With How Gas Prices Are Going, Bet You Wish Thorium-Powered Cars Had Become Real
The article revisits the long‑standing idea of thorium‑powered cars, highlighting early concepts from Ford’s 1958 Nucleon to Laser Power Systems’ 2011 proposal of a 500‑pound reactor that could deliver the energy of roughly 7,400 gallons of gasoline per gram of thorium. While the theoretical energy density is staggering, no working prototype has ever been built. The piece explains why radiation shielding, thermal management, and regulatory oversight have kept the concept on the drawing board. It concludes that despite soaring fuel prices, thorium propulsion remains a speculative, high‑risk alternative to electric vehicles.
Are Modern Truckers Still Using CB Radios?
CB radios remain a staple for U.S. truckers despite smartphones and GPS. Williams Logistics reports that about 54% of drivers use CBs regularly, with another 10% owning them for occasional use. The devices offer hands‑free, fee‑free communication across 40 channels,...
Yes, There Are Different Grades Of Diesel Fuel, Too
Diesel fuel in the United States is offered in several distinct grades—#1, #2, and #4—each engineered for specific temperature ranges and applications. #1 diesel is formulated for extreme cold, flowing down to –40 °F, while #2 diesel is the ubiquitous grade...
These Automakers Offer Mobile Service For Repairs And Warranty Work
Automakers across the U.S. and abroad are scaling mobile servicing, turning dealership bays into on‑site repair units for routine maintenance and warranty work. Legacy brands such as Ford, GM, Stellantis and Lincoln now offer statewide pickup‑and‑delivery, while Tesla continues to...
Sean Duffy Wants $10 Billion For AI Air Traffic Control Software
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asked Congress for an additional $10 billion to modernize U.S. air‑traffic‑control infrastructure, with a focus on AI‑driven scheduling software. The request trims his earlier $19 billion ask but builds on the $12.5 billion already allocated under the Trump administration....
At $6,990, Would You Unleash Your Inner Cruella In This 1996 Cadillac DeVille?
A 1996 Cadillac DeVille listed for $6,990 on Craigslist claims mint condition with 71,509 miles. The car features Cadillac’s 4.6‑L Northstar V8, MagnaRide adaptive suspension, and a spacious leather interior, but the engine is notorious for head‑gasket failures. The dealer...
What Causes Spun Bearings — And Can They Be Fixed?
A spun bearing occurs when the thin oil film that separates the crankshaft journal from its bearing shells collapses, causing metal‑to‑metal contact and often catastrophic engine failure. The most common trigger is inadequate lubrication—low oil level, a failing pump, delayed...
Why Do Rideshare Drivers Need Special Car Insurance?
Rideshare driving remains a popular gig, but personal auto policies typically exclude commercial use, leaving drivers exposed. Uber and Lyft only provide limited liability when drivers are logged in, creating a coverage gap that can force out‑of‑pocket expenses. Specialized rideshare...
It's Not Your Imagination, Diesel Prices Are Going Up Faster Than Gas Or Oil
Diesel prices in the United States have surged to an average $5.55 per gallon in April 2026, outpacing gasoline’s $4.10 per gallon and creating a $1.45 gap. Since the start of 2026 diesel has risen roughly $2.05 per gallon, nearly double...
I Want To Be Like The Gears And Gasoline Guys When I Grow Up
Gears and Gasoline, a trio of veteran car builders, have turned their YouTube channel into a showcase for authentic, full‑car builds rather than click‑bait horsepower demos. Their content spans meticulous restorations, power‑train swaps—like a K24‑swapped Civic and a V6‑powered MR‑Spyder—and...
Keanu Reeves Raced This Supercharged Scion tC, And Now You Can, Too
Keanu Reeves captured the 2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race behind the wheel of a factory‑built Scion tC that was fitted with a TRD supercharger and a suite of track‑ready upgrades. The same car, now stripped of its original safety gear and showing...
This Is The Cheapest New American Subcompact SUV You Can Buy
The 2026 Chevrolet Trax launches at $23,495, making it the cheapest new subcompact SUV offered by an American automaker. GM sold over 200,000 Trax units in 2025, keeping the model as its second‑best‑selling SUV and the segment leader in the...
Why Did Ram Switch Back To The CP3 Pump?
Ram’s fifth‑generation HD trucks launched in 2019 with a new Cummins 6.7‑liter diesel and the Bosch CP4.2 high‑pressure injection pump, but the CP4 quickly earned a reputation for premature failure. After two model years of complaints, Ram reverted to the...
Lola T70 Racecars Used To Be So Cheap That George Lucas Bought His Own To Film THX 1138
George Lucas stretched a $777,777 budget for his 1971 sci‑fi debut THX 1138 by purchasing a used Lola T70 racecar, then customizing it with lights, a siren and a fake turbine to appear futuristic. The vehicle, a 1967 Mark III previously owned...
Saturn Once Made An SC Turbo, But Not For You
In 2001 Saturn entered a one‑off, turbo‑charged SC2 in the Car and Driver One Lap of America, boosting the 1.9‑liter engine to 224 hp. The team added a Garrett T6 turbo, increased displacement to 2.1 L, and shed 110 lb, delivering 0‑60 in...
5 Of The Best Folding E-Bikes, According To Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has identified the five best folding electric bikes, highlighting the Velotric Fold 1 as the top‑rated model. The rankings span a price spectrum from $1,078 for the Lectric XP 4 to $1,899 for the Blix Vika+ Flex, and all five excel...
Consumer Reports' 2026 Sports Car List Reawakens An Old Argument
Consumer Reports’ 2026 Best Sports Cars list sparked debate by slotting the electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and the front‑wheel‑drive Honda Civic Si alongside traditional two‑seat roadsters. The original Sports Car Club of America definition—two seats, soft top, competition‑ready—doesn’t neatly cover these models....
How An F1 Driver Turned The Utilitarian International Scout Into A Luxury Off-Roader
The Monteverdi Safari, a Swiss‑built luxury SUV from the late 1970s, was essentially an International Harvester Scout rebodied and fitted with high‑end V8 engines and premium amenities. Founder‑driver Peter Monteverdi leveraged his racing pedigree to transform the utilitarian platform into...
Jeep Dealership Allegedly Forged Buyer's Signature, Sold Him A Car With 6,200 Added Miles And Tacked On An Extra $5,000...
A Bronx Chrysler‑Jeep‑Dodge Ram dealer is sued for allegedly delivering a 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L with over 6,200 miles on the odometer, despite promising a 13‑mile vehicle. The buyer, Louis Huertas, was also billed $2,400 above the agreed price and...
How Goodyear Developed Tires For The Moon
Goodyear supplied the first gas‑filled rubber tires to ever touch the Moon, fitting the hand‑pulled Modular Equipment Transporter (MET) on Apollo 14. The smooth, nitrogen‑inflated XLT tires hauled up to 360 lb of equipment across a two‑mile lunar loop, proving that rubber...
Michelin's Longest Lasting Tire Has Its Fans, But There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch
Michelin’s Defender 2 tire claims the longest tread life in the brand’s lineup, backed by an 80,000‑mile limited warranty. Consumer Reports and Tire Rack cite an estimated 94,400‑mile lifespan, roughly two years longer than top competitors. Independent testing shows the tire excels...
The Science Behind Voorhees Law
Assistant professor Conor Boland of Dublin City University has formalized the "Voorhees law of traffic," a statistical model showing that a fast car’s time lead erodes as the number of stoplights increases. The model identifies four possible outcomes at each...
Why F1 Engines Have Better Thermal Efficiency Than Regular Car Engines
Formula 1 power units now achieve over 50% thermal efficiency, dwarfing the roughly 30% average of conventional production cars. The advantage stems from three core innovations: pre‑chamber ignition, unusually high compression ratios (up to 16:1), and the Motor‑Generator Unit‑Heat (MGU‑H) that...
Four Turbocharged Production Cars Existed In 1978, And Two Of Them Were Buicks
In 1978 only four turbocharged production cars were on the market, and two of them were Buicks—the Regal Sport Coupe and the LeSabre Sport Coupe. Buick equipped its 231‑ci V6 with an AiResearch TB03 turbo, delivering 150‑175 hp and up to...
Spark Plug Recycling Is A Thing, Because Iridium Is Too Expensive
Spark plug manufacturers are turning to recycling as iridium prices soar to about $7,900 per ounce, making iridium‑based plugs nearly twice as expensive as platinum versions. Global demand for iridium in spark plugs hits 1.7 tons annually, representing roughly $430 million in...
If We Net Export Oil, Why Are Gas Prices Going Up?
Although the United States now exports more oil than it imports, gasoline prices have surged because a sizable share of the crude fed to U.S. refineries still comes from abroad. Roughly 40% of the feedstock is imported, and many refineries...
The Pros And Cons Of Tubed Vs. Tubeless Motorcycle Tires
Motorcycle tires fall into two architectures: tubed and tubeless. Tubeless tires, introduced after alloy wheels became airtight, provide slower puncture leaks, easier plug repairs, lower unsprung weight, and better heat management, making them ideal for street and track riding. Tubed...
This $4,000 Honda Accord Build Shows You Don't Need To Blow A Ton Of Money To Have A Cool Car
A UK enthusiast bought a 1980 Honda Accord for £1,495 (≈$1,800) and rebuilt it for under $4,000, proving a cool car doesn’t require a six‑figure budget. The project focused on a basic mechanical tune‑up, inexpensive coilovers, and eye‑catching vintage wheels....
Kid Rock Fans Furious After He Cut Small-Town Tour Prices By 50% Because Gas Is So Expensive Now (Definitely Not...
Kid Rock announced a 50% price cut for tickets on his upcoming small‑town Rock the Country tour, citing soaring gasoline costs as the primary driver. The discount sparked a wave of fan outrage on social media, with many accusing the...
Acura Might Be Done With Racing In IMSA Because The Economy Sucks
Acura is still undecided about its 2027 IMSA GTP program, with the decision window closing as teams lock in contracts. The brand’s hesitation stems from a weak global auto market and Honda’s recent write‑off of most of its EV program,...
Gordie Howe Bridge Officials Are Trying To Avoid Riling Up 'The Kooks And Crackpots' With Opening Date
The $6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, fully financed by Canada, is nearing completion but officials are deliberately vague about its opening date to avoid provoking President Donald Trump, who has threatened to block the launch unless the U.S. receives compensation....
Škoda's Brilliant New Bicycle Bell Penetrates The Noise Cancelling Headphones Of Ignorant Pedestrians
Škoda, a Volkswagen Group automaker, unveiled the DuoBell, the first mechanical bicycle bell engineered to cut through active‑noise‑cancelling (ANC) headphones. The bell emits a 750‑780 Hz tone, a frequency range that current ANC algorithms cannot suppress, without using electronics. Tests in...
Pilots Meow And Bark At Air Traffic Controllers Below 10,000 Feet, Prompting FAA Investigation
Pilots from Delta Air Lines and American Airlines regional jets were caught meowing and barking over the emergency frequency below 10,000 feet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The incident, recorded and shared by CBS News, prompted an immediate reprimand from an...
Ford Is Recalling 1.4 Million F-150s Over Unexpected Downshifts
Ford announced a recall of roughly 1.4 million 2015‑2017 F‑150 pickups after the NHTSA flagged unexpected downshifts from sixth to second gear in the 6R80 six‑speed automatic transmission. The issue stems from degraded electrical connections in the Output Shaft Speed sensor...
What Will You Learn At A Defensive Driving Course (That Could Also Save Money On Your Insurance)?
Defensive driving courses teach techniques like the five‑step Scan‑Identify‑Predict‑Decide‑Execute process and the three‑second following‑distance rule, improving situational awareness for everyday motorists. The National Safety Council and state‑approved programs offer both online and in‑person classes, with typical online fees around $25...
Toyota Knows Few Japanese Buyers Want A LHD Made-In-America Tundra Pickup, But It's Selling It There Anyway
Toyota announced it will sell its U.S.-built full‑size Tundra in Japan, alongside the Highlander and eventually the Camry, despite minimal local demand for left‑hand‑drive pickups. The automaker projects sales of about 80 Tundras a month—under 1,500 units annually—compared with nearly...
Engineering Explained Breaks Down The Oil Change Most Drivers Haven't Heard About
Engineering Explained’s Jason Fenske breaks down the ILSAC’s new GF‑7 motor‑oil specification, which replaces the older GF‑6 standard. GF‑7 imposes tougher performance criteria, targeting better fuel economy, lower chain wear, reduced piston deposits, and mitigation of low‑speed pre‑ignition (LSPI). The...
The Pros And Cons Of Turbocharging Vs. Supercharging
Turbochargers now dominate the new‑car market because they capture exhaust energy, delivering higher thermal efficiency and lower per‑horsepower cost. Superchargers provide immediate boost without lag but impose a mechanical “crankshaft tax,” reducing overall efficiency and increasing component stress. Modern engineering—variable‑geometry...
Why Can't Spark Plugs Fire When Completely Soaked?
Spark plugs fail to fire when they become fully soaked with water, gasoline, oil, or coolant because the fluid creates a low‑resistance path that diverts electricity away from the intended spark gap. The plug’s ceramic insulator normally forces current through...
Southwest Airlines Teases First Class Seats, Burying Its No-Frills Tradition
Southwest Airlines announced plans to introduce a first‑class cabin and to develop airport lounges, signaling a shift from its historic low‑cost, all‑economy model. CEO Bob Jordan hinted at the changes during the Semafor World Economy Summit, noting that recent product...
IndyCar Is Rushing To Replace Its 14-Year-Old Dallara Chassis
IndyCar announced that Dallara will begin summer testing of its next‑generation IR28 chassis, marking the first step toward a 2028 debut. The new car will initially run on the existing 2.2‑liter turbo V6 and a 100‑horsepower Mahle hybrid system while...
Trump Expects The High Gas Prices He Caused To Stick Around Even If He Ends The War He Started
President Trump told Fox News that gasoline and diesel prices are likely to remain elevated through the upcoming midterm elections, even if the Iran conflict he helped ignite ends. The war has already added roughly $17 billion to U.S. drivers’ fuel...
Volvo V70 Test Drive Ruined By Car Bursting Into Flames
A mother and her daughter test‑driving a white Volvo V70 from M&R Motors in Rossville, Georgia, experienced a fire that erupted from the dashboard less than a half‑mile from the lot. The vehicle burst into flames, trapping the daughter as...
Tesla Gamifies The Advanced Driver-Assistance Software It Wrongly Calls 'Full Self-Driving'
Tesla introduced a dedicated Full Self‑Driving (FSD) app for vehicles equipped with the A14 chip, offering streamlined subscription management and usage statistics. The app adds a streak‑tracking feature that gamifies the activation of Tesla’s Level 2+ driver‑assistance system, encouraging more frequent...
Can You Reuse Automotive Gaskets And How Long Do They Last?
The article debunks the DIY myth of reusing automotive gaskets, citing manufacturers like MTI Gasket, Garlock, and Gallagher Seals that universally advise against it. It outlines typical service lives—head gaskets around 200,000 mi, valve‑cover gaskets 60‑100 k mi, oil‑pan seals 10‑15 years—and explains how...
Delivery Drivers Are More Likely To Speed If You Tip Them More, Study Finds
A recent study published in Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives examined Reddit posts from food‑delivery gig workers and found that higher tips increase the likelihood that drivers will exceed speed limits. Drivers said large advance tips create a financial obligation to...
Here's How Expensive Gas Would Have To Get Before Our Readers Would Buy An EV
A recent poll of the publication's readers asked how high gasoline prices must rise before they would consider buying an electric vehicle (EV). Responses varied widely: some owners say they would stay electric even if gas were free, while others...
What Dead Car Should Stay Dead?
Jalopnik columnist argues the early‑2000s Dodge Stratus R/T Coupe belongs dead and should stay that way. The author cites its sluggish V6, clunky five‑speed manual, and dismal sales as evidence it never earned a market niche. While the Volkswagen ID Buzz...
At $900, Is This 1974 Volvo 145 Wagon A Down And Dirty Deal?
A 1974 Volvo 145 wagon is listed on Craigslist for $900, but the ad is riddled with oddities. The car sits under a thick layer of dust, missing a title, registration, and has a rear end that was removed and...
2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle Just Cucked Your Police Department's Ford Explorers
Stellantis unveiled the 2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle, a heavy‑duty pickup equipped with a 6.4‑liter Hemi V8 delivering 405 hp and 429 lb‑ft of torque. The model adds a durability package—including a skid plate, steel wheels and dual 400‑amp alternators—and a specialized...