Each week I bring you the top stories in the auto industry along with my commentary or sometimes amusing thoughts about the craziness that goes on in the world of cars.
Stories you’ll find today:
CHEVY DEALER ADDS $400,000 TO THE STICKER OF A CORVETTE—YES, $400,000
I've seen plenty of dealer markups in my years in the car business, but this one deserves its own zip code. George Nunnally Chevrolet in Bentonville, Arkansas, displayed a 2027 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X 3LZ Convertible with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $296,445—and then added a $400,000 market adjustment. That brings the asking price to $696,445, just a few dollars shy of $700,000. The dealer's addendum calls the extra charge a 'Hypercar Demand Premium' and cites limited production and collector interest. To be fair, the ZR1X is an extraordinary machine: its twin-turbocharged V8 and front electric motor produce a combined 1,250 horsepower, with all-wheel drive and claimed acceleration to 60 mph in less than two seconds. But a $400,000 markup is more than many Americans spend on a house, and it's considerably more than the starting price of the car itself. Dealers can generally set their own asking prices, and buyers are free to walk away. I've always believed that works both ways. Still, if I'm paying nearly $700,000 for a Corvette, I expect the dealer to throw in the floor mats. And maybe the dealership.
FLORIDA DRIVER FLIPS HIS TRUCK, THEN ASKS POLICE FOR A CIGARETTE
A Florida man apparently had his priorities a little mixed up after a police chase ended with his pickup truck lying on its side. According the Lee County Sheriff's Office, deputies were helping Fort Myers police locate a driver who had fled a traffic stop around 3 a.m. October 18. The driver, identified as Zachary Murray, reportedly ran a red light, nearly collided with other vehicles and eventually crossed a median into oncoming traffic. Deputies decided they'd seen enough and performed a PIT maneuver, striking the truck to force it to stop. The maneuver worked, although the pickup ended up on its side. Body-camera footage shows deputies approaching with guns drawn and ordering Murray to climb out. But before complying, he had one rather unusual request: ‘Can I get a cigarette?’ Murray eventually climbed out through the driver's window, apologized and made another observation: ‘I'm going to jail.’ That turned out to be a pretty good prediction. Deputies reported finding trafficking quantities of cocaine and other drugs inside the truck, and Murray was arrested on charges including cocaine trafficking, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and drug possession. The sheriff's office also said he had an extensive criminal history. Of course, those are allegations, and the charges still have to work their way through the courts. I've seen some strange things during my years in law enforcement, but asking for a smoke while climbing out of an overturned pickup surrounded by armed deputies is certainly memorable. At least he correctly figured out where he was going next. I'm just guessing the accommodations won't include a smoking section.
A LICENSE PLATE THAT DISAPPEARS—BUT ONLY FOR FLOCK CAMERAS
A YouTuber has come up with a way to make a vehicle's license plate disappear from Flock surveillance cameras without keeping it hidden all the time. The creator behind Studio Hotrods calls the invention the 'Flock-O-Matic.' It uses a special panel of smart glass that is normally transparent but turns opaque when its power is interrupted. A small computer and GPS-based camera-location database tell the system when the vehicle is approaching a known Flock camera, briefly obscuring the plate before making it visible again. It's an inventive response to concerns about the expanding network of automated license-plate readers, which can record when and where vehicles pass cameras. But there's a fairly significant catch: obscuring a license plate is illegal in many circumstances, and some states restrict plate covers even when they're transparent. That means a gadget intended to keep you from attracting police attention could accomplish exactly the opposite. Jalopnik reports that Studio Hotrods is testing the device and working on a patent, but isn't selling it. There's a broader debate to be had about surveillance and privacy, and I understand why people don't love the idea of their every drive becoming a searchable record. Still, if your solution involves a license plate that magically vanishes in front of police cameras, don't be surprised if an officer wants to discuss your magic trick.
A CENTURY OF POPEMOBILES GOES ON DISPLAY AT THE VATICAN
If you happen to be visiting the Vatican, there's a new exhibit that might interest car lovers as much as history buffs. 'A Century of the Popemobile' opened October 29 and runs through January 31, 2027, featuring eight vehicles used by popes, along with an 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen and a modern Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Among the exhibits are a 1930 Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460, a 1960 300 d Pullman Landaulet, a 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet and a 1980 Mercedes-Benz 230 G. The 1930 Nürburg was presented to Pope Pius XI and became the first official papal car, while the 230 G helped establish the familiar Popemobile design with its elevated, enclosed viewing area. The modern papal fleet even includes an electric Mercedes-Benz G580, proving that a century of automotive change hasn't passed the Vatican by. The exhibition is in the Square Garden, with admission included in the Vatican Museums ticket. I can appreciate the history here. Not many vehicles have to balance passenger comfort, security, visibility to enormous crowds and a certain degree of dignity. And while Mercedes-Benz is clearly proud of its long relationship with the Vatican, I suspect the most important feature in any Popemobile is still the same one it had decades ago: a good view of the people outside.