One of the most significant television decisions ever made was to put Richard Belzer’s character Det. John Munch in the show St. Elsewhere. I think I’ve talked about this before, but people seemed to love Richard Belzer, and so Detective Munch ends up being invited to appear or cameo on a lot of shows that, themselves, have characters that end up on other shows. If you ask some people, this puts these shows in the same universe.

Some of this is pretty tame and inconsequential, because what does it matter that Jess from New Girl bumps into Jake from Brooklyn 99? In the case of Munch, it is a big deal, maybe, because Munch was on the show Homicide: Life On The Street, which had characters who also appeared on the medical drama St. Elsewhere. That show made the big choice to reveal in the last episode that the entire series was all a dream had by an autistic patient named Tommy Westphall. This is where we get the Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis.

If you are a certain kind of person, you could argue that Breaking Bad, Cheers, and The Wire are all happening in some kid’s mind. I don’t really believe that, and the creators would have probably gone about things differently if they did realize what they were inadvertently doing at the time. It’s a mostly harmless Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon-type thought experiment for nerds who love to hear themselves talk.

Thankfully, I’m one of those nerds, and so I am going to connect two of my favorite pieces of art: The Fast and the Furious and Friday Night Lights. As you may be aware, Leslie Hanna and I are doing a podcast, and in that podcast she’s going to watch every movie in the franchise for the first time (you can watch the first episode here). This will include all the weird little interludes and side quests, such as Hobbs & Shaw.

Having watched the first film, I wanted to make sure that Leslie got a chance to absorb the weird choice to create what’s almost a silent film to bridge the first installment and 2 Fast 2 Furious. It’s called The Turbo Charged Prelude to 2 Fast 2 Furious, and it introduces a lot of strange possibilities and zero Preludes of any kind. You can see us talking about it here:

▶ Watch Video on YouTube ↗

The first episode of The Fast and The Curious is now available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and other platforms. You can also listen to it below or use the RSS to hook into your favorite podcast app. Above is the YouTube video, and below is our embedded player:

We talk about everything, not just my silly theory, but here’s more info on why I see a potential universe implication.

Is This Lyla Garrity?

▶ Watch Video on YouTube ↗

As we discuss, the whole reason for this short film–directed by the same guy who made the video for “The Real Slim Shady,” btw–was to explain why Dom was gone and Brian is suddenly hanging out in Miami. A lot of decisions were made after the original film, and we’ll litigate those on the next episode, but for now I want to talk about a specific choice for this little cinematic interstitial.

While running from the law, Brian happens to run into a young woman who, it seems, is also on a trip of her own. Unsurprisingly, these two very beautiful people end up at the exact same crappy motel. She’s a well-known actress at this point, thanks in part to her role as cheerleader Lyla Garrity in FNL. If it were just the inclusion, Kelly’s appearance here wouldn’t be a big deal.

There’s more, though. Without spoiling either the short or the TV show, I think it’s not giving away to say that Lyla often has a contentious relationship with her father, Buddy Garrity. It doesn’t spoil anything to point out that Buddy Garrity is also a GM franchisee in the fictional Central Texas town of Dillon, and I think it comes up in the pilot.

Here’s where it gets weird. There’s a map that they refer to during Brian’s journey to Miami, and it stops in Central Texas for this scene:

While there’s not an explicit geography set for the show (it’s filmed in the Austin suburb of Pflugerville), it’s generally understood to be in a semi-remote part of the state in the Hill Country that is far enough away from the big cities so as to not absorb much of their culture. It’s been proposed online that the town is near Seguin, which makes a lot of sense to someone who has lived in this part of the world.

Either way, if Lyla were to run away from her dad for a few days, it could very easily be in this direction. Also, she could have a nice car like the Mitsubishi she’s seen driving. If this were her senior year, it also wouldn’t be unreasonable for her to be open to helping out a random handsome gentleman on the run from the cops (we don’t see anything else happening, which makes this theory more comfortable).

The lack of dialogue makes this theory hard to disprove, as does the fact that she’s credited as simply “The Girl” and not given some kind of other name. Tthe Fast Saga has already played the game of crossing characters with ancillary products (Han/Better Luck Tomorrow), so this isn’t entirely out of line.

So, I can’t prove it’s Lyla, but I also don’t think you can prove it isn’t.

Or maybe I’m just grasping at straws here! What do you think?

Top photo: The Autopian

The post Are The Fast And The Furious Movies In The Friday Night Lights TV Universe? appeared first on The Autopian.

Volkswagen Beetle. The Morris Mini. Lee Iacocca’s minivans. The list of “most influential cars ever” is often a boring collection of machines that, in many cases, didn’t even start the trend they’re credited with.

At the same time, there are plenty of cars in history that really helped change the course of the products we buy today that nobody talks about. What are some that you can think of? Mind you- these don’t have to be great or even good cars. Some were rather awful, but they undeniably altered the automotive landscape forever.

If you went to a Chevy dealer in early 1979 for a “compact”, the salesman would present you with a Nova. This was a bog-simple conventional car that basically dated back twenty years and, like most of GM’s other cars, spun the wheels on its live rear axle.

Going back to that same showroom six months later, you’d have been shocked to see that old Nova replaced by something entirely new: the 1980 Citation. With a transverse drivetrain pushing power to the front wheels, this hatchback had the basic specifications of a VW Dasher/Passat or Saab 900 (but with the optional V6 and a stick it was arguably faster, if not more refined). This was a technology shift of decades in one model year.

It could even tow with no rear wheels!

▶ Watch Video on YouTube ↗

This was a major gamble for General Motors, and it paid off in a huge way: over 800,000 sold in the first year alone. Yes, it had teething problems galore, but less than ten years later there were virtually no rear-wheel-drive cars in the GM stable left (or in any other Big 3 brand, for that matter.) If that’s not influential, what is?

Also in 1980, a lot of people laughed at a jacked-up station wagon (and later sedans) with four-wheel drive that you could use on pavement or any kind of surface without the need to get out and twist wheel hubs or even turn it on. The AMC Eagle actually sold moderately well but was hardly a runaway smash. Honestly, why would it be? Who would ever want a half car/half sport utility vehicle “crossover” anyway? Obviously, the thing was about two decades too early to market.

There are plenty more examples of pioneering cars that nobody acknowledges or even remembers. Can you name some?

The post What Cars Were Incredibly Influential That People Always Forget? Autopian Asks appeared first on The Autopian.

The camper van is one of the most accessible ways to go RVing. Vans fit in parking spaces, don’t require you to tow a trailer, can be used as utility vehicles, and can even be a daily driver. The world of camper vans is vast, from converted Ford E-Series vans to fancy Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans. If you’re looking for something a bit weird, this 1977 Mercedes-Benz 206D might hit the spot. This restored gorgeous green cutie will probably be the slowest thing on the road, but between the plaid interior, the diesel engine, and the manual transaxle, you might not even care.

I’ve been finding myself rather fascinated with the vehicles people are importing that aren’t the typical enthusiast cars from Japan or Europe. There’s nothing wrong with these cars; I even happily owned a Honda Beat once, but I love seeing all of the strange vehicles America never got. You have to put some real effort into importing a car into America, too, so it’s fascinating to see what cars people were willing to invest the time and money to bring here.

This 1977 Mercedes-Benz 206D has lived in America for a while, and was recently the recipient of a restoration. Despite its compact size, it has just about everything you need for a fun weekend from home. Well, so long as speed isn’t one of your requirements, anyway. The van is plenty weird, too, starting with the fact that it’s technically not even a Mercedes-Benz.

A Maker Of Everything On Wheels

The story of the Mercedes-Benz 206D starts with another van, the Hanomag-Henschel F20. The history of the defunct Hanover, Germany, automaker Hanomag is a fascinating one. Like the General Motors of the 20th century, Hanomag had its hands in so many industries. I have written about Hanomag previously:

Hanomag originally started off in 1835 as Maschinenfabrik und Eisengießerei Georg Egestorff. Founder Georg Egestorff opened an iron foundry to build steam engines, boilers, and industrial equipment. This eventually evolved into building farm machinery and in 1846, steam locomotives.

In 1912, as farming news site Lancaster Farming notes, the company began making the Hanomag tractor. Hanomag tractors reportedly rose in popularity in 1928 when the company switched from gas engines to four stroke diesels. The site writes that Hanomags are among some of the first diesel tractors. Lancaster Farming goes on to say that back in the early 1950s, Hanomag was the number one tractor manufacturer in Europe.

Hanomag got into car manufacturing in 1924 with the 2/10, and the business would turn a profit on cars beginning in 1928. According to the Lane Motor Museum, by 1931, Hanomag had a 25 percent share of the small-car market in Germany, followed by DKW at 19 percent, and BMW at 17 percent.

Hanomag’s last car came in 1939. As the Lane Motor Museum says, the car never got a proper name, so people just call it the “1.3-Liter.” It was ahead of its time with a unibody construction and aerodynamic profile. Allegedly, the Volvo engineers examined the 1.3-liter while designing the PV 444. Hanomag would bow out of car production after building about 100,000 vehicles.

While Hanomag stopped building cars, it would continue to build tractors, trucks, trailers, construction equipment, and vans. Hanomag is perhaps most recognizable to Americans for its production of the Wehrmacht Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track.

A Platform Of Multiple Names

In 1963, another German manufacturer, the Tempo-Werke division of Vidal & Sohn, launched the Matador E van and truck. This was an evolution of the old VW-powered Matador work vehicles that Tempo had been building since the late 1940s. The Matador E was notable for its body-on-frame design, torsion bar suspension, and 1.6-liter 60 HP BMC B Series four-cylinder engine, which drove the front wheels. A 1.8-liter 50 HP Hanomag D301 four-cylinder diesel was also available.

In 1964, conglomerate Rhine Steel purchased Hanomag. Then, a year later, Hanomag, which had held a 50 percent stake in Tempo since 1955, purchased the rest of Tempo. The Matador E was facelifted in 1967, two years before Rhine Steel merged Hanomag with Henschel, becoming Hanomag-Henschel. That year was also when Hanomag sold its tractor division to Massey Ferguson, and its truck division to Daimler-Benz. Daimler would take full control of Hanomag a year later. By that point, the Matador E had been renamed the Hanomag-Henschel F20, and, under Daimler ownership, the van would get another name and another refresh.

Now, the van was called the Mercedes-Benz 206D, and it had a Mercedes front fascia and Mercedes powertrains. Some automotive historians point to the 206D, which was sold from 1970 to 1977, as one of the predecessors to the Sprinter van.

That brings us to the 1977 Mercedes-Benz 206D for sale here today, which escaped a life of hard work for recreation.

This 1977 Mercedes-Benz 206D

From what I can tell, the 206D was a popular platform for camper van conversions. German RV companies turned these into campers, and individuals did as well. I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out if this camper conversion was done by a company or a private owner. I have come up empty, but I am able to tell other parts of the van’s story.

The van’s current seller says that it was imported to the United States by a previous owner and was acquired by its most recent owner in 2018. This owner performed a restoration on the van, which included dent removal, new paint, engine tuning, a new water pump, a rebuilt brake booster, serviced brake cylinders, and other odds and ends. The job appears to be holding up well, and the van is resplendent in its glossy green and white paint job.

What I like about this 206D is that it’s a compact size. It stands about 7.5 feet tall and about 14.7 feet long. While that might be a touch too tall for a standard garage, it’ll fit in a parking space just fine!

The 206D retains the aforementioned ladder frame and front-engine, front-drive design. Under the doghouse sits a 2.2-liter 60 HP OM615 inline-four diesel, an engine that also went into the Mercedes-Benz 220D. That’s coupled to a four-speed manual transaxle. The OM615 is known for being a pretty sturdy engine and is the direct predecessor to the iconic OM617 diesel.

The last time this van appeared for sale was in August on Bring a Trailer. Here’s what that listing said about the van’s wonderful interior:

The cockpit’s bucket seats are upholstered in plaid cloth and are accompanied by three-point seat belts, woodgrain door-panel trim, a heater, and a defroster.

The rear compartment is outfitted with storage cabinets, two inward-facing rear benches, privacy curtains, a stowable table, a fire extinguisher, and a residential-style power outlet. The rear heater and Norcold refrigerator have not been tested by the seller, and the rear speakers are not connected.

Instrumentation ahead of the two-spoke steering wheel consists of a 130-km/h speedometer and gauges for coolant temperature and fuel level. The six-digit odometer shows 80k kilometers (~50k miles), approximately 100 of which were added under current ownership. The horn is non-operational.

This van does have a U.S. electrical system with a shore power connection. However, it’s unknown if the shore power connection works. That Norcold refrigerator runs on 12 volt power. Not noted by the Bring a Trailer Listing or in the current listing, but spotted in my inspection is a gas-fired furnace. So, this rig is missing luxuries like an air conditioner and a stove, but that’s nothing that cannot be easily rectified with portable units. Otherwise, what else do you need for a great night at a state park?

There are, of course, some catches. The biggest catch is the price. The van failed to sell for $6,900 on Bring a Trailer only a few months ago. Now it’s for sale for $28,995. These vans are extraordinarily rare in America, and I don’t have any comps here, but that is a huge gulf between the final bid and how much the seller wants.

The selling dealership, Thiel Truck Sales of Pleasant Valley, Iowa, claims that the top speed is about 55 mph to 57 mph. That’s going to be far too slow for many Interstates, and barely fast enough for many state highways. This van is best for side roads and local camping trips. I suppose you could drive it across America if you had unlimited time. Amusingly, this also means that the van does not have a 60 mph acceleration time.

If you can somehow live with the absolutely glacial speed of this thing, and glaciers might actually be quicker, it seems like you’ll be getting quite the cute van. This 206D is unlike anything that you can buy in America, and I’d like to imagine that it has many years of fun trips left in it. Just make sure you never try passing anything faster than a bicycle.

Topshot graphic image: Bring a Trailer Listing

The post This Gorgeous Vintage Camper Van Has A Plaid Interior, A Manual Transmission, And The Cutest Little Diesel Engine appeared first on The Autopian.

Was it really that long ago when 200 mph was the top speed for supercars? That’s 320 km/h, a speed that was attainable for cars such as the Ferrari F40 and the RUF CTR Yellowbird in the late 1980s. Nearly twenty years later, in April 2005, a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 broke 400 km/h and 250mph, and it was a fearsomely powerful car with over 1000 horsepower from its quad-turbo, eight-liter W16 engine.

These days, the big number is 500 km/h (310 mph). It took a Chinese manufacturer to break the 500 km/h barrier for production cars, and the vehicle in question is a Yangwang U9 Xtreme, a 3,019-horsepower electric hypercar.

Yangwang has been chasing these immense speeds for years, and progress has been relatively quick. Back in January 2024, the non-Xtreme Yangwang U9 did 309 km/h (192 mph) in airport runway tests in its homeland, achieving 391 kmh (240 mph) at the Auto Testing Papenburg track in Germany in October of the same year.

The Most Powerful Production Car In The World Is Also The Fastest

The Yangwang U9 is a 1300-horsepower, quad-motor, all-wheel-drive (Yangwang calls it ”individual-wheel-drive”) hypercar that hits 62 mph in 2.36 seconds. And the Xtreme… well, it’s an extreme version of that, and is the most powerful production car in the world at the moment. It’s a production car in the sense that 30 cars, which are already allocated, will be built for Chinese customers who have been invited to buy it, and it is street legal and homologated in China.

First of all, the Xtreme’s four electric motors produce 755 horsepower each, for a total output of over 3,000 horsepower. That’s a power-to-weight ratio of 1,217 horsepower per ton, as it weighs around 2,500 kg (5500 lbs), making it heavy for a supercar or hypercar.

Compared to the U9, the U9 Xtreme uses a 1200-volt architecture instead of an 800-volt one, and is the first production car with a 1200V system. (For example, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an 800V car, while a Tesla Model S is a 400V car.) There aren’t even fast chargers set up to take full advantage of the car’s 1.2-kilovolt architecture, but since the battery is a regular-size 80kWh LFP battery, charging it must feel instantaneous at 500kW speeds.

The U9 Xtreme came close to hitting 500 km/h already a year ago. It did 472 km/h in August 2025 and 496 km/h in September, meaning it broke 300 mph on the latter attempt. These runs were done on test tracks, but the new record speed run on November 1 was done on a public highway in Abu Dhabi, naturally without any other traffic sharing the road.

The exact speed achieved on November 1st was 503.17 km/h, or 312.66 mph. Guinness World Records and the global governing body for motorsport, FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), confirmed the speed, making the U9 Xtreme the world’s fastest production car and the fastest production electric vehicle. Behind the wheel was Mark Basseng, a German racing driver who won the GT1 class world championship in 2012, driving a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3.

Importantly, the earlier 496 km/h speed wasn’t considered eligible for a speed record, as a vehicle needs to be tested in both directions within one hour, according to Guinness rules. The new record run was done in two directions.

The Yangwang team had the six-mile road for themselves for two days. The stretch of highway E11 was cleaned and inspected for any debris, first to get the desert sand off, and then to see if the cleaning equipment had left anything on the surface.

You might want to pause there and think about how much 300 mph even demands of the tires. The manufacturer states the tires were specially developed semi-slicks, and the rim surface was treated with a high-viscosity product to prevent the wheels spinning inside the tires during acceleration or braking. The tire manufacturer in this case is Giti Tire, which you might know as GT Radial brand tires.

When Top Gear took a Veyron to 253 mph, James May noted that the Bugatti’s tires would last only fifteen minutes at the car’s top speed. Tire technology must have advanced by leaps and bounds in twenty years, but doing 300 mph must still eat the tires up fairly quickly.

You Gotta Break A Few Eggs To Make A Guinness Omelette

▶ Watch Video on YouTube ↗

During tests done in preparation for the Abu Dhabi record run attempt, a U9 Xtreme crashed into a barrier at a reported 360 km/h (over 220 mph). Despite the immense speed and the number of parts and debris thrown around the track, the passenger cell appeared to have remained intact, and the test driver reportedly exited the vehicle on his own.

In the article by Car News China, we see the rear axle ripped out, and it’s worth noting the vehicle did not catch fire in the accident. It also shows how important aerodynamics are at these kinds of speeds, and why the car’s aero was carefully honed to reach 500 km/h after previous attempts.

To improve control and stability, the U9 Xtreme utilizes an active suspension setup, which Yangwang calls the DiSus-X. The system features electronically controlled two-valve shock absorbers, which are adjusted individually on the go. Combined with the individual wheel drive system adjusting each wheel’s torque over a hundred times per second, the U9 Xtreme’s body control sounds state-of-the-art, even if it couldn’t prevent the aforementioned crash. Yangwang claims the vehicle can lean into corners like a motorcycle as it overcomes body roll.

“Speed Is Just A Question Of Money – How Fast Do You Want To Go?”

Yangwang hasn’t yet confirmed a sales price for the production U9 Xtreme hypercars, but while the “base” U9 is priced at around $250k in China, the Xtreme can cost several times that. Or as a BYD Accessories blog puts it:

Any website publishing an exact Xtreme price tag without citing an official Yangwang source is guessing. Given the 30-unit production cap and the race-bred engineering (1200V platform, titanium carbon-ceramic brakes, bespoke semi-slick tires), industry estimates place the Xtreme between USD 400,000 and USD 700,000. The standard U9 at USD 252,630 is the only figure confirmed by Yangwang directly.

▶ Watch Video on YouTube ↗

The in-car video is great: you can see the road is a relatively regular-issue stretch of eight-lane highway, and the record speed arrives without much drama. The Yangwang sits in the leftmost lane, and just imagine a solitary SUV drifting in your lane when you’re doing 300mph.

Will we ever see the U9 Xtreme outside China, after the record run? Given that the Dubai police force recently received a Yangwang SUV for its PR fleet, Dubai’s certainly a place where one could expect to spot one of these.

(Top photo: Yangwang)

The post The Fastest Production Car In The World Just Broke 310 MPH On A Public Road appeared first on The Autopian.

By now, it’s clear that the manual transmission is an endangered species. What used to be the obvious performance choice has since been muscled-out in favor of objectively superior conventional and dual-clutch automatics. Eventually, it may lose. Not today, though. While the certain list of 2027 model-year cars available with stick-shifts is shorter than in any prior year, it still contains some absolute gems. Let’s run through them.

First, let’s pour one out for the lost. The Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing ended production several months ago, and the current CT5-V Blackwing will be put out to pasture by the end of the year. The Honda Civic Si and Acura Integra A-Spec 6MT are stuck in purgatory following the conclusion of the 2026 model year as their powertrains await further EPA certification. The BMW Z4 and Toyota GR Supra are no longer, and the Volkswagen GLI loses a pedal for good with the arrival of the 2027 model year. Considering the manual gearbox is already an endangered species in North America, the loss of seven models stings a bit.

Then there’s the big maybe: The Toyota GR Corolla. Will it return for 2027? Toyota hasn’t issued an official announcement, and scouring the forums hasn’t revealed a dealer order guide for next year. Mind you, the regular Corolla hatchback continues on for 2027, and with the recent opening of an assembly line in Britain to fulfil GR Corolla demand, I want to believe. Until credible signs of life surface, we’re going to have to temporarily bench this one.

So, that leaves us with 18 new mass-produced models heading into the 2027 model year with manual transmissions. It’s a more exclusive list than ever, but if you simply can’t stand letting your left leg do nothing, these are the new cars to have.

Acura Integra Type S

While the Acura Integra A-Spec 6MT is taking a breather, the Integra Type S is expected to keep the flame alive for 2027. While Acura hasn’t officially announced any updates or changes to the model, I can say it’s public knowledge that the Integra Type S is a semi-finalist for the 2027 Canadian Luxury Car of the Year award. That’s as good proof as any that this 320-horsepower, six-speed sport compact with a banging sound system is still with us.

BMW M2

Good news! The BMW M2 is still available with a six-speed manual gearbox for 2027, and it’s still going to rip. Sure, the steering’s a bit wooly and the looks are challenging, but a reasonably compact 473-horsepower twin-turbocharged coupe with hand-made shifts is nothing to sneeze at.

BMW M3

Just as the M2 keeps the stick-shift flame alive, so does the M3. Same platform, more wheelbase, more doors. For 2027, the big story is the M3 CS Handschalter, a limited-run special that pairs the handling, weight, and appearance tweaks of the harder-core M3 CS with the sheer satisfaction of a six-speed manual. Oh, and did I mention that Germany isn’t getting it? This one’s just for us, and there’s something weirdly pleasing about that.

BMW M4

You didn’t think I’d forget about the M4, did you? Like the M2 and M3, BMW’s slightly larger two-door M model maintains the option of a six-speed manual transmission for 2027. With a new 3 Series already launched, don’t be surprised if we’re getting into the twilight years of one of BMW’s more controversial performance models. Still, if you don’t mind the grille, there isn’t much else out there offering two doors, this much space, and a manual.

Ford Mustang GT & Dark Horse

The Mustang does, though, and you can only have it with a raucous V8. Yeah, Ecoboost models continue to only offer the ten-speed automatic, but a far slicker MT-82 six-speed in the GT and a stout Tremec TR-3160 in the Dark Horse offer two ways to choose your own gear, all the time. Judging by the order guide, actual changes for 2027 seem pretty much isolated to minor color and equipment alterations, so you already know what to expect.

Ford Bronco

While the big story for the 2027 Bronco is the replacement of the 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 with a three-liter force-fed unit, the order guide reveals that the standard combination of a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four and a seven-speed manual is still trucking along on both two-door and four-door models. It’s a big win for people who want a proper off-roader with independent front suspension civility, retro charm, and a stick-shift, and it’s probably the better choice for road-focused folk than a Jeep Wrangler.

Honda Civic Type R

Although the Civic Si is on hiatus, the 2027 Civic Type R might be the hot Civic perfected. For 2027, Honda’s improved the cooling, increased downforce, tweaked the damping and rev-matching function, tinkered with the brakes, and added heated front seats. All valiant tweaks, especially as the 315-horsepower model continues to only be available with a wonderful six-speed manual transmission. It’s an old testament hot hatch, this one.

Hyundai Elantra N

The Hyundai Elantra N is an outstanding sport compact car, arguably even more of a driver’s car than a Honda Civic Type R. However, it’s had one main problem since its inception: It looks just as mad as it is. Well, good news and bad news on that front. Hyundai is launching a new monochrome appearance package for 2027 that tones down the visual hooliganism just enough to not tip your co-workers off…in Canada. Still, if the TCR Edition making it to America is any sign, trickle-down across the northern border is possible, and the Elantra N in general is expected to ride on for 2027.

Jeep Wrangler

Is the Jeep Wrangler still available with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and a six-speed manual for 2027? You bet. It’s officially official, and while the turbocharged four-cylinder/eight-speed automatic combo is the more sensible choice, who buys a Wrangler to be sensible? The whole prospect of a mass-market solid-front-axle off-roader is an anachronism, so you might as well take it all the way. The shifter isn’t bad either.

Lotus Emira

If you love to drive, you either already know about the Lotus Emira, or you’re about to. With the Porsche 718 still in its chrysalis undergoing transformation from red meat sports car to carbon-friendly EV, the Emira is the feelsome machine within the reach of dreamers. The steering’s unlike any other new car for the money, and the combination of a 3.5-liter supercharged Toyota V6 and a six-speed manual is absolutely the way to go. Get it while you still can.

Mazda 3

Who’d have thought that the last regular stick-shift compact car would be posh? The Mazda 3 continues to offer a row-your-own option for 2027 in one configuration and one configuration only: Hatchback, front-wheel-drive, loaded to the gills. It’s still powered by a 186-horsepower 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four and makes for an upscale-feeling daily driver with a bit of extra engagement, but Americans are sure to appreciate a heated steering wheel joining the party for 2027. Not bad for $33,265.

Mazda MX-5

Rejoice! The best-value sports car on the planet lives on for 2027, and it ought to be fun as ever. With a standard six-speed manual gearbox, a properly low curb weight, and just enough modern refinement to be totally daily-driveable, the Mazda MX-5 is a reasonably priced revelation. Drop the gold-standard shifter into second, carry the momentum around an on-ramp, and you’ll want to beat the EPA’s footprint rule to death with your bare hands. Expect Zinc Green Metallic to join the options list, but otherwise, Mazda isn’t messing much with a good thing.

Nissan Z

The middleweight sports coupe segment is feeling a little light these days, thanks to the recent demise of the Toyota GR Supra and the long-ago cancellation of the Chevrolet Camaro. Thankfully, if you don’t want a Ford Mustang, the Nissan Z is still here, and it just got updated for 2027. The Nismo model gains the option of a manual transmission, while the standard model gets revised styling, updated suspension, and a fresh new fuel tank that aims to solve a long-running fuel starvation issue in high-g corners. Solid.

Porsche 911

While some automakers are restricting availability of manual gearboxes across trim levels, Porsche is expanding it on the 911. The Carrera S gains a manual gearbox for 2027, unlocking a whole host of options you can’t get on the less powerful but less expensive manual-only Carrera T. As expected, the GT3 still features a six-speed manual in winged, wingless, and new drop-top specs, although you really don’t need anything more than a Carrera T for the road.

Subaru BRZ

Granted, few can afford a new 911, but lots of enthusiasts want a proper sports car with a pair of emergency-use rear seats. That’s where the Subaru BRZ comes in. The 2027 model starts at $37,385, but comes well-equipped and is an absolute hoot on real roads and tight local circuits. Revvy engine up front, Torsen out back, smiling piece of meat in the middle. Plus, if you don’t stick with the standard six-speed manual transmission, Subaru punishes you with a six-speed automatic. Now that’s what I call malicious compliance.

Subaru WRX

Want proof Subaru listens? A few years ago, the firm axed the base trim on the WRX, and sales entered a decline. For 2026, it brought it back, and those sales charts have been absolutely ripping ever since. Unsurprisingly, the 2027 model is on its way, and the big headline item is the winged, gold-shoed GD25 limited edition. Beyond that, stay tuned for further announcements, but don’t be surprised if the base model survives as an attainable gravel-spitter.

Toyota GR86

Surprise! Just about everything that’s great about the Subaru BRZ is great about the Toyota GR86 because these coupes are basically identical twins. The 2027 model is officially happening, it will keep the manual transmission, and it’s going to be awesome. Especially because Toyota claims it’s made the shifter and throttle calibration even better. At $32,795 for the base model, this feels like a no-brainer if you need a bit more practicality than the Mazda MX-5 can offer.

Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma is the last pickup truck left with a manual transmission, and according to an alleged leaked pricing communique, that’s expected to continue for 2027. With a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four pumping out 270 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, the stick-shift Tacoma still offers adequate acceleration and off-road-focused functions like a clutch switch override button. Handy for when you’re out on the trail and find yourself in a tight spot.

So there we are, the fortunate 18. Keep in mind, this list might expand as soon as I find out what’s happening with the GR Corolla, but it might also contract if further models are discontinued. In many ways, we’re lucky that the manual transmission is still around. The modern breed of multi-speed automatics is often faster, more efficient, and adds flexibility for fuel economy and drive-by noise compliance, yet the manual endures. Not because it’s better, but because there’s something human about it.

Top graphic image: BMW, Ford

The post The List Of New Cars With Manual Transmissions Is Shorter Than Ever For 2027 appeared first on The Autopian.

There was so much news this week that I had to wait until Friday to write about the one story I personally cared about in The Morning Dump: Dodge is back in the top-level NASCAR Cup series. Yes, yes, yes, yes. America is so back, baby!

Other, less interesting people might argue that the news that former VW North America chief Pablo Di Si is getting the COO job here is the bigger Stellantis news, but nope, it’s the NASCAR thing. Oh, hey, remember when Audi announced a plant in Georgia, and it got all caught up in politics? Now that the elections are behind us, Audi is apparently looking to expand even more there than initially announced.

Remember Hertz? Hertz still exists, but it’s not going super well. Maybe they should rent V8-powered 911s? Those are fun.

Dodge And NASCAR Go Together Like Peanut Butter And Chocolate, Or A PB Cup And My Belly

The last year that Dodge ran in the top-level Cup series was in 2012, which was also the final outing of the 5th generation cars. They went out on top, with Brad Keselowski winning the championship. The then-Italian-American brand disinvested from NASCAR as it focused on other things. When FCA became Stellantis, it seemed even more remote that Dodge would return.

That all changed when the American arm of the company took over last year, and we were all treated to RAM running in the NASCAR truck series (you can watch our own Parker Kligerman racing tonight in a RAM). Rightly, everyone saw this as a prelude to the return of Dodge and its Charger to Cup.

And, yup, that’s what’s happened:

Tim Kuniskis, head of American Brands, SRT Performance and Direct Connection division, Stellantis North America, shared the news during a sneak preview of the Stellantis display at the 2026 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. For Dodge, the message is simple: gasoline-powered performance is back at the center of the brand, and Dodge is heading back to NASCAR Cup Series racing.

“Everyone said it was impossible to get back in one year. We said, ‘watch this,’” said Kuniskis. “Sure, we could spend three years planning, testing and perfecting … or we could do all three in real time, on the track. It’s going to be exponentially harder this way. But slow has never been part of Dodge DNA. LFG.”

Hell yeah. I am really enjoying this new version of Stellantis. I only ask that Parker be put in the car at all the super speedways. Oh, and exec Pablo Di Si, who was maybe made the fall guy for VW’s failed EV rollout in North America, is now COO of Stellantis in North America.

Audi Might Make Its New Plant Even Bigger

Audi’s CEO Gernot Döllner went to Georgia to announce a new plant in that state, but his doing so at a Republican rally drew a lot of ire. It’s possible that this was quid pro quo, and that Audi very much got the better of it.

Either way, Republicans were removed from every single statewide office in Georgia this week, and I have a feeling that Democrats there will just be happy to take the win. Audi, according to Reuters, might be happy to sweeten the pot:

Audi announced plans on October 25 to build its first U.S. assembly plant near Macon, Georgia, to open in the early 2030s that will produce 200,000 SUVs annually and employ 4,500 workers. The automaker is considering a second phase that would cost another $3 billion and add 3,000 workers by 2033, according to documents released by the Mid-Georgia Gateway Development Authority.

Audi declined to comment.

The state is giving Audi the 1,500-acre site, providing $458 million in tax incentives and more than $120 million in grants for infrastructure, rail improvements, environmental site remediation and construction and another $430 million for water, road improvements, utility issues and workforce training and recruitment.

You know what’s not really partisan? Jobs. People want jobs. Politicians want jobs. Jobs.

Hertz Continues To Suffer From Bad EV Bet

One of the stranger victims of all the EV hype was Hertz, which partially tied its IPO to a plan to purchase a bunch of Teslas and Polestars. This didn’t work out so well for the rental agency, both because EVs make mediocre rental cars if you have to recharge them before returning them, and because a brutal EV price war made the resale value much lower than predicted. It’s been five years, and the company hasn’t fully recovered.

Per Bloomberg:

Hertz Global Holdings Inc. shares plummeted after the car renter cautioned it expects to end the year with less cash and borrowing capacity than previously expected.

Management now expects to end the year with about $800 million of liquidity, rather than around $1 billion, Chief Financial Officer Scott Haralson said during a quarterly earnings call Thursday. Hertz shares, which had already dropped after results missed estimates, plunged as much as 27% as of 1:30 p.m. in New York.

That’s rough.

Ohh… Ferrari V8-Powered 911

I remember going to SEMA with David in 2022 and happening upon a 911 with a WRX engine built by Faruk Kugay. While slightly blasphemous, it’s also logical, given that they share a similar cylinder configuration. Faruk is back at SEMA this year with Jimmy Oakes, and both have V8-powered 911s.

Japan’s largest oil company and supplier of motor oil and transmission fluids to the majority of Asian vehicle manufacturers – returns to SEMA and AAPEX this year. ENEOS will be part of a special activation with leading Japanese manufacturer RAYS Wheels, which is making its first official brand display in the Silver Lot in front of the Las Vegas Convention Center. RAYS has invited select industry partners – including ENEOS – to activate within their space, and ENEOS ambassador Jimmy Oakes will display his Ferrari V8-swapped Porsche 911 in the ENEOS pop-up booth, outfitted with a set of classic Volk Racing VRX-10 wheels, produced by RAYS in the ‘90s.

The V8-swapped Porsche theme continues with ENEOS ambassador Faruk Kugay performing drift demos at the Optima driving exhibition in SEMA Bronze Lot using his ENEOS-sponsored Porsche 911 GT3. Attendees may remember the car from 2023 when it debuted in the ENEOS booth with a Subaru STI motor, which has now been replaced by a monstrous 458hp LS2 V8.

Neat.

What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD

▶ Watch Video on YouTube ↗

A week of songs about Karma comes to an end with Taylor Swift ft. Ice Spice singing “Karma.” I forgot how bizarre this video is.

The Big Question

What’s your favorite NASCAR stock car (or truck)?

Top photo: Stellantis

The post Dodge Is Back In NASCAR And All Is Well With The World appeared first on The Autopian.

Good morning! This week, we’ve been looking at potential winter projects. I took pity on you, though, and chose only cars that already run. I believe you could drive all of these home, a short distance anyway, with the possible exception of the Lincoln. Clear out some space in the garage, because it’s time to pick your project from our finalists.

Your choice yesterday was between a big slab-sided ’62 Lincoln and a tiny MG Midget. It was a close race, but in the end, the Lincoln won. It has an unknown current mechanical condition, and some weird stuff has been done to the bodywork, but its cool factor appealed to a lot of you.

And I agree. Those Lincolns are just impressive as hell, even in rough cosmetic condition. In fact, I don’t think I’d even mess with the bodywork or the interior; I’d just tune up that big 430, upgrade the brakes to slightly more modern spec, put in a good stereo, and just enjoy it as-is. The Midget is traditionally more my kind of car, but as much as it pains me to say it, I have no interest in ever owning another MG. Getting my heart stomped on once was enough.

Despite all the cars I’ve owned over the years, only a handful have been what I would describe as “project cars,” and a couple of those were downgraded to project status from daily drivers after something replaced them. The first was an orange ’73 Super Beetle that I didn’t even own long enough to transfer the title on. I still lived in the college dorms, and I was told in no uncertain terms that I could not have two parking passes for the dorm lot. Faced with the hassle of street-parking the Beetle, and having no place to work on it anyway, I sold it a week after I bought it.

Next came a chocolate-brown Chrysler Laser XE, which I bought to drive daily, but it ended up having a lot of electrical problems. I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it, so I got a very rusty Honda Accord for regular use, and parked the Laser in my allocated garage spot in my apartment complex, fully intending to sort it out. I never did, and I sold it after one long winter of scraping snow off the Honda every morning.

Then there was the Buick Electra convertible with no floors. I had no place to park that one either, and the friend who was going to teach me how to weld to patch the floors ended up being a real jackass. That one didn’t stick around long either.

Many, many years later, I came across a battered ’91 Mazda Miata, which I purchased on the same day my wife bought a Honda Del Sol. His and hers sports cars! The Del Sol was in worse shape than we thought, and had transmission issues, so it only stuck around for a year. The Miata I had for eight years, and it was my only car for two of them. I absolutely loved it, and only sold it because I bought my MGB GT, and it seemed foolish to keep two sports cars around.

The MG was a nine-year-long abusive relationship that ended last year, and I’m still smarting over it. I guess my point is that I do not have a great track record when it comes to project cars. Maybe one of you will have better luck with one of these. Let’s recap.

1989 Jeep Wrangler – $1,900

This little Jeep has come down in price since we first looked at it, from $2,500 to $1,900, making it an even better deal than it was. It seems to be more or less rust-free, which is rare for a Jeep in the Midwest, where most of them end up being driven all winter long. Maybe this one not having a hard top spared it from most of the road salt. It runs well, and it drives all right, but it’s got the wimpy four-cylinder engine in it, along with oversized tires, so it’s best if you leave a few minutes early if you’re trying to get somewhere.

It may not be rusty, but it’s painted flat black, and the interior is full of leaves and dirt. It does come with doors and (I think?) a top, but you’ll want to clean it out before closing it up. And if it were me, I’d think about some more reasonably-sized tires for it.

Project difficulty: 4/10. Ever wanted to try repainting a car? This is a great candidate.

1976 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz – $4,950

This big Caddy is a one-owner car with only 80,000 miles on it, and clearly, someone loved it and took care of it. It is said to run very well, and although the seller doesn’t go into details on its history, it does appear to be completely stock, which is a good thing. I’m assuming this was elderly-owned, and as such was probably serviced by the same mechanic for years.

It’s got a few flaws that you could sort out if you felt the need: the glovebox door is either crooked or warped, and there’s a popped seam on the back of the driver’s seat that I didn’t notice the first time around. The paint on the plastic bumper filler panels isn’t great, either. Respraying them would take this car up a notch, but it looks great as-is.

Project difficulty: 1/10. Enjoy it, maintain it, and show it off with pride.

1989 Ford Probe GT – $4,000

Looking for something a little more sporty? How about a Ford Probe GT? It has a turbocharged engine that punches above its weight, a really smooth-shifting five-speed manual, and all the late-’80s charm you can handle. It has a ton of miles on it, but everything forward of the firewall has been rebuilt or refreshed, and it runs great. You’ll have to take care of the rear brakes and suspension bushings yourself, but the parts are included.

It does have some signs of wear, both inside and out. Both taillight lenses are cracked, the paint on the bumpers is flaking off, and the interior shows all of its 254,000 miles. But it hasn’t been abused, just driven a lot. And that’s fine. It’s a great car to drive; it shouldn’t just sit around.

Project difficulty: 6/10. You’ll need jackstands for this one.

1962 Lincoln Continental – $3,000

There is absolutely nothing cooler on the road than a ’60s Lincoln. It commands your attention without shouting for it. It takes up a ton of space, but looks effortless doing it. And it turns any road trip into an adventure, and not in that “toothless tow truck driver leering at you in the middle of nowhere” way. This one, however, may need a tow to get it home. Its giant V8 starts and runs, but it doesn’t sound like it’s exactly roadworthy yet.

But just think of how cool you’ll feel rolling up to a party in this thing, even in its current dilapidated state. This could be a long-term project, done in stages: Get it running and driving well, then get everything working inside, then start on the bodywork. There’s no rush. You’ll have this car for years, improving it a little at a time, and you’ll become known for driving it. Everyone in town will recognize it as yours.

Project difficulty: 8/10. It needs a lot of work, but I think it’ll be worth it.

I’m beginning to wonder, as I get older, if I like the idea of a project car more than the reality of one. I’ve done plenty of wrenching in my day, but most of it has been out of necessity. Car breaks, can’t afford to have someone else fix it, so you do what you have to. But I do enjoy fixing things, and now that I have a nice big garage, it couldn’t hurt to try one more project, could it? It won’t be one of these, though, because it’s not the right time. But what about you? If you were looking for something to while away the cold months, and then have fun with in the spring, which one of these would you take?

The post What Are You Working On This Winter? Jeep Wrangler vs Cadillac Eldorado vs Ford Probe vs Lincoln Continental appeared first on The Autopian.

The Cybertruck was supposed to make the F-150 obsolete. It wasn’t supposed to be boring, like a Ford or a Chevy. It was supposed to be “more truck than truck.” It turns out, people just wanted trucks that were trucks, and CEO Elon Musk announced on X earlier this morning is that the Cybertruck is dying.

I’m struck by this quote from the Cybertruck’s second unveiling in 2019, from Musk: “Trucks have been the same for a very long time, for basically 100 years.” It was meant as an insult. He then showed the front of a Ram 1500, a Ford F-150, and a Chevy Silverado with the badges off and said it was “hard to tell which is which.” That’s absolutely not true, and it turns out that in 100 years of making trucks, traditional truckmakers gained a decent sense of the market.

It’s going to be hard to write a eulogy for a vehicle whose meaning grew well beyond the actual truck itself. The Cybertruck, perversely, is this generation’s Hummer; an over-the-top expression of a particular worldview pregnant with so much cultural meaning that it’s impossible to see it through any lens than your own personal politics.

The jokes are already being made on X, with one poster requoting Musk by saying: “blue wave so big even the cybertruck got canceled.” The timing makes this kind of humor unavoidable, though it’s not entirely untrue. There’s a certain type of Silicon Valley psychosis that saw a quirk in electoral vote allocation as a dramatic shift in popular thought. The same people who believed online accounts with Roman bust avatars and ChatGPT-fueled misinterpretations of Thomas Hobbes were the new great philosophers embraced the Cybertruck.

If those are your politics, the Cybertruck, then, very much typifies a creatine-poisoned mindset. It would be comforting for a lot people to see the failure of the Cybertruck as the death of this whole era, supported by a dramatic legislative (and in Tesla’s home state, executive) shift. What this ignores is that basically no one has made electric trucks successful.

Elon Musk sold the Cybertruck as a vehicle that would be resistant to bullets, when really what he built was a truck that deflected objectivity. A sober, rational, completely neutral analysis would probably show that the Cybertruck is the best electric truck ever made. That, of course, is essentially impossible.

Tesla was clearly deluded when it thought it could sell 250,000 Cybertrucks in a year. In its best year, the Cybertruck couldn’t crack 50,000 sales, and it’ll be lucky to do half of that this year. It’s the rare example of the company, which popularized electric cars, getting high on its own supply.

It’s easy to say that the Cybertruck’s polarizing appearance or bro-ish, conservative aura killed the vehicle, but I think you could easily argue the opposite. Perhaps the in-your-face, high-T bravado is what helped it find any buyers at all. As a bit of a control group, look at the Ford F-150 Lightning. That truck was essentially an F-150 with an EV powertrain shoved in it. While it often outsold the Cybertruck, it barely did so, and not at any kind of volume that could support continued production.

In our first review of the vehicle, David pointed out that, while compromised, the truck was actually great:

It is a vehicle with a clearly-defined soul, and that, especially to car enthusiasts, is worth admiring. It did not succumb to the dreaded “death by a thousand cuts,” even if it will leave your forearm with a couple. It stands proudly with all of its flaws so that it can be what it set out to be: a Cybertruck.

And overall, it really is a compelling machine. I know I just spent this entire article talking about compromises (and I didn’t mention them all; the visor mirrors are hilariously tiny/useless, the automatic emergency braking is too aggressive, etc), but there are so many positive attributes worth mentioning, too. Obviously, there’s the ~600 horsepower that rockets the 6,600-pound vehicle from zero to 60 mph in about four seconds; the thing is quick.

But more surprising than that is the ride quality, which is simply phenomenal for a truck on 35-inch tires. The truck is quiet and rides like a magic carpet even over speed bumps; honestly, I can’t think of a vehicle that dispatches speed bumps as well as the Tesla Cybertruck — it’s remarkable.

Tesla and SpaceX lost nearly half a trillion dollars in value this week, as the hype around data centers and anything AI-related ran into the reality that these industries were likely to face some scrutiny, and it’s possible that this sudden midnight announcement from Musk is connected. My knock against the company has always been that Musk doesn’t want it to be a car company, but selling cars is still how Tesla makes money.

All of that capacity in Tesla’s Texas plant will have to be used for something and, according to Musk, it’ll be the Cybercab. Whether or not the Cybercab is another product for a market that doesn’t exist is another question, and one that only time will answer.

For all of Musk’s maybe playful shots at the F-150, the strangest outcome of all is that Ford has built a Tesla-inspired arm of the company to build EVs, and that vehicle’s first product will be the sub-$30,000 Ford Fathom. While Tesla made a big deal of rejecting what makes trucks like the F-150 so popular, Ford is embracing the efficiency and engineering advances that continue to make Teslas the best-selling electric cars not from a Chinese company.

Top photo: Ford/Tesla

The post The Tesla Cybertruck Is Dead, The Ford F-150 Lives appeared first on The Autopian.

You know what one of the most pleasant trends in auto design of the past decade or two has been? The rise of the panorama roof. There’s other names for these, but essentially what I’m talking about is pretty simple: a large glass panel inset into the roof, so you can see the sky above, stars and clouds and comets and trees, birds and bird poop and leaves and rain and airplanes, all that.

Sure, those glass panels are heavy, and they can leak, and if your car doesn’t have a sliding cover for that roof on the inside of the car can get kind of hot, but even knowing all that, I have to admit I still like these glass roofs. There’s just something so airy and pleasant feeling about a car with a big window on top. These roofs are a far cry from the small, cramped sunroofs of yore.

While this feature has become nearly ubiquitous in recent times, the concept is older than you might guess. In fact, while I was in LA for the Galpin Car Show a month or so ago, one of the cars on display was a Ford from 1946 that was sporting a pretty novel feature: an all-clear roof.

Holy crap, look at that! It’s even better than the panorama roofs we have today, because it’s the whole damn roof! It’s not separate windows inset into an opaque framework, it’s an entire roof made of beautiful, clear plexiglass.

So what’s going on here? Were these actual factory cars? Was this just a one off? Tell me, dammit?

Okay, settle down, me, I’m going to tell you all I know! First, it should be noted that the cars these tops were designed for already had pretty incredible upward visibility, as they were based on the Ford Convertible Club Coupé:

It seems that these tops were an option one could order for your Ford convertible right from the dealer, for a cost of $235, which would be about $4200 today. So it wasn’t a cheap option, but, damn, it does seem cool:

Built by the Fabri-Form company of Ohio, the company still seems to have a website, but all the copy is that lorem ipsum greeked text, so I’m not sure how great a source of information it is. The company seems to have been formed in 1943, so it wasn’t especially old by the time Ford started to source plexiglass tops from them just after the war. It’s likely that the company got their experience forming plexiglass dome-like shapes for aircraft during the war.

Look at those delighted people in there, enjoying all of the visual delight of a convertible without having to deal with all that pesky weather or wind.

The windows still have frames, but beyond that, look at that glorious unbroken view of the outside! Or, in this particular picture, the inside of the building. But you get the idea.

Speaking of inside, I’d just like to point out how much the heater in this car looks like an appliance of some sort, like a tiny refrigerator or something. So many little doors and flaps!

Since I’ve already gotten off track and started talking about details, let’s enjoy a look at the taillight setup on this ’46 Ford. The taillights aren’t integrated into the fenders, instead being proud wide units that jut out from the fender and are adorned with a rounded chrome rim and a little fork of chrome on top.

The lens has an integrated reflector and one of those inset blue jewels for that “blue dot” look, which was likely an aftermarket addition. One day I’ll try and dig into the history of the whole blue dot thing, because I’ve always found it curious.

Oh, and look at that huge reversing lamp! That thing is sweet. Think how well you could dispel the darkness behind you with that baby!

Back to that plexi bubble top, though; not many of these were sold, because, while conceptually cool, they were thermally quite hot, and in a car with no air conditioning, driving something like this in an LA summer would be like driving around in a greenhouse. And, since plants tend not to be liquid enough to afford cars, they didn’t sell so well.

Still, I think they’re pretty fascinating, and it was a treat to see this one in person!

The post These Plexiglass-Topped Fords Were Way Ahead Of Their Time, Sort Of appeared first on The Autopian.

Most motorcycles have two wheels and navigate through countersteering. Then there’s the trike, which doesn’t lean, but is intuitive. Despite nearly a decade of riding several dozen motos, I have never ridden a sidecar motorcycle. A reader just described what riding a Ural is like, and it sounds so fun.

Jason wrote about how Bugatti’s CEO got his car stolen after leaving the key in it. Kevin Rhodes starts off a thread:

I feel like at this point, unless you are in an area with Boomer\Gen-X car thieves, a manual transmission and manual choke are near-perfect theft deterrents. And in the case of my Spitfire, the choke is both unlabeled and not in an obvious location. And unless the thief had driven one before, the chances of them finding reverse are about zilch too. That last is likely true of a 2CV too.

JJ:

I have the same attitude about my Ural…

Jon L:

I have a Ural as well and totally agree with you. Even if you know how to ride a motorcycle, most people will never figure out how to get it into a forward gear. And if they don’t know what a sidecar rig is all about, they won’t make it past that first right turn!

JJ:

Exactly. I remember the first time I rode it….f-ing terrifying.

Jon L:

They are asymmetrical and backwards of what you think would be logical. The sidecar is on the right, so you think turning right would be easier since it will hold you down; this is wrong. What actually happens is the sidecar lifts in a right turn. If you slow down, the sidecar lifts higher AND it pushes you to the left since the sidecar has its own independent momentum. Come into a right turn too fast and the sidecar pushes you into oncoming traffic then flips on top of you, pinning you under 700 lbs of steel all while traveling at high speeds into oncoming traffic. The only way to make a hard right turn is to accelerate, and this is opposite of everything we know from driving both cars and normal motorcycles.

Put it shortly, because of the sidecars’ weight and independent momentum, when you accelerate, it pulls you right. When you slow down, it pulls you left (left turns are very easy). Once you get it, you can do a lot of your steering through the throttle alone.

Terrifying and weird? Sign me up!

Matt wrote a Morning Dump about how Mazda killed it. Apparently, the headline might have been a little alarming. Sklooner:

Okay who else read the headline, saw the photo and thought Mazda had cancelled the Miata ?

Finally, Mark gave us a showdown between a 1989 Ford Probe GT and a 1992 Alfa Romeo 164. D4-D:

The 164 is actually a properly engineered car, no less refined and high quality (perceived and otherwise) that a German car from the same segment and era. I dare say in terms of engines (both Busso and Nord) higher quality than most e34/w124 ones. Not just the shiny headers but the bits you can’t see.

They don’t really rust with the same vigour as BMWs and Benzes from the period, from my perception they’re more comparable to Audis in that department. Subframes can go, but the bodies and exterior panels are very resilient. You’d need to look for a particularly badly mistreated 164 to find visible rust. Likewise, interiors, namely the cloth seats are that old school bombproof 80s euro thick cloth.

I wish people who perpetually repeat the same old tales about a brand got to experience and interact with the cars they did make right. That doesn’t mean if you bought a 35 year old 164 now it’d be a paragon of reliability and cheap maintanence. But it wouldn’t be any worse than an e34/9 or a w124/210.
The pressure sender is a common problem on these, i’d bet that’s the issue on the one here. The auto is a bit of a bummer though.

Have a great evening, everyone!

Top graphic image: Ural

The post Riding A Sidecar Motorcycle Sounds Like A Ton Of Fun: COTD appeared first on The Autopian.