The Candela C-8 Flying Hydrofoil Electric Boat Practically Flies

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There’s a new electric vehicle on the market – and it’s a boat. The Candela C-8 is a new hydrofoil electric boat that sits above the water as it moves. It practically flies over waves instead of riding on top of them like a typical boat. Sounds cool, right? So what is a flying hydrofoil electric boat, and why would you want one?

Candela C-8 hydrofoil boat | Candela

How does the Candela C-8 flying hydrofoil electric boat work? 

According to Candela’s website, the hydrofoil system works by reducing water friction by 80% compared to a traditional boat. This makes it more efficient and faster than a standard boat. 

Candela uses carbon composites to make their foils, which are fully submerged. Candela says, “Similar to a traffic airplane: Candela’s craft use a large, straight main foil close to center of gravity and a smaller T-foil in the aft. The foils are retractable for trailing, storage and shallow water operation.”

The C-8 can travel up to 35 mph once it’s foilborne. Electrek says that “Foiling allows the C-8 to literally fly over the tops of waves, making the ride smoother and more comfortable than typical shaking, bouncing speed boats.”

The C-8 can travel 50 nautical miles before needing to be recharged. Recharging takes about two hours. Electrek also notes that in rough weather conditions, the C-8 can operate like a regular boat instead of foiling, although this does result in reduced range. The C-8 also uses a Flight controller, which adjusts the hydrofoils. This keeps the C-8 stable in any weather conditions. 

Because the C-8 is electric, it’s also quiet. There’s no noise like there is in typical boats, because there is no engine. Candela says that the C-8 can go 3,000 miles without needing any maintenance.

This isn’t Candela’s first electric boat

Candela released a C-7, which it handmade for individual customers. As one might imagine, this wasn’t easy to scale, so the C-7 was unable to reach mass production. This was despite its popularity. The C-8 will be able to be produced in large volume, making it more accessible to a wide variety of people. 

The C-8 will also be larger than the C-7, making it more attractive to a family or someone who may wish to entertain guests. The C-7 used hydrofoils to sit above the water. According to Electrek, the C-8 will use even less energy due to its C-Pod electric drive unit. The C-Pod uses two lightweight electric motors to produce 50 kW.

The Candela C-8 will have luxury touches, too

In addition to being able to hold eight people, the Candela C-8 will have beds for two adults and two children. Want to take a trip in your boat? You’ll even be able to take a freshwater shower on board. You can even get a premium sound system. 

The C-8 will also have Autopilot which keeps the boat on course. You can also get it without a roof or with a sheltered hardtop and a retractable sun roof. All this will cost you about $339,000. 

If you’re into boating and are looking for a new boat, the Candela C-8 may entice you. It is certainly on the cutting edge of technology. Will we someday see most boats flying over waves instead of sitting atop them? We’ll have to wait and see if this catches on.

RELATED: The Electric Motorcycle That Completely Sold Out In 2 Hours

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This Social Media Influencer Turned Her Car Into a Driveable Chia Pet

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Have you ever looked at your vehicle and thought, “I really wish I could turn my car into a driveable chia pet”? Well, chances are, you haven’t. Luckily for us, Ali Spagnola came up with this somewhat genius and the somewhat logistically questionable idea of covering her old hatchback in chia seeds and seeing if it will grow. We won’t leave you hanging though, the YouTuber was successful in growing her car into a giant chia pet, and it’s both ridiculous and awesome.

How did Ali Spagnola turns her car into a chia pet?

Chia pet car | Ali Spagnola

Social media influencer and YouTuber Ali Spagnola took us through her trial and error process of getting her hatchback ready to go as a movable garden. She had previously attached blue astroturf to the vehicle, which made for a great starting point to turn her vehicle into a rolling chia pet. On small test pieces of astroturf, Ali experimented with several options to see what would help the chia grow before inevitably deciding that, when wet, the chia seeds themselves were sticky enough to adhere to the astroturf, and it could actually grow healthy chia along the surface. It took several days to grow as much as 60 pounds worth of chia seeds onto her vehicle.

Taking ‘green’ to a whole new level with this chia pet car

This chia-pet of a car is a vehicle that most newer car enthusiasts can’t appreciate to its fullest extent because they aren’t old enough to remember the ch-ch-ch-chia pet commercials of the 1990s and early 2000s that gave us the option to grow chia on terracotta pots shaped like Bob Ross, hedgehogs, and other random objects. As a plant that photosynthesizes, chia absorbs carbon dioxide, giving this little hatch a new meaning to having a ‘green’ vehicle — even though it’s grown on blue astroturf, but that’s beside the point.

Modifying cars is sometimes illegal, especially in the state of California, even on the cosmetic side of things such as having stickers on your windshield that can obstruct your view and window tint that is too dark. But, there aren’t specifically any laws against, well, covering your car in chia seeds and turning it into a ‘carden (that’s a new somewhat trendy term of car + garden = carden). For Ali Spagnola, the car was completely out of warranty, as she mentioned it is a 14-year-old hatchback, so there are no concerns as to whether this cosmetic modification would void her warranty, but if you were genuinely interested in trying to turn your own vehicle into a chia pet, you should definitely contact the manufacturer to make sure.

The logistics of maintaining a car covered in chia isn’t exactly clear, and, considering it hasn’t been done before, we aren’t quite sure if this will damage the vehicle at all, such as growing mold or causing rust from retaining water — and, it does need to be watered, so, imaging having to water your car. It isn’t clear where in California Ali lives, so she may be able to escape the cold winter weather that could kill off the chia, but in most states, this project wouldn’t survive very long.

RELATED: The Largest Speeding Ticket Ever is the Price of Some Supercars

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Why Did This Dealer Mark the Hyundai Veloster up to $65k?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

After Hyundai announced the base model Hyundai Veloster would not return for 2022, nothing happened. However, Russell Westbrook Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM decided to mark one 2021 Veloster N up to $65,094. Is this a publicity stunt, or does someone think a Veloster is worth that much money? And yes, it is that Russell Westbrook from the LA Lakers.

Is the Hyundai Veloster fast?

One dealership thinks the 2021 Hyundai Veloster is worth $65,000 | Hyundai

The base model Hyundai Veloster is not very fast. It offers just over 201 hp for the 2021 model year. A Hyundai Veloster N offers 275 hp, and Hyundai says the 2022 Hyundai Veloster N will have the same amount. The Hyundai vehicle has many fans, but it certainly isn’t the most popular car on the market.

However, one dealership added some “mods” to a Veloster N and tried to mark it up almost double the amount. Or did someone sell this modded car to the dealership? The listing is no longer up on the dealership website. Sometimes a modded car can offer more value to a specific clientele, but this listing says it only has 10 miles on the odometer.

Would you pay double for a Hyundai Veloster?

One Reddit user posted a photo of the Russell Westbrook dealership sticker on the Hyundai Veloster N. At the top, it notes the Veloster has 10 miles on the odometer. The MSRP is listed at $35,935. Westbrook added $1,295 for SmartShielf Armor All exterior paint protection. There’s another “dealer added markup” for $8,000. The information doesn’t go into more detail.

The dealership also added a performance package for $17,995. This includes items like a downpipe, intercooler, strut bar, and cold air intake. The dealership added “custom paint,” upgraded spark plugs, tint, and some other random items. It also shows an “eiboch lowering kit,” but the company name is actually Eibach. There’s another addition for a $1,595 GPS tracking kit and a courtesy guard for $1,095. The final and most egregious charge is Nitrofill for the tires at $179. Some Costco stores offer free nitrogen fill, and other times it is a small fee. Either way, it isn’t worth $179.

If you were to buy two Velosters, it would only cost $71,870. That’s only about $6,000 extra. What makes a dealership think a buyer would want to pay double for a Hyundai Veloster? It is possible this was just a publicity stunt for the dealership and car. Even if modifications are expensive, the listed changes are not worth $17,995.

What else can you buy for $65,094?

For $65,094, you can get a lot of cars. A 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E starts at $42,895, plus you could get some upgrades. A top trim 2021 Toyota GR Supra is only $55,785. A BMW M2 Competition Coupe starts at $58,900. These vehicles are brand new and have a lot of features you won’t find in the Veloster.

Many dealerships have been marking up popular vehicles recently to try and bring in some extra cash. One dealership marked the 2021 Kia Telluride up $25,000. Then, a New York dealership marked the new Toyota 4Runner up an extra $30,000 just because it was a popular trim and color level. Sometimes this works if the vehicle is popular and hard to find, but something tells me the Hyundai Veloster isn’t having that issue.

RELATED: Consumer Reports: Buyers Are Having Issues With the Hyundai Elantra

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The 2019 Ford F-150 Outranks the Ram 1500 and the Chevy Silverado as the Best Used Full-Size Truck $25K and Up

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When shopping for a used truck, U.S. News & World Report offers up a treasure trove of information. That’s especially true if you’re shopping for a used full-size truck. In fact, when it comes to the best used full-size trucks over $25,000, U.S. News has already named its top picks. And, as it turns out, it’s the 2019 Ford F-150 that ranks as the best used full-size truck. It even outranks certain Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500 models. Let’s find out why.

The 2019 Ford F-150 is the best used full-size truck

2019 Ford F-150 | Ford

Overall Score: 8.8
Average Price: $30,179 – $71,650

Now, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that the Ford F-150, the 2019 model year specifically, was able to snag the top spot on U.S. News’ list of the best full-size trucks over $25,000. After all, the Ford F-150 is a bestseller for a reason. It offers up a long list of engines to choose from, boasts class-leading towing and hauling capabilities, and comes stocked with some pretty great features.

But those aren’t the only reasons that the 2019 Ford F-150 outranks the Ram 1500 and the Chevy Silverado as the best full-size truck. It simply earned better ratings than its competition. In fact, U.S. News gave it an 8.8 overall score, along with an 8.4 rating for performance, an 8.8 rating for its interior, and a 9.6 rating for safety. The organization also gave the 2019 Ford F-150 a 9.7 critics rating, along with an 8.5 rating for the cost of ownership and a 4.5 rating for reliability. Not bad, right?

The 2019 Ram 1500 follows closely behind the used Ford F-150 

A red 2019 Ram 1500 parked in the mountains
2019 Ram 1500 | Stellantis

Overall Score: 8.7
Average Price: $27,556 – $58,048

While the 2019 Ram 1500 finds itself among U.S. News’ top picks for the best used full-size truck over $25,000, it was outranked by the Ford F-150. It all comes down to scores too. In fact, while U.S. News gave the 2019 Ford F-150 an 8.8 overall rating, it gave the used Ram 1500 an 8.7 overall rating. The organization also gave it lower ratings in terms of safety and reliability. However, the Ram 1500 did best its Ford competition in two categories: performance and interior.

And if you’re curious as to what else the 2019 Ram 1500 has to offer? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Despite landing in second place, U.S. News reports that the used Ram 1500 is an “outstanding used full-size pickup truck.” With its max towing capacity of 13,200 pounds, luxuriously outfitted cabin, and “stellar fuel economy” ratings, there’s no denying that there’s a lot to like about the 2019 Ram 1500.

The 2017 Chevy Silverado tied with the Ram 1500 for second place

A deep red 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71 parked in a canyon
2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71 | Chevrolet

Overall Score: 8.7
Average Price: $25,531 – $48,582

The 2017 Chevy Silverado wasn’t able to outrank the 2019 Ford F-150 either. However, it still landed a top spot on U.S. News’ list of the best used full-size trucks over $25,000. It’s worth noting too that while the Silverado was outranked by both the Ram 1500 and the Ford F-150, it does rank as the best used full-size truck of 2017. So, this used full-size truck? It’s got plenty going for it.

Though, that’s not all that surprising. In fact, according to U.S. News, the 2017 Silverado’s max tow rating and payload capacity make it the ideal truck for work. Meanwhile, its comfortable interior and long list of interior amenities make it a great choice for hauling the family to your next family vacation. Further, consider that the 2017 Chevy Silverado can be had with your pick of an engine under the hood and it’s easy to see how this used full-size truck landed a top spot on U.S. News’ list of the best used full-size trucks over $25K.

The best used full-size trucks offer plenty of worthwhile options

Whether you opt for the 2019 Ford F-150 or the 2017 Chevy Silverado, these used full-size trucks are among the best used trucks over $25,000 that you can buy today. To find out which is the best truck for satisfying your daily driving needs, we recommend hitting the road for a few test drives. 

RELATED: 5 Best Used Toyota Trucks You Can Buy Right Now According to Consumer Report’s Rating

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