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Toronto Star
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Star
Tesla Cybertruck has a bad rap. So she gave hers a peach of a wrap
Christel Virag knows her main vehicle is one some people love to hate, whether it's due to its futuristic appearance, or because its creator, Elon Musk, is a highly polarizing figure. In her eyes, her 2024 Tesla Cybertruck is just peachy … the same colour the vehicle's stainless-steel body is wrapped in. Although Virag, who lives with her family in Georgetown, also has a Cadillac Escalade and a Lamborghini Aventador, the angular Cybertruck is the vehicle she gravitates to. 'I grew up in a single-parent, low-income home, and I didn't even know what a Lamborghini or Bentley was. I wasn't into cars.
Hamilton Spectator
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Tesla Cybertruck has a bad rap. So she gave hers a peach of a wrap
Christel Virag knows her main vehicle is one some people love to hate, whether it's due to its futuristic appearance, or because its creator, Elon Musk, is a highly polarizing figure. In her eyes, her 2024 Tesla Cybertruck is just peachy … the same colour the vehicle's stainless-steel body is wrapped in. Although Virag, who lives with her family in Georgetown, also has a Cadillac Escalade and a Lamborghini Aventador, the angular Cybertruck is the vehicle she gravitates to. 'I grew up in a single-parent, low-income home, and I didn't even know what a Lamborghini or Bentley was. I wasn't into cars. About nine years ago, my husband and I had a Range Rover that had been wrapped. I was pregnant with our first child. I have a background in marketing and we were getting so many compliments on the Range Rover and its wrap, that we took a risk and opened our own vehicle wrap business ( as a small shop in 2016. Fast forward to 2025 and we have headquarters in Mississauga and 15 locations, including in Florida and South Africa. We have a saying that if you want to wrap Teslas, you need to own one. The business has a fleet of 10 to 15 of (the) cars, in different categories, for that reason. I ordered the Cybertruck two-and-a-half years ago online with a $250-deposit, and was on a waiting list for two years. I got it in January 2025, straight from the dealership. It was a brand-new car, and, because it's considered a commercial vehicle, I didn't have to pay luxury tax on it. (A federal luxury tax that normally applies to vehicles costing more than $100,000; the Cybertruck's weight of 4,000 kg puts it above the weight threshold for the tax). It looks like something from outer space. I've never had an electric car before. It's practical because it's a pickup truck. I have three kids who have bicycles and play hockey and rep soccer, and it has plenty of room to stow their stuff. It's similar to all the other Teslas, with a tiny half steering wheel and no shifter. Everything is on a screen, telling you if it's in reverse or whether it's low on windshield wiper fluid, for example. The mirror, itself, is on the screen. It's still a learning curve. It has automatic brakes and will slow itself down, and when I switch to another vehicle, I have to remember to use the brakes. It's almost like driving a spaceship. You push the gas and then it jolts forward, but it's so smooth. You don't hear the engine. It's incredible that something that's so big and so heavy is so quiet and feels so smooth. It's like you're flying on a cloud. (The Cybertruck reportedly can go from zero to 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds). I don't drive it fast, though. The car I drive is often determined by how many children I have that day. The Cybertruck has five seats, and it's so spacious, even though it looks small from the outside. In the back seat, the children have their own screen, with Netflix, YouTube and games. The car has a microphone you can use to talk to someone outside. If I take my kids to the park, I can sit in the truck and watch them play, then use the microphone and say 'OK, it's time to go,' when we have to leave. The Cybertruck was the typical stainless-steel exterior when I got it in January, but now It's got a peach wrap, including the rims, and I love it. It's my first electric truck. I don't love my Escalade, and, although I love my Aventador, the more practical car is the Cybertruck. I drive it 90 per cent of the time. I love that it's fully electric and I can charge it, and that it's so super safe. There are no blind spots, because there are so many cameras and warnings if vehicles are too close in front or behind you. It does all kinds of light tricks, with different themes for different holidays, and you can put on a light show with music for different occasions. You can sync two Cybertrucks together to do a light-and-sound show, and we've done that, as I have the pink one and my husband has a blue one. All of my cars are some shade of pink. The Escalade is pink, the Lamborghini is faded pink. My seven-year-old daughter loves it. The Cybertruck is so weird looking, people either love or hate it. But it's a perfect driving advertisement, (both) because it is weird-looking and because of its colour. I have driven it to Ottawa to one of our business locations, and to Indiana for my sister's graduation. To be honest, I was super worried about driving to the States in it (because of the backlash against Musk and Tesla), as people seem a lot more vocal and there's been more vandalism against Teslas. But there was no problem and everyone who saw it was giving it a thumbs up. I think because it is pink, it's less hated. On a full charge, it has a range of 500 km When it's cold, I lose about 50 km, which isn't bad. The great thing is that Tesla charging stations are everywhere now, and when I was travelling to Indiana, I typed in the destination and mapped the route to include charging stations, and it told me I'd need to stay for 25 minutes to charge. We had a charger installed at home, and I plug it in and charge it overnight. I don't necessarily go cruising, as I'm always driving. I did take it and the Lamborghini to two children's fun fairs recently and let kids climb into them. I drive the Cybertruck year-round. It won't get stored for the winter. It is a super good winter car. It tells you when the road is slippery and will go into snow mode. It's trained how to drive in snow. It's 100 per cent my favourite vehicle. You can follow Christel Virag on Instagram at @christelbarbie
Wall Street Journal
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
It's Bulletproof, Fire-Resistant and Stronger Than Steel. It's Superwood.
FREDERICK, Md.—Inside a cavernous warehouse, in the midst of a half-finished industrial park not far from a Civil War battleground, robot arms the size of Cadillac Escalades are rehearsing their moves for a tightly choreographed dance that will commence later this summer. A strange new substance will begin rolling off the assembly line: soft wood transformed at the molecular level into something stronger than steel yet one-sixth the weight.
Los Angeles Times
16 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Ex-Salesian standout Deommodore Lenoir, now with 49ers, arrested for resisting peace officer
San Francisco 49ers defensive back Deommodore Lenoir was arrested Thursday afternoon in South Los Angeles. He was charged with delaying and resisting a peace officer, a misdemeanor. Another man, apparently a companion of Lenoir's, was arrested for possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, which is a felony. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on the 4500 block of South Wilton Place. Officers spotted 25-year-old Marcus Cunningham 'frantically reaching' into a gray Cadillac Escalade. He then 'locked the vehicle and walked away, appearing to conceal contraband.' Cunningham threw the keys behind a gate when approached by officers, the LAPD told The Times via email, then 'Lenoir retrieved the keys, refused to give them back, and passed them to an unknown male who fled.' After additional officers located the keys on a nearby porch, the police opened the car and found 'a loaded semi-automatic firearm in the center compartment, a loaded Glock in an open compartment and narcotics,' the LAPD said. According to the L.A. County Sheriff Department's inmate information center, Lenoir was released on his own recognizance at 1:18 a.m. Friday and is due to appear in L.A. Superior Court on July 25. No release or court information was available for Cunningham. The 49ers released a statement Friday saying that they're aware of the matter and 'are in the process of gathering further information.' Lenoir, a former standout at Los Angeles Salesian High who played four seasons at Oregon, was selected by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. He signed a five-year, $88-million contract extension before the 2024 season.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
NBA star Dwyane Wade's car collection: A lavish garage filled with Ferraris, Maybachs, and sentimental gifts
NBA legend Dwyane Wade has built an impressive and luxurious car collection that reflects both his success on the court and his passion for high-end vehicles. From a $270,000 Ferrari GTC4Lusso to a customized Mercedes-Maybach S 580 , Wade's garage is a showcase of some of the most coveted cars in the world. His collection also includes sentimental gifts from his wife Gabrielle Union, such as a vintage 1974 Ford Bronco and a 1988 Mercedes-Benz SL, highlighting the personal stories behind some of his prized possessions. Wade's journey from washing cars in high school to owning a multi-million-dollar collection is a testament to his hard work and love for luxury automobiles. Dwyane Wade's early beginnings and first big purchase Wade's love for cars started early, working as a porter at a car dealership where he washed and parked vehicles. His first big NBA paycheck went toward a customized electric blue Cadillac Escalade with 26-inch rims and spinners, marking the beginning of his lavish lifestyle fueled by his $190 million career earnings. Porsche passion and iconic "Batman and Robin" cars by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video] getfittoday Undo Among Wade's most famous cars is the Porsche 911 Cabriolet, which he and former teammate LeBron James dubbed their "Batman and Robin" cars. Wade's Porsche collection also includes a Porsche 911 GT2 RS and a $198,500 Porsche 911 Turbo, showcasing his deep appreciation for the brand's performance and style. Luxury and customization: Mercedes-Maybach S 580 For his 40th birthday, Wade splurged on a Mercedes-Maybach S 580 customized by Omar McGee of Posh Luxury Imports. The car features a rare Sienna "basketball" interior, reflecting Wade's personal touch and love for bespoke luxury. This vehicle retails for around $225,000 and stands as one of the crown jewels of his collection. Sentimental gifts from wife Gabrielle Union Wade's wife, actress Gabrielle Union, has gifted him several memorable cars, including a 1974 Ford Bronco for Father's Day in 2020. The Bronco, with its creamy white exterior and burnt orange interior, fulfilled a long-held wish Wade had when moving to Los Angeles. She also surprised him with a 1988 Mercedes-Benz SL for his 39th birthday, a vintage convertible that Wade treasured and enjoyed taking his daughter for a ride in. Supercars and exotic vehicles Wade's collection is not limited to sentimental and luxury sedans; it also boasts a fleet of supercars including three McLarens (MP4-12C, 570S, and 720S Spider), a Lamborghini Gallardo, and a Maserati Ghibli. He also owns a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and the Ferrari GTC4Lusso, the latter of which he used to teach his son how to drive. His collection extends to powerful SUVs such as the Hummer H2 SUT and the Cadillac Escalade EXT, blending performance with utility. Recent additions and continued passion In 2024, Wade added a $430,000 Aston Martin Vanquish to his collection, gifted by a Florida-based dealership. This latest addition underscores his ongoing passion for luxury cars and his status as a prominent figure in the automotive world beyond basketball. Dwyane Wade's car collection is more than just a display of wealth—it's a reflection of his journey, his family, and his love for automotive excellence. From sentimental classics to high-performance supercars, his garage tells a story of success, passion, and personal milestones. Discover everything about the automotive world at Times of India .
