Quick Shifts

Each week I bring you the top stories in the auto industry along with my commentary or sometimes amusing thoughts about the craziness that goes on in the world of cars.

Stories you’ll find today:

• One Pope, Two Popemobiles?
• Today's Kids Will Never Understand
• Rest in Peace, Hood Ornament
• Proof That Wagons Deserve More Respect

One Pope, Two Popemobiles? If you thought automotive rivalries were limited to Ford versus Chevy or BMW versus Mercedes, Jalopnik has imagined one that would top them all: the possibility of dueling Popemobiles. The tongue-in-cheek idea comes after the Society of St. Pius X formally broke with the Vatican by consecrating bishops against Pope Leo XIV's wishes, prompting the Vatican to declare the action schismatic and excommunicate the bishops involved. While there's no antipope today, Jalopnik jokingly points out that if one ever emerged, he'd probably need transportation worthy of the job—which naturally leads to the question of who would build an "Antipopemobile." The article playfully rules out most traditional European automakers before wandering into some truly absurd possibilities. The takeaway is simple: only Jalopnik could look at a centuries-old church dispute and immediately wonder what everyone would be driving. Because somewhere, there's probably already a designer sketching an armored Popemobile with a very awkward customer list.

Today's Kids Will Never Understand. If you've noticed fewer fuzzy dice hanging from rearview mirrors these days, you're not imagining it. Once a symbol of hot rod culture and rebellion, fuzzy dice have quietly faded into automotive history. Their roots reportedly trace back to World War II pilots who carried dice as good-luck charms before missions, and returning veterans later brought the tradition to America's car culture. Over time, however, changing tastes, windshield obstruction laws in many states, and the arrival of cameras and sensors mounted near rearview mirrors have all helped push the fuzzy dice toward extinction. They still show up at classic car shows and on restored hot rods, but they're no longer the rolling fashion statement they once were. The takeaway is simple: every generation has its signature car accessory, and fuzzy dice had a pretty good run. Besides, hanging something in front of today's windshield cameras is about as popular as putting duct tape over your backup camera.

Rest in Peace, Hood Ornament. There was a time when you could identify a luxury car from half a block away just by looking at the hood ornament. Whether it was the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy, the Mercedes three-pointed star, the Jaguar leaper, or Cadillac's Flying Goddess, these chrome sculptures gave cars personality long before giant grilles and LED light bars became the styling trend. So where did they go? A combination of pedestrian safety rules, sleeker aerodynamic designs, and good old-fashioned theft gradually pushed most hood ornaments into automotive history. Some luxury brands still use them, but today's versions are often spring-loaded or retract into the hood to prevent injuries and discourage thieves. The takeaway is simple: modern cars may be faster, safer, and more efficient, but they've also become a little less distinctive. Because there's something to be said for driving a car that proudly wears its mascot out front instead of hiding its identity in a two-inch badge on the grille.

Proof That Wagons Deserve More Respect. If you think every member of the Royal Family spends their days riding around in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce, think again. King Charles III once owned an Audi A6 Allroad, proving that even the now-Monarch appreciates the appeal of a good station wagon. The lifted Audi combined luxury, all-weather capability, and plenty of cargo space, making it a surprisingly practical choice for someone who could drive just about anything on the planet. Of course, it wasn't exactly an ordinary wagon— carrying the refinement and technology you'd expect from Audi—but compared with the fleet of Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, and state limousines typically associated with royalty, it's refreshingly understated. The takeaway is simple: sometimes the smartest vehicle isn't the flashiest one. And if a member of the Royal Family is willing to drive a station wagon, maybe it's time the rest of us stopped pretending wagons aren't cool.