Lowriders are customized cars with a lowered body that were banned in California for a long time. They were popular among the Mexican population, becoming part of their culture. However, they were often associated with gangs. Now, three decades later California has again allowed the use of these cars.
After lowriders were banned, people moved away from the past and started to develop some new, “healthier” relationship to this type of car. They tried to change the stereotype of the Mexican population in Southern California, and in the end they succeeded. The city of San Jose was among the first in California to lift the ban, and this is a huge win for the lowrider community.
One example of this type of car is the 1969 Buick Riviera that appeared on last year’s Hot Wheels Legends Tour. The car is characterized by an outstanding yellow color, hydraulic suspension and a low stance, far from what Buick currently offers such as the Buick Envision.
Demand for Renault vehicles is on the rise, and according to data for the first eight months of 2023, sales increased by 22 percent, putting the French vehicle manufacturer in second place on the European market.
In 2023, Renault delivered 726,938 vehicles on the European market, and the most sold vehicles were from the C segment (190,535 vehicles), which is an increase of 36 percent. Individually, the highest demand was for the Austral (60,305 units) and Arkana/Conquest (59,542 units).
When it comes to the electric vehicle market, Renault delivered 200,000 units, of which hybrid vehicles recorded a growth of 48% percent compared to 2022. Fully electric cars (64,854 units) also recorded growth and the highest demand was for the Megane E-Tech (35,000 deliveries).
Globally, Renault sold a total of 1,128,885 vehicles by September 2023, which is 11% more than in the same period in 2022 (1,013,310). Also, in the third quarter, Renault delivered 356,747 vehicles, which is an increase of +11% compared to the same period last year.
At the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Ferrari unveiled the mid-engine sports car and successor to the Ferrari F430, the Ferrari 458 Italia. It was a combination of new design and technology, developed from the company’s experience in Formula One. Four years later, a high-performance variant of this model, the Ferrari 348 Speciale, arrived on the market. It was produced until 2015, and 3,000 units of this model left the production lines. One of them, the 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale is up for auction.
The Ferrari 458 Speciale is powered by a reworked 4.5-liter V8 engine with a factory output of 605 hp (445 kW) and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and an electronic rear differential. It is mounted on 20″ five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 245/35 front and 305/30 rear Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.
The car, which has never changed hands, is finished in Blu Tour de France with North American Racing Team (NART) racing stripes, has been properly maintained and is in excellent condition. It is equipped with adaptive xenon headlights, fog lights, Scuderia Ferrari fender shields, optional carbon-fiber front flaps and side fenders, active horizontal front-end flap to divert air under the car, spring-loaded doors to direct air from the radiators at high speeds. , aero fins on the side skirts, a motor-actuated drag-reduction system at the rear end, revised rear diffuser with dual exhaust outlets, yellow-finished Ferrari/Brembo calipers over cross-drilled carbon-ceramic rotors at all four corners, F1 -Trac traction control and retuned Side Slip Angle Control system.
In August, a service was performed, which included changing the oil and power steering fluid, flushing the coolant, and replacing the filters, spark plugs, drive belt, and battery.
Inside, the electrically adjustable seats are upholstered in black and gray Alcantara, which also covers the dashboard. In front of the driver is a multifunction steering wheel that has LED indicator lights, as well as a red engine start button, behind which is a digital odometer reading 6,714 miles. Additional equipment includes navigation, a CD stereo, dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, and drilled aluminum pedals.
The car has a clean Carfax report that shows no accidents or other damage. It comes with a window sticker, an owner’s manual, service records, a tool kit, and a clean Texas title.
The auction ends on October 24 and the highest bid at the time of writing was $405,000 USD.
