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The Enormous Secret Weapons Depot Hidden Underneath Manhattan

Sam Biddle — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:15:00 EST

Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood is mostly filled with bored models and stupid-expensive boutiques. But on one grimy, absolutely ignorable corner is the entrance to a cavern stuffed with guns, rockets, cocaine, and riot shields. This is where Hollywood locks and loads. More »

A Tour Of The Top Gear Test Track

Sam Smith — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:00:00 EDT

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Flash animation, the reason behind the names of those corners, a Stig's-eye view, and a dose of good 'ol TG wit: This is the official tour of Top Gear's decommissioned British airfield. Powarrrr! More »

Ice-Road Truckin' In A Smart ForTwo

Paul Shippey — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EDT

Paul Shippey drove a Smart ForTwo across Canada's Dempster Highway, one of the roads featured in Ice Road Truckers and the only all-weather road into the Arctic Circle. This is his crazy story, which originally appeared on Wired.com. —Ed. More »

So Many Jeremy Clarksons, So Little Time... In The World

Sam Smith — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:30:27 EDT

Yeah, we've run this before, and yeah, it's a few years old. But still: an island full of Top-Gear Jezzas? It doesn't stop being funny. Sitting at your desk and watching the clock? You might as well be watching this. More »

New A-Team Trailer Shows Van Destruction!

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EDT

Just a day after seeing the new A-Team Van from the refreshed A-Team film, a new trailer shows the destruction of B.A. Baracus' beloved GMC. Noooooooooo! He's gonna be pissed. As a consolation prize: parachute tanks. More »

The A-Team Van: First Look, Fool

Sam Smith — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

This is the first time we've seen the refreshed A-Team van in person. Is it as fantastic as we had hoped? Of course. Don't you love it when an auto-show plan comes together? More »

MTV's Nitro Circus: Crystal Meth You Can Watch

Andrew Didorosi — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST

MTV's newest Sunday night lineup includes Nitro Circus, an all-out stunt show populated by the ballsiest stuntmen America's backwoods has to offer. Don't watch the trailer without a cup on. More »

Miley Cyrus Has Her Permit, GTFO The Roads

Andrew Didorosi — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST

Miley Cyrus, otherwise known as Hannah Montana, has joined the driving masses with her newly obtained learner's permit. Be careful if you live within a drunken drive of Hollywood. More »

NBC Cuts Top Gear USA Due To Knight Rider Failure

Andrew Didorosi — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:17:13 EST

Due to the failure of Knight Rider and expected production costs, NBC has decided to pass on Top Gear USA. The BBC's shopping the US rendition of the hit show to interested cable outlets. More »

Top Gear US Filming In-Studio Audience Segment This Weekend, Want To Go?

Ray Wert — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EDT

According to a casting call for on-camera audiences, Top Gear USA's filming the in-studio segment for their pilot episode this weekend out in sunny Los Angeles. Interested in standing around for hours on end? Want to see whether Adam Carolla, Tanner Foust and Eric Stromer can pick up the mantle from Jezza and the UK team? Well then, head on over here and drop your name in the hat. Who knows? You might even make it on the air. Bonus points if you're caught on camera wearing a "Save The Enzos" or "I Am The Hoon Of The Day" t-shirt. [OCATV via AutoFiends] More »

2010 Chevy Camaro SS To Star Alongside Christian Slater In New NBC Show

Wes Siler — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:20:00 EDT

Alright, so there's this guy, Harvey Spivey, who's an efficiency expert. He lives the typical suburban life: wife, two kids, dog, minivan, self hatred. Basically, he's the total opposite of Edward Albright, a 2010 Chevy Camaro SS driving, multilingual, lethal operative. But get this: they share the same body. Whoa. More »

Fresh Prince Of Belle Isle?

Andrew Stoy — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:40:00 EDT

ABC has reportedly ordered up a new hour-long drama pilot, based upon the auto industry and set in our very own Motor City. The Prince of Motor City is said to contain "Hamlet overtones" and is set to begin filming at the end of June, airing this winter as a mid-season replacement. According to the casting call on the Michigan Film Office Web site, they're seeking actors for a variety of roles, including at least one apparent Dr. Z lookalike. More details and full release after the jump... More »

Put The Kid In The Trunk And The TV In The Backseat

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:20:00 EDT

People will do some pretty stupid things for a TV, or so we're learning today. First, it was the idiot burglar with the alligator in his Buick Regal and now we have the story of a trio of not-so-bright Tennesseans who really wanted to get a television home. But there were three of them and a television, and not all of them could fit in the passenger area of their Toyota Corolla. Their solution? Put the kid in the trunk and the television in the backseat. They'd have gotten away with it, too, but someone called the cops after seeing the kid, who apparently consented, get into the trunk. More »

BBC America Bribes Us To Talk Up Top Gear, We Accept

Ray Wert — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:15:00 EST

While we don't do the whole "junket" thing like most auto pubs (we pay our own way), we do accept swag (at least under like $25 or something). And if there's one thing you can be sure of — if we get something Top Gear related, we're sure as hell gonna talk about it especially since Top Gear is so amazingly epic. Like today when BBC America sent us DVD's of the first three episodes of Top Gear's Season Ten, which begins to air on the Beeb's colonial brand starting tonight at 8:00 PM EST/ PST. Despite already having ~~torrented~~ magically already seen the episodes we were sent, we were pleased as punch to get it. However, now the ante has been raised. If they want us talking up Top Gear USA, they're just going to have to make us a host. Just sayin'... [via BBC America] More »

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! — Dragster Crash!

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:30:41 EDT

And elsewhere in Australian muscle-car news, an event at the Brisbane drags over the weekend is giving a case of the squirms to the world's racing fans and the women who tolerate them. A massive, corkscrew fuckdown at 310 miles per hour left a driver A-ok. Damn, those safety harnesses and fireproof suits are getting good. More »

SIRIUS Radio, Chrysler Group Take Over Times Square To Announce Live Backseat TV Service In Minivans!

Ray Wert — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:04:55 EDT

The above video by way of Gawker videographer Richard Blakeley is from an announcement made just a short while ago in Times Square by Frank Klegon, Exec. Vice President - Product Development for the 'merican side of the German-American hybrid. The scoop is the long-awaited news that Chrysler's taking it in the back...seat. The boys n' girls in Auburn Hills, MI will be offering SIRIUS Satellite Radio Backseat TV service in 2008 model-year vehicles, starting first with their new 2008 minivans available this year. The MSRP is $470, including the first year of service, and after the first year it'll be available for $7 per month on top of the $12.95 Sat-Rad fee. Here's the start of the press release:

"SIRIUS Satellite Radio and Chrysler Group announced today that Chrysler Group will be the exclusive automaker to offer SIRIUS Backseat TV in its 2008 model-year vehicle lineup. SIRIUS Backseat TV is a dynamic and pioneering TV service that delivers live TV from the best family TV programmers directly to the vehicles...

You Are There: Forza Showdown, Epilogue

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:15:00 EDT

So, as you may have already seen, I got my shot. More »

You Are There: SpeedTV's Forza Motorsport Showdown, Episode 3

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EDT

The morning of the second mod day rolled around, and I woke up in a good mood despite the insistent nagging of a low-grade hangover. Bourbon's all fun and games until you arise with a steel band around your skull and Technicolor breath. I grabbed a few cereal bars and an energy drink at the set and looked around for ways to make myself useful. The fog was burning off, both literally and figuratively, when I walked outside the main garage to look for some missing gear in one of our vans and spotted Freddie heading towards the set from the Chateau Le Dump. More »

Autorama Cleanout: When Bad Ideas Go Bad

bwojdyla — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 10:07:51 EDT

Some of us Jalops have busy lives and a fan base that is not only extensive, but always demanding of attention. As such, sometimes the coverage of a major hot rod show like Detroit's Autorama may be posted a bit late. Hey, you'd post late too if you had to beat off all those fans with a bent tie rod. Anyway, in the next couple of days, expect tardy posts. You know, my norm. More »

Promo Roadster: The KTM X-Bow Promo Video

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:43:14 EDT

If you were wondering what KTM's new X-Bow (crossbow) roadster looks like on the track, check out this clip from a recent profile on German TV. While the driver is a sad facsimile of the black Stig, the X-Bow nonetheless looks like its just begging for an airstrip and a Northern European guy named Getthef k Outtadawei manning the stopwatch. – Mike Spinelli More »

Landmaster Returns from Post-Apocalyptic Disrepair

Mike Bumbeck — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:48:10 EST

The reason Damnation Alley didn't make a whole lot of sense back when we saw it in the theatre was that the projectionist ran the reels of this 1977 cinema gem 1-3-4-2. We're still confused. What we do remember is George Peppard driving all over a mixed up apparition of a post-nuclear southern California in the Dean Jeffries Landmaster. Jeffries took the then and still crazy sum of 400 large and brought forth the mighty Landmaster specifically for the film. The Landmaster was indeed tough, and has survived despite the apocalypse that was Damnation Alley's box office take. Look for the unveiling of the restored Landmaster and Dean Jeffries himself at the upcoming San Francisco Rod, Custom & Motorcycle Show. – Mike Bumbeck More »

Return of Hamster: Top Gear Coming Back in January

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:21:01 EST

Nearly three months from the day he nearly went supernova in a car powered by rocketry, "Top Gear"'s Richard Hammond attended the TG Cars of the Year Awards last week, ahead of the series' return to BBC2 air on January 27, 2007. At the ceremony, a Lego rep presented the quite-nearly-killed Hamster with a scale model of the car he was in — the Vampire jet car — made entirely of Lego blocks. No word on whether the show will continue the Star in a Spectularly Crashed car series, but we hear James May has decided against being pushed out of a Miami-bound 767 in a Cushman janitor's cart. That's probably wise. – Mike Spinelli More »

When TV was King of Kustoms

Mike Bumbeck — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 12:45:04 EST

Television was largely a scripted thing before a million channels and equal number of chopper building shows plunged TV into its current fetid stew of reality programming. The cop drama was king. Network produced cop shows ruled the airwaves for years at a time. Stretching the cop drama slightly thin was Banacek, played by a turtleneck wearing George Peppard. Banacek was an insurance investigator of Polish-American heritage who always managed to solve the crime or mystery at hand. More unusual than any of this was that though Banacek himself lived in Boston, action on the show always managed to take place in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. From this regal age of the television network rule also came kustom kars built by the likes of George Barris. More »

Mini Slot Car A-Team Elvis Mayhem

Mike Bumbeck — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 12:47:25 EST

Before video games and remote control cars that run on nitromethane became commonplace under the old tree, a slot car set was the coolest thing a wee lad could expect to rip into on the most awesome of mornings. While racing tiny versions of the coolest cars around on the plastic track and pretending one was Jackie Stewart or Mario Andretti was the first order of business, it wasn't long before imagination got the best of convention. Something like a couple of Mini-Coopers mowing over an A-Team Hannibal action figure to an Elvis soundtrack was usually the end result. – Mike Bumbeck More »

Classic Top Gear: The Wig Test

maustin — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 18:33:12 EDT

Our favorite limey motoring program is still on hiatus during the big ~~football~~ soccer touranament (and even that's on a two day break, natch). So to fill the long hours between the time you perm your hair to look like Clakson, or whiten your teeth like Hammond, or drive really slow to be like James May, we've got a short clip for you wherein the Top Gear crew investigates the effects of convertible driving on various wigs. Check it out. More »

You Can Be A Black Rapper: The Hamster Learns About "Bling" With The Cadillac Escalade

Ray Wert — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:55:00 EDT

We don't think there's much more we can or should say — the title speaks for itself. We don't want to in any way blemish this perfect vid of Hammond learning the ways of the "bling." There are three epic moments in the video you simply must keep on the lookout for, and here they are: More »

Top Gear Bloopers Part Two: James May Goes Through Puberty

Ray Wert — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 11:00:00 EDT

Damn this bloody World Cup all to hell — it's now well into week two of our "Top Gear"-deprived summer, all because they need the BBC Two for some silly little futbol match. Silliness, we tell you! Just like this second video of Top Gear bloopers that's now shown up on YouTube. You mean consummate professionals like Clarkson, Hammond and May — they don't get it right on the first take? No...they don't. Thus, the resulting blooper reel...and it's...how shall we say it? It's epic. More »

Ad Watch: The Audi TT Energy Field

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 08:30:38 EDT

In a new European TV spot for Audi's next-generation TT coupe, the car's got its own energy field that provides temporary energy to the city it passes through. It's done in typical Audi-commercial style. That is, clever and technically awesome, but lacking in emotional bridgebuilding. Then again, the tagline is "Pure Energy," so we weren't expecting a box of chocolates. [Thanks to Dave for the tip.] More »

Dad, Can I Borrow the Rod?: Cars of Famous TV Fathers

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 10:08:21 EDT

NADAguides.com is celebrating Father's Day by examining the cars of some famous TV fathers. While we'd always been partial to Mike Brady's seemingly endless selection of Mopar convertibles, we hadn't considered Ward Cleaver's similar proclivities, of the Plymouth sedan variety, or Al Bundy's '72 Dart (what else would he drive?). Still, even with Tony Soprano's SUV's and Hulk Hogan's Viper, there are at least two TV-dad rides they failed to mention. Check 'em out after the jump, and include your own candidates in the comments. More »

Ad Watch: 'Lost' In Translation With Jeep

Ray Wert — Sun, 21 May 2006 00:29:09 EDT

We've never been able to get into the show Lost. Try as we might, we just weren't able to get a stiffie for the ABC show. But maybe we just didn't realize how the show about island survivors of a mysterious plane crash could possibly find an automotive tie-in. Maybe we weren't looking hard enough. We totally aren't able to explain this one, so we'll let the run-on sentences of Deanna Zammit of AdFreak do it for us — More »

Ponytail Party: Ford GT Designer Guests on Extreme Makeover

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 08 May 2006 09:19:04 EDT

There's nothing like downing a quart of H agen-Dazs while watching a five-hanky episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to get in touch with our weepy side. We weren't watching yesterday (sorry, k-hole) when Ford GT designer and pop artist Camilo "Straight out of Central Casting" Pardo appeared on the show to make-over a bedroom with one of his paintings. The Queens, NY native returned to his hometown to appear on the ABC show, which was renovating the home of a family from Lichtenstein who'd been forced to emigrate due to boredom, and had been wracked with leprosy ever since they were attacked by zombies during a camping trip in Pennsylvania. Well, it might have been that. More »

Top Gear Blooper Reel: "These Great Big Orbs!"

Ray Wert — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 14:06:35 EDT

Like us, many believe Jeremy, James and the Hamster always get it right on the first take. We were shocked to find out how mistaken we were. So for those of you like us, who believed truly in the infallibility of the Holy Trinity of Automotive Television (The Holy T.A.T.) ...we've got a special compilation for y'all...and let me tell you...it's epic. The boys across the pond put together a montage of their best bloopers and outtakes, and we're pleased to share it with you this Sunday as we prepare for the Big Apple's Auto Show festivities next week. Enjoy! More »

PBS's "Nova" to Feature DARPA Grand Challenge Tonight

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 10:10:19 EST

Prop-heads set your Tivos on stun. PBS's "Nova" tonight will feature a look at last October's DARPA Grand Challenge autonomous vehicle race, on a episode it calls "The Great Robot Race." The program will follow contestants in the lead-up to the race followed by the competition, in which a Volkswagen Touareg named Stanley, built by the team of Stanford University and Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) won by completing the 132-mile desert course in six hours and 35 minutes. Geek rating: A[sum(X[j]*Y[j], j=1,10)]+. More »

Cadillac Marketing Director Out to "Get You"

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 10:40:06 EST

Taking quotes out of context and using them in a sensationalistic headline (see above) isn't the only way to get a message across, but it seems to be working better than TV ads. TiVo, says Cadillac's marketing director, Liz Vanzura, is "killing" them deader than the post-midnight test patterns of the 1960s. That's why Cadillac spent so many millions on its Super Bowl sponsorship — because it's event that masses of people will watch live. It's also why the company is taking a closer look at the Internet, and even considering podcasts, to convey Cadillac's brand message. Yep, the Internet. Maybe you've heard of it. More »

Winter Olympic Sports We'd Like to See More Of

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 14:41:56 EST

Oh man, we picked this one up off the Googles last night, and while it's not our favorite episode, it is rife with mad hoonage: a rocket-powered ski-jumping Mini. Clarkson fruitlessly wielding both HK MP5 and Volvo XC90, Hammond out-freezing a Citro n, automotive hockey and the eating of the yellow snow as punishment. Oh, and credits where everyone's named "Bjorn" except the presenters and Anni-Frid Stig, who takes the ski jump on a snowmobile. Well, you know he was in the mood for a dance, and then he got a chance... More »

TeeVee in Your Hyundee

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 13:11:22 EST

Them Koreans is all up on top of that technological televisional bandwagon and they're bringin' the televizzle revolution to your automobizzle. Dude. We are so totally sorry for that last sentence. According to this oddly-worded little bit we found, "Cars featuring mobile TV devices will be released in upcoming February." Apparently, the boob tube will work at speeds up to 150 km/h and will first be introduced on the Ecuus luxo-ish sedan, then spread across the model range. Trickle-down Televonics? That's just so '80s! More »

More on Top Gear USA

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 08:12:07 EST

Recently, we were accused of wanting the upcoming US version of the UK's Top Gear to fail because we're part of the self-hating class of "anything American sucks" coastal elites, who would rather give the whole of Europe a go at our sister than consider an American media product culturally relevant. That couldn't be further from the truth (punk rock!), but if the US version is merely a dumbed-down, puffed-up, "righteous, dude," Spike TV-ready version of Top Gear, it will suck, and suck hard. Top Gear magazine put up the a profile on the show's production that ran in its print edition recently. Read it and make your predictions. [Thanks to Don for the tip.] More »

Let the Choir Have Some: Honda's Civic Ad in the UK

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 07:39:46 EST

Honda's new UK ad for the Civic may be completely ludicrous, but it sure took a lot of work to get it that way. In it, a choir, led by a dour and fittingly bald conductor, performs an a-cappella piece mimicking the soundtrack of a typical car commercial — the revving of the engine, tires on a gravel road, rain on the roof, screeching tires, electronica on the stereo, et al. It's a stunning work of virtuosity that showcases what's possible when you throw enough money and time at some creative director's pot-induced reverie. A must watch. [Thanks to CJ for the tip.] More »

Only in Japan: RaySat Introduces World's Smallest Vehicle Antenna for Satellite TV

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 11:50:33 EST

Automotive satellite TV antenna developer RaySat introduced its super-small TeleRay antenna at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas today. Sorry kids, it's only for Japanese BS/CS sat broadcasts aired domestically. Small enough for the roof of a keicar, the pizza-sized antenna, just one-inch thick and 16 inches in diameter, lets passengers in a moving vehicle watch what's on Japan's SkyPerfecTV as well as free-to-air BS channels. It'll be available in Japan by year's end, but sadly, US A/V geeks will have to be satisfied with the flying-saucer-sled-sized SpeedRay 3000 for the foreseeable future. More »

Auditioning for the US TopGear

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 11:29:24 EST

Ezra Dyer (Automobile, Esquire) is one of the cleverest auto scribes in the business. Perfect, you'd think, for a spot on the new, US version of TopGear, which is currently in production. But judging from his account of a recent audition for the show, maybe not so much. More »