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​<strong>From Audi to Lamborghini: Exploring car brands owned by the Volkswagen Group</strong>​

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been undergoing a style evolution, sporting new jewelry and outfits.</li><li>Now, his garage will be updated with two new "his and hers" Porsches for himself and Priscilla Chan.</li></ul><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a>'s garage just got an update: a Porsche 911 GT3 with a touring package and, for his wife, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-wife-relationship-timeline">Priscilla Chan</a>, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT … minivan?</p><p>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta">Meta</a> CEO showed off the two new cars in an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAzDZ1-RCTB/?img_index=1">Instagram post</a> on Sunday, including the custom Cayenne, normally a $200,000 SUV. The cars appear to have matching light gray finishes in a color that Porsche calls "Crayon."</p><p>"New side quest. Priscilla wanted a minivan, so I've been designing something I'm pretty sure should exist: a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT Minivan," he wrote. "Threw in a manual GT3 Touring to make it his and hers."</p><p>In the Instagram video, the custom Cayenne appears to have been retrofitted with power sliding doors, a common fixture in modern minivans. It's unclear what interior customizations may have been made to the vehicle.</p><p>Zuckerberg said in the post that Porsche and West Coast Customs, a southern California-based auto body shop known for its unique modifications of classic and luxury cars, helped create what's likely the only Porsche minivan on the road.<strong> </strong>According to West Coast Customs' social media account, the shop's previous clientele includes Justin Bieber and Shaquille O'Neal, among others.</p><p>In an email, Porsche spokesperson Angus Fitton told Business Insider that the company created a concept minivan called the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://media.porsche.com/mediakit/unseen/en/whats-next/porsche-vision-race-service">Porsche Vision Race Service</a> in 2018 that never reached production.</p><p>Fitton added that while the company didn't create Zuckerberg's custom Cayenne, Porsche does have "a so-called 'special wishes' department called Sonderwunsch that allows customers to have their cars customized to their precise requirements."</p><p>"To date we've not yet been asked to create a minivan!" Fitton wrote.</p><p>Meta and West Coast Customs spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment made over the weekend.</p><p>Zuckerberg has been going through a personal style evolution of late, sporting new <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-dug-into-new-chain-necklace-look-2024-4">chains</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-mark-zuckerberg-considering-selling-classics-inspired-tshirts-roman-greek-2024-10">boxy t-shirts</a>, so perhaps it's only fitting that he and Chan drive new whips that help lean into their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-leaning-into-his-version-of-mob-chic-2024-4">"mob chic" era</a>.</p><p>The Porsche Cayenne's entry-level model costs $90,000. According to Porsche's website, the Turbo GT package, which includes a different engine and more aggressive exterior body, adds at least another $100,000 to the price tag.</p><p>Zuckerberg's new 911 is a model that recently went out of production, the Porsche spokesperson told BI. Before options, the 911 GT3 Touring cost $164,650, he wrote.</p><p>Zuckerberg has often been spotted in a more humble line of cars: a black Acura TSX, a Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback, and a Honda Fit. All of these cars at the time were around $30,000 or less, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-cars-rich-tech-ceos-drive#mark-zuckerberg-1">Business Insider</a> previously reported.</p><p>BI reported that his most flashy car, which still tops the two new Porsches, is a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-net-worth-priscilla-chan">Pagani Huayra</a>, an Italian sports car that cost more than $1 million.</p>

Mark Zuckerberg just turned Porsche's minivan concept into a reality. Sort of.

<ul class="summary-list"><li><em>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</em></li></ul><p><strong>Welcome back!</strong> Watch anything good over the weekend? True-crime shows remain all the rage over at Netflix, but they come with some legal risks. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-netflix-keeps-seeking-true-crime-shows-despite-lawsuits-2024-10"><u>That's not stopping the streaming giant</u></a>, though.</p><p>In today's big story, America loves its cars. So what do all the different makes and models <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-states-car-models-interactive-guide-politics-color-brand-location-2024-10"><u>say about the people driving them</u></a>?</p><p><strong>What's on deck:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Markets:</strong> A way to invest that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-election-strategy-trump-harris-stock-market-outlook-2024-10"><u>won't suffer regardless of the election's outcome</u></a>.</li><li><strong>Tech:</strong> Breaking down the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/venture-capital-us-election-data-contributions-2024-10"><u>war of campaign donations between VCs</u></a>.</li><li><strong>Business:</strong> Prepare for a new "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-new-economic-supercycle-growth-inflation-stock-market-global-chaos-2024-10"><u>economic supercycle</u></a>" that'll mean big changes for everyone.</li></ul><p>But first, here in my car.</p><p><strong><em>If this was forwarded to you, </em></strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today"><strong><em><u>sign up here.</u></em></strong></a></p><h3 id="7fa5f018-5b05-4a37-a8dc-d3f89138bcb3">The big story</h3><h2 id="5fd547b9-ec52-41fc-8e08-4f4b27dd8097"><strong>United States of Automobiles</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Cars like American Flag" height="960" width="1920" msid="114431276" hostid="261" sizebytes="137134"></div><p><strong>A picture says a thousand words, but what about the car you drive?</strong></p><p>Your choice of automobile offers some interesting insights into the type of person you are, and we've got the data to prove it.</p><p>Business Insider embarked on a massive project, combing through 1.7 million listings of different makes and models in the US to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-states-car-models-interactive-guide-politics-color-brand-location-2024-10"><u>better understand what the cars we drive say about us</u></a>.</p><p>(Here's a full <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/methodology-for-car-database-united-states-of-automobiles-2024-10"><u>breakdown of our methodology</u></a>.)</p><p>Part of our analysis included figuring out the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-most-popular-car-models-state-city-county-geography-2024-10"><u>most popular cars in neighborhoods</u></a> by comparing the vehicle's local popularity to its national average.</p><p>Some insights weren't surprising. In Palm Beach County, Florida, home to "Wall Street South," Lamborghinis, Porsches, and Bentleys top the list.</p><p>Others are a bit more unique. Residents of Cadillac, Michigan, take their city's name seriously. The Cadillac DeVille is one of the county's favorite cars. (They also might just be fans of big, luxury cars; the Lincoln Continental ranks high there, too.)</p><p>Cars also provide a glimpse into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/car-models-owned-by-republicans-democrats-american-politics-jeep-2024-10"><u>how their drivers might vote next month</u></a>.</p><p>Chevy Silverado and Ford F-150 drivers are more likely to back former President Donald Trump, while Toyota Prius and Audi A4 owners will probably vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. (It's not a one-size-fits-all rule, so please don't email me if you're a Harris-loving Silverado owner or you have a MAGA sticker on your Prius.)</p><p>But if someone drives a Jeep, your guess is as good as mine. That's the purplest carmaker in America, according to the data, as it has the widest range on the red-blue spectrum.</p><p>Speaking of colors, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-car-colors-boring-black-white-gray-cost-cutting-2024-10"><u>cars have also become noticeably less diverse</u></a>. Instead of a rainbow, America's fleet is mostly black, white, or some shade in between.</p><div type="image" title="Cars and roads like GPS" height="1000" width="2000" msid="114431278" hostid="261" sizebytes="114016"></div><p><strong>America's obsession with cars comes with downsides.</strong></p><p>For one, we have to put them all somewhere. Parking lots <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-parking-lot-spaces-addiction-economy-housing-costs-inflation-2023-4"><u>take up lots of space and aren't cheap</u></a>.</p><p>One builder estimates parking stalls in the US cost $27,900 to build. According to some calculations, the US has about 2 billion parking spots in total, which means there are six spots for every registered car.</p><p>That's despite many Americans wanting to live where they don't necessarily need a car. Homebuyers are willing to pay a premium — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-priced-out-of-cities-into-suburbs-housing-crisis-2024-1"><u>34% more, according to one study</u></a> — to live in a walkable neighborhood.</p><p>And for good reason. Living in an area with pedestrian-friendly streets and easy access to shops, restaurants, and parks was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loneliness-happiness-cure-coffee-shops-dense-housing-parks-walkable-neighborhoods-2024-2"><u>positively correlated to well-being and happiness</u></a>. Car-centric neighborhoods lacking public space <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-gen-z-blame-loneliness-on-housing-affordability-crisis-2023-4"><u>can also make people feel lonelier</u></a>.</p><h3 id="77f31a4c-8462-4e3d-a71f-838cb79493fb">News brief</h3><h2 id="1fcd294b-3f53-425f-9f20-4093e8623b59">Top headlines</h2><ul><li>Trump cooks fries at McDonald's as he attempts to cast doubt on Harris' <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-harris-mcdonalds-fry-cook-economy-election-2024-10"><u>earlier employment at the chain</u></a>.</li><li>Social media's favorite fake rich kid opens up about his online persona — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-european-kid-louis-fake-rich-aris-yeager-profile-storytime-2024-10"><u>and his new real-life job</u></a>.</li><li>Why a hedge fund <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elliott-podcast-southwest-airlines-activism-communication-reach-retail-investors-directors-2024-10"><u>made a podcast</u></a> about a shake-up it's pushing for at Southwest Airlines.</li><li>Elon Musk is flexing his wealth and political power<a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-trump-superpac-donations-politics-2024-10"><u> unlike any of the richest men before him</u></a>.</li><li>Netflix keeps getting sued over true-crime shows. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-netflix-keeps-seeking-true-crime-shows-despite-lawsuits-2024-10"><u>It's thirsty for more</u></a>.</li></ul><h2 id="8120060b-ae66-48dc-b149-f0489a30ffa2">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="Silhouette of Donald Trump" height="3813" width="5720" msid="114431274" hostid="261" sizebytes="158652"></div><ol><li><strong>The curious case of the presidential betting markets.</strong> Most polls have the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris as a dead heat. But the prediction markets have moved decisively in the former president's favor since the start of the month. Some have speculated a series of bets totaling $30 million <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-election-odds-polymarket-whale-kamala-harris-polls-betting-markets-2024-10"><u>was meant to tip the scales in Trump's favor</u></a>.</li><li><strong>Building an election-proof portfolio. </strong>With just over two weeks away from the big day, investors are covering all the angles. National debt, economic growth, and immigration reform are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-investing-prepare-your-portfolio-top-concerns-risks-trump-harris-2024-10"><u>among the top concerns of money managers</u></a>. And a technical strategist shared <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-election-strategy-trump-harris-stock-market-outlook-2024-10"><u>how to set up your portfolio for success</u></a> regardless of who wins.</li><li><strong>Wall Street remains unimpressed with China's stimulus. </strong>The latest measure is focused on the country's struggling property market, including quicker access to credit for developers and renovations in run-down urban areas. But, experts said the plan <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-housing-property-stimulus-economic-growth-goldman-sachs-2024-10"><u>lacks details and doesn't address broad market issues</u></a>.</li></ol><h2 id="f4b54806-7f81-450c-ba32-92560d4fae9b"><strong>3 things in tech</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Keith Rabois, Vinod Khosla, Marc Andreessen, Reid Hoffman" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114431280" hostid="261" sizebytes="441370"></div><ol><li><strong>Venture Capital is going to war over the election. </strong>VCs have plowed tens of millions of dollars into this election cycle, according to FEC data. We broke down <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/venture-capital-us-election-data-contributions-2024-10"><u>who is donating and where it's headed</u></a>.</li><li><strong>Constant job cuts are Big Tech's new normal. </strong>After major layoffs in 2022 and 2023, Meta reorganized some of its biggest businesses last week, cutting staff in the process. It's a move that signals <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-job-cuts-indicate-tech-companies-like-recurring-layoffs-2024-10"><u>Big Tech companies are more willing to make recurring cutbacks</u></a> — and one that could hurt worker morale in the long run.</li><li><strong>America can't get free from subscriptions. </strong>Companies are good at trapping customers on the treadmill of recurring charges as things have gotten more digitized. A new rule from the FTC is meant to address the issue, but it might not be enough. The result is Americans <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-subscriptions-nightmare-recurring-payments-cancellation-company-tricks-trap-customers-2024-10"><u>paying more for products and services they don't use</u></a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9260fa45-d397-4b3c-b4f8-4bb193976216"><strong>3 things in business</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Quarter that is spinning" height="960" width="1920" msid="114431282" hostid="261" sizebytes="124792"></div><ol><li><strong>Welcome to a new economic era. </strong>The staples of the past 15 years were weak demand and low interest rates. But going forward the new "economic supercycle" will keep <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-new-economic-supercycle-growth-inflation-stock-market-global-chaos-2024-10"><u>growth, inflation, and geopolitical instability high</u></a>. In the chaotic new environment, investors, lenders, and entrepreneurs must adapt or risk falling behind.</li><li><strong>A networking group for executive women just cut some staff. </strong>Chief, which was valued at $1.1 billion in 2022, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chief-layoffs-networking-organization-executive-women-restructuring-2024-10"><u>cut staff across the company</u></a> amid a restructuring. A spokesperson for Chief told BI the layoffs will give the company "more agility" moving forward.</li><li><strong>Pharmacies are disappearing. </strong>Last week, Walgreens announced it'd be shuttering 1,200 stores over the next three years, making it the latest pharmacy to cut down on retail locations. External factors, like the rise of e-commerce and the convoluted way American pay for healthcare, are forcing them to close shop — and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pharmacy-cvs-walgreens-problems-desert-7-eleven-convenience-store-2024-10"><u>turning the country into a shopping wasteland</u></a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9f5d80ac-3466-429f-a50a-2ffbb70c65ff"><strong>What's happening today</strong></h2><ul><li>Trial begins with jury selection for Daniel Penny, who was charged with manslaughter for fatally choking New York subway rider Jordan Neely.</li><li>Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks at Microsoft UK AI Tour London event.</li></ul><p><strong>The Insider Today team: </strong>Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London.</p>

Your car reflects your personality, and data proves it. But America's auto obsession brings hidden downsides.

Porsche Cayenne, Cayenne Coupe bookings start in India – Price, features and more

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Gateway Pundit was sued by election workers over its claims that they rigged the 2020 election.</li><li>Creditors grilled its chief Jim Hoft on Tuesday morning about undocumented loans to himself and others.</li></ul><p>Jim Hoft, the far-right blogger behind the notorious conspiracy theory website The Gateway Pundit, gave a picture of his finances in a bankruptcy hearing Tuesday morning, revealing he purchased a Florida condo in recent years and uses a Porsche SUV as a company car.</p><p>Hoft appeared to view the distinction between his personal finances and TGP Communications, the now-bankrupt corporate entity that owns The Gateway Pundit, as little more than a formality.</p><p>Both he and his brother, Joe Hoft — a Gateway Pundit cofounder — took loans from the company, he said. He was repeatedly asked about whether the loans were memorialized in writing, what interest rates were being charged, and when the loans were due, and he did not give any clear answers.</p><p>"We've never been, uh, you know, enormously profitable," Hoft told creditors.</p><p>TGP Communications declared bankruptcy in April while trying to fend off defamation lawsuits from people it had falsely claimed manipulated the results of the 2020 election, including election workers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rudy-giuliani-defamation-trial-ruby-freeman-racist-threats-trump-supporters-2023-12">Ruby Freeman</a> and Wandrea Moss and former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer.</p><p>The company had between $100,000 and $500,000 in liabilities, it said in <a target="_blank" href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsb.814837/gov.uscourts.flsb.814837.1.0_3.pdf">a bankruptcy filing</a>. At the same time, it said it had between $500,000 and $1 million in assets — a figure it later <a target="_blank" href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsb.814837/gov.uscourts.flsb.814837.34.0.pdf">revised to $2.3 million</a>. According to Hoft, the company's litigation insurance policy wouldn't cover all the expenses needed for the defamation cases.</p><p>One of the lawyers who spoke at Tuesday's hearing said there was about $1.2 million to $1.3 million left on the policy out of an initial $2 million.</p><p>"The insurance policies, as you know, are dwindling down, and so that was a serious reason that I looked at the situation I was in and decided that bankruptcy would be a good option," Hoft said at the hearing.</p><p>Some of the creditors suing The Gateway Pundit claim the bankruptcy is a legal maneuver to try to escape from accountability in other courts.</p><p>After nearly four years of procedural wrangling, Hoft finally agreed in April to take a deposition in a lawsuit brought by Freeman and Moss, two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of manipulating the ballot count in the 2020 election, which Donald Trump lost.<strong> </strong>The two previously won <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rudy-giuliani-trial-jury-verdict-defamation-damages-georgia-election-workers-2023-12">a $148 million jury award</a> in damages for a defamation lawsuit against election conspiracy theorist and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rudy-giuliani-bankruptcy-millions-owed-defamation-chapter-11-2023-12">forced him into bankruptcy as well</a>.</p><p>Coomer has also sued Hoft after The Gateway Pundit falsely accused him of being on "a conference call filled with Antifa-sympathizing callers" to rig the election. Hoft has lost a number of procedural challenges to that lawsuit as well, though it hasn't yet gone to trial.</p><p>The bankruptcy has stopped both cases from moving forward.</p><p>"This case is a pure litigation tactic," lawyers for Moss and Freeman wrote in a recent filing.</p><p>Tuesday's bankruptcy hearing shed some light on how Jim Hoft managed the company's finances. He used the company to give himself an $800,000 loan to purchase a condo in 2021 in Jensen Beach, Florida, he said. To date, none of the loan has been repaid, according to a recent filing, which also lists the condo as the company headquarters.</p><p>The company also owns a 2021 Porsche Cayenne worth about $54,000, according to a recent filing. Hoft said he has used it as a "company car" when he's in St. Louis, where he is originally from and still spends a portion of the year.</p><p>That is all on top of a salary of $17,000 a month that Hoft pays himself, he said at the hearing.</p><p>Hoft didn't respond to Business Insider's request for comment.</p><p>Hoft is the driving force behind The Gateway Pundit, which ascended to prominence during the presidential administration of Trump, who embraced the site and allowed it a seat among the White House press corps.</p><p>The site often <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/far-right-media-misidentifies-jacksonville-shooter-trump-bashing-reddit-user-n904366">misidentifies the shooters</a> in mass shooting events and has been the source of numerous <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gpb.org/news/2020/12/30/fact-check-brad-raffenspergers-brother-not-chinese-tech-executive-named-ron">hoaxes</a> and false stories regarding the coronavirus, vaccines, and the 2016 and 2020 elections.</p><p>At the hearing's end, a lawyer for the US Trustee's Office warned that his office may seek to have the bankruptcy dismissed — exposing the Gateway Pundit to the defamation lawsuits it was trying to avoid — or put someone else in charge of the company.</p><p>"Don't be surprised if the US Trustee either makes a motion to convert, dismiss, or appoint a Chapter 11 trustee in this case," the lawyer said.</p>

Far-right blogger Jim Hoft used The Gateway Pundit's company funds to buy himself a Porsche and an oceanside Florida condo

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jennison Grigsby is an American mom living in Spain</li><li>She regularly visits the US with her 8-year-old son, Luca.</li></ul><p><em>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennison Grigsby, an American mom and yoga teacher who lives in Valencia, Spain. It's been edited for length and clarity.</em></p><p>My son Luca is almost 9. He's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/raising-kids-is-hard-when-you-live-far-away-2023-9">lived in Spain his whole life</a>, but we've always traveled back to the States. His first trip was at 5 weeks old, and he's been going back and forth ever since.</p><p>He has 10 cousins there, along with lots of aunts, uncles, and my parents, so we visit at least once a year, sometimes twice. We spend a lot of family time together every other Christmas or during the summer. He has a strong connection with his family in the US, and he loves <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-dual-citizenship-requirements-2017-10">being both American and Spanish</a>, though he definitely feels more connected to the Spanish culture.</p><p>Luca always remembers our previous trips. He <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/brain-scientist-explains-improve-memories-technology-science-biology-tim-bliss-2017-8">has a great memory,</a> but I think it's also because these trips are so impactful for him — he gets to travel and spend time with his cousins, which is really special since he doesn't have any in Spain. We talk about our family a lot and FaceTime with them often, so he never hesitates to dive right back into family time when we visit.</p><p>As he gets older, he notices <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-spain-biggest-cultural-differences-surprised-me-2023-8">different things</a> each time we go back — things that catch his attention. He's always picking up on something new.</p><h2 id="5414e1ec-3f6a-4022-8a7c-deb4562aaa73"><strong>Luca is fascinated by the variety of 'fancy' cars in the US</strong></h2><p>I remember when Luca was about 2 or 3, we were <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/los-angeles-california-car-culture-interstate-10-fire-infrastructure-policy-2023-11">driving on the freeway in Los Angeles</a>, and he was really confused by all the traffic — he kept asking, "Why aren't we going faster?" He was also surprised by how many big trucks were on the road, sharing the highway with us. He even asked, "Where are the buses?" since public transportation was almost nonexistent where we were in California.</p><p>Living in Spain, he's used to seeing buses in front of our house every day, and we often take the bus together. So, it was interesting for him to see how much driving we had to do in the US. He also wondered why <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-from-florida-to-seattle-started-running-for-commute-2024-9">we never walked anywhere</a>.</p><p>Now that he's older, his interests have shifted. He's really into the cars themselves, especially the big SUVs and the fancy cars like Ford Mustangs, Porsches, and Ferraris, which are rare in Spain. He gets excited, noticing how many nice cars there are in the neighborhoods and on the freeway.</p><h2 id="f343a279-452f-4f06-90ca-d8c6ea9ea461"><strong>He's surprised by how much junk food and sugary breakfast options there are</strong></h2><p>When we're in the US, Luca is always surprised by how much junk food and sugary breakfast options there are. He noticed that almost every day, we'd have things like pizza, burgers, quesadillas, or sandwiches, which is very different from our meals in Spain. He also loves that he can have pancakes, French toast, and donuts for breakfast there — things we don't have as much access to in Spain. But he doesn't feel as well eating like that for weeks at a time.</p><p>Luca's usual breakfast in Spain is fruit and sometimes cereal, but not the sugary kinds I had growing up in the US. He's always excited about donuts as soon as we arrive in the US, often wanting to find some as soon as we get to the airport.</p><p>In Spain, meals are more balanced, with three-course lunches at school and healthier snacks throughout the day. There's almuerzo, a mid-morning snack, and merienda, an afternoon snack that often includes something sweet or savory. In California, it's usually just three main meals a day, with dessert being something sweet like ice cream or cookies. Luca's more accustomed to having yogurt or fruit after dinner in Spain.</p><h2 id="f3a0c357-ec17-45fc-8817-c2f044d96372"><strong>He also notices that everything in the US happens much earlier</strong></h2><p>In the US, everything happens much earlier than what we're used to in Spain. On weekends in Spain, we might start with breakfast around 8 a.m., have a snack around 11 a.m., lunch at 2 or 3 p.m., another snack around 6 p.m., and dinner as late as 9 p.m. But in California, the day starts much earlier — breakfast can be as early as 7 a.m., lunch at noon, and dinner by 6 p.m., with everyone going to bed around 8 p.m.</p><p>Luca definitely notices how different the routine is. In Spain, our schedule is more relaxed and flexible, especially with dinner and bedtime, which often depend on our social plans. In California, his cousins have a more structured day, with set meal times and early bedtimes, which is a big change for him. He's usually staying up later than his cousins, but because he's jet lagged, he's still in bed earlier than in Spain.</p><h2 id="96094f01-9015-41c6-b0cb-d90bd8c8c37e"><strong>California's cold water is a big change</strong></h2><p>During our last trip to California, my brother and father got stung by a stingray while we were at the beach. Luca had been having a great time in the ocean until that happened, but after that, he didn't want to go back into the water. It's so different from what he's used to with the Mediterranean Sea, where the water is warm, calm, and clear in the summer, making it feel very safe. We do have jellyfish in Spain, but they're easy to spot since they float on the surface.</p><p>In California, the water is much colder, and the waves are bigger, which is already a big change for him. But finding out there were stingrays hiding in the sand really shook him. Now, he's pretty much decided he never wants to go back into that ocean again.</p><p>We all felt a bit uneasy after the stingray incident, especially since you can't see them. The kids there even do what they call the 'stingray shuffle' to avoid stepping on them, but it's not exactly fun. Plus, getting out of that cold water and feeling freezing isn't something he's used to, especially compared to the warm, inviting beaches in Spain.</p>

I'm an American mom living in Spain. When we visit the US, my son is surprised by the 'fancy' cars and how sugary breakfast is.

<p><em>This article is part of "</em><a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/category/behind-the-wheel"><em>Behind the Wheel</em></a><em>," a series about the highly competitive and high-tech world of Formula 1.</em></p><p class="drop-cap">Bernd Mayländer has led a lot of laps in Formula 1 — but not as a competitor. Ever since the 1999 San Marino Grand Prix, the 52-year-old German driver has been behind the wheel of the Formula 1 safety car, leading the pack safely around the track after a crash or incident.</p><p>His longevity in the role has surprised even him.</p><p>"I certainly didn't expect 24 years ago that I'd still be doing this," Mayländer said with a laugh. "But I'm still enjoying it and didn't think time would go by so quickly. Just to be a little part of this great sport — it's amazing."</p><p>The safety car plays a major role in today's F1. When an accident or crash happens, or if weather conditions get particularly bad, the safety car is sent out and all competitors must slow down and follow it. Driving at a reasonable pace, Mayländer guides the Formula 1 cars slowly around the course, ensuring that track marshals can remove debris and the medical team can tend to injured drivers.</p><p>But the safety car dates to long before Mayländer's involvement. In fact, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first deployment of a safety car in F1.</p><p>Business Insider chatted with Mayländer about the history of the F1 safety car and some of his most memorable moments in the sport.</p><div type="image" title="A yellow Porsche 914" height="4318" width="5904" msid="105479258" hostid="261" sizebytes="1125178"></div><h2>A rocky start</h2><p>The first F1 safety car was a "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fia.com/news/fia-insights-celebrating-50-years-fia-safety-car-formula-1">lemon-yellow</a>" Porsche 914, and it made its debut at the rain-soaked 1973 Canadian Grand Prix. It was a far cry from the kind of sports cars used today. A rear engine provided the tiny car with about 80 horsepower.</p><p>"I wasn't watching TV at the time because maybe I was too young," Mayländer said. "But I do remember seeing pictures of it — still a phenomenal car."</p><p>The safety car, then referred to as the "pace-car control system," went through just one test before its debut at the '73 race. Its deployment caused a fair bit of <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/rnDAXHy4UD4?si=bEPUprbBQhZ6tRkj">confusion</a>. Some racers were unsure whether to line up behind it, and the results of that race would later be disputed because of the mishap.</p><h2>A variety of suppliers</h2><div type="image" title="The Formula 1 safety car, a Renault Clio, at the 1996 Argentine Grand Prix" height="943" width="1885" msid="105479260" hostid="261" sizebytes="98844"></div><p>In the years following its debut, the safety car bounced around between various manufacturers and was not a constant presence at races until the '90s. Notable safety cars included a Lamborghini Countach, deployed for several years in the early '80s in Monaco, a Fiat Tempra, and a Renault Clio.</p><p>Of all these old safety cars, Mayländer pointed to the Lamborghini as one he wished he could have driven.</p><p>"I've never driven a Lamborghini in my life," he said. "And the Countach, that was something very special."</p><h2>Standardizing the process</h2><p>Toward the end of the '96 season, the International Automobile Federation made moves to formalize the safety-car process. Mercedes became the official safety-car supplier with its C36 AMG model, and the British driver Oliver Gavin was named the first permanent driver of the safety car.</p><div type="image" title="The Formula 1 safety car in the 1997 Canadian Grand Prix" height="1194" width="1903" msid="105479263" hostid="261" sizebytes="294594"></div><h2>Bernd Mayländer makes his safety-car debut</h2><p>Mayländer's first time behind the wheel of the safety car came at the '99 San Marino Grand Prix, driving a Mercedes CLK 55 AMG.</p><p>"I remember everything from that first race weekend," he said. "I was nervous, just a young race driver at the time, thrust into this Formula 1 role."</p><div type="image" title="F1 safety driver Bernd Mayländer puts on his helmet at the 2007 European Grand Prix" height="4000" width="6000" msid="105479267" hostid="261" sizebytes="822924"></div><p>Today, Mayländer has multiple TV screens and monitors in his car to follow the action, but that wasn't the case in '99.</p><p>"We had a hand radio when we started — and that was it," he said.</p><h2>The longest race</h2><p>One of the wildest races Mayländer recalled was the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix — a rainy event that saw record use of the safety car (which led the pack for roughly 45% of the race).</p><p>"It was the longest Formula 1 race ever, if you count the red flags," Mayländer said. "We had to stop twice to refuel the safety car. So even for me, that was a proper race, driving nearly 150 kilometers."</p><div type="image" title="F1 cars in wet conditions during the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix" height="3956" width="6000" msid="105479270" hostid="261" sizebytes="1167318"></div><p>The British driver Jenson Button of McLaren ultimately won in dramatic fashion, clawing back from last place to first after five pit stops — the most ever by a race winner.</p><p>"That was a special one," Mayländer said.</p><h2>Abu Dhabi controversy</h2><p>One of the most notable safety-car moments in recent memory was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.insider.com/lap-by-lap-breakdown-f1-2021-season-finale-max-verstappen-2021-12">the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix</a>, which decided that year's World Drivers' Championship. The safety car was deployed after a late crash — but instead of ending the race under caution, race control controversially called to resume with just one lap to go, allowing Max Verstappen, on fresh tires, to pass Lewis Hamilton <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTe12fH2xtQ&amp;ab_channel=FORMULA1">for the win and championship title</a>.</p><div type="image" title="The F1 safety car in front of Mercedes British driver Lewis Hamilton at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix" height="1410" width="2610" msid="105479272" hostid="261" sizebytes="177360"></div><p>"For sure, that was a big race, but I treated it like a normal situation," Mayländer said. "It was just another procedure, and obviously what happened afterwards was outside of my job. It doesn't matter who is world champion — for me, just do your job, do as good as possible, full stop."</p><h2>It's more than just driving a car</h2><p>Mayländer does much more than just set the pace after an accident. He notifies race control of any debris on the track and, during rainy conditions, reports on surface conditions and whether there's standing water anywhere on the circuit.</p><p>Fans at home often hear F1 drivers complaining on their team radios that Mayländer should drive faster so that they can keep their tires warm. In fact, drivers in the lead will often inch up as close behind Mayländer as possible to try and speed him along, though the affable German pays it no mind.</p><p>"It's a game, and I know the drivers want to keep the performance in their tires," he said. "I'd do the same if I were in their position. But for me, it makes no difference — I'm there for safety."</p><div type="image" title="Formula 1 safety car driver Bernd Mayländer" height="3200" width="4800" msid="105479273" hostid="261" sizebytes="418112"></div><h2>Today's safety cars</h2><p>In today's F1, the safety car alternates between a Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and an Aston Martin Vantage. Both cars have V8 engines, about 730 horsepower, and can reach nearly 200 mph.</p><p>"Formula 1 is always evolving and developing, and so, too, is the safety car," Mayländer said.</p><div type="image" title="The F1 safety car drives in front of Red Bull Racing's Mexican driver Sergio Perez during the 2023 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix" height="4000" width="6000" msid="105479275" hostid="261" sizebytes="905044"></div><p>"These are real race cars — the downforce and everything," Mayländer, who in the '90s was an accomplished endurance racer, said. "It's quite nice to have two suppliers now working together. I enjoy learning how to drive these wonderful cars. Even at my age, I never stop learning."</p><p>On a typical race weekend, Mayländer will log hours of practice time driving the track, making sure he understands all the braking points. He considers old-school tracks, such as Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Suzuka International Racing Course in Japan, among his favorites.</p><p>"I really love them all, though," he added. "All the circuits have special characteristics."</p>

How the F1 safety car has evolved since 1973 — from Porsche 914 to Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 911 is <keyword id="12003683" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="porsche" source="Orion">Porsche</keyword>'s ever-popular sports <keyword id="11897278" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="car" source="Orion">car</keyword>. Its starts at $106,100 and comes in many variants.</li><li>I drove a Carrera GTS — a mid-tier 911 — for a week. With add-ons, mine came to $160,000.</li></ul><p>I remember the first time I put on a pair of glasses. I'd become so used to my smudgy surroundings — unreadable signs, sidewalks that looked like turn lanes, and television stars without discernible facial features — that I thought it was just how things were. Then I put my glasses on, walked outside, and saw that trees had individual leaves and signs had words. It was a whole new world.</p><p>When I stepped into a $160,000 <keyword id="14273693" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="porsche-911-carrera" source="Orion">Porsche 911 Carrera</keyword> GTS recently, I felt that way all over again.</p><div type="image" title="A gray Porsche 911 Carrera GTS." height="2781" width="2259" msid="92419617" hostid="261" sizebytes="289246"></div><p>The 911 is Porsche's ever-popular luxury sports car, and it's one of the most iconic vehicles on the road. <a href="https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/products/porsche-one-millionth-911-milestone-seven-generations-13735.html">It's been around since the early 1960s</a>, evolving in style and technology but always keeping its core characteristics: a slinky yet rounded body shape, a rear-mounted engine, and a universally lauded driving experience.</p><p>That's made the 911 popular in both name and sales, and in the decades since its introduction, Porsche's produced <a href="https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/products/porsche-one-millionth-911-milestone-13733.html">more than a million of them</a>. Like a higher-priced version of the Chevrolet Corvette or Ford Mustang, 911s are everywhere. </p><div type="image" title="The 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS" height="3153" width="5184" msid="92419620" hostid="261" sizebytes="405604"></div><p>But there's always a downside to popularity. In the case of the 911, seeing it for so long — and so often — can be desensitizing. Novelty often wears off in numbers, and one acquaintance recently said the thing making him doubt a 911 purchase was that "everyone has one." </p><p>"That's because they're the easy choice for a reason," another responded. No one could argue.</p><div type="image" title="A gray Porsche 911 Carrera GTS." height="2586" width="4580" msid="92419622" hostid="261" sizebytes="669736"></div><p>Porsche's 911 lineup is massive, with the cheapest costing $106,100 and some of its counterparts starting at more than twice that. The Carrera GTS I drove falls in the middle — it starts at $142,600, and various optional features brought the price of mine to $159,090. They included $3,200 "Chalk" gray paint, a $4,500 exterior appearance package, $4,000 in carbon fiber accents, a $2,800 system to lift the front nose to go over bumps and dips, and more. </p><p>Nose-lift features usually require pressing a button and then waiting for the front of the car to slowly raise, but the 911 has a "smart save" feature that lets drivers mark GPS locations where they need to regularly lift the nose. That way, it lifts on its own in the future. </p><div type="image" title="The interior of the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, pictured with a manual transmission instead of a PDK." height="4000" width="6000" msid="92419625" hostid="261" sizebytes="470834"></div><p>There's also the choice between a seven-speed manual transmission and what Porsche calls the "PDK," which is an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic. Regular transmissions work with a single clutch to shift gears, while a <a href="https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/what-is-a-dct-or-dual-clutch-transmission">dual-clutch employs two</a> for the sake of shifting really, really fast. </p><p>Many automakers have dual-clutch transmissions, but few are as well known as Porsche's PDK. That's because it's too good to ignore.</p><div type="image" title="A gray Porsche 911 Carrera GTS." height="4456" width="3189" msid="92419627" hostid="261" sizebytes="800694"></div><p>In real life, it's also hard to ignore just how big the 911 is. This fast little sports car, in my mind, is fast and little; its soft yet agile body lines communicate that.</p><p>But the 911 actually is wide and bulky, even if its passenger and storage compartments remain a tight squeeze. The modern 911 is a mammoth compared to early models, and it's a reminder of how much larger, safer, and more insulated <keyword id="20632" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cars" source="Orion">cars</keyword> have become over the years.</p><div type="image" title="A modern Porsche 911 Carrera S and a 1965 Porsche 911 in Australia in 2020." height="2329" width="3500" msid="92419629" hostid="261" sizebytes="878440"></div><p>Driving the 911 is proof of why it's so beloved: It's stiff and harsh enough to remind you that you're driving a sports car, yet it's comfortable enough to take on long commutes. It hugs the road through corners like the world's smoothest roller coaster, and the PDK transmission's fast, velvety shifts feel more effortless than breath. </p><p>The 911 Carrera GTS' interior is full of smooth, clean lines. Its seats hug your hips and thighs, yet remain comfortable on long highway drives and short trips down a curvy road. The suede wheel fit perfectly in my hands, and the rear "seats" made a great purse shelf. </p><p>My husband and I spent eight hours traveling back and forth to NASCAR races in the 911, and there was room to spare in the back seat and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-electric-f150-lightning-pickup-truck-frunk-coolest-features-2021-9">frunk</a> after adding our bags and drink coolers. With all of that space, the 911 is practically a family car — you know, if your family only has two people. </p><div type="image" title="The 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS" height="2936" width="5024" msid="92419631" hostid="261" sizebytes="327434"></div><p>Where the 911's interior fails is in the little things. Its infotainment system can be hard to learn, and the tactile controls are a headache. Some of the switches feel more plasticky than they should in a $160,000 car, and certain buttons take a near-Hulk Smash work — press the tune and volume controls too lightly and they won't even register your touch.</p><p>Those aren't the only annoyances. There's also no accessible place to put a phone or small device in the 911 aside from the center console, and my car was full of shiny piano-black accents. </p><div type="image" title="The 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS" height="2946" width="5050" msid="92419633" hostid="261" sizebytes="360824"></div><p>Modern automakers have been making this mistake for years now: Piano black looks great in the showroom, so they put it in every new car possible. The problem is, it immediately collects flakes and dust and grease in real life. It's disgusting in a Kia Seltos, and it's disgusting in a <keyword id="14273692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="porsche-911" source="Orion">Porsche 911</keyword>. </p><p>When piano black finally dies, I'll laugh at its funeral.</p><div type="image" title="The 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS" height="1518" width="3214" msid="92419635" hostid="261" sizebytes="660988"></div><p>Road noise is loud at high speeds in the 911, but there's an easy fix to that: Just put it in "Sport Plus," a <a href="https://newsroom.porsche.com/en_US/2021/products/porsche-911-versatility-five-dynamic-driving-modes-one-day-24385.html">driving mode</a> where the car revs so high before shifting that an angry engine drone is all you can hear.</p><p>It's also really handy anytime you want to feel obnoxious in traffic, which is more often than you'd think.</p><div type="image" title="A gray Porsche 911 Carrera GTS." height="2714" width="4810" msid="92419637" hostid="261" sizebytes="428314"></div><p>The 911 didn't just give me the chance to feel obnoxious, though — it gave me a chance to see it clearly again. Much like I'd gotten used to seeing the world without my glasses on, I'd gotten used to seeing the 911 everywhere. It felt less special because it was the easy choice for people with six figures to spend on a sports car.</p><p>But the 911 reminded me why it's the easy choice. Porsche created a formula for the ideal rear-engine sports car decades ago, and the automaker's only had time to refine since.</p><div type="image" title="A gray Porsche 911 Carrera GTS." height="4824" width="3165" msid="92419639" hostid="261" sizebytes="821690"></div><p>It wasn't the 911's fault I'd become desensitized to it. Much like the time I spent shrugging off my need to buy glasses, it was all mine.</p><p>Now that it's reminded me how special it is, I'll make sure it never has to again.</p>

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​From Audi to Lamborghini: Exploring car brands owned by the Volkswagen Group​

BI India Bureau

Mark Zuckerberg just turned Porsche's minivan concept into a reality. Sort of.

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Jennifer Fernández Solano

How the F1 safety car has evolved since 1973 — from Porsche 914 to Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

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