<![CDATA[Jalopnik: Test Drives]]> http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: Test Drives]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/test drives http://jalopnik.com/tag/test drives <![CDATA[Jalopnik Drives Real Live Tank By Remote Control, Can Now Die Happy]]> Two years ago, we were given the chance to drive a remote-controlled tank. It was real. It was full-size. We can't stop thinking about it. Trust us: If you ever did this, it would haunt you, too. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=367000&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[2011 Buick Regal: First Drive]]> The Buick Regal's back and with stellar styling and the promise of a manual transmission, it's trying to prove GM's serious about making the blue-haired brand appealing to whipper-snappers. We drove it yesterday and frankly, it's pretty good. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5408766&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Municipal Hoonage: 2007 Elgin Pelican P]]> The mighty Mike Austin, former of MPH as well as ours truly, now spends his time at the head of the class, long-lead testing such automotive n00bs as the Jaguar XF and Mitsubishi Evo X. Of course the key benefit to such a gig is getting on the horn to a supplier of municipal maintenance vehicles and barking something like, "bring it over," and having them jump to do so. That's power. Of course, when they bring over the Pelican P — the classic street sweeper — instead of the Road Wizard or the named-after-a-70s-prog-rock-trio Crosswind Fury, you have to be gracious. [Car and Driver] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=323051&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Millions Served: PopSci Drives the Lamborghini Reventon]]> Popular Science car guy William R. Snyder got a coveted spot covering the first press drive of the Lamborghini Reventön (sorry, Reventón). That's the million-Euro Murciêlago LP640 imbued with fighter-jet mojo by way of copious carbon fiber and a cockpit-like interior. We're still far more impressed with Lamborghini's unmitigated gall than with the Reventøn's performance figures or rattle sheet of carbon-fiber alterations, but then, there's that sound. [via PopSci] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=318247&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Caparo T1 Test Drive]]> What does a street-legal (in the UK) nearly open-wheel race car producing over 1,000 horsepower per metric ton feel like on the road? Ask Autocar, which took a test drive of a prototype Caparo T1. At just over a half-ton, the T1's actual horsepower figure is 575. But it appears to have the intuitive handling characteristics of a go kart, with the sequential transmission of an F1 car and the quickness of a jackrabbit shot from an antitank cannon. We'll live through you chaps, thanks. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=300904&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Top to Bottom: Dan Neil on the 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible]]> In today's editon of the LA Times, Mr. Neil has channeled some tips for incoming Chrysler grand poobah Robert Nardelli through a review of the latest player in the long line of drop top Chrysler Sebrings. Nardelli's ability to tell the difference between a good car and a bad car might be what saves Chrysler from a world of hurts. According to Neil, the drop top is a bad car.
Not just bad, but a veritable chalice of wretchedness, a rattling, thumping, lolling tragedy of a car, a summary indictment of Chrysler's recent management and its self-eradicating product planning, all cast in plastic worthy of a Chinese water pistol.
We hope Nardelli can tell the difference between a hammer drill and a super soaker. [Top to Bottom via the LA Times] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=287459&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Nick Hall Drives the Caparo T1]]> We're always pleased when Master Nick Hall sends one of his missives from somewhere along the Spanish coastline. Usually we hear about what's going behind the scenes. Now, writing for World Car Fans, Hall talks about his turn behind the wheel of the Caparo T1 — that low-volume "Formula car for the street" created by two ex-McLaren engineers and racecar designer (and penman behind the McLaren F1), Gordon Murray. But would you drive it to the shops? Hall answers. – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=273792&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Tiff Flogs the GT3 RS]]> It's no secret that Los Pedran Jalop is not a massive Porsche obsessive. Most of his favorite sons of Ferdinand are racing vehicles, with only the 550 Coupe and 928 to really stoke his passions. But there's something about the new GT3 RS. It's the most immediately soulful road car Porsche has produced since the 928 left the line. A different beast to be sure, but an assured loin-stirrer it is, even to oddball dorks who've always loved 914s and think 912s are rad. It is an undeniable car, and we constantly castigate people who buy mere GT3s for not going full-awesome and waiting for the RS. We do not say this lightly, but the new GT3 RS is simply one of the coolest cars Porsche has ever built. And at a time when German cars are getting consistently more complex, to their own detriment, the latest Rennsport 911 has arrived to restore the mantle of merely essential awesome. As Ferry himself said, "This is why functional designs are so beautiful; so calming." We'd add that they look fabulous in wild-ass-yet-somehow-understated color schemes too. And with that, we hand things over to Mr. Needell to simply race the coked-up snail along Castle Coombe's asphalt straight razor. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=270914&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Driving the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead]]> The lads at Autocar, more heavily locked in with the crew in Goodwood than we are, got a stab at a spin in the new Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead coupé and wafted themselves silly. We've seen the Drophead at a few auto shows lately, and it's truly an insane piece of work. It makes us want to pick up a big, nasty redhead and cruise Century Boulevard, Victory Boulevard, Imperial Highway, Sixth Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. We'll leave Lower Wacker Drive to the Eskimos. We love it! – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=261808&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clarkson Drives Audi S3, Visits Ice Station Impossible]]> Ol' JC spins a tale of finding himself stuck somewhere eight miles high in Canada at an abandoned weather station with a guy named Halli, an uncultured Icelandic type who, from the sound of Clarkson's fabulous hyperbole, undoubtedly rebuild a drawbridge with nothing but a found crate of Doublemint foil wrappers, the soldering flux he invariably carries in his pocket and a fake Zippo bought at Keflavik International. Jezza also goes on about the Audi S3, which he doesn't much care for. He also says the RS 3 is two years away. What, praytell, will power that wee beastie? – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=260961&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Super Flight: Driving the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera]]> When he's not writing Car Hack's Notebook columns for the Jalop, our mate from Birmingham, UK, Nick Hall must suffer his day job. Such drudgery it is to fly to Scottsdale, Arizona to drive the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera in the desert at ludicrous speeds, trying to outwit a police force that lives to put his speed-gathering ass in the joint. What torture it must be to face the blank page after such a trip. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=252063&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Spumy Flinders! Dan Neil on the 599 Fiorano]]> In the video accompanying his review of the Ferrari 599, Se or Neil mentions that in a past life as a rock writer, he once interviewed Anthrax. He then proceeded to call them numbskulls. How can the band that recorded Among the Living and Persistence of Time possibly be a group of numbskulls? True, they did also record Fistful of Metal, an album that featured the lines, "I got thunder in my hands! I'm Metal Thrashing Maaaaaaaaaaaad!" So he could be correct. Regardless, Neil posits that the Fiorano is simply the best front-engined sports car ever made; a calling it a machine that will blow your mind to "spumy flinders." You okay over there, Dan? – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=251622&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[No Klingon Love Poetry: Dan Neil on the Toyota Yaris]]> Yes, us oldsters still read the newspaper. This largely due to the fact that time is indeed marching on. Holding onto a bit of previously read pulpy words and pictures while sweating away at the gym always seems like a practical use of what time is left. Fellow gym goers likely thought marbles had been permanently lost witnessing this blog goon laughing out loud while reading Neil's take on the cheapest and tiniest of the current Toyota fleet. Neil also riffs on Klingons, Frank Sinatra, and an troublesome echo from Detroit that may be bouncing back to haunt the perhaps soon-to-be numero uno automaker. – Mike Bumbeck More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=246306&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[It's Completely Mad: Clarkson on the Lamborghini LP640]]> That Jeremy Clarkson writes about cars by writing about other cars is about as predictable as an iron-gray sky and slight drizzle over Leeds. But even ol' Jezzah must have broken the soft-launch threshold in his latest Times piece. He doesn't mention the subject Lamborghini LP640 by name before word 786. And then, he lambastes its smart all-wheel-drive setup as "such a dim-witted set-up that you're usually going backwards before it's noticed the rear has lost traction." But in the end, with about a score of words left, he compares the alacantara steering wheel to dog fur and evokes the name of M torhead's Lemmy. And it's a positive review. Like digging for sushi-grade clams, this one. – Mike Spinelli More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=243519&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Top Gear: Clarkson on the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640]]> Wherein Mister Clarkson and Master The Stig take on the bowel-loosening Lambo LP640 and live to tell the tale. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=239821&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[I Am The Gert: Riding Shotgun In A Se7en Over Decker Canyon]]> For part 47 of "Why My Job Is Better than Your Job," I direct your attention to how I spent my Saturday. Turns out that Jalopnik blabbermouth commenter and all around righteous dude Al Navarro is president of USA7s.com, a new club dedicated to all cars inspired by the legendary Lotus 7. He sent the Postfather a query wondering if any of us So-Cal Jalopnikos would be interested in riding a Se7en around Decker Canyon. I was screaming "YES!" at the top of my lungs. At 6:30 am. On a Tuesday. Alone in my room. I was all set to get whipped about the mountains in a Caterham by a man named Doug when freak weather caused the "Malibu Blizzard." Stupid global warming. My fantastic hoonage ride was delayed. More for those who dare to jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=234223&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Dan Neil on the XKR]]> The most recent iteration of Jaguar's legendary XK line has been divisive at the very least. Some call it beautiful. Some cry "Ovoid Taurus" and others "carp." In his review of Jag's uprated GT car, Dan Neil admits to not being sure about the XK at first, but begins to warm to its design, commenting, "Maybe the effect is less aerodynamic than Jungian: This is the shape of a coveted thing slipping through your fingers." And while we argree that the 3/4 view of the car is quite nice, from head on, it still looks like a hip-hop-obsessed lamprey chugged a 40 of pure quinine. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=233787&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clarkson Pits XKR vs. AMV8]]> Now that the Hamster is repaired and the Top Gear boys are back to making television, we can dispense with the flipping jet car business and get back to giggling over egregious examples of hoonage — which is pretty much what Clarkson spends his time in the Jaguar XKR doing. He then sics it on its hotter half-sister, the Aston V8 Vantage, in a sans-Richard Dawson episode of Family Feud, usefully pointing out that the new EU booster seat mandate has now largely made 2+2 coupes too cramped in the back for the only people small enough to fit there — children. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=232379&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clarkson on the M6 Convertible]]> Americans have been giving each other what-for since the beginning. After some fits and starts, a dash of Manifest Destiny here and there and some border clashes with unruly people of French descent and Spanish/Native ancestry, we mostly got on with the process of being annoyed with each other and banding together for a war on foreign soil now and then. Yeah, there was that conflict that inspired Across Five Aprils and now and then we shoot our presidents. But Europe's got a different issue. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=230805&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clarkson on the Evo IX]]> Los Jalopniks have only ever experienced the American-spec Evo (Farago likely excepted). One of us owned one. Another one of us thinks it's the greatest AWD car a man of average means could aspire to own, one would rather have a Jeep Liberty, and another would rather drive a hatchback and thinks another of us is slightly loony for saying that we would rather have an a souped-up Mitsu than an RS 4. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=228830&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[As Inconspicuous as Fuschia Funeral Wear: Tom Ford on the Bentley Azure]]> Fifth Gear's Tom Ford takes the massive Bentley Azure droptop out for a spin and ends up in a slightly disturbing makeout session with the steering wheel. Good thing the airbag didn't go off. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=224367&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clarkson on the 599 GTB Fiorano]]> Los Jalopniks have yet to get our hands on a 599 GTB. But we oh, oh, oh, oh so desperately want to. So far, C/D has crashed one, we have drooled over it from Geneva to Pebble Beach to Paris to LA, and now Clarkson weighs in on the Enzo-engined bruiser, As is his wont, he rips the hyperbux GT a new one, complaining that the headlights are no more effective than "candles in jam jars," among other things before succumbing to its charms, commenting "After just three days the power and the excess that had originally caused me to question this car were now causing me to drool and dribble." We wanna expectorate on our chins too. Please? – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=224306&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Edumunds Can't Find Clean Diesel in Fontucky: E-Class Bluetec Test]]> While the urea-injection system won't come online until the 2009 model year, the kids over at Inside Line managed to smuggle an E320 diesel into the Golden State for testing. The seemed to like it quite well, calling it a better value than the E350, even with the $1K price premium over the gasoline model. But they were shocked — shocked — that they couldn't get low-sulfur diesel in Fontana, CA. Unless they were at California Speedway, or on their way somewhere else there is no reason to go to Fontucky, ever. The poor mid-sized Merc must've been traumatized. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=223727&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ForbesAutos Widdles With the BMW Hydrogen 7]]> Free lease on a Bimmer? Gotta be an influencer, unsere Kapitan. But if you've got the cred the Bayrischens are looking for, you could be rolling in a dual-fuel BMW Hydrogen 7. The ForbesAutos crowd took one for a spin, and while the performance figures are rather underwhelming, and the liquid hydrogen fuel will burn off entirely in the space of two weeks, you can still run the thing on gasoline. BMW figures hydrogen ICE cars won't be ready for prime time until 2020, so think of it as investing your scenester cred in a piece of the future for six months. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=220598&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[TTAC On The New Silverado]]> While our own Mister Wert lurved him some of that new Silverado, Texas Sajeev of The Truth About Cars wasn't so sold on the new GMT900 pickup. Se or Mehta dug the 5.3L small block, found the styling acceptable, the leather chintzy, and the truck's dynamic behavior rather uninspired. A Close Personal Texan Friend of Los Jalopniks recently drove the new Tundra (apparently beating the living crap out of it) and says the General, FoMoCo and DCX should be very, very worried. Think it's time for some point-counterpoint, gentlemen? Meanwhile, we just want a modern-day Stout. Or similar. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=220140&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Fifth Gear: Tom Ford On The 335i]]> Yes, yes, we know that of the two major British motoring programs, we're biased toward the outlandish hoonage and silly pranks of Hammond, May, Clarkson and the Stig. But we do take a hit off of the Fifth Gear pipe now and then. So what have we today? Tom Ford on the BMW 335i, which is apparently brilliant, yet leaves him itching for a bit more of a tickle in the trouser department. Hopefully, we'll drive one soon and report back on our loins' stirredness or lack thereof. ] – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=219986&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Inside Line Drives the Evo IX]]> There is a part of us that thinks that the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo might possibly be the greatest car available today. Its performance belies its price. If you haven't been in one, get in one. Sure, the styling borders on the retarded and the interior is sheer crap. But Sweet Jesus on a Turbonique pogo stick in minimal-gravity conditions, once you're in the wheel, you simply don't care. You don't care about the dorky wing. You don't care about the chintzy plastics. All you care about is that this hypertuned shitbox goes, stops and turns like very little on the road today. And all of those cars cost way more money. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=219636&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Farago Doesn't Like the GT500]]> Despite the Loverman's obsession with the Shelby GT500, his other employer, Robert Farago, does not like the snakey horse. Says Farago: "That's like saying it's OK to shag Adriana Lima even if you know she's got herpes. Maybe you'll catch it, maybe you won't. Why worry when it feels so gooood? 'Cause it will right until the moment it doesn't." But according to Jonny, "You can smoke the tires at 80! It's awesome!" Click through for Farago's review and his verbal sparring match with Jonny. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=219614&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clarkson on the Land Rover Defender]]> My cousin Pierre in Dublin owns the Land Rover Defender 110 pictured above, a particular model of which only 500 or so were imported to the US. It has a diesel, it's hard to get into and out of. The interior's thrashed, and his girlfriend hates it. I, however, think it's the bestest thing on four wheels. Jeremy Clarkson, on the other hand, doesn't like the Defender. To him, it's not a proper car. It's underpowered; slow. A relic. And so what if it is? I hope they never stop making it. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=219249&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Fifth Gear: Mini Works GP vs. R/C Car]]> Wherein Vicki Hender-Butlersonsen takes on an electric HPI racer with a John Cooper Works GP. Who shall triumph? Who shall perish? Will the teenage boy get to snog the thirtysomething Vicki? Probably not. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=216591&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Why Mitsubishi Deserves a Second Chance in America]]> Yes, we all know that Mitsu is a somewhat beleagured brand these days. But they did give us the mighty Starion, the totally underrated Mirage Turbo hatchback, and of course, the nothing-short-of-obscenely miraculous Lancer Evo. Paukert drove the upcoming Lancer on some winding roads near Santa Barbara recently, and seemed to like it just fine. But that doesn't matter. Without Mitsubishi, we wouldn't have Super Active Yaw Control, Mitsubishi Innovative Valve-timing-and-lift Electronic Control or, most importantly, SUPER POTENTIAL!. There, Mitsubishi, we just came up with your new tagline: Super. Innovative. Mitsubishi. Check's in the mail? Great, thanks. Business doing potential with you. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=215762&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Short Life and Sad Death of the Acura RSX]]> Acura is a strange brand. Only now is Honda beginning to figure out what they want it to be, and as the Civic has moved upmarket, it's edged out its more sophisticated cousin. Production ended this summer but there are still a number of them left on dealer lots. We've always liked the RSX, which seemed more grown-up and less boy-raceresque than its predecessor, the Integra. TTAC's Bill Montgomery, with whom we crunched terrain in the FJ Cruiser last month, pens a mash note to the little coupe. Czech it, and then pour out a 40 of Old E for our departed friend. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=215346&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clarkson On the Alfa-Romeo Brera]]> You stateside types might think the Brera is a pretty car. You might even wipe a bit of drool from your chin looking at pictures of it. You might even be praying nightly for its arrival on these shores. But the sheer beauty of this car needs to be seen in the metal to be appreciated. Alfa simply has the best-looking lineup of cars of any company in the world right now. When we walked their display in Paris, we couldn't find a styling dud in the bunch. The 8C Competizione is the dead-sexiest exotic since the Miura, and it's possibly less likely to catch fire. There. We said it. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=215162&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Fifth Gear Tests the Litchfield Type 25]]> Commenter st3ph3n, our resident Scots Subie-head, sent over this video from Monday night's episode of Fifth Gear. It's the lowdown on the Litchfield Type 25, a steroidal Impreza with 415 Cosworth-tuned horsepower that gets to 60 in 3.8 seconds. We wonder if the Loverman would rather have this or the RS4? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=213759&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Dubspeed Tests the Audi S6 and S8]]> Our boy Zerin at Dubspeed sent his man Wes Grueninger off to French Canada to flog the V10-powered angry brothers of the A6 and A8, and came back...well, we're not entirely sure. He had nits and picks about both models, but as if seemed like he liked them and was suitably impressed with the precision of most everything but the brake modulation. Plus, there's an entertaining bit about airborne pomme frittes and an irate Quebecois woman, and we're always suckers for that kind of nonsense. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=212714&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Inside Line Questions the New Europa's Blackness, Er, Lotusness]]> What happens when Lotus develops a Proton exotic and then has it handed back to itself? The answer, unfortunately, is not Tesla. Nor is it Exige. Or Elise. Or even submarine Esprit. If the Inside Line-types ensconced in the Edmunds compound are to be believed, the new Europa S fits into a no-man's land that isn't particularly pleasing. They say it's too pricey, too noisy for the intended segment and too impure to be a proper Lotus, plus it's too off the mark to slot in anywhere else. Ouch. – Davey G. Johnson More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=208029&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Zen + Math of Rock Crawling in the FJ Cruiser]]> An ex-girlfriend with whom I still have somewhat of a volatile relationship lives in Birmingham, Alabama. This would generally be rather unimportant, other than I felt like I needed to go and stare down the city she bailed on me for. So when Toyota offered me and three other various internet personalities a shot at going rock crawling outside of the 'Ham in celebration of the new FJ Cruiser, I figured I may as well take them up on it. The ex and I had had dinner plans for a month, which she suddenly and unceremoniously flaked on a couple of days before I left. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=207899&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Wellby, Wellby, Wellby, Jalopnik Drove Some Shelbys]]> FoMoCo invited us down to Duke's Restaurant in Malibu to drive the Shelby GT500 Convertible, the Shelby GT and most righteously right-on of all, the Hertz Shelby GT-H along the beautiful Bo Stefan Eriksson/Mel Gibson/AC Schnitzer Memorial Highway. After a few minutes spent gawking at all four cars (they had both kinds of Shelby GT — the black and the white) parked against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, it occurred to us just how ludicrous it is that Ford is sitting on the pole in the race to be the first American manufacturer to go belly-up in a generation. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=202810&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Edmunds Crash-Tests the Jeep Commander]]> Thankfully, Inside Line's Kelly Toepke and her husband Barry escaped this wreck with a few broken bones and their six-year-old daughter was fine. In an attempt to avoid a spinning Forester smacked by an alleged hoon, Barry ended up driving the long-term test Commander onto a grass median and into a tree. Interestingly the Toepkes' injuries (a broken ankle for him and multiple fractures in her foot) were caused by the engine coming back through the firewall, which freaks us out a little bit. Meanwhile the po-po are still looking for the hoon, who left the scene. Facking 'oun. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=199465&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Austin Stays Golden, Drives From Ann Arbor to Colorado On E85]]> One of our resident reviewers proved you can go home again by getting some action from Jean Jennings. No, not like that. Austin went back to his old Automobile boss and picked up a gig driving an Impala solely on E85 from Michigan to the Coors brewery in Golden, where they not only brew beer, but manufacture ethanol. And then, y'know, he drank some beer. Because if there are two things Austins know how to do well, it's grow top-quality Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce and Canaan Fir trees and consume alcohol. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=198001&view=rss&microfeed=true