Tesla Model 3 Undergoes Post-Apocalyptic Transformation

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Tesla Model 3 just got much cooler. The Model 3 was already a top contender for electric vehicle of the year. It is affordable for an electric vehicle and has great driving range. Being one of the two most affordable Tesla models to exist is cool enough, but one Model 3 took things a step further. This Model 3 just got a major style upgrade and is now apocalypse-ready.

This Tesla Model 3 is ready for anything

A modified Tesla Model 3 | Grind Hard Plumbing Co. YouTube channel

The Tesla Model 3 is many things, but it surely isn’t the top vehicle pick for a survivalist. It isn’t a durable off-roading Jeep or a sturdy camper. The Model 3 is a compact car that is more prepared for a bright future than an apocalyptic one. According to Electrek, gearheads at Grind Hard Plumbing Co. turned the compact car into an off-roading beast.

The electric car got off-roading wheels, tires, and a modified suspension. The team welded a custom tube bumper onto the chassis. They also added a winch after welding on the tube bumper.

The team cut hexagon-shaped holes into the hood and placed lights inside the hood giving it a cyberpunk resistance look. They successfully made the futuristic electric car look like a prop vehicle straight off the set of a Mad Max film.

Is the Tesla Model 3 a good car?

A red Tesla Model 3.
The Tesla Model 3 | Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images

The Tesla Model 3 is currently the most popular electric vehicle on the market. After years of tweaking, Tesla has finally created the quintessential (attainable) electric car. In the company’s early days, many of its vehicles were reserved for the super-rich. Today Tesla realizes that to scale its business and have the most impact, it must create affordable options for consumers.

The Tesla Model 3 comes in three different trim options. The Standard Range Plus, Long Range, and Performance trims are the options consumers can choose from. Each trim’s powertrain offers a different battery range and different speeds.

The Standard Range Plus gets 263 miles of range on a full charge. The Long Range gets a massive 353 miles on a full charge. The Performance trim gets 315 miles of range. The electric car is so popular because even the base model, the Standard Range Plus comes with a huge 15-inch infotainment system and amazing standard features.

Should you buy a Model 3?

A blue Tesla Model 3.
The Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

It’s an exciting time to be in the market for a new EV. Several automakers including Ford, Rivian, and many more are rolling out electric vehicles. That being said, Tesla still holds the crown for best electric vehicle automaker thus far.

The Tesla Model 3 is an excellent first EV because it is affordable, has great range, and includes all the amazing Tesla features that the brand is becoming known for at the most basic trim level. The Model 3 is the perfect entry-level electric vehicle for folks who are still skeptical about EVs.

The Long Range Plus model starts at $39,990. After federal tax credits, the total price can be reduced to $32,490. As many automakers seem to be suffering during the global semiconductor shortage, Tesla and the Model 3 have thrived, providing new EV owners with great driving experiences and an electric vehicle that’s easy to love.

RELATED: 27,000 Reasons Why Your Insurance Company Doesn’t Like Your Tesla Model 3

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Did You Know Yamaha Made Sports Cars?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Yamaha is renowned worldwide as a producer of musical instruments and motorcycles. For decades, its engineers also contributed to the automotive world behind the scenes. For example, they were responsible for the high-revving V6 and V8 motors in Ford’s first two Taurus SHOs.

Many of Toyota’s high-performance engines also bear their handiwork. In the case of Toyota’s 2000GT, Yamaha’s role really can’t be overstated. It was intimately involved in the project, from the design phase all the way through production.

When one door closes, another opens

Toyota 2000GT Speed Trial replica at the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon in Chiba, Japan | Keith Tsuji via Getty Images

In the early 1960s, Toyota’s rival Nissan tapped Yamaha to develop a new sports coupe, resulting in a prototype called the A550X. When the deal fell through in 1964, Yamaha approached Toyota to try and salvage the project, according to Sports Car Digest. With approval from leadership, the collaboration moved forward into uncertain territory.

At that time, Toyota didn’t have any high-performance engines. What they did have was a 2.0-liter inline-six from the Crown sedan. So engineers at Yamaha designed a more advanced DOHC cylinder head to wring out more power. Fed by a trio of Mikuni-Solex carburetors, horsepower jumped from 110 to 148 hp at 6600 RPM. While not as gutsy as the 4.2-liter Jaguar E-type, the 2000GT powerplant was free-revving and responsive.

The 2000GT was assembled by Yamaha

1967 Toyota 2000GT
1967 Toyota 2000GT | Paul Mosely/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Toyota tasked their in-house designer Satoru Nozaki with the bodywork. While the original A550X prototype resembled a C2 Corvette Sting Ray, the final 2000GT was more along the lines of a Jaguar or Lotus. Underneath, the chassis was very similar to the Lotus Elan, with a backbone design instead of the prototype’s unibody construction. Double-wishbone suspension graced all four corners, along with disc brakes.

Because it was unlike anything Toyota was producing at the time, it made sense to outsource production of the 2000GT to Yamaha. Per Sports Car Digest, they were constructed there in small batches and many elements were hand-finished. The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail in the 2000GT was extraordinary, and that’s one reason why the cars are so valuable today.

The interior was finished by Yamaha’s piano division

Toyota 2000GT Interior
Toyota 2000GT Interior | Toyota

Wood dashes were fairly common in sports cars of the 1960s, but not all were as finely crafted as the 2000GT’s. Yamaha’s experience in building pianos gave the firm unique expertise to construct rosewood paneling throughout the interior. It’s one of the details that makes the 2000GT special and highlights Yamaha’s considerable contributions as well.

Final thoughts

While the 2000GT was clearly a collaborative effort between Toyota and Yamaha, the car wouldn’t be the same without the latter. From the musical engine note and willing character of the engine, to the stunning interior finish, the evidence is clear. It was one of the early stages in a partnership that continues to this day, and helped to create many of Toyota’s iconic powertrains in the decades since.

RELATED: 2022 Toyota GR Corolla Hot Hatch: How Fast Will It Be?

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What Billie Eilish Keeps in Her Garage Might Surprise You

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Entering the pop culture music scene in 2015 with the song “Ocean Eyes,” Billie Eilish has taken the world by storm and risen to celebrity status. After the success of her music since her 2019 album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Eilish has continued to gain traction and build wealth since her musical debut. When it comes to Billie Eilish’s car collection, what she keeps in her garage might surprise you.

Billie Eilish on set with her Dodge Challenger SRT | Koury Angelo/Getty Images for Apple

What car does Billie Eilish drive? 

The singer/songwriter just turned 18 and is cruising around town in her dream car. But what is it? What cars does Billie Eilish own? 

When she’s not posing for Vogue, self-directing a new music video, or writing a new song, Billie Eilish might be caught in her Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. It’s matte black and Eilish claims it is her dream car, according to A Girl’s Guide to Cars. The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat has even made it into music videos for popular songs like “NDA” and “Everything I Wanted.”

According to Dodge, the 2021 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat starts at $61,465. The 2021 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody and SRT Super Stock trims start at $79,465 and $82,465, respectively. Each of these Challenger models are equipped with a 6.2 liter HEMI V8 engine that generates up to 717 horsepower.

Billie Eilish’s car collection

Aside from the pop icon’s Dodge Challenger, there are a few other cars in her fleet as well. And they range from modest to extravagant. In the video above, it’s reported that Eilish also owns a McLaren 720S. This luxury sports car uses a twin-turbo V8 engine to create up to 710 horsepower. What teenager wouldn’t be happy to own a powerful $300,0000 supercar?

For the moments when Billie Eilish wants to bring some friends along or pack some extra cargo, she gets into her Chevrolet Suburban. The Suburban starts just over $50,000, but a fully optioned top trim Chevy Suburban costs upwards of about $80,000 or more. For this, buyers like Billie Eilish have the option of either a 3 liter turbo-diesel engine with up to 227 horsepower or a 6.2 liter V8 that creates up to 420 hp. 

Perhaps the most surprising car in Billie Eilish’s car collection is a Mazda5. This miniature minivan is a practical wagon with sliding doors. The Mazda5 isn’t exactly what we think of when we imagine fleets of the famous, but we bet it’s great for those times that Eilish wants to drive around a little more incognito than in her eye-catching McLaren 720S or Dodge Challenger SRT. 

What else does the singer keep in her garage?

a red McLaren 720S with the doors open parked on the grass
The McLaren 720S | Martyn Lucy/Getty Images

In an interview with MTV, Billie Eilish talks about the things she’s afraid of. One of those things happens to be going into her garage at night. The young singer/songwriter claims she keeps Pockies in her garage and is too afraid to go in there to get them for a late-night snack. 

Right there beside Billie Eilish’s car collection is a favorite snack she keeps in the garage. But apparently you won’t catch her going in there to get them at night. However, she can be seen driving a Dodge Challenger, McLaren 720S, Chevy Suburban, or Mazda5.    

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Alfa Romeo Commits to More Motorsports, Not Much Else

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Alfa Romeo is based on unique motoring history. It is made up of the perfect balance between best-in-class performance, pure Italian style, and sporting legacy. The brand delivers a timeless and unparalleled premium driving experience.

Alfa Romeo is under the wing of Stellantis with other brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, and Ram. The brand has competed in motor racing as a constructor and engine supplier. However, it disappeared from the sport and came back to Formula 1 in 2018.  

Alfa Romeo commercial sales

Alfa Romeo logo | Getty Images

Alfa Romeo announced reviving its products in 2018. However, sales have not been satisfying, and some of its models have been canceled. Things are not looking good for the brand.

There has been a newly updated roadmap for 2019-2022, but it still looks bleak. The company had originally planned seven models and refreshes, but now there are just the Stelvio and Giulia models.

FCA claims that Alfa Romeo’s portfolio is being used to focus on current market strengths, reduced global reach, and overlap with other group brands. Despite offering sedans, SUVs, and sports cars, the sales for the brand continue to be low. Reliability has turned out to be the main issue, according to consumer reports.  

Sales of The Alfa Romeo Giulia Sedan

Giulia is one of Alfa Romeo’s first sedans. Consumer reports stated that it felt limber and light on its feet. It had great engine power and was considered mighty compared to its competitors. The consumer reports stated that it would satisfy its owners.

However, there was one defect. The Giulia tested poorly in the reliability section. Having great transmission and engine power, the problem fell on the car’s interior and the electronic systems. These factors hurt the sale of the Alfa Romeo as it was still trying to establish itself.

Sales of the Stelvio SUV

In the SUV sector, the Stelvio was not a big success. Like the sedan, consumer reports from road tests confirmed that it is engaging to drive, comfortable, and powerful but fails under reliability. The same electrical issues in the Giulia exist in the Stelvio. Having a reliable engine is a win, but faulty electronics make it irrelevant. Without proper wiring of the vehicle, the engine might not start properly.

For a daily driver, these problems become off-putting to potential buyers. With the competition in both the SUV and sedan segments, the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio have low sales due to their reliability, even though they come with great styling.

Currently, the Italian brand Alfa Romeo has a drop in business sales. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has even worsened their situation. People not being able to afford cars automatically means a drop in sales. Under new management, Alfa Romeo hopes to build Stelvio more reliable and economical and take steps toward electrification.    

What is expected?

For 2021, Alfa Romeo Stelvio has limited the trim to just three. They have also streamlined many of the optional packages by making them standard across the available trims.

By 2022, the Italian manufacturer has planned to refresh the design of the Stelvio and a few more additions of other SUVs in the lineup. The 2022 Stelvio may have a new hybrid variant apart from the existing ones. But there is no official announcement of the 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio yet, but it is expected to land in the fall of 2021.

RELATED: The 2021 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo Is the Best Car No One Cares About

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