Based on not just what Lutz wrote, but my own experience hanging around GM for about a decade — it's hard to imagine someone else blowing up the process that was pushing out vehicles like the Aztek and replacing it with something that worked. The meat of the book is about just how difficult it is to re-teach an entire… Read more

Every vehicle GM sells right now has Lutz's fingerprints somewhere — from the body panel gaps to paint quality to interiors. They will have them for a few years to come. Read more

The GT500 does use a Tremec. All other 'Stangs use the MT86 Read more

The Smart ForTwo's safety ratings in the U.S. were underwhelming. NHTSA gave it four out of five stars for protecting drivers in frontal crashes and three out of five for passengers; under the old regime, most vehicles could swing five stars for both. And those star grades are only valid for crashing into vehicles… Read more

No, you're thinking of the one where Frank gets his comeuppance and Radar acts like a 10-year-old. Read more

Washington does cross the Delaware. No Tommy J, but Andrew Jackson is on there, for some reason. Read more

I want to say left front fender. Hood is Iwo Jima. Read more

We're to the point that if there's an auto and manual offered on the same new model, the auto always delivers better mileage Read more

One guy started yelling at another guy about saving chairs. Guy saving chairs yelled back. Yelly the First then picked up the chair in a Jerry Springer grip, still shouting about how everyone's working and there are no chairs, almost beaning Spinelli. After a crack from the saver about Yelly being off his meds and… Read more

I had girlfriends in the 1990s. Read more

Tell her that Senna makes Mr. Big look like Pee-Wee Herman. (Lots of at-home in Brazil footage relaxing on the boat). Read more

1.6 is the only engine. 1.8 goes away. Read more

You are a sick man. I only sing Clash songs into the blowdryer. Read more

Boom goes the dynamite. Read more

Because he's a photographer: He was just showing off his work. Read more

There is no AWD available on an Avenger, and there's no indication Chrysler built a system to put on this one. Chrysler does sell an AWD Charger, but that platform was designed with AWD to be an option. Read more

We try to keep up with oppo and tips, but some days are harder than others. If you want to ensure our eyeballs see it, I always recommend tips@jalopnik.com Read more

Auto finance companies — Ally Bank, GM Financial, Ford Credit and the "captives" owned by other automakers account for the majority of new-car loans. They're mini-banks — they borrow money from Wall Street and other investors, then lend it to buyers and make money. Did I say make? I meant mint. A normally run finance… Read more

As someone who loves living in DC because of all the great stuff that people come here to gawk at, I'm with Matt. Read more