keep the price of this luxury car low by never washing it. The grille design is more like this grille than this grille or this one. But maybe they're just trying to throw us off the scent.More »
10:00 AM on Wed Apr 16 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,832 views,
24 comments
Latest by F_munk: The Klingon forehead grill is not right at all. The one they used in the Superbowl ads was much better. more »
meetups
Bullitt Meetup in Review - A Week Later
Okay, you got us — this bit of Bullitt wrap up business is a little late in coming. We were busy bringing you all the breaking embargo releases Monday and schlepping it across the country to do that little New York Auto Show, so give us a break. Anyway, last Saturday saw the largest convergence of Jalopnik nerds in quite a while. While we never got an accurate headcount because some of you sulked in and then scurried back into your dank basements to check for updates after, we did have a good time. There's no way to have a bad time when you're out at an old theater to take in a cool flick and a new Ford Mustang Bullitt pulled onto center stage for a surprise cameo.More »
meetups
Watch Bullitt At The Redford Theatre Tomorrow Night
Look at what the Redford Theatre has done, they've gone and put "Bullitt" front and center on the marquee. Guess that means tomorrow we should go out and see it. Yes indeed folks, after you picked out the date and we shot off the announcement, this is the last reminder you'll get to start showing up at the Redford Theatre at 7 PM tomorrow night for the 8 PM showing. You'll get to see Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Duvall and many more up on the big screen in this 1968 Peter Yates classic. More »
frozen chevy nova
Chevy Nova Completely Frozen, Art Flourishes In The Upper Peninsula
Jalopnik's favorite ongoing art project, the Frozen Chevy Nova has finally been completed. The Nova is frozen and looks wonderful despite ice issues, temperature fluctuations, blizzards and Malaise-era leaking parts. Our hats off to Mary and Sue as well as the community in and around Michigan Tech who helped this project get off the ground... and then get frozen to it.More »
meetups
