Here we present our weekly Jalopnik series that recaps the latest in car culture. We’ve showcased our most read offerings as well as some you may have missed.
2.5 Million New Cars Are Just Sitting On Dealer Lots
Good morning! It’s Monday, December 11, 2023, and this is The Morning Shift, your daily roundup of the top automotive headlines from around the world, in one place. Here are the important stories you need to know. – Andy Kalmowitz Read More
Vigilante Who Chased Down And Shot Elderly Man After Minor Car Crash Convicted Of Murder
A vigilante woman has been found guilty of murder after chasing down and shooting an elderly black man who left the scene of a minor car crash. Hannah Payne “acted like a cop” and pursued Kenneth Herring in her vehicle after seeing him hit a truck in May of 2019, according to the Daily Mail. That’s right: Payne wasn’t even involved in the crash. – Andy Kalmowitz Read More
Go Ahead, Listen To TikTok. Pour Warm Water On Your Frozen Windshield. See What Happens.
Rapid change in temperature is just plain bad for glass. Particularly for a large sheet of glass — like a car windshield — pouring warm water on frosty glass is likely to crack or shatter it, as the warm parts expand at different rates from the cold parts. The glass will crack simply to get away from itself. It’s a very simple scientific experiment; just wait until a below-freezing day and walk out to your car with a hot kettle of water. Boom, within seconds, you’ll have a broken windshield. If you’re not willing to risk it, you can always use a little plastic scraper to get the frost off. Or move somewhere that doesn’t frost. Or get a place with a heated garage. – Bradley Brownell Read More
A Husband Was So Jealous Of His Wife’s Bugatti Chiron That He Got His Chiron Repainted To Match
My favorite car that I saw at Monterey Car Week this year was the bright orange Bugatti Chiron Super Sport ‘L’Aura’ (French for “the aura”), a super bespoke build that wears a hand-painted “Vagues de Lumière” livery that mimics the way light falls and reflects on the car’s bodywork. It turns out I wasn’t the only one who fell in love with the car, as the owner’s husband decided to have his own Chiron Super Sport refurbished to match her spec. – Daniel Golson Read More
Dealer Strands Woman And Sick Son After Stalling On Engine Repairs And Rejecting Her Warranty Claim (Update)
Update December 12, 2023, 06:25 p.m. ET: This story initally reported that the customer in question bought a Hyundai vehicle, but the automaker looked into the case following initial coverage and learned that Virginia Sousa purchased a used GMC Acadia at Lithia Hyundai. The carmaker reportedly reached out to the buyer to provide assistance. This story has been changed to reflect these new findings. – José Rodríguez Jr. Read More
Ford Cuts 2024 F-150 Lightning Production Goal In Half Because Of Weakening Demand
Good morning! It’s Tuesday, December 12, 2023, and this is The Morning Shift, your daily roundup of the top automotive headlines from around the world, in one place. Here are the important stories you need to know. – Andy Kalmowitz Read More
Florida Man Driving Stolen Mustang Kills Three, Injures Two After Traffic Stop
A Florida man driving a stolen Ford Mustang allegedly crashed it into two sheriff’s vehicles and a Dodge Grand Caravan, killing three people and injuring two others on December 6, according to People. – Andy Kalmowitz Read More
San Francisco Is Fighting Against Car Break-Ins With Glitter Bombs And Fart Spray
Frequent car break-ins in San Francisco are a major problem for the city’s residents and the SFPD. Prosecutors and police are unable to punish thieves due to a statute demanding proof that a vehicle was locked at the time of a break-in, which most people are unable to provide. This has created a loophole that lets thieves go free, but San Francisco residents are fighting back with glitter bombs and clever devices, which make it easy to identify thieves. – José Rodríguez Jr. Read More
The 2024 Jaguar F-PACE SVR Is Unbelievably Loud
Listen to the glorious sounds brought to you by a supercharged V8.
Just What The Hell Counts As An SUV Anymore?
SUV used to be a term reserved for body-on-frame, truck-based vehicles, until the crossover came along and turned everything on its head. Now some automakers claim that their subcompact front-wheel-drive hatchbacks are SUVs or crossovers, and we have unibody trucks like the Ford Maverick and Honda Ridgeline that further muddy things up. So, what really makes an SUV an SUV anymore? As these terms grow more and more diluted, it seems the best explanation is that classifying a vehicle is all about the vibe. The actual physical and mechanical differences between a car that’s classified as an SUV, hatchback, or crossover has become moot. – Logan Carter Read More