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Pebble Beach Concept Car Lawn adds class to the grass

While Pebble Beach is traditionally thought of as the refuge of the pristine and pricey vintage vehicles of the world, there's no shortage of newer vehicles on display. And when we say "new," we mean really new. As in, not even in production new. This is the concept car lawn, and it's home to an eclectic group of vehicles from past and present.
Of course, calling it the "concept car lawn" is a bit of a misnomer this year (as it has been in previous years, too). Production models like the Alfa Romeo 4C were on display, alongside known quantities like the Hennessy Venom GT and modified versions of already-on-sale models, like the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Waterspeed Collection.
There were a few concepts on display, though. Toyota debuted the critically acclaimed FT-1 Concept in a new shade, while BMW's Beijing Motor Show stunner, the Vision Future Luxury, was also parked on the expensive grass. Also appearing were the Nissan GT-R in sheep's clothing, the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge, and the recently debuted McLaren P1 GTR.

Governor Rick Perry backs bid for Tesla Stores in Texas

It's funny how the prospect of a $5-billion investment in a state has the ability to focus minds. Take Texas, for example. The Lone Star State has long had laws prohibiting automakers from selling directly to consumers, even if the manufacturer didn't already sell through franchise dealerships. Last year, a bill went to the legislature that would have allowed Tesla Motors to sell directly to its customers, but despite entreaties and a visit from CEO Elon Musk, lawmakers didn't pass it. Sure, Texans can still buy the a Model S, but the process is a bit cumbersome. With the prospect of an expensive battery gigafactory and the jobs it would bring, however, Texas Governor Rick Perry taken to the airwaves cable news outlet Fox Business to make his supportive position known. To be fair, the one-time Republican Presidential hopeful has been in favor of Tesla's sales model for some time. The difference now is he is being proactively vocal about it. Appearing on Opening Bell with Maria Bartiromo, Perry spent close to eight minutes pitching a new approach to dealership laws in his state, at one point referring to the traditional dealer model as "antiquated" and encouraging legislators to have an "open and thoughtful" conversation and decide whether or not they want to lead the country when it comes to manufacturing. If you think that he has become warm and fuzzy about environmental issues, Perry reminds us after a brief discussion on 2014 and 2016 elections – yes, he may run again – that he has no qualms about continuing to rely on fossil fuels, stating that he thinks the most important thing the federal government can do to impact the economy right now is to "say yes" to the Keystone XL pipeline. You can view the segment in its entirety be simply scrolling below.

This is what it takes to make the world's most expensive Tesla Model S

New Tesla or condo? That's one question you may come up with when you see this video from T Sportline that shows a Model S with enough extras to jack its price up to $205,820. Al & Ed's Autosound of West Hollywood, CA, which has a history of such things, did the honors. So here's the recipe. You start witt the $85,900 base price for the 85 kilowatt-hour Model S. That pricetag jumps to $123,770 with goodies such as the "performance plus" set-up (including fiber spoiler and red brake calipers) for a tidy $6,500, "smart air" suspension ($2,250), "tech package" ($3,750), ultra high-fidelity sound system ($2,500), panoramic sunroof ($2,500) and 21-inch grey turbine wheels ($4,500). And then the fun really starts. For instance, those wheels get upgraded to "GhostGold" forged wheels for $7,500, "exterior 3M change wrap" runs $6,000, carbon-fiber body kit goes for $5,250 and the "audiophile upgrade" costs $9,500. Finally, get a load of the "bespoke" made-to-order interior upholstery. That'll run $25,000. And before you know it, you have a mean green machine that's almost twice as expensive as Justin Bieber's chrome Fisker Karma. And from a solvent company, no less. Al & Ed's is no stranger to pushing Tesla EVs way out into the proverbial high-rent district. The team used the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show to show off a Tesla Roadster with about $50,000 worth of goodies were added. Earlier that year, they customized another Roadster to include, among other things, Mercedes-Benz leather. We've got archive coverage of those cars but we expect you'll be more interested in the new video from T Sportline of the swanky Model S below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.