Is the Tesla Model S Plaid Enough to Demolish the Dodge Demon?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Tesla Model S Plaid is joining the ranks of the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT to prove that electric luxury cars can offer everything buyers are looking for without compromise. Performance, luxury, and features combine for high prices to provide a single vehicle that disposes of the need to own multiple vehicles — no longer do we have to have a boring and responsible daily driver and a secondary fun and less practical weekend roadster. The Tesla Model S Plaid offers surprising performance, and if you don’t believe the stats alone, you should definitely believe it from this epic drag race between the Plaid and the well-established dominator of the drag-racing world, the Dodge Demon.

How fast is the Tesla Model S Plaid?

Tesla Model S Plaid | Tesla Motors

We’ve heard plenty of rumors on the sub-2 second 0 – 60 second time of the upcoming Tesla Roadster — which far outshines the performance of the original Tesla Roadster that so many people have already forgotten about. While we expect modern yet modest features from Tesla vehicles, such as the latest and greatest technology that we haven’t seen in other cars, as well as some nerdy and fun hidden Easter Eggs, the Tesla Model S Plaid also offers some surprising performance statistics:

  • The Tesla Model S Plaid has a reported top speed of 200 mph (faster than any driver could actually go on a public road) according to Tesla
  • At peak power, the Model S Plaid offers an astonishing 1,020 hp all available within fractions of a second due to the vehicle’s electric motor, rather than the lag of a gasoline-powered engine
  • It has a 0 – 60 mph time reported at 1.99 seconds — better make sure you’re headed is resting back against the headrest before launching
  • This electric luxury and performance vehicle doesn’t sacrifice range like other competitors do, with an average overall range of 396 miles on a single charge

How does the Tesla Model S Plaid compare to the Dodge Demon?

The Dodge Demon is known for its sheer power, and it is rarer still than the Dodge Hellcat. On paper, the Dodge Demon doesn’t seem like it stands a chance against the Tesla Model S Plaid — which is surprising because it is still an incredibly fast and capable vehicle both on the road and on the track. According to the Dupont Registry, the Demon offers as much as 840 hp when running race fuel, several hundred horsepower shy of the Plaid. But any drag-racing fan knows that there is more to having a fast vehicle than just power: weight, torque, and aerodynamics must work together in perfect, optimized harmony to create a fast vehicle. That isn’t any less true with the Dodge Demon, which has a 0 – 60 mph time that is headache-inducingly fast at 2.1 seconds.

Gasoline-powered muscle versus all-electric performance

Since the re-introduction and growing popularity of electric vehicles, muscle car enthusiasts and many consumers have been skeptical about performance and capability. Both new companies like Tesla and companies rich in engineering and racing history like Porsche have shown that electric cars aren’t just a good option for environmentally concerned buyers, they also offer shocking performance that threatens the need for gasoline-powered engines altogether. But, if you want to check out the results of a drag race between a high-powered track-killer like the Dodge Demon and the new Tesla Model S Plaid, you’ll just have to watch it for yourself…

RELATED: Nerdy and Fun ‘Easter Egg’ Features Tesla Created

The post Is the Tesla Model S Plaid Enough to Demolish the Dodge Demon? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

$270,000 Ferrari 458 Crushed by Police: Accident or Scam?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Imagine you had just purchased a fancy new car, and the police crushed it in front of you? That’s what happened in this unusual Ferrari 458 supercar story. But as usual, there is a lot more than meets the eyes with this tale. Including a license plate scam, a trip to Dubai, and a badly damaged $270,000 Ferrari.

How much does a Ferrari 458 cost?

West Midlands Police crushed a Ferrari 458 like this | Ernesto Vicinanza/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Zahid Khan purchased the white $270,000 Ferrari 458 Spider many years back. The regular 458 usually cost around $250,000, but the Spider version was even more. He drove the Ferrari down to the Birmingham Crown Court for an unrelated event. The police claimed the Ferrari 458 was a stolen vehicle.

Not long after, the police confiscated the Ferrari. Khan claims he purchased the vehicle at an auction, but the police insisted it had been stolen. He attempted to show proof of ownership but was unable to. Someone posted a video of the Ferrari getting crushed on social media almost a year later.

On Khan’s YouTube channel, he explained a bit more. He says he insured the car and the registered owner, but the police failed to return the vehicle. Then, the police had some court order filed that allowed the crushing of the Ferrari 458.

Was the Ferrari 458 too damaged to be on the road?

To be fair, none of this sounds legit. Why can’t Khan show proof of ownership and insurance? Why can the police crush cars without notice? In a recent update from Birmingham Live, it seems Khan might have been in the wrong. He was already under investigation for a license plate scam he was allegedly running.

Zahid Khan fled to Dubai to escape a 10-year jail sentence. While he was on the run, the Ferrari 458 owner decided to sue the West Midlands Police in Birmingham, U.K., for crushing the supercar. Thus far, he has not served any time or paid any of the fines.

The police claim West Midlands Police crushed the Ferrari 458 as it had no insurance. Police would classify the vehicle as a Category B vehicle. This means that the Ferrari had likely been in a crash previously and repaired. However, that does not mean it was ready for the road. On the Royal Automobile Club Website, Category B vehicles are as follows:

“Body shell should be crushed. Signifies extensive damage, although some parts are salvageable. Should never re-appear on road, although reclaimed parts can be used in other road-going vehicles.”

RAC UK

The police can destroy category B vehicles as these vehicles are not “roadworthy.” Since this Ferrari 458 was a Category B vehicle, it was not suitable to be on the road.

This supercar story is ongoing, but this was no accident

According to Birmingham Live, police convicted Khan of conspiracy to commit fraud, perverting the course of justice and concealing and converting criminal property. The scam consisted of Khan registering existing plates under his name to sell the vehicles.

It sounds like the police were already well aware of this situation the Ferrari 458 owner was involved in. Currently, he owes the courts $160,000 and has an extra 14 months tacked on to the current 10 years. It is doubtful the police are going to pay the $270,000 for the Ferrari anytime soon. With very few facts to back up what Khan said, it is likely all of this was some sort of scam as well. If the vehicle was damaged, it should not have been allowed on the road. If Khan had proof that this was not the case, it should have been a simple fix.

Khan claims he has filed paperwork with the police, but the police appear to know where he is in Dubai. The Ferrari 458 Spider is gone forever, but the world probably has not seen the last of Khan and his supercars.

RELATED: World’s Most Expensive Supercar Crash: $3.8 Million in Damage

The post $270,000 Ferrari 458 Crushed by Police: Accident or Scam? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Tesla’s Cheapest Car in 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla is known for its innovations in electric vehicles and has been among the top EV competitors for years. Among its current model lineup is the Tesla Model 3. Currently, the baseline Model 3 is the company’s most affordable model. It’s more affordable than many other luxury EV models in 2021. Read on to find out the Tesla Model 3’s starting price, how it stacks up against other EVs on the market and more details on the Tesla Model 3.

Tesla Model 3 details

Tesla Model 3 vehicles parked outside of a Tesla factory | Xinhua/Ding Ting via Getty Images

The 2021 Tesla Model 3 has three trim levels: Standard Range Plus, Long Range, and Performance. The Standard Range Plus is the most affordable option and replaces the original Standard Range model. The range of this option is now around 263 miles, while the previous trim had a range of 250 miles.

Two of the three Model 3 models have dual all-wheel drive motors, with one motor in the front and the other in the back. This distributes power between the two motors depending on road conditions. Additionally, the Model 3 has increased safety due to its aluminum and steel body. On its official website, Tesla claims that the “Model 3 resisted four times its own mass, even with an all-glass roof: that’s the same weight as two full-grown African elephants.”

The vehicle’s interior includes more technological features, including a touchscreen allowing the driver to access the car controls. The car can also be unlocked using a smartphone, and the company will release over-the-air updates (OTA) for the vehicle’s technology features.

The Tesla Model 3 has so far had high ratings. From U.S. News, it was rated an 8.8 out of 10, with the highest score being in the safety category, where it received a 10 out of 10. On Edmunds, it has a similar rating, amounting to 8.4 out of 10.

Tesla Model 3 is Tesla’s most affordable option

According to Tesla, the least expensive Tesla Model 3, the Standard Range Plus, costs $39,990 at its base value. Customizations, such as a different paint job or different wheels, will cost extra. Its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature will also cost extra, either as a subscription service or at an upfront cost of $10,000. In comparison to other Tesla models, this is the most affordable vehicle. In comparison, the Model Y has a starting MSRP of $53,990, and the Model S has a starting MSRP of $89,990.

Surprisingly, the Model 3 is average when comparing car prices, making it more accessible to the average consumer. Price is one of the factors preventing more widespread adoption of EVs, even while they’re being encouraged through changing environmental policy and state incentives. Fully electric EVs were once largely on the higher side of the price spectrum. While some models remain this way, the lower cost of the entry-level Tesla Model 3 indicates a price shift that may lead more consumers to purchase an EV, either from Tesla or from other brands.

Comparison to other 2021 EVs on the market

Other 2021 EVs fall at different price points. Some are about the same or less than the Model 3. Among these is the Mini Cooper SE, which has a starting price of $29,900, and the Nissan Leaf, which starts at $31,670. Many others are more expensive, particularly luxury EVs. Luxury EV options include the Porsche Taycan, which has a starting price of $79,900, and the Polestar 2, which is $59,900. The majority of luxury EVs are higher than the Model 3 at the moment, but as price competition continues, more luxury EV brands may start offering lower-costing models. 

RELATED: Tesla Model 3 Owners Are the Happiest Car Owners, According to Consumer Reports

The post Tesla’s Cheapest Car in 2021 appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Hot Tips That’ll Keep Your Car’s Interior Cool When Parked

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Picture this: it’s a scorching summer day, you get to your car, and the cabin is practically an oven. You stick to the leather or burn against the cloth, cooked by the midday sun. We’ve all been there, and it severely sucks. But here are some maintenance tips and tricks to keep your car’s interior cool.

2022 Chevy Equinox interior | Chevrolet

A foreword about different colored car interiors

Oftentimes, people purchase a car based on interior color. After all, lighter colors help disperse heat, which makes your interior cooler in sunny states. Or does it?

Consumer Reports just conducted a test with two cars, one with a light interior and the other with a dark interior. Both were parked outside in 78-degree weather, and their interiors reflected that temperature. But after an hour, the cabins heated up to over 100 degrees, with the dark interior soaking up a little bit more sun. But this just shows that, no matter what car you drive, if it’s parked in the heat, it’s going to get hot.

So rather than choosing a car interior based on the heat, base it on how much dirt you track in, or what colors you like the most. Yes, light interiors will spare you a couple of degrees. But in my eyes, once you get past 90, there’s no going back. With that said, all these tricks will apply to you in helping dispel the heat.

Things you can buy that’ll keep your cabin cool

Ice painted cool music car from behind
An Ice-Cool Car Interior | myLoupe/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Get it? It’s an ice-cool interior… anyways.

The safest, simplest solution is to purchase a windshield visor, which can serve as decor to give your car a bit of personality. After all, it’s not actually the interior color that determines how hot the car is, but the amount of glass. Remember using a magnifying glass (and the power of the sun) to set leaves and twigs on fire? Maybe it was just me, but imagine that in your car.

Covering up the glass is an excellent way to make sure your cabin’s temperature doesn’t rise as much. It’ll still be hot, but things on your dash won’t get sun damaged. And if you’re worried about the dashboard itself, consider buying a dash cover. That way, the material of your dashboard stays just as cool as the cabin itself. You could also buy a car cover, but those are a hassle to put on and take off every time, and might damage your car.

If you’re really desperate to keep things cool, you can also purchase a small, solar-powered fan. Just pop one or two of those on your dash and let them run, as they’ll keep the car cool on the brightest days. It’s like having the air conditioner on almost all the time, without needing to remote start your car.

But what if you’re like me and hate spending money? Are there things lying around the house that’ll help cool down your car’s interior?

Makeshift ways to cool down the cabin

Folded Blankets | Annie Wells/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

If you have an excess of sheets and blankets, take them out of the guest room and put them on your seats. Whenever you’re ready to go, just take the blankets off, and the seats will already be significantly cooler. You could also use bath towels, though they aren’t quite big enough for full seat applications.

Speaking of towels, throw a small one on your steering wheel. Even if you don’t cover the seats or the windshield, covering the steering wheel makes your driving experience all the more bearable. I have a black steering wheel myself, and if the sun hits it just right, I can’t drive until the AC kicks in (unless I want to burn my fingers).

These tips were provided by CBSN, and while the list does have a few other suggestions, we’d refrain from using them. One of them is to leave the windows cracked, but that’s just inviting thieves to break-in. A better solution is to roll down all your windows with your key fob as you approach the car, a feature you may not have known about. Do a little research online to see if your car has a feature where, by pressing unlock twice, you can open the windows and sunroof (if applicable).

Lastly, and this might be obvious, try to park in the shade or in a garage. But that’s more common sense than anything.

None of this information applies to you if either 1.) you live in a cold state or 2.) you have a remote stater. So if you read this far, I can’t help but wonder why, but I hope this information helped.

RELATED: Want a Portable Garage? Buy a Car Umbrella!

The post Hot Tips That’ll Keep Your Car’s Interior Cool When Parked appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by