MetaFilter posts tagged with Auto

The best car we have ever tested. Ever.

I'm Doing the Dishes — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:24:49 -0800

Consumer Reports says the Tesla Model S is a truly remarkable car.

Now watch this drive

Blazecock Pileon — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:02:24 -0800

The Verge (video) and the New York Times (text) push the Tesla Model S electric car to its limits

Woman Motorists? Ain't that the Berries!

Miko — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 13:14:41 -0800

In 1929, three young women (Edith, Dorothy, and Evelyn), ages 23 and 25, went on a three-month-long, 12,353-mile road trip. Learn more about their experience, and follow an effort to recreate the journey, at Three Months by Car. Facebook, Twitter.

The iEconomy

zarq — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:52:45 -0800

The iEconomy: Apple and Technology Manufacturing. Since January, the New York Times has been running a series of articles "examining the challenges posed by increasingly globalized high-tech industries," with a focus on Apple's business practices. The seventh article in the series was published today: In Technology Wars, Using the Patent as a Sword. Related: For Software, Cracks in the Patent System and Fighters in the Patent War. Part 1: "An Empire Built Abroad" (January 12, 2012) * How the U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work (Previously on MetaFilter) * Motion Graphic: The iPhone Economy Part 2: "A Punishing System" (January 25, 2012) * In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad * Graphic: Compliance by the Numbers * The Lede Blog: Chinese Readers on the ‘iEconomy’ / Voices of Chinese Readers on the 'iEconomy' * Poll Finds Consumer Confusion on Where Apple Devices Are Made * The Lede Blog: Questions for Li Qiang of China Labor Watch * Economix Blog: Facebook Chat About the 'iEconomy' Series Part 3: "Protecting Profits" (April 29, 2012) * How Apple Sidesteps Billions in Global Taxes * Apple’s Response on Its Tax Practices * Graphic: Shrinking Corporate Tax Rates * Graphic: One Technique Apple Pioneered Video: Charles Duhigg and David Kocieniewski Respond to Reader Questions and Comments Part 4: "Retailing's King" (June 24, 2012) * Apple’s Retail Army, Long on Loyalty but Short on Pay * Video: Video: David Segal Responds to Reader Questions and Comments Part 5: "The Impossible Made Possible" (August 5, 2012) * In Wooing of Nissan, a Lesson for Tech Jobs? * Graphic: Evolution of a Manufacturing Supply Chain * Slideshow: An Automaker Migrates to Tennessee * Room for Debate: Should the U.S. Seek More Tech Manufacturing? Part 6: "Artificial Competence" (August 19, 2012) * Skilled Work without the Worker: A New Wave of Adept Robots Is Changing Global Industry (This article is linked in this post.) * Video: The Robot Factory Future * Video: Business Day Live: Nissan's Lesson Part 7: "A System in Disarray" (October 8, 2012) * In Technology Wars, Using the Patent as a Sword. * Graphic: For Software, Cracks in the Patent System * Graphic: Fighters in the Patent War

Not to be confused with 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Existential Dread — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:34:05 -0800

Hey! Do you like auto racing? Perhaps you’ve wished to see a race featuring a Ford 150 pickup body mounted backwards on a Crown Vic chassis. Or maybe a two-stroke/three-cylinder powerhouse 1967 Saab, complete with Antarctic emergency airdrop sled mounted to the roof. Or even a totally ludicrous self-powered pop-out camper. Then you’ll love 24 hours of LeMons! It’s a series of endurance races featuring teams competing in cars that can cost no more than US$500 (of course, required safety equipment is not included in this upper limit). Prizes are often paid out in nickels. If your car is truly a masterpiece of unreliability yet competes with unlikely success, you may receive the coveted Index of Effluency. If you are considered to be the biggest jerk on the course, or compete in a car that is way over the $500 limit, you might get the People’s Curse. Other creative punishments await on the Wheel of Misfortune. Car and Driver blog Jalopnik

Carbon fiber for the One Percenters

Burhanistan — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 08:40:49 -0800

An extended look inside [30:21] the production facility of innovative Swedish "hypercar" manufacturer Koenigsegg.

Junkyard Silver.

gamera — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:52:26 -0800

Chromeography is a tumblr devoted to images of chrome: the lettering, logos, and ornaments adorning old automobiles (and bicycles and cameras and appliances).

No Chevy, Just Chase.

Smart Dalek — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:33:57 -0800

4 non-supercharged Model A Fords from 1931 rack around a gravel course in 2012.

Traffic Drives Nigerians Nuts, but a Trip to a Shrink May Go Too Far

reenum — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:32:07 -0800

People often think that other drivers are nuts. The Nigerian authorities have taken things a step further, now requiring drivers accused of going the wrong way down a one way street to get psychiatric exams.

Braindriver

jason's_planet — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:41:42 -0800

Braindriver is a car that allows you to steer, accelerate and decelerate with nothing more than the faint electrical signals generated by the brain.

That story is true I'm here to say, 'cause I was driving that Model A

fixedgear — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 07:00:47 -0800

I’m Jonathan Klinger and I’m spending one full year driving a 1930 Model A everywhere I go. (Starting October 13, 2010) Why? Because not everything a person owns should contain a computer. 365 days of A

Call the wahmbulance?

fixedgear — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 04:37:33 -0800

The ambulance that was used to carry the body of John F. Kennedy from Andrews Air Force Base to Bethesda Naval Hospital was sold at auction last night for $120,000. Or was it? Members of the professional car society who collect and restore ambulances, hearses and flower cars helped to solve this mystery, which had accusations of forgery, FOIA requests, photoshopped pictures and Kennedy family intervention.

Lost in (video) translation

nayrb5 — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:00:09 -0800

With crazy hair and wacky body movements, Detroit Free Press columnist Scott Burgess embraces new media and squeezes it to death. Vlogging the bulleted list.

Business in the Front, Party in the Back

reenum — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:59:41 -0800

After nixing the idea a year ago, Chevy is again toying with the idea of bringing back the El Camino in 2015. The car will be modeled after the Holden Ute, a popular vehicle in Australia.

Town & Country & Infinity

Chinese Jet Pilot — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:58:41 -0800

Chrysler's recent announcement of a three year technical collaboration with NASA continues the automaker's long involvement with the agency, including production of the historic Redstone, reliable Jupiter, and mighty Saturn launch vehicles, and the design of an unusual Space Shuttle called SERV. Of course this was before we spelled Chrysler "F-I-A-T".

Auto Smiley

slater — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:46:21 -0800

The More I Drink, the More This Congress Is Makin' Sense ...

WCityMike — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:41:24 -0800

Auto-Tune the News #10. The Auto-Tune folks come out with their next tune, and, like most of their ouevre so far, darn if they don't make Congress sound catchy. Sing about that turtle fence, Hoekstra baby!

How to start and operate a Ford Model T

loquacious — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:52:26 -0800

How to start and drive a Model T

Dedication to your car: a $300,000 parking space.

jaimev — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:07:00 -0800

"There's only so many parking spaces in the city," said Sordillo. "And in this part, there's very few." A private parking space in Boston's Back Bay area sold for $300,000.

Taking back the catalytic converter.

puckish — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:17:04 -0800

Bob Barr and Ralph Nader support the Right to Repair Act of 2009 -- to protect the rights of consumers to diagnose, service, maintain, and repair their motor vehicles. "This aptly named bill would allow independent repair shops to compete for the business now guaranteed only to dealer-controlled establishments. This is important because car manufacturers now severely limit the number of repair shops that are allowed to have the tools, diagnostic codes and updated repair information essential to being able to repair late-model cars (which are heavily dependent on computers for performance and repair)." Full text here. Status updates here. Click here to sign a petition.

Your Cheatin' Car....

KevinSkomsvold — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:41:33 -0800

Do you cheat? Do you have a car? Sorry.

My SUV seats two

twoleftfeet — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:55:04 -0800

Britney Spears loves Japan for its tiny cars. Tiny cars are huge in Japan. But Americans are not very big on very small cars. Nonetheless, automakers may bring tiny microcars to the U.S.. The trick will be making money on smaller cars. Small cars are nothing new, but soon they may be cool.

From 0 to 60 to World Domination

rollbiz — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:34:05 -0800

"Engineers Rule" and "The Toyota Way": How Toyota and Honda have bested the Big Three.

Vanhacking

Miko — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:14:16 -0800

In a time before the Prius, the custom conversion van ruled the roadways. Pushing the boundaries of the airbrush form, testing the limits of mobile interior design, featuring the latest in automatic pink leather bed, compact toaster, 8-track, and love machine technology, the 70s van was celebrated in song and cinema. You started with a factory model, new or used, and ended at a place limited onlyby your creativity, your budget, and your old lady's patience (NSFW). Ford could make you a man.If push came to shove, you could even live in your van. It was fantasy on wheels: van-tastic, man. More from the 1977 movie Supervan. Even more from that movie. A van show clip from The Van. George Barris rehabbed the Supervan for its 1977 movie appearance. The Guild of Automotive Restorers returned it to its former glory in 2003 - step by step photos here. My closest personal connection to the world of conversion vans was through the Little Van Goes Design Kit, which let you use relief templates to customize your own fantasy van.

Urban Tentacles

Kronos_to_Earth — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:08:07 -0800

Interzone interchanges: Can GPS get a driver off of, or keep a driver off of...these things? (via)