Tag Archives: contrast

Concept Cars, News

Mazda’s Iconic SP: A Hybrid Love Child of the Miata and RX-7 with Mind-Blowing Features

Mazda’s concept coupe, the Iconic SP, captures attention with its contrasting stitching and striking Viola Red paint. As part of Mazda’s commitment to “cherish the color red,” this vivid shade adds depth to the car’s design, accentuating its shape and creating a visually stunning effect.

It remains uncertain whether the Iconic SP will make it to production. Designed with sporty driving in mind, Mazda has focused on achieving a perfect 50:50 weight distribution and a low center of gravity. However, the automaker has also considered the car’s versatility beyond the typical backroad experience. For instance, the drivetrain could serve as a mobile generator during home outages or power a campsite.

Iconic SP frontChris Davies/SlashGear

While it remains unclear whether the Iconic SP is the blueprint for the new generation of the Miata or another production sports car, one thing is certain: the transition to electrification doesn’t have to be limited to a single model with a large battery powering electric motors. There are various ways to create alluring and environmentally friendly performance vehicles.

Cars

5 Cars with the Highest Mileage Still in Use Today

Contrary to some vehicles that have traveled over a million miles with only regular maintenance, Albert Klein jokingly claims that his 1963 Volkswagen Beetle was poorly made. Klein, who bought the car brand new for $1,900, managed to drive it an astounding 1,610,000 miles over the next three decades, spending more than $38,000 on maintenance during that time.

Where did the money go? Well, for starters, the engine was replaced a total of seven times. Although Klein complains about it, an average of 200,000 miles per engine doesn’t sound that bad to us. The Beetle also went through three transmissions and 150 tires. Being a meticulous record keeper, Klein also used 36,500 gallons of gasoline in the car’s first 1,000,000 miles.

When asked about his high mileage, Klein admits that he enjoys being alone with his thoughts while driving and often goes on long drives just for the fun of it. Even though Volkswagen offered him a new sedan for free in 1987, he declined and stuck with his loyal companion until 1993. With its numerous dents and torn upholstery, the car was eventually donated to a museum, proudly wearing its marks as a token of honor.