Matt Mikka of Warped Perception recently added jet turbines to his Tesla Model S P85D and really wanted to put it to the test. So, what better way than by pitting it against the current fastest Tesla vehicle, the Model S Plaid? Despite how small the jet turbines are, they generate a whopping 300-pounds of thrust right off the line, enabling it to hit 60 mph in a mere 3.32-seconds, compared to 4.38-seconds without the extra boost. Read more to see how the showdown played out.
Our Next Energy, Inc. (ONE) equipped a standard Tesla Model S with one of their next-generation batteries and managed to set a new EV record by driving it for 752-miles on a single charge, which is double the standard maximum range. ONE founder and CEO Mujeeb Ijaz says the company aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by completely eliminating range anxiety, the number one thing holding back most consumers today. Read more for a video and additional information.
Photo credit: Devanga Borah
The Apple Car, codenamed “Titan”, is currently in development with a rumored 2025 launch date. To date, Apple has 66 road-registered driverless prototype cars on the road, but nobody knows what the actual vehicle will look like. Designer Devanga Borah came up with a bizarre pod concept that just might work as an Apple Car Nano for two people. This four-wheeled vehicle basically consists of a spherical pod that can rotate 360-degrees. Read more for additional pictures.
For $2.18-million, this ultra rare Nissan R33 GT-R NISMO 400R could be yours. Why does it cost more than most supercars? Well, there were only total of 40 vehicles ever built. This particular example is finished in “Deep Marine Blue”, powered by an REIMAX twin-turbocharged inline-six 2.8L engine generating 400 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Other upgrades from the factory include a carbon fiber propshaft, titanium exhaust, and a bevy of aerodynamic parts on the exterior. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
H/t: Car Scoops
Former Rimac engineer Tino Šturlić’s wanted to make use of the knowledge gained from working at the Croatian supercar manufacturer. So, he built “Hypersimulator,” which is unofficially the ultimate home motion racing simulator rig. Auto enthusiast Misha Charoudin was lucky enough to meet up with Šturlić in person and get an up-close look, which unlike store bought versions, has actuators low in the seat to replicate the rumble you get from the road. Read more for two videos and additional information.
Kevin Erickson, a muscle car fan from Denver, Colorado, wanted to give new life to a 1972 Plymouth Satellite Coupe. So, he decided to swap out its 318 V8 engine for one from a Tesla Model S. This wasn’t as simple as swapping in the battery, but rather the complete Tesla Model S rear subframe had to be installed, complete with brakes, half shafts, inverter and more. Since there wasn’t enough room for the factory suspension, a pushrod suspension had to be custom fabricated. Read more for two videos and additional information.
H/t: Car Scoops
At first glance, some may think this is a real Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R, but in fact, it’s just a Rover 200 Coupé. Thai Body Car, a tuning shop in Thailand, specializes in transforming these two-door coupes into somewhat decent R34 replicas. Why did they choose this British vehicle over all of the others? Well, its side windows resemble those found on the R34, which saves them a lot of custom fabrication work. Read more for additional pictures and information.
Jeeps are designed to go off-road straight from the factory, but what could make one even more extreme? Adding an extra two wheels of course. This custom 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 6×6 could be yours if the price is right, built exclusively for a professional major league baseball player. Power comes from a 6.4L HEMI (392ci) V8 crate engine generating over 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
Under normal circumstances, very few, if any, production cars can win in a drag race against even the factory 2012 Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle. However, when you pit the Tesla Model S Plaid against a modified superbike outfitted with a 1340cc engine making 204 wheel horsepower, the former puts up quite the fight. Let’s just say that the instant torque of the Tesla Model S Plaid definitely helped it off the line. Read more for the video and additional information.
Revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022, which runs from January 14-16 at the Makuhari Messe convention center, Subaru’s STI E-RA Concept is an electric supercar that’s not only ready to take on the second-generation Tesla Rodaster, but Germany’s Nurburgring as well. Why? It’s powered by four in-wheel electric motors from Yamaha that generate approximately 1,072 hp combined, paired with a 60-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and a four-wheel torque vectoring system. Read more for an in-depth video overview and additional information.