by Gabrielle DeSantis

Kanye West and Jay-Z are undoubtedly two of the biggest celebrities in the rap industry. They re-invented the game and were once considered the kings of hip hop. Jay-Z discovered Kanye West, and for several years, Kanye worked at Roc-A-Fella Records under his mentorship. They had a falling out at some point, but they seem to have reunited in recent years.

So, what really determines which celebrities are better? Is it their net worth or their affluence? Sometimes it all boils to the cars in their collections, and these two rap gods have some pretty exotic ones to choose from. Here’s a quick overview of how Kanye West’s cars stack up against Jay-Z’s cars.

A quick overview of Kanye West’s car collection  

Kayne West exiting an exotic luxury car model | Bauer-Griffin/GC Images via Getty Images

Kanye West is currently worth $1.8 billion according to Forbes, and for a man who was deep in debt around three years ago, he’s doing pretty well for himself. There was a time when Kanye’s bank account held no water against Jay-Z’s, but his car collection did.

Kanye West seems to have a thing for armored cars, and while they wouldn’t hold up in a street race, they are very pricey. His collection includes a Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, Aston Martin DB12, Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, and Lamborghini Aventador, the last of which was a gift from his ex-wife.

Kanye West also owns a Dartz Prombron Red Diamond Edition, Porsche 911 (991) Carrera 4S, Lamborghini Urus, and a Sherp, which is an incredible all-terrain vehicle. 

There have been rumors that this rapper owns a Bugatti Veyron, and while these allegations are unconfirmed, it does seem to fit his style. One of Kanye West’s earlier cars was a 2002 Lexus ES300 which he later crashed. West would’ve sustained serious injuries, but the five-star safety features of the vehicle saved his life. 

A quick overview of Jay-Z’s car collection

Jay-Z has a ridiculous car collection, and with a net worth of $1.4 billion, it’s not surprising. He was also hip hop’s first billionaire, and from exotic supercars to vintage rides, it seems as though he has a car for every day of the month.  

According to The Sun, his car collection includes a 1957 Corvette C1, Alfa Romeo Spider, Pagani Zonda F, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, and a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, which he later gifted to Beyoncé as a birthday gift.

Jay-Z also owns a Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Ferrari F430 Spider, Maybach 57S, Bentley Continental GT, Maybach 62S, and Maybach Exelero. Whether it’s one of Beyoncé’s cars or one from his collection, this rapper always shows up in head-turning machines. With the quality of luxury and exotic vehicles in his garage, it shouldn’t be any other way. 

Kanye West’s cars vs. Jay-Z ‘s Cars

From the above list, it’s clear that Jay-Z has the most expensive car collection. According to Robb Report, he also just bought a $28 million car, a Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, as a new addition to his many other multi-million-dollar fleets of cars.  One of the things that set the Boat Tail apart from the rest is that it is one of the most expensive cars in the world. For example, the Pagani Zonda Roadster is one of Jay-Z’s most expensive cars, and it only sells for $1.7 Million.

Even though Kanye’s car collection is estimated at $6.4 million, not all of the car purchases he’s made are public. This leads us to believe that he may have a couple more surprises in his garage, but we may never know.  One of his most expensive cars is the super-rare Mercedes SLR McLaren that goes for around $750,000. 

RELATED: 25 Most Expensive Celebrity Cars

The post Kanye West vs. Jay-Z: Whose Car Collection Is Worth More? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Let’s be honest; China is known for its copies of popular cars and SUVs. Look at all of the Jeep look-alikes running around Beijing. But this one is really too much. But China has covered all of the bases and even gotten a patent for it in Europe. So here it is; the Ora Ballet Cat.

The manufacturer claims that the Ballet Cat is not the same as its Punk Cat

Chinese “Ballet Cat” VW Beetle rip-off | Ora

If a design or trademark in the US would cause confusion with the public the US Patent and Trademark Office won’t allow you to either patent or trademark the offending item. Not so in China. And if you think you’ve seen this from China before, you are right, but also wrong.

This is actually the second Beetle rip-off. The first one, which you would be excused for thinking  this was that one, is called the “Punk Cat.” It is also manufactured by Ora. So this is a rip off of a rip-off of a VW Beetle. Seriously!

Both the Ballet and Punk Cat are so similar we almost can’t tell the difference

Chinese VW Beetle rip-off Punk Cat
Chinese VW Beetle rip-off Ora Punk Cat for comparison | Ora

The Ballet Cat will make its public debut in two weeks at the Chengdu Auto Show. It is so similar to the Punk Cat we had to stare at it for a while to see the differences. And, there aren’t many.

It looks like the taillights are different. And there is a spoiler on the Ballet Cat that the Punk Cat doesn’t have. The biggest difference, besides the lack of a two-tone paint job, is the trim. It looks like the Ballet Cat has tried to get a bit closer to the original Beetle. 

Rather than a new model, the Ballet Cat looks like a different trim model

Chinese VW Beetle rip-off rear 3/4 view
Chinese VW Beetle rip-off Ora Ballet Cat | Ora

The door handles on the Ballet Cat are more retro, as are the wheels. They feature flat Beetle-like hubcaps. Beyond these distinctions, we’re mystified how this is any different than the Punk Cat. Why this falls in the category of a new design and not a differently trimmed model is beyond us. 

In case you forgot some of the specs of the Punk Cat, we’ll refresh your memory. After all, they will likely be the same. Two batteries will be offered; a 47.8 kWh electric motor, and a 59.1 kWh motor. We expect that either motor will spin the rear wheels, like the original Beetle, but who knows?

So far Volkswagen has done nothing to interfere with Ora producing these copies

Chinese VW Beetle rip-off Punk Cat advertising
Chinese VW Beetle rip-off Ora Punk Cat advertising | Ora

VW has been aware of the Ora rip-offs and said it was looking into the matter. But the patents in Europe slid by without a peep from VW. Maybe that is why the Ballet Cat looks like it was striving to be more similar to the original Beetle than the Punk Cat. 

If either the Ballet or Punk Cat were available, and you’re an avid Beetle fan, would you buy one? Or would you pass because you perceive this to be a rip-off, which it is? 

RELATED: The $5000 Bugatti Chiron: You Can Afford This!

The post China Rips Off VW With Another Fake Beetle appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Harley-Davidson just launched their new Serial 1 line of eBikes. To help give it a little boost it plans on featuring custom one-off bikes. It helps spotlight the line and also gives direction for buyers wanting to customize their eBike. And customization has been critical over the decades to the success of its Harley-Davidson cruisers. It hopes this will also be the case for its Series 1 bikes.

This custom Harley eBike is inspired by Schwinn Sting-Rays bikes from the 1960s

Harley-Davidson Serial 1 custom Sting-Ray | HD

Kicking things off is this Schwinn Sting-Ray-inspired bike based on Harley’s MOSH/CTY model. Whether you rode one as a kid or have seen them in collections, the Schwinn Sting-Ray has always been a unique and desirable bicycle. And translated onto the MOSH/CTY eBike it looks equally as cool

In many ways, the Sting-Ray mimicked some of the features of old choppers from the 1960s. Ape-hanger handlebars, sissy bars, and even the banana seats were all taken directly from customized Harleys. So this is a Harley copy of a bicycle that was copying Harleys. 

For paint the eBike got a candy blue over silver micro-flake

Harley-Davidson Serial 1 custom Sting-Ray freak dots
Harley-Davidson Serial 1 custom Sting-Ray | HD

The paint is a candy blue over a silver micro-flake base coat. It too reminds us of the 1960s “Spectraflame” candy colors. Panels of freak dots on some panels are pinstriped in a light blue hue. Other panels get a psychedelic stripe pattern. Offsetting certain areas of the frame are white pinstripes. 

In all, the paint presentation is screaming custom 1960s Harley choppers. The finishing touches include the metalflake handle grips and the iconic white leather banana seat attached to a chrome sissy bar.

Harley wants to shotgun eBike customization which is the hallmark of its cruiser bikes

Harley-Davidson Serial 1 custom Sting-Ray rear view
Harley-Davidson Serial 1 custom Sting-Ray | HD

“Customization is such an important part of the motorcycle ownership experience,” Serial 1 brand director Aaron Frank told Rideapart. “For decades, people have been modifying their motorcycles to reflect their unique style and taste. The 1-OFF Series applies this same spirit of individualization and personalization to eBikes, showing people just how much fun it is to create an eBike that suits their own unique personality.”

The MOSH/CTY is a one-speed battery-powered bike capable of up to 20 mph. A 250W motor gets its power from a 529Wh li-ion battery. The range is a hair over 100 miles, and it can be fully charged in five hours. 

You could do this yourself for well under its auction price of $14,200

Harley-Davidson Serial 1 custom Sting-Ray frame close up
Harley-Davidson Serial 1 custom Sting-Ray | HD

This first custom Series 1 eBike was recently auctioned off for $14,250. That is way more than the price of a stock MOSH/CTY at $3,799. It’s also way more than it would cost you to do a conversion like this yourself. And that’s the point.

You can go out and do your own version just like the hundreds-maybe thousands of Harley owners inspired by choppers like the Captain America bike from Easy Rider.

RELATED: Are Electric Bikes Dangerous?

The post Harley-Davidson Schwinn Sting-Ray-Like eBike Sells For $14,200 appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When searching for a new car, some of the best luxury electric cars might cost over $50,000. There are luxury options from Jaguar, Tesla, Polestar, and Porsche that even go above $100,000. These EVs have tons of technology, long ranges, and plenty of active safety features.

The Jaguar I-Pace is one of the best luxury electric cars

Jaguar I-Pace is one of the best luxury electric cars | Jaguar

According to Autoblog, the Jaguar I-Pace is one of the best luxury electric cars on the market for under $100,000. The Jaguar styling is sleek and modern, plus the interior is spacious. The new I-Pace looks more like a compact SUV than a car, but it has a lot to offer buyers, size-wise. “While its specs may look unremarkable next to Teslas and other EVs, know that its driving experience transcends a spreadsheet with exceptionally balanced handling, responsive steering, and a composed ride.”

The range for the Jaguar I-Pace is 234 miles, while the price starts at $71,000. It is still eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit at the time of publication. That makes it one of the most affordable luxury cars.

New to the list of luxury electric cars, the Polestar 2

The Polestar 2 is a newcomer to the electric vehicle market, but the EV is one of the best luxury cars 2021 offers. Polestar is a smaller off-shoot of Volvo, so you know the 2 is a safe luxury electric car. While it has the safety features Volvo is known for; it is pretty sporty with 408 hp. It offers the new Google Android Automotive infotainment system, and as of right now, you might be the only one driving one for a while. But that’s also one of the drawbacks. The Polestar 2 isn’t for sale in many areas, and the interior could use a bit of Volvo luxury. It is fun to drive, has a range of 233 miles, and starts at $61,200. It is still eligible for the federal tax credit, too.

The Porsche Taycan is fast and fun luxury electric car

What’s not to love about the Porsche Taycan? The Taycan is the most fun an electric vehicle can offer right now if you aren’t into Tesla. It is super fast, and the Taycan Turbo S is an exceptional luxury electric car. The two body styles are also a plus. From the factory, buyers can customize the Porsche Taycan in a variety of ways. The range sits somewhere between 199 and 227 miles. As far as pricing goes for the Taycan, it’s $81,250 for the base model and $92,250 for the Cross Turismo. It is still eligible for the $7,5000 federal tax credit right now but might not be if the terms change anytime soon.

Of course, the Tesla Model S is on the list of the best luxury electric cars. The Model S has a variety of options to choose from, depending on the year. The Model S Long Range model gets 412 miles, and the Model S Plaid gets 391 miles of range. The new Tesla electric vehicle is impressive all the way around and basically made EVs cool. The over-the-air updates provided by Tesla are also a plus for this luxury electric car.

The brand has a lot of quirks, though. Be prepared to learn about features via Elon Musk on Twitter. Recently, there have been some quality control issues and recalls. If you are looking for the newest styling, the Tesla Model S doesn’t offer that. But, it does get a lot of things right. There have been steady price increases in recent months, but the Long Range model starts at $89,990 right now. The Model S Plaid begins at $124,490. Don’t even bother with the federal tax credit; that’s long gone.

And for good measure, a Tesla Model Y

Most of the same things apply to the Tesla Model Y. It has an optional third row, has a long range, and over-the-air updates. The Model Y Long Range gets 326 miles, and the Performance option gets 303 miles. It doesn’t offer a standard range version, but it doesn’t really need one. It is a bit cheaper than the other options on the list at $53,990. No federal tax credit here, either.

These luxury electric cars won’t fit into every budget, but that’s not necessary for everyone. If buyers are looking for the top-of-the-line technology and ranges that blow the Nissan Leaf out of the water, these luxury electric cars fit the bill.

RELATED: Edmunds Recommends the Porsche Taycan Over the Tesla Model S

The post Best Luxury Electric Cars and SUVs You Can Buy Over $50k appeared first on MotorBiscuit.