Here Are Jalopnik's Biggest News Stories Of The Week Ending December 02, 2023
Couple Killed In U.S.-Canada Border Explosion Were Driving A Bentley Flying Spur
NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 22: A sign indicates that all bridges between the U.S. and Canada are closed after a car crashed and exploded at The Rainbow Bridge on November 22, 2023 in Niagara Falls, New York.Image: John Normile (Getty Images)
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Police identified the driver and passenger of the fiery crash at the Niagara Falls, New York border on November 22 as Kurt P. Villani and his passenger and wife Monica Villani. The couple were driving in a 2022 Bentley Flying Spur that exploded when it crashed into a border checkpoint. Read More
Netflix Gave An Unproven Director $55 Million For A Sci-Fi Series, And He Blew It On Rolls-Royces, Crypto, And Dodgy Stock Bets
Image: Universal Pictures
Netflix essentially took a $62 million television contract out to the shed and shot it in the head, according to an ongoing arbitration case against director Carl Erik Rinsch. After an ambitious and expensive bet on an unproven director in 2018, the deal had gone sour, the director allegedly lost his senses, and he’d blown the money with nothing to show for it. The plug was pulled on the project, Netflix washed its hands of the deal, and it came up for air missing some $55 million from its accounts. At least $9 million of that had gone to the director’s lavish tastes, as he’d bought himself five Rolls-Royce, a Ferrari, a $400,000 watch, and millions worth of furniture and clothing. Read More
Nearly 400 Dealers Drop Out Of Ford’s EV Program
Image: Eric Thayer (Getty Images)
Ford’s EV dealer requirements have caused a bit of drama since they were announced in late 2022. With EV sales slowing, some dealers are getting antsy at the thought of sinking thousands or even millions of dollars into a lukewarm EV market. Still, 2,000 dealers bought into the program. Now, Electrek reports, hundreds of those dealers are pulling out altogether. Read More
Consumer Reports Says These Are The Least Reliable Cars For 2024
Photo: Rivian
In general, cars are built better and last longer than they ever have in the past. That said, some cars are definitely built better than others. And while you can generally trust Toyotas, not everyone wants a Toyota. If you’re looking to buy a reliable new car, are there any that you should make sure you avoid? And how do you know which ones those are? Read More
Tesla Cybertruck Vs. Porsche 911 Drag Race Was Pure Spectacle
Tesla’s Cybertruck Delivery Event featured Elon Musk showcasing the capabilities of the electric automaker’s long-waiting pickup truck in recorded vignettes. The most dramatic segment saw the Cybertruck drag racing a Porsche 911 Carrera. As it became clear that the Tesla was going to beat Porsche’s slowest 911 across the finish line, footage revealed that the pickup was also towing a 911. Read More
Kia Owner Abandons Car At Dealership After Repeated Theft Attempts
Photo: Chris Harris/UCG/Universal Images Group (Getty Images)
Kia and Hyundai cars have been the target of hot new theft trends for years, since bored teens discovered the cars lacked immobilizers and could be started with a USB jammed into the ignition. After a series of unsuccessful fixes, it seems at least one owner is turning to a more extreme measure: Throwing in the towel. Read More
Sheeple Blindly Follow Google Maps Into Desert Road Nightmare (Update)
Image: Aleksandra Tokarz (Shutterstock)
We’ve seen it happen too many times before. People blindly follow GPS directions from apps like Google Maps or Waze, only to then find themselves in sticky or dangerous situations. And now it’s happened again. SFGate reports that a group of cars got led into the California desert because Google Maps directed them to do it. Read More
Watch Cops PIT Maneuver A Giant John Deere Tractor
Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia flipped a six-figure John Deere farm tractor on its roof last Saturday as the driver attempted to negotiate the on-ramp to Highway 1. One of the cops drove his Ford Explorer into the right rear wheel of the Deere, and unlike a traditional PIT Maneuver which would pitch the vehicle sideways, it appears the tractor’s tire climbed the side of the cruiser, upending itself. The tractor was likely already somewhat unstable, taking a highway onramp at speed. Read More
Tesla Cybertruck Deliveries Finally Start, Here Are All The Specs You Need To Know
Image: Tesla
On Thursday afternoon, Tesla finally delivered a ten-pack of Cybertrucks to company employees and investors. It’s hard to call this a ‘production’ launch, as they’ll still be effectively in the hands of in-house beta testers, but it’s a lot closer to production than the truck was a year ago. During the unveil event, company CEO and political landmine Elon Musk finally, officially unveiled the real thing and gave us a rundown of what the hundreds of thousands of Cybertruck deposit holders can expect. The truck will come in three flavors, starting at $60,990. (You can read about how pricing stacks up to the competition here.) Read More
Watch A Boomer Try To Chop Down A No Right-On-Red Sign With World’s Dullest Axe
Screenshot: Reddit/u/Lord_of_Leviathans
Even if you’re not concerned about the potential for pedestrian deaths, there are plenty of intersections that are too dangerous to allow drivers to turn right on red. If drivers can’t see traffic coming from the left, it makes sense that a city would put up a sign that tells drivers they can’t turn right at a red light. Boomers, however, can’t be told what to do because that’s anti-freedom, and they’re free to do what they want. Any attempts to the contrary will be met with armed resistance. Read More
