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Lists to keep your wheels turning; featuring the fastest, sleekest, smoothest, and coolest in the auto world.
What Happened to GM? The Surprising Reasons for the Auto Giant’s Demise
I got the idea to write this because I noticed that General Motors just isn’t as big as it used to be. A few decades ago, they practically dominated the market—especially in the 1950s and ’60s—when most cars in the world came from the U.S. Sure, there were other companies around, especially from Japan, but they weren’t major players yet. Then by the 2000s, GM seemed to be on the decline. So what happened?
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
The Honda Turbo Lag: Why It Took So Long.
This is a question people bring up a lot: for the past few decades, Honda hasn't really seemed interested in building turbocharged engines—they've always preferred naturally aspirated setups. Just look at some of their cars, like Civics and Accords—turbochargers were either rare or nonexistent for a long time. Even their sports cars mostly avoided forced induction. The early S2000 and NSX, for example, came with high-revving NA engines and never had turbos, while other brands like Toyota or Mitsubishi slowly started embracing them. So it kind of makes you wonder—what's up with Honda?
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
Hertz Tesla Sell-Off: Can the Market Absorb 20,000 EVs?
Some time ago, we were all a bit surprised when Hertz decided to sell off at least 20,000 used Teslas. There’s no clear reason why they did it, but I think it might be because Hertz realized buying EVs wasn’t the best move for their business — or maybe they just found the cars weren’t as suitable for rental use as they thought. Rental fleets have to meet strict standards, so in that sense, their decision makes some sense. Hertz is definitely going to sell off some cars from time to time — that’s just part of staying in business and keeping the wheels turning.
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
Did the U.S. ever have a match for the Sierra Cosworth or Lotus Carlton in the '80s and '90s?
The idea of fast cars in America has pretty much always been the same: take the cheapest cars and stuff the biggest engines into them—that's the whole muscle car thing. Europe, on the other hand, leans more toward smaller cars with small engines and sharp handling. I guess that’s because the roads over there are a lot different than in the U.S.
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
Bezos-Backed Slate Auto Unveils Affordable EV Truck: Can It Succeed in a Shaky U.S. Economy?
It's a bit hard to see; the concept is great, but I'm not sure how Americans will react, especially because of its size. I mean, the Slate Truck is basically a small car, and I'm not sure Americans are going to love that, especially when it comes to pickups. It could end up being a niche vehicle, like the Kei cars in Japan, but how's that going to play out in the U.S.? I really don't know.
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
Hollywood on Two Wheels: 15 Celebrities Who Actually Ride
I’ve never owned a bike or scraped a knee puck in some heroic canyon-carving lean-angle. But the roar of an engine, the smell of hot rubber, and the instant cool factor of a scuffed black T-shirt speak to my soul. Call me a garage-door dreamer—one of those people who follow #bikelife on Instagram while clutching a car key fob—but hey, we all start somewhere, right? So let’s live vicariously through the famous folks who actually twist the grip.
By Francisco Navarro9 months ago in Wheel
Slate Auto's Electric Pickup: A Bold Design That Highlights Battle Scars
I just read about this company called Slate that’s making small, no-frills pickups you can get for cheap. Actually, the idea is kind of interesting. The Slate Truck is an electric vehicle that costs under $20,000 (after federal incentives) and is supposed to go into production next year. It only seats two, but it has a bed big enough to hold a sheet of plywood. It gets about 150 miles on a charge, only comes in gray, and the only way to listen to music while driving is if you bring your phone and a Bluetooth speaker. It’s basically the bare minimum of what a modern car can be—and yet, it’s taken three years of development to get here.
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
Were older cars really more reliable than new cars?
That's a question that comes up a lot, especially because so many people say it—but honestly, it's just an illusion. Modern vehicles don’t need maintenance as often as classic ones. It's just that classic cars are easier to tinker with because they were designed that way.
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
Why Starting on a Smaller Motorcycle is Best for New Riders
Actually, this is another really common question for beginner riders. Sometimes we wonder if motorcycle licenses should be divided into different tiers based on engine size. As far as I know, in a lot of countries, beginner licenses are limited to 125cc bikes, and you move up based on your skills. The better you get, the higher the level you can ride.
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
Can Harley-Davidson electrify Millennials?
Actually, this is a classic question — at least for me. Sometimes I wonder why Harley-Davidson never seems to take the obvious steps, like making motorcycles that people actually want. On one hand, I get it — they don’t want to lose their core market, and they’re pretty fierce about protecting it. Basically, you have to understand what Harley riders are like: a lot of them reject modernity and have pushed back hard whenever Harley tried to change things. And Harley has lost those fights before. They can’t really do much because those are their customers — the people they have to listen to.
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
Motorcycle Storage Woes: Will Your Bike Start After Months of Inactivity?
Sometimes we question it. Like, when we’re busy with work and the motorcycle’s been sitting in the garage for months, the thought pops up: “Is my bike actually safe in there?” Especially for people living in four-season countries—most can only ride during the summer when the weather’s decent. The rest of the year, the bike just sits in storage.
By Pinesthi Mukti Rizky Wibowo9 months ago in Wheel
