It looks like Ford is on its way to creating a separate Bronco brand much like it’s doing with the Mustang. A week from today Ford will finally, finally unveil the 2021 Bronco in three flavors. The first three are the Bronco two-door, four-door, and smaller Bronco Sport. But Ford won’t be stopping there. It …
The hot rod is an all-American pastime due largely to its lack of rules and norms. It’s about freedom of expression and anything goes. Sometimes that free-choice combination becomes iconic. Such is the case of the Tom McMullen 1932 highboy roadster. Now the iconic flamed McMullen Deuce roadster can be yours when it’s auctioned at …
The promise of a new wave of imported cars from China like Japan in the 1960s and South Korea in the 1990s hasn’t happened. Why? It has been almost 20 years since the expectation of new Chinese imports seemed on the horizon. But we’ve seen nothing. China is the world’s largest market for auto manufacturers …
We don’t believe the Chevy Camaro is long for this world after seeing the latest sales figures for April-June 2020. In Q2 Chevy sold only 6,674 2020 Camaros in the US. But it was way down in every market it is sold in. Sales for the first half of 2020 are off by almost 50%. …
There’s no reason that Cadillac needs to keep to the Escalade script. At the end of the day, it’s still an SUV, and SUVs were made for off-road shenanigans. Or pool parties. So, while the Escalade is supposed to be an urban, VIP Luxo barge, Suburban add-on, why does it have to be? This listing …
Tesla’s founder and CEO Elon Musk have a knack for generating publicity. And we’re sure he is seeing all of the publicity at the feet of Ford with this week’s 2021 F150 reveal and the anticipation of the Bronco reveal next week. So now Musk says he’ll do a “cross-country drive with the Cybertruck later …
It would be interesting to know who within Ford thought this was a good idea for a Mercury concept car. How many other really bad ideas did this person have before being shown the door? There are many examples of bad ideas from Detroit, and this Mercury Sable convertible is a perfect example. While the …
The SUV zeitgeist continues to claim sedan victims. Every indication was that Lincoln would kill its last sedan, the iconic Continental. Today it is official. There is just no way the Continental could continue on with the abysmal sales it was generating. Last year it sold only about 6,600 Continentals. That’s about 25 cars a …
What’s going on at Dodge? Once a mainstream brand with an ass for every seat, it has slowly turned into a company hellbent on Hellcats and muscle cars. Old muscle cars at that. The LX platform which the Challenger and Charger (and Chrysler 300) are based upon came out in 2004 as 2005 models. That …
Americans only get 10 national holidays a year which to most is not good. We all wish there could and should be more. But looking at the numbers for highway traffic deaths, maybe it is a good thing there aren’t more. On average there have been 450 deaths on Independence Day between 2016 and 2018. …
Corvettes have been prime material to modify forever, but you’ve never seen freakish Vettes like these before. Just by the fact they have fiberglass bodies must be too much for owners to stand. With some fiberglass matte, a can of Bondo, and no direction at all, owners looking to own a unique Vette can have …
All of the hype surrounding the new Ford Bronco is pushing up values of older Broncos like crazy. They’ve always been popular, but with the focus on an all-new version the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades, there is a bright spotlight on everything Bronco. As it became larger and less distinctive the …
Today Ohioans can celebrate the death of front license plates. It just killed the need for the front plates. There are now 20 states that have determined front license plates are unnecessary. Now all the states that still do need to follow Ohio’s lead. This was a long and contentious fight by police and even …
Quick, name the two things Chevy needs to fix on its Silverado pickups? It’s an easy question; the blandtastic interiors and that ridiculous fascia. We think Chevy has been bluffing about how popular its new trucks are. All trucks are popular, but Chevy lost ground last year to Ram when it slipped to third place. …
Not all Worst Cars are ugly. And some Worst Cars are not even cars; they can be trucks. Take this week’s Worst Car Wednesday pick: the 1961-1962 Ford F-Series Styleside. Look at it. What could be wrong with that? This was Ford’s attempt to stylize and modernize America’s pickup. What is different about what came …
There are still cars out there today with chronic head gasket issues. In spite of better materials, better gasket sealants, and tighter manufacturer tolerances it is ongoing. A blown head gasket can lead to catastrophic engine failures from excessive heat or water getting into the cylinder head. Leaking water can contaminate crankcase oil rather quickly. …
Nissan has troubles on many fronts. As such executives facing an angry mob just goes with the current state of things which is really bad. Facing the music, Nissan executives assembled their yearly shareholder’s meeting. It tried to soften the blow by giving details about its new EV Ariya crossover. The Ariya will be unveiled …
An article in Business Insider with plenty of backup reports and other data says Tesla has known for years that it had battery pack coolant leaks. Once the coolant is dried out it causes fires. Author Linette Lopez has the backup of specialists, internal emails, and two analysis reports initiated by Tesla. Some of the …
In a landmark decision that will reverberate for years, California announced it will require manufacturers to start selling zero-emission vehicles by 2024. The mandate applies to medium-duty and heavy trucks. The goal is to have a minimum of 300,000 zero-emission trucks traversing the state by 2035. By 2045, all medium and heavy-duty trucks will be …
If your Tesla is stopping at every freeway exit where a Burger King is located, it’s not wondering “where’s the beef?” It can’t because it’s an inanimate-well, you know why. It’s because Burger King roadside signs cause Teslas to stop. There is confusion because the sign recognition system is matching the details of the Burger …
With accusations and denials blasted all over the Web, it’s hard to tell what’s going on with Karma, the independent car manufacturer in California. But, when you see who has left the company and dig for what future plans are being shaped it paints a more realistic picture. And that picture is decidedly not pretty. …
Those looking for a cheap, new car have just had their choices reduced. The Toyota Yaris sedan and hatchback will be no more in the US after July 2020. In the US for 14 years the Yaris subcompact will be gone, leaving only the C-HR subcompact in Toyota’s lineup. The announcement came from a leaked …
Did you know there was a Facebook and Instagram boycott? Growing by the day the boycott sees large companies withholding advertising over the sites preventing disinformation and hate speech. Verizon, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Levis, Hershey’s, and similar large companies have pledged to halt their advertising to align more publicly with civil-rights groups. Now Honda is boycotting …
SUVs and pickup trucks are so popular they’re killing off sedans and sports cars. But, you knew that. So the pickup/SUV zeitgeist has even invaded the freak realm. We humbly present three matchless examples of freaky commercial standouts that defy everything we know about what is cool and what is gruel. While we applaud the …
The 2021 Ford F150 refresh we have been waiting years for has finally been revealed. It has to be the most disappointing refresh ever. Sure, it is chock full of technical innovations, features never before seen, and hyper strong hype. You would think this was THE invention of the pickup truck. We applaud Ford for …
The Insurance Institute Of Highway Safety says you’re safer in a convertible than you are in its fixed-roof counterpart. Statistically, anyway. So let’s be clear; convertibles may be “statistically safer” in actual use but they don’t offer more protection to drivers in a roll-over. Also, the likelihood of the driver or passenger in an accident …
The Mustang Mach-E forums are blowing up about the prices being charged by dealers for the Mach-E. Those who placed advanced orders don’t know what price the dealer they go through will charge. Some dealers are tacking on $15,000 and even more over MSRP. Ford is telling customers that complain about the unexpected increase they …
Back in January, when you could do these types of things, Subaru held a technical meeting in Japan. There, it announced details of a joint venture with Toyota for a shared all-electric platform. It also showed off an EV crossover concept more than hinting at what the platform might wreak. Few details were given for …
Worst Car Wednesday will delve into how and why some truly horrible mass-produced cars were ever created. We set the stage and report on how consumers reacted and what the manufacturers did to “fix” their mistakes. Look, we know there are fans for some of these creations. We are some of those fans. But the …
The SUV zeitgeist is not just an American thing. But Japan covets small cars, not SUVs. So you might be surprised to know that sedans are so dead in Japan that Honda is dropping the Civic for the second time. Is the US next? We would say no based on sales over the last several …
We were hoping that the 2021 Jaguar I-Pace EV would finally see improvements to fix its range woes. Well, they haven’t been addressed so they still suck. Jaguar, how could you do this? The range issue has been a problem since the first I-Pace EVs showed up in 2018. Advertised ranges of 300 miles were …
McLaren is scrambling for cash. It’s so desperate it is trying to use its headquarters in Woking, UK, and its classic car collection as collateral for loans. The problem is it already did that exact thing in 2017 to buy out shareholder Ron Dennis for almost $350 million. Also, it paid for transaction fees, helped …
A quick quiz: Do you know where your nearest Mitsubishi dealer is? Can you name any model you would consider at least looking into purchasing? Have you noticed any Mitsubishi vehicles in the wild on the highway or in town? Unfortunately, those who took our quiz said “no” to all three. Mitsubishi has an identity, …
Is a crossover just a slightly lifted station wagon? Is a station wagon just a crossover with a different name? As rare as they are becoming could station wagons be cooler than SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks? Only the future can tell. But if all future wagons are based on the 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross …
The buying public has lost any interest in regular-cab pickups. Almost 85% of pickup sales are crew-cabs in 2020. In Canada, it’s almost 90%. When it comes to extended-cab pickups they’re selling at 14% of total sales. Regular-cabs amount to about three percent. In Canada, it’s down to one percent. Those regular-cab sales are bought …
We don’t care what the date is. It won’t really be the 21st century until we have flying cars. Urban Aeronautics is getting us closer to that day with the CityHawk. It flies but isn’t a winged craft. Instead, it is hiding two rotors hidden underneath its skin. The advantage of this type of Fancraft …
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The Nissan GT-R is a brutal street/track masterpiece. While it has always attracted modifications to wring even more power and better handling out of it, exterior customizing has existed mostly through painting, graphics, and different wheel and tire combos. So what’s up with this Nissan GT-R? It sure doesn’t look like one, does it? That’s …
After years of seeing Spot the Boston Dynamics robot dog online, in commercials, and maybe even in use, you can now buy one for yourself. Yes, the Boston Dynamics robot dog is for sale to the public. Just pony up $74,500 and give BD six-to-eight weeks for delivery. BAM! You’ve got a robot dog. Life …
So, would you pay $1200 to never have to park ever again? If that sounds intriguing you may be just the person Steer is looking for. Steer makes aftermarket Level 4 autonomous parking and summoning devices. If you have a 2012 or newer vehicle, hate to park, or even to look for a parking spot, this …
All of these lists are subjective, but we’re sure you’ll agree with most of these “Most Hated” selections. If there is a common thread among these selections it is that most are from the era when “downsizing” was thought to be the answer. But the Detroit 3’s idea of downsizing meant cheap, crappy, and ugly. …
The big news is not that BMW is releasing the M2 CS coupe but instead its the tires it rides on. Tire technology has improved over the years but in racing environments, the only feedback they give you is through the steering wheel. Temperature, wear, and pressure are all done through observation or by a …
There’s a land grab going on in wilderness areas to drill for oil and natural gas. That means off-roading will soon be banned in scenic places like Moab, Utah. Specifically, the Trump administration is hammering the Interior Department and Bureau of Land Management to sell as many drilling leases as possible according to the Southern …
There’s a big difference between creating and designing. We hear many times, “That’s different!” But being different does not make it good design. Different can be very good, but it is not exclusively one way or the other. For this week’s Freak Show Friday we present two very different El Camino-like creations. You can decide …
So we’ll get the nomenclature hype out of the way first. Kia no longer calls its minivan a minivan. Now it’s a Grand Utility Vehicle. Sort of like when some marketing whiz decided that a station wagon would become a Sport Utility Vehicle. There were minor differences between the two, but not enough to really …
Jeep Cherokees continue to have issues with transmissions. In the case of the 2014 and 2015 Cherokees, the voluntary recall issued today makes it the third recall over transmission woes. The first 2014-2015 issue was a software glitch that caused the transmission to arbitrarily go into Neutral in 2014 models. With the second 2014-2015 issue …
Ah, so what do we have here? Hmmm. It looks like leaked images of the 2022 ID.4 Cross EV that VW doesn’t want to be seen yet. But like magic; here they are. It’s that damn internet for ya. No regard for pesky embargos. So, if you’ve been wondering what possibly the most important new …
An ongoing US Department of Justice investigation of Ford is continuing, 14 months after it was initiated. The investigation is over Ford cars and trucks emitting more pollutants and getting less gas mileage than labels and advertising suggests. This is across the board including all Ford cars, trucks, and SUVs. The concerns were raised back …
We want the Mazda BT-50. Mazda used to sell pickup trucks in the US and it could use a shot in the arm that the BT-50 would give it. But will the US get the new 2021 Mazda BT-50 pickup truck? We’ll get into that in a bit, let’s find out about the BT-50 first. …
We’ve got leaked images of the 2021 VW Arteon Shooting Brake. VW decided to add a wagon to the midsize Arteon sedan and both will officially debut next week. Many car enthusiasts lament the demise of the station wagon. There are a few European companies still cranking them out but 2020 is it for the …
This morphodite vehicle is as track capable as it is weird. The “don’t judge a book by its cover” advice applies here in spades. While most auto manufacturers will tout achievements like mileage or horsepower, Donkervoort’s aims are on a different plain. The biggest accomplishment of the D8 GTO-JD70 is that it has the ability …
