You Can Order a Tesla Model S Plaid or Long Range Right Now

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Tesla magical inventory fairy is in action right now! One eagle-eyed Twitter use found a bunch of Tesla Model S Plaid vehicles already ready for delivery within Tesla inventory. This is the most anticipated electric vehicle release that has ever happened (EVs are cool now, OK?), so these likely won’t last long.

You can order a Tesla Model S Plaid for delivery by next week

You Can Order a Tesla Model S Plaid Right Now | Tesla

One Tesla fan on Twitter found some random Model S inventory in a few places. Sawyer Merritt on Twitter shared a link to the Tesla Inventory that showed a variety of brand new 2021 models for sale. In the New York Metro area, around 10 2021 Model S Plaid vehicles were for sale at the full $135,490. Some Model S Long Range vehicles popped up in places like Houston and Hawaii.

In Miami, the same story was true. The 2021 Model S Plaid was available in a variety of colors. One in Deep Blue Metallic 21″ with the Arachnid Wheels and Autopilot for $137,990. A Pearl White Multi-Coat Plaid was located in Orlando for $136,490. Most of these options show the Cream Premium Interior with Walnut Décor except the Solid Black option. Those still have the All Black Premium Interior with Ebony Décor.

While the inventory online through the Tesla Design Studio still shows a date of January or February, these options show a delivery date at the end of August. Merritt was able to place an order with the $250 and get an actual VIN.

The mysterious Model S Plaid deliveries resume

Some of the other locations showing inventory include Chicago, Atlanta, and the Bay Area in California. The Bay Area has a ton of inventory as of right now. Tesla mysteriously delayed deliveries of the Model S Plaid a month ago and gave no explanation. The delivery dates for those came and went and a few buyers heard from Tesla. The rollout after that was slow.

It is possible these were vehicles that buyers did not follow through on. It’s also possible the buyer did not want the vehicle after such a lengthy wait. But while other people are waiting for the ordered Model S Plaids until February, you can be rolling around in your own Plaid by September.

Since Tesla recently started offering Full Self-Driving to a monthly fee, none of these vehicles had FSD attached. Autopilot is included, but buyers will have to add Full Self-Driving to get all of those features.

What’s the reason for this sudden influx of inventory?

According to Tesla-Info, there are only 48 Tesla Model S vehicles in stock in the entire country. Very few Pearl White options. There are only five at the time of publication, all with Cream Interior and 21″ with the Arachnid Wheels. At this point, no one knows why there are suddenly Model S vehicles available.

The 19″ Tempest Wheels offer better fuel economy. For the Plaid, the 19-inch wheels offer 396 miles of range. With the 21-inch wheels, that goes down to 348 miles. For the Long Range, the 21-inch wheels get 375 miles or range. The 19-inch wheels get 405 miles. Only about eight of the remaining options in inventory have 19-inch wheels.

So if you missed out on order a Tesla Model S Plaid or Long Range, do it. Like right now. Your $250 deposit might net you a new Model S before anyone else gets it. Plus, you can sell your old one back for an insane amount right now. What’s not to love about that?

RELATED: Consumer Reports Previewed the Tesla Cybertruck While Delays Plague Production

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Mercedes Formula 1 CEO Toto Wolff, Lawrence Stroll Investigated for Insider Trading

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Toto Wolff and the Mercedes Formula 1 team are used to being at the top. Frankly, the team is damn near unbeatable and has been for a while. This dominance on track comes with financial gains off track. For example, team boss and CEO Toto Wolff is worth right around $400 to $500 million. Did Mercedes Formula 1 boss Wolff get there not just through blood, sweat, and tears, but through some less than legitimate means as well?

Insider trading at Aston Martin

Stroll is a massive presence on track | Mark Thompson via Getty Images

Before I start, it’s only ethical to state that I owned shares of Aston Martin (ARGGY, AML). However, I have since sold said shares as of June 2021. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get to it. Le Journal de Montreal recently brought forth a report by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority that alleges that Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has been accused of insider trading.

Basically, that means that a party knew confidential information about a stock (AML) and made trades of said stock because of that confidential information. In this case, the report alleges that both Toto Wolff and Lawrence Stroll knew something about Aston stock before it was public, and that Stroll made Wolff wise to it. That confidential information was the arrival of new CEO Tobias Moers at Aston Martin. That name may sound unfamiliar, but Moers is a staple in the industry.

Does Toto Wolff have a vested interest in Aston Martin?

Toto and Lewis Hamilton after Lewis' British GP win
Wolff and Lewis appear to have grown close over the years | Rudy Carezzevoli via Getty Images

Prior to his new position at Aston, Moers was over at Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz AMG, specifically). He is a massive part of the success of the Mercedes AMG brand as we know it. This came after the big Aston Martin/Mercedes engine deal. Now here’s where it gets interesting. Journal de Montreal says that Wolff acquired a .95% (roughly $36 million) stake in Aston in April 2020. Later, Aston shares shot up in value.

In summary, it has been alleged that Toto Wolff, via Lawrence Stroll, knew about Moers upcoming move to CEO at Aston, and bought shares because of it. Given Moers reputation, it’s possible Wolff made the bet that shares would rise after his appointment. That’s how it allegedly worked on the inside track. Now, let’s talk about how it works for the rest of us.

Both Stroll and Wolff could be in real trouble

Stroll does his best "serious businessman" face at the Hungarian GP, complete with serious businessman aviators
Serious business face | Mark Thompson via Getty Images

I heard the same news in May of 2020, via this article at Car and Driver. Thinking the same thing as Wolff, I bought some shares. I did alright, making some modest gains of a few hundred dollars, largely because Aston is valued at less on the U.S stock market. Wolff? He made millions. Granted, Wolff had much more capital to put into the stock, but the rate of return is what counts. In April last year, AML was worth EUR $1401. Now, it’s worth EUR $1962. If you multiply that by Wolff’s stakes in the company, and Stroll’s, there’s a lot of zeros.

Journal de Montreal asked Bradley Lord, Mercedes F1’s head of communications if Wolff knew. Of course, Lord said he didn’t saying “We are not aware of any such action.” For now, we’ll have to wait and see if Mercedes’ potential championship win will be dampened by any legal trouble when the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority concludes their investigation.

RELATED: The 2022 Formula 1 Car’s Wing Helps Drivers Overtake Better

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What Is the Fastest Car in the World? (Hint: There’s a Fast and Furious Connection)

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There may be some dispute about which production car is the fastest car in the world. SSC North America claims the SSC Tuatara holds the fastest time, and other lists exist out there with other supercars mentioned as the quickest. But these cars haven’t been officially verified, despite being certainly qualified for the ultimate speed race. 

In fact, there’s only one car with a verified time and speed that can make the claim. And this particular sports car happens to have a connection to the Fast and Furious franchise. It makes sense that movies centered around fast cars and racing feature the real-life speed record holder. So, which car takes the cake, and what is its tie to the blockbuster movies?

The ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise is all about fast cars in the world

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport | Getty Images

Unless you’ve been living off-grid, you are probably familiar with the Fast and Furious movie franchise. It weaves character stories about love, loyalty, and family, but mostly, these movies are about fast cars. Some of the most iconic rides make their appearances on the big screen. 

MotorTrend and CBR both share lists that capture a few of the audience favorites, including Tej’s Ferrari 458, Letty’s 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe, and Brian’s McLaren MP4-12C Spider in Furious 7. And don’t forget about Dom’s 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon from F9 or Lucas Black’s 1967 Ford Mustang featured in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

‘Fast and Furious’ cars with the highest mph

The movie franchise isn’t just known for big-name stars and pretty cars. These cars are some of the fastest cars in the world, demonstrating their prowess on screen. CBR mentioned a few of the fastest, including the Pagani Zonda F featured in Fast & Furious 6, capable of 214 mph. Magdalene Shaw’s 2018 Noble M600 is a beast, clocking 215 mph. Deckard’s 2012 Lamborghini Aventador deserves a speed head nod, with its 217 mph capability.

But the fastest in the franchise might just be Tej and Roman’s 2010 Koenigsegg CCXRs from Fast Five, capable of hitting 249 mph, and Roman’s 2011 Bugatti Veyron from Furious 7 with its 253 mph record.

Paul Walker’s car in each Fast and Furious film

Part of what makes the Fast and Furious franchise so endearing to fans is the presence of Paul Walker. The actor famously portrayed Brian O’Conner throughout the first several films, before his unfortunate real-life car accident that took his life. He may no longer have a stage presence in current films, but his past performances and incredible cars still rank among fans as favorites. 

Car Throttle compiled some of Paul Walker’s super-fast cars from the movie franchise. The very first car audiences saw Brian drive was the 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2G GS. Other models Brian films from behind the wheel include the 1999 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning, a 1995 Toyota Supra Mark IV, the 1991 Dodge Stealth, and the 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R. You’ll catch him driving a 2002 GT-T, a 1969 Chevy Camaro, and the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII, too.

Some of the other Paul Walker sweet rides throughout the Fast and Furious franchise include the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STi GH, the 1971 Nissan Skyline GT-R “Hakosuka,” the 2001 Porsche 911 (996) Carrera 2, and the 2011 Dodge Charger PPV. The list also showcases a few 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8s “Vault Cars,” a 2011 Nissan GT-R R35, a 2010 BMW E60 M5, and even the 2013 Chrysler Town & Country minivan (when Brian is living the family life.) Fans also appreciate the 1974 Ford Escort RS 2000 Mark 1, the 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta, and the 2012 Nissan GT-R R35 Bensopra.

Some of Brian’s sweetest rides, though, come with inherent speed and stylish curves. The 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STi GH certainly makes up for the minivan moment. The 2013 McLaren MP4-12C Spider and the 2012 Nissan GT-R R35 earn serious fan brownie points, too. But many consider the 1998 Toyota Supra Turbo one of the most iconic Brian O’Conner cars of all. NME reported this car sold for $550,000 recently.

But what’s the connection between the Fast and Furious and the car that also happens to be the fastest car in the world?

The Nissan Skyline: ‘Fast and Furious’ made this tuner popular

The Nissan Skyline GT-R may have become familiar because of its Fast and Furious appearances with Paul Walker, but this car is a serious speed and performance contender in real life. Nissan shares some of the Skyline GT-R’s history, dating back to its nameplate introduction in 1971. One of the Hakosuka Skyline GTRs sold in 2017 for a whopping $126,000, to give you a broad idea of just how pricey they can be. Finding a model in good condition will set you back more than $150,000 in today’s market.

You might have a tall order trying to find one for sale like the cars in the movies. The Nissan Skyline GT-R never sold here in the states due to U.S. safety and emissions requirements. But you could buy a Nissan GT-R, without the ‘Skyline,’ if you didn’t mind giving up the fast car performance. If you wanted to drive the same variation Brian O’Connor drove, you’d likely have to import one from overseas and make modifications to make your car legal. Federal law won’t allow you to import until the vehicle reaches 25 years of age, says Hagerty, in an updated statement, where sources also share a recent R34 Skyline GT-R sale that ran up to $320,187.

The Paul Walker Nissan Skyline is iconic

The Nissan Skyline GT-R is one of Paul Walker’s most iconic rides across the Fast and Furious franchise. According to Fandom, in 2 Fast 2 Furious Brian purchases a 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 and gives it a fresh paint job. This is his chosen ride in a street race where he faces Suki, Slap Jack, and Orange Julius. As Insider mentions, it’s also the same car Brian drives in a legendary bridge jump. The movie cars were all R34s, with RB26DETT 2.6-liter engines rated at 280 hp.

There was also the 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 featured in Fast & Furious. Fandom may help jog your memory pointing to when Brian uses the FBI database to scope out a blue and pearl white version of this car. It’s this Skyline Brian drives in the race against Dominic Toretto to earn respect from Arturo Braga. The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34s onset used 1998 to 2001 Skyline GT-T frames. These few modifications made for incredible burnout sequences.

Cheap fast cars in the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise

There are some pretty pricey fast cars in the various Fast and Furious movies. But not all of them are high dollar, like the Lamborghini or Bugatti models. There are quite a few on-screen rides you could probably afford to buy yourself, including the various Honda Civics in the first installment of the franchise. Back in 1992, buying a Honda Civic hatchback would cost around $14,000. You could buy one of those today for likely half that price.

Two films featured the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (EVO), a car you could buy new for about $16,000. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift chapter of the franchise showcases the green minivan that mashed up a Volkswagen Touran body with a Golf chassis is an actual vehicle in Europe with an online price tag of about $6,000. Costing a little more but still affordable, the 1987 Buick Grand National that Dom drives in the Dominican Republic is said to cost roughly $30,000. And the 1999 Nissan Maxima Vince and Dom drive would have only set you back about $21,500 in 1999.

As infamous as the Nissan Skyline GT-R is or as iconic as those highway robbery Honda Civics were, they’re nowhere near the fastest car in the world. 

Dodge Charger: ‘Fast and Furious’ put Vin Diesel behind the wheel of this beastly muscle car

Paul Walker is still highly revered and continues to technically live on within the franchise storylines. But it’s Vin Diesel who continues to carry the Fast and Furious torch as the lead character and protagonist. Part and parcel with his role as Dominic Toretto is the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. Producers put Diesel behind the wheel of this monster muscle legend, and it now is often associated with him and this movie role. Fandom lays out the timeline of events, highlighting the various appearances this beefy muscle car makes throughout the movie franchise.

In The Fast and the Furious, the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T spends much of its time parked in the Toretto garage. Dom is afraid to drive it since his father’s track death. The car shows up again in Fast & Furious, where Letty Ortiz, Dom’s leading lady, attempts to rebuild the formerly wrecked Charger. In Fast Five, Brian wrecks the Charger again, but not enough that Dom can’t commandeer the muscle car and drive it off to Rio de Janeiro. The infamous Dodge Charger shows up again in Fast & Furious 6, where Dom’s nephew plays with a scale model of the exact car Dom drove in the first movie franchise installment. Insider reports that Fast 9 fans will get their Dodge Charger fix. A custom mid-engine version was built just for the role, costing more than $1 million.

The ‘Fast and Furious’ Mustang Fastback was tuned for speed

The Fast and Furious movies weave other muscle cars into the various character stories of the franchise, including the Mustang Fastback. You might remember in Fast & Furious 6, Tej Parker’s 1969 Ford Mustang becomes part of an iconic chase scene with a tank, according to Fandom. 

It’s the Fast and Furious chapter in Tokyo that changes the game for the Mustang Fastback. The 1967 models used in the movie were actually built using 1968 Ford Mustangs. And the car had a Nissan Skyline GT-R engine installed, taking nearly two months to complete. There was also a 430-inch Windsor motor with a nine-inch rear end. 

But nothing compares to the fastest sports car

As fast as these modified Ford Mustangs were, or the Nissan Skyline GT-R, for that matter, nothing measures up to the fastest production sports car in the world. The fastest car in the world is the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, with Guinness World Record adherence recorded speed of 431.072 km/h or roughly 268.55 mph, harnessing 1,200 hp from 16 cylinders. Bugatti verifies it’s the quickest supercar of its time, and Forbes confirms.

So, what’s the connection between the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport and the Fast and Furious movies? In Furious 7, Roman drives a Bugatti Veyron. The sports car in the film wasn’t the fastest record-holding Super Sport version of the Bugatti, but still an incredible ride. The real-world Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is sold out. But had you been lucky and rich enough to nab one, it would have cost you upwards of $2,400,000.

Some of the fastest cars in the world make appearances in the Fast and Furious franchise. It’s those iconic and legendary rides that help make the series of movies so popular with fans. And if there ever were a supercar worthy of being called “fast” and “furious,” it’s the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, even if the SuperSport version doesn’t make it into the movies. Who knows? Maybe a future installment of the film franchise will offer a glimpse of this sports car, or film-modified version of one, in action. 

RELATED: Is Fast & Furious Star Ludacris Selling His Car Collection to Go Electric?

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VW With a 100-Shot of Nitrous Ends With an Impressive Amount of Damage

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re a fan of the Fast and Furious movies, drag racing, or just crazy custom car builds, chances are you’ve heard of nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is something that most average drivers and automotive consumers don’t think twice about these types of modifications, as it is really only useful in certain situations because it only produces an increase in power output for a few moments — meaning it’s really only good for certain styles of racing, like racing from a dig or a role, usually in a straight line. For this YouTuber, a 100-shot of nitrous into his VW caused a genuinely impressive amount of damage.

What is nitrous oxide and why do people use it in their cars?

A Nitrous Oxide bottle mounted on the floor in the back seat of this Honda is what gives the car its extra speed under racing conditions | Mark Boster, Los Angeles Times, Getty Images

Nitrous oxide, more commonly known from the brand-name NOS as featured in many of the Fast and Furious movies, is quite literally just that: nitrous oxide. It can be used in short spurts to enhance the performance of your engine by pushing additional oxygen into the engine for a brief period of time, maximizing the horsepower output of your engine, which relies heavily on oxygen for the internal combustion process. Because it dramatically changes your engine’s fuel-to-air ratio, it can only be used in short, quick doses rather than as a long-term way to boost power output.

Why isn’t nitrous used more often?

If the use of nitrous oxide has so many benefits and can increase your engine’s power output, why isn’t it more common? The simple reason is that with more power comes a higher risk of damage and can lead to catastrophic failure of your engine’s internal components, which may not be structurally suited to efficiently contain the sudden burst of power provided by the nitrous. While some engines can handle several shots of nitrous at a time, they usually require heavy modification unless the block comes from the factory with forged internals. If you aren’t so lucky, using nitrous oxide can completely destroy your engine, which one YouTuber experienced with an impressive amount of damage caused by a 100-shot of nitrous.

Increased power output can damage your engine dramatically

It isn’t unheard of when it comes to nitrous oxide causing catastrophic engine failure, and it is a risk all owners take when using the produce from any brand or manufacturer — and yes, it absolutely will void your warranty. It adds additional stress to your engine’s internal components in a way that is less safe than adding an aftermarket supercharger or turbocharger because most vehicles cannot be tuned to account of the nitrous as it can be for a supercharger or turbocharger — and you can, of course, use nitrous oxide with both a factory and aftermarket turbocharger or supercharger setup, but it is always better to build your engine’s internals with forged components if you are looking to produce more than factory-level power output and performance.

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