M4 Coupe

Make
BMW
Segment
Coupe

The French are a perfect example of how stereotypes about a culture can be wildly inaccurate. As the story goes, the French are much more at home locking lips under the Eiffel Tower while snacking on wine, baguettes, and cheese than they are causing mayhem on the city streets, but video evidence proves otherwise. That's because the French have the strangest tradition of celebrating New Year's in a very tumultuous way: by lighting cars on fire. Somehow we don't think this helps Paris' pollution problem.

As 2016 descended into 2017, French partygoers set cars ablaze across the nation for no apparent reason other than to enjoy the light show. In total, 650 cars were torched ensuring that families reliant on their vehicles for daily commutes as well as proud car owners alike woke up to a terrible first day of the new year.

A statement posted to Twitter by the French Ministry of the Interior claimed that a total of 454 people were arrested with 301 of them being charged for vehicular arson. These numbers indicate a decrease in the trend, but the fact that it endures may mean that it is here to stay for French car owners to endure. According to RT, the practice began in the 90's when the poor would torch cars as a way of expressing social discontent. In all fairness to those who follow stereotypes, the French are known for taking to the streets to protest any form of discomfort, so maybe this isn't too out of line. Just please, for the love of all that's holy, stick to roasting marshmallows over Renaults and keep away from the supercars.