The Most Fascinating Things Jalopnik Explained in 2018
Automobiles and the infrastructure around them are complicated, which is why Jalopnik takes pride in writing explainers…
Here's Why Some Radio Stations Still Work In Tunnels
The other day, I was sitting in the back of a new Audi A8, lounging in my heated, reclined seat and playing with the…
A Ford Flex Is Not a Van and the Definitive Rules of Vanhood
Yesterday, it came to my attention that, incredibly, there are people out there who do not know what a van is. More…
Why Some Cars Look Like They're Driving Sideways Down The Road
Have you ever driven down a straight road and noticed that the car in front of you appeared to be driving sideways,…
How the Most Interesting Toy Cars in the World Get Made
If you love cars, I’m just about positive you started life loving toy cars. I’ve yet to meet any gearhead that doesn’t…
This Is Why You Can't Unlock A Car Door If Someone Is Trying To Open It At The Same Time
This is one of the most common shared experiences in all of automobilia: You’re outside a car, trying to get in. The…
Here's How Electronic Parking Brakes Work
Quickly fading are the days when we were free to dream of cranking a lever connected to cables that would squeeze the…
This Is Why Some Automatic Transmissions Shift Straight and Some Are All Zig-Zaggy
If you’ve ever looked at floor-mounted automatic transmission shift levers, with either disdain or genuine gratitude,…
Here's The Difference Between Synthetic And Normal Motor Oil, And What The Numbers On The Bottle Mean
I just changed the oil in my Nissan Pao last week, and in doing so I was warned—several times—that my plan to replace…
It's Time You Knew The Difference Between Boxer Engines And Flat Engines
You’re a gearhead. You know to chuckle knowingly and condescendingly when some dumbass refers to the “V4" in their…
Here's Everything You Ever Needed To Know About Speed Limits
Surely you knows you’re supposed to follow posted speed limits, but do you know how they’re set in the first place?
Here's Why Knowing The Correct Racing Line Makes You Faster
A lot of street driving novices might try to justify swerving like a maniac all over the road in some sort of effort to…
Here's Why Automakers Don't Advertise How Long It Takes To Fully Charge An Electric Car
Almost every EV in production today has one thing in common—lithium ion batteries, from the Tesla Model 3 to the Nissan…
Here's What 'Compression Ratio' Actually Means And Why It Matters
You’ve heard the term compression ratio before, but have you ever wondered exactly what it means? Well, it’s time to…
Here's What Those Weird Black Tubes In The Road Are For
I’ve been thinking about tubes. Specifically, the weird black tubes that you often find stretched across a roadway.…
Here's What Interference Engines Are And Why They Exist At All
Do you know what an “interference engine” is? While I know a great many of our regular readers do, there’s no shame if…
Here's How Speed Limits Are Set
You, a human being who we imagine likes to drive cars, are probably aware of the signs posted that state exactly how…
Here's What DOHC Means And Why It Matters
For years, carmakers have been in the habit of putting some of the technical innovations they’re proud of on the back…
This Is Why People In Southern California Say 'The' In Front Of Freeway Names
I don’t know if you have noticed this but I certainly did when I first moved to Southern California: People insist on…
How To Win A Championship Title In This New, Confusing Age Of NASCAR
At the end of Sunday’s Daytona 500, there will most likely already be a driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series…