I Can’t Believe This Very Famous VW Beetle From An Old ’60s Ad Is Not Only Still Around, But My Friend Bought It

Tesla's big party trick when it re-revealed the Roadster last week was the cold thrusters that not only generate downforce but also purportedly let it "fly. " We'll let you determine for yourself how viable that last feature actually is when or if the car arrives in a real Tesla showroom, but cold thrusters that supply downforce aren't actually a new idea, nor are they exclusive to Tesla. The McMurtry Spéirling famously has a "Downforce on Demand" fan system that lets it drive upside down, and it's now come to light that Bugatti Rimac boss Mate Rimac considered something similar for the Nevera hypercar 7 years ago. In a social media video talking about the Tesla Roadster's thruster abilities, Rimac said, "Lots of people asked us if we ever considered something like that, and you would be surprised. The answer is actually yes. " He then goes on to show an email he apparently sent seven years ago detailing something he called "static downforce" inspired by Gordon Murray's Brabham BT46B Formula 1 fan car from 1978.

Today’s story about the rental car ridiculousness reminded me of a scary bill I once received from, hmm, I want to say Enterprise. Doesn’t matter. Via mail (this was in the late 90s), the company wanted me to pay the toll fees I accumulated over four days in California, which is only fair. What could it cost – ten dollars? Twenty? “See attached.” I saw attached and it was something like $1,200, with all missed tolls listed –covering several months. I highlighted the dates I was actually in California and sent a check for the tolls I missed, some six dollars and change. … And that’s the short, boring story of how I got off way easier than poor Yuehao Huang, who Avis somehow thought managed to drive 112 mph, 24 hours a day, for a full seven-day week.

Joel was previously an editor at Autoblog for nearly a decade, covering cars from humble economy hatchbacks to high-end sports cars. He has extensive driving experience with plenty of track time, and even dabbles in motorcycling. Joel has shared his experiences in the car world not just in text, but also on podcasts and web videos.

Elon Musk said Tuesday that he would like to see the consolidation of his business empire by formally merging his two largest companies, SpaceX and Tesla. “Do I think it would be a good idea? Yes,” Musk said of a potential merger. He was speaking during a question-and-answer period as part of SpaceX’s third-quarter earnings call. Musk said, ultimately, it not his decision. “But at the end of the day the shareholders have to be supportive of this.”

The new 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4Matic EV has an EPA-estimated range of up to 331 miles, but in the real world, it will likely go even farther. Mercedes GLC 400 EV beats EPA range in real-world test

Bugatti just restored a one-of-one Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse with a body made entirely of polished aluminum. The mirror-like exterior is contrasted with a bright red leather interior that’s accented by exposed carbon fiber and even more polished aluminum. Chassis 8.100 was the most expensive Veyron ever made when it was built in 2014, and the Bugatti Atelier brought it back to its original form for the supercar’s new owner more than 10 years later. If you have a hard time keeping household mirrors clean, you may want to steer clear of this one-of-a-kind Bugatti—especially now that it’s been tediously refurbished to day-one perfection. The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse was a record-breaking roadster when it debuted in 2012, and it was brought to an entirely new level when someone commissioned one with a body made entirely of polished aluminum to create a mirror-like finish. The one-of-one Veyron, which is chassis 8.100, required massive aluminum blocks weighing up to 20 tons to be delivered to Bugatti’s headquarters in Molsheim, France, when it was built in 2014. At the time, it was reportedly the most expensive Veyron ever created.