Lawrence Hodge

1 month ago | jalopnik.com | Lawrence Hodge

Dual-clutch automatic transmissions have exploded in popularity over the last two decades. They're used in performance cars of all types, from the Volkswagen GTI and Hyundai Elantra N to the BMW M2 and McLaren 720s. But dual-clutch transmissions have also found homes in normal cars. Hyundai and Kia are big users of dual-clutch transmissions in models like the Kia Seltos crossover and the N-Line versions of the Hyundai Sonata and Elantra. Automakers use dual-clutch transmissions for good reasons.

1 month ago | jalopnik.com | Lawrence Hodge

Getting your first car is a rite of passage for most people. Having the kind of freedom that a car gives you at a young age is like nothing else, and it's an even bigger deal when you're into cars. Getting your first ride as a car enthusiast can help shape what cars you're into for years to come. My 14-year-old son recently surprised me (and made me proud) by telling me he wants his first car to be a first-gen Lexus LS. He's big into JDM cars so he has some...

1 month ago | jalopnik.com | Lawrence Hodge

The sh*ttiness of car dealerships seems to have no bounds. I've said before how I hate to make blanket statements like that, but we've covered so much dealership foolishness over the years, it's hard to ignore. Some dealers take things really far, engaging in fraud and pulling things like fake kidnapping claims to cover it up, or stealing customer information to buy cars with it. As if taking people's money via tons and tons of markups isn't enough.

1 month ago | jalopnik.com | Lawrence Hodge

Maserati had big EV plans. Emphasis on had. The brand's plan to go fully electric with a lineup of Folgore models (Italian for lightning) were announced in mid 2022. Maserati said it was going to introduce six new EVs in the following three years, two of which would be all-new models while the other four were to be electric versions of existing models. Three years later and reality has set in.

1 month ago | jalopnik.com | Lawrence Hodge

Off-roading and outdoorsy-ness is hot right now in the auto industry and we love to see it. From Ford's Raptor models and Subaru's Wilderness trims to less serious trims like Hyundai's XRT models, people are willing to pay more for an off-roader, or at least a vehicle that looks the part. Off-roading is slowly making its way to EVs as well.