This Article Was Originally Published On Speedhunters July 10th 2017
At the sight of flares, CCW wheels and a big wing, some of you are likely already on your way down to the comment box to bemoan about lack of originality. But stop, I implore you. Move your cursor away from that close button too. Myself, and likely the builder/owner of this Miata will admit that yes, at face value this car starts down a well travelled road. However, just a few steps toward the end goal it diverges from the path of many and begins down the path of few. So much so that judging this car simply by the sum of its immediately visible modifications would be ludicrous.
This car is, in my opinion at least, one of the best modified Miatas ever created.
While I could string together a few more introductory words as to exactly why, it’s really easier to cut to the chase. If, looking at the engine bay above, you are not impressed by the aesthetics, craftsmanship, or function, then sir or madam I challenge your enthusiasm for cars at large.
Attached to what is quite frankly a work of art masquerading as an engine bay, is the two year culmination of a simple idea. Brad Ruiter wanted a car he could launch down the quarter mile, run time attack in, drift with, and park at a show all said and done. Finally, he also wanted the car to be capable of driving itself to and from each event as well. The icing on the cake is he desired to do it all in the same day.
No, Brad doesn’t live in fantasyland, and as far as I can tell his head isn’t in the clouds anymore than yours or mine. He simply shrugs at the notion that you can’t have it all in the same car.
The son of an accomplished hot rod builder – Brad’s father Richard took a run at the coveted Ridler award with the ‘Xvette’ a 1955 Chevy he built in his garage – Brad sought to bring the hot rod level of detail he had been exposed to his entire life to the Miata platform.
Coming from a hot rod upbringing the decision to go V8 was an easy one, especially after Brad previously modified his car with the typical go-fast, turn-quick bits Miata owners usually do, and found it lackluster. For a car touted the answer to everyone’s track needs it wasn’t quite the right answer for Brad.
The choice to go V8 was quickly followed by the choice not to use a swap kit or build off the existing metal in the engine bay. Strapped to a frame table and set up on a jig to retain the necessary dimensions, everything forward of the firewall was removed before the firewall itself was also cut out and cast aside.
Left with a blank canvas, Brad built new frame rails out of 3×4-inch box steel before putting the tube bender to task to form the tops of the new strut towers. A 6-point roll cage then snakes through the firewall to connect to the new frame rails.
From there the framework was all blended together seamlessly with sheet metal from the intake and radiator shroud back to the firewall and everywhere in between. Brad even went so far as hiding all of the fender fasteners.
He estimates that there are roughly 350 hours into the engine bay alone, and that time certainly show in the final product. When was the last time you saw a painted firewall reflect an engine so clearly?
Chapter Two: Putting The Power Down
The painted and tidied LS3 between the custom frame rails is currently there for the second time. Its first appearance was cut short after the Stack cluster read the dreaded words “low oil pressure” while the car was in operation. This happened shortly after Brad connected a few corners at the one of the Miata’s first drift outings.
A setback for sure, the motor was pulled, rebuilt, and reinstalled. During the rebuild the bottom end was balanced, the factory pistons swapped with Mahle units, a Howard cam installed, and the heads ported, decked, and polished. ARP hardware holds it all together and the motor now exhales through long-tube headers Brad designed and built himself.
An estimated 500 horsepower sings through a hand-built aluminum exhaust, and it’s transferred through a T56 transmission with ZR1 clutch. An aluminum Ford 8.8 rear with Detroit Trutrac posi and 3:27 gears puts the power to the ground.
Overkill for a car as light as a Miata? Perhaps, but Brad was shooting for the best not ‘pretty good’.
In an effort to make as much traction as possible (read: there’s still a lot of tire smoke when Brad’s foot is in it), Brad put together a pretty aggressive aero package for the car. Up front is a large custom splitter and in the rear there’s an equally large and equally custom rear diffuser. Both are tied into the 1-inch aluminum tube structure that sits behind a Racing Beat front bumper and factory rear bumper.
Final Chapter: It’s Under The Paint That Counts
Prior to painting the car Brad spent a significant amount of time making the Tuckin 99 N2 flares fit the car as though factory. Most of that work goes entirely unseen hidden behind the flares. Instead of simply folding the cut metal over itself and welding it shut, Brad tubbed the inner fender to meet the flare.
It’s this level of detail, fit, and finish that separates Brad’s Miata from the endless other flared vehicles running around tracks and sitting hard-parked at events around the globe. Under the flares are CCW LM5T wheels that clock in with 16×10-inch and 16×11-inch measurements. The polished wheels are shod in 245/45R16 Toyo R888 rubber front and rear. The suspension consists of Megan coilovers, custom tubular control arms (again made by Brad) and Kaiser Automation drop spindles.
Wilwood 6-piston calipers sit up front with 4-piston units in the rear, and pressure is applied via a Wilwood triple master pedal setup. The reservoirs for this unit are easily accessible in the passenger compartment via a hole in the dashboard.
The entire car, save for the aforementioned doors, hood, trunk and hard top has been sprayed Porsche Meteor Grey. The ‘entire car’ does mean the entire car in this case, as it was done on a rotisserie. With the underside painted a factory finish on the components wouldn’t do so they were powder-coated mirror black by local outfit Stripping Technologies.
The interior is pretty spartan, yet detailed all the same. The dash is custom and climate control is done via a Vintage Air heater, a unit commonly used among the hot rod community. A pair of Sparco Sprint seats keep the occupants contained and a Grip Royal wheel handles driver inputs.
From a show aspect the car has understandably done extremely well. In 2015 the Miata had its completed debut in the front hall of an Ontario show called Motorama. This is significant because the front hall is usually reserved only for classics and hot rods, not imports.
There the Miata took home a few bits of hardware including ‘Best Engineered Street Machine’ top honours. I don’t mention this to boast or brag on Brad’s behalf, but to cement the fact that he did build a car to such a high standard that is truly appreciated by every level of enthusiast.
At this point the car is exactly where Brad wants it and no further extensive modifications are planned. He’s even teased at the idea of selling it so that he can act on some of his other build ideas. He didn’t disclose what those were, but hopefully he invites me out to shoot it when it’s done and Speedhunters grants me the opportunity to share it once more with you here.
To end this I leave you with a video (via Clipping Point Media) of Brad drifting the car at a recent TOPP Drift event here in Ontario a week before this shoot. You know, just in case you thought this was only a show car.
Tesla dropped the price of the base-trim Cybertruck to under $60,000.
That price, however, comes with an asterisk (and it’s not just that some features are removed).
CEO Elon Musk says that the truck will start at $59,990, but only for 10 days—whatever that means.
Tesla finally gave the internet something that it wanted: a Cybertruck under $60,000 without completely stripping it of every modern convenience feature. Then, CEO Elon Musk immediately put it on a timer.
The automaker rolled out the new entry-level Cybertruck last night with a pretty compelling price. At just $59,990, it feels like a key moment for the niche EV—but according to Musk’s post on X, this moment is only temporary.
The CEO’s six detonating words: “Only for the next 10 days.” After that, it looks like the price will go up, with Musk telling a fan that the new price will depend “on how much demand we see at this price level.”
Tesla has pulled some weird pricing stunts with other vehicles, too. If you recall, the $35,000 Model 3 was a very limited run, and Tesla has ping-ponged with pricing enough for fans to create an unofficial price tracker.
This time, however, Tesla also dropped Cybertruck pricing all the way up to its top-tier Cyberbeast trim. It’s worth noting that Tesla did also remove the mandatory “Luxe Package,” a bundle which included Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software and led to a $15,000 price hike just six months ago. Now that hike has been reversed. That change is likely due to Tesla pivoting from a perpetual software license to a subscription-only model for FSD.
The unfortunate part here is that $60,000 is a pretty enticing price for the Cybertruck. Sure, it’s not the original $40,000 starting price Tesla promised in 2017—which, by the way, is around $52,750 in 2026 dollars—but after introducing and killing off the RWD-only model for $10,000 more last year, this new 10-day-run price feels like a steal for anybody considering the stainless steel wedge-shaped truck.
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Heath here, writing to you from Southwestern Colorado. A place that has been our home for the past 3 years but will no longer be a month from now (if you read our last post, we’re packing up our things and moving to Portugal this fall and becoming full-time nomads again).
In today’s post, I wanted to write about something I’ve been thinking about lately— how to build relationships with amazing people (or as the great Dale Carnegie said it, How to Win Friends and Influence People).
This topic has been on my mind for a while and I wanted to write about it for a few reasons.
1. I’ve been told this is my biggest skill in business.
A while back I asked my friend Joel what he felt I was best at and he said building genuine relationships with people.
I would have to agree. Making friends with new people and building relationships and community has been relatively intuitive for me. I’ve never really overthought this or met someone and tried to persuade them to be my friend (minus maybe when dating Alyssa, but that’s a story for another time).
That being said, I recently sat down and tried to connect some of the dots around what has led to some of the relationships in my life. This leads me to reason number 2…
2. I want to share what has worked for me (and what hasn’t) when it comes to building relationships.
Will try to be as specific as possible in this email.
3. An amazing network of people will make all the difference in your life.
In the same vein as your health, it permeates everything you do. The people closest to you in your life will be a balloon or weight, a source of encouragement or annoyance, and even impact what food you put in your body and how often you exercise.
Why would you not want to build the best community to surround yourself with?
Many of these ideas are not original or new. I won’t claim to be the expert. I’ve soaked them up from books or learned them from others. But they still are powerful.
So, without further ado, here are some ideas and strategies that have been incredibly helpful for me when it comes to making and building friendships with amazing people.
How to become friends with amazing people
1. Want nothing from people when meeting them.
A big change happened for me in 2014.
Alyssa and I were going to a conference called World Domination Summit. At the time, we were two broke newlyweds filming a documentary, deep in student debt, and blissfully excited to be traveling the country on our honeymoon.
Unlike the conferences I’d attended at my previous software sales job, this time I had nothing to sell.
We weren’t attending to “get leads” or “network”. We attended because we wanted to surround ourselves with this creative community.
My mindset going into the event was to make friends. That’s it.
This approach totally flipped my approach to conversations with fellow attendees.
Instead of asking the typical, “What do you do?” question, I would ask:
“What are you most excited about right now?”
“What’s your story?”
Asking someone “what do you do?” to start a conversation is just another way of asking them, “How are you relevant to me and my goals?”
I found these questions triggered something more exciting and real in people. They told me about their passions or what they were struggling with or what business idea they were dreaming up.
We’ve all been asked this question only to see someone’s eyes immediately glaze over when they realize that talking to a 23-year-old living in an old RV is not going to help them launch their e-commerce startup.
The better path when first meeting people is to be curious about who they are as a person. Learn what makes them tick. Ask a real question that you are genuinely curious about. If you aren’t curious, don’t ask the question.
Asking a question when we don’t care about the answer is an easy way to tune out of a conversation and waste someone’s time.
And just because you ask better questions doesn’t guarantee you will make a lifelong friend. Sometimes I ask people what they are excited about and they say “nothing.”
In short, when you first meet people, ask them genuine questions.
Don’t frame up a discussion to try and get something out of it. Try to learn about people and who they are. When done in an authentic way, this can lead to incredible relationships.
Side note: On the first day of the World Domination Summit conference I met a guy named Wes. Wes owned a production company in Alabama and was shooting the event.
We met these friends at WDS with no biz goals. Here they are producing an RVE Summit with us!
Almost ten years later, Wes is one of my best friends.
We’ve traveled across the country to spend time with each other and our families. We’ve collaborated on big projects with companies like Winnebago (the launch of the Revel in 2017) and had some incredible adventures together (like the day we sank a kayak on the Buffalo River).
When you approach initial conversations with this kind of curiosity you open yourself up to making genuine friendships.
2. Create a habit of consistently reaching out to people you admire.
In 2015 I downloaded an app that changed my life called Moment.
It tracked your iPhone usage and helped you spend less time on your screen (and more time in the moment). The app came out five years before Apple released Screen Time and it was downloaded by tens of millions of people all over the world.
Moment made me realize how much time I wasted on my phone. After a month of using it, I loved it so much that I sent the founder an email, telling him so.
I sent the email and then forgot about it. A few days later I received a reply from Kevin (the founder) thanking me for my message and mentioning how he and his wife were also planning to hit the road in an RV (he’d read my email signature that mentioned our RV blog).
Kevin and I kept in touch once he’d started his RV journey, met up a couple of times while on the road, and have become closer friends over the years.
In a few days, I’m actually hopping on a plane to go spend time with him in Austin (BBQ and queso will be happening this week!).
I don’t know how many of these types of emails I’ve sent over the years. Most of the time, they don’t lead to a friendship with someone like Kevin (which wasn’t my intent in reaching out). It was a fluke that I’m supremely grateful for.
In retrospect, I’ve realized the power of this kind of genuine outreach.
A worst-case scenario is I send a nice email to someone who made a positive impact on my life.
Best-case, you end up becoming buddies and go on river floating trips together.
I think a mistake many people make when sending cold emails to someone they follow online is saying something nice to them and then immediatelyasking them for something. When someone asks you for something, it’s not a compliment. It’s a request disguised as a compliment. (People don’t like that.)
I didn’t reach out to Kevin with any ulterior motive other than to tell him I appreciated his app. As a result, we’ve been close buddies who talk business and life and many other things together.
If you follow people online that resonate with you or have made a positive impact on your life, I’d encourage you to simply reach out to them and tell them. Don’t ask them for anything in this outreach.
At worst, you send good vibes into the world. At best, they become a friend or a part of your community or a mentor.
3. Recognize that nobody can “put you on.”
I’m not sure where this term comes from, but for some reason it makes me think of rappers. Like, if I was trying to come up in the rap game, someone like Dre could “put me on”.
Maybe he’d let me pop in on a song and drop a few lines and before I say something dumb I’m going to discontinue this metaphor because I’m out of my depth.
Terrible rap comparison aside, I don’t think in life we can get “put on” by other people.
Maybe back in the day of TV networks or when music labels ruled the world it could be possible to get put on. But for most of us regular people, this is not a reality.
Heath, where are you going with this?
Good question. Here’s the punchline.
A lot of people have the mistaken belief that if only they could get featured on someone’s Youtube channel or Instagram post or blog (or freaking Threads, I can’t keep up with it all anymore)— they will have made it.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Let me take you down a little trip down memory lane.
The year is 2014. It’s Halloween. Alyssa and I are camping on someone’s farm in the middle of nowhere Maryland (a stranger who offered us a place to stay on LinkedIn of all places).
Amidst Alyssa baking cookies in our tiny RV stove, I lean over and tell her that we are currently on the front page of Yahoo! Keep in mind this still had some relevancy 9 years ago.
The week before, we’d had various media outlets cover our 50 Jobs in 50 States journey and a few large publications also ran with the story. Fox, CNN, Forbes…now Yahoo!
I immediately went to our blog and started refreshing the stats every few minutes as hundreds of visitors poured into our fledgling website.
Obviously, we were going to be super famous.
The day the article hit the front page of Yahoo! we had over 6,000 visitors to our website, which was about 6,000 more than we received on any normal day up until that point.
I just knew this would mean massive follower growth. The next day I logged in to check and see how many of those 6,000 people had opted into our email list.
Six people.
That’s right, a .001% opt-in rate.
As it turned out, I had a lot to learn about email opt-ins and how to capture people’s attention.
But the real lesson for me was that a spike in attention does not equal long-term success.
This moment changed how I thought about influencers or media or anyone with a large audience. Instead of seeing those people as the gatekeepers who could change my life, I just saw them for what they were. People.
And yes, media and getting mentioned by big audiences can have a big impact.
But I learned the key ingredient is that you have to actually be doing something interesting to retain the attention once you have it.
You have to be creating something of value in a product or through entertainment to keep those people around.
Therefore, it’s infinitely important to focus more on honing your own craft versus trying to get put on by others.
How does all of this pertain to building relationships?
In many of my life circumstances, I’ve found building a real relationship with a person who could “put me on” to be much more fulfilling than caring about how they might invest in my company or mention my website.
A spike in traffic or attention is great, but it’s short-term and transactional.
I’d much rather become friends with an amazing entrepreneur than immediately pitch him to invest in my startup. The money would be nice, but a long-term friendship where we can talk business and ideas and be there for each other is much more interesting and fulfilling for me.
Plus, having a long-term view of relationships like this typically does lead to really interesting business opportunities (but in their own time).
4. Don’t be an influencer chaser. Instead, collaborate with peers.
In 2015, two of our friends reached out and asked for advice on video equipment. They were going to travel the world for a year and wanted to document their experience on Youtube.
Alyssa and I were no experts. We’d only just picked up a camera the previous year. But we gave the best advice we could (who knows if any was good).
Those friends ended up starting a Youtube channel that has done very well (this is an understatement to the extreme!).
Not only have they continued to be a major inspiration for Alyssa and me to push our comfort zone and see the world, but they’ve inspired millions of people as well (love you Kara & Nate ❤️).
This is probably Nate teaching us about video since they surpassed our level of expertise in about 3 seconds.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to only connect with people who are five or ten steps ahead of you.
And while it’s great to get advice from people who have been there and done that, the real gold comes from people who are working towards similar life goals right alongside you. Those are the people who can commiserate with you and encourage you.
Don’t spend all your time trying to connect with people who are five or ten years ahead. Find people who you can go on a similar journey with together and push each other to do awesome things along the way.
5. Pick up the phone.
This one is less about making new friends, but how to keep the ones you already have.
In 2023 this is a trait that continues to surprise people when I do it (not my old friends, they are used to it by now, but new ones).
I call people often.
As someone who isn’t physically around a lot of my friends in person, I consistently reach out and try to stay in touch. I want to know what’s happening in their lives, what they’re working on, and what is exciting or what they are struggling with.
According to the popular book citing the top 5 regrets of the dying, one of the most common regrets among older people is not staying in touch with their old friends. When we have kids and life gets busy with work and obligations it can be easy to lose touch.
I’ve found a way to probe through the busyness. I just keep calling until they answer.
I imagine this is how people look when they see me calling them.
A friend named Chris and I both have two young kids. Before kids, we talked on the phone often. Over the last five years, those calls have gotten further and further apart, but we still talk.
The primary difference now is that sometimes he will call me three times and I will call him back twice before we finally sync up.
One of us might be changing diapers or giving the kids a bath and just can’t talk, but we always call back.
I’ve realized that pushing through the slight inconvenience of syncing up on a call is worth keeping a decade-long friendship with someone I love. It just is.
True friends are not annoyed to hear from you, no matter how many tries it takes.
Sure, they might be busy or wonder why you called versus sending a text (especially if they are under 30), but they won’t be annoyed. At the very least, if you call, then you will never have to feel regret for letting an old friendship die.
6. Be a source of encouragement, but also truth.
My friend Garrett calls me on my crap. If I were to put on 15 lbs, he would tell me. If I’m making excuses, he would does let me know.
When some people meet Garrett, this might come off as judgmental or critical. I see it differently.
He cares.
He cares enough to give me real feedback and honest criticism when I need it. I value it so much.
A common trait of good friends is to encourage you, which is also valuable, but it’s also to give you the truth you need to hear.
I’ve tried to do this with my closest friends. I don’t just tell them they are doing great and they’re crushing it, but when appropriate, I ask them genuine questions about the decisions they are making and give them my honest thoughts. I do it because I care and want the best for them.
This is a delicate tactic because not all people are great at hearing the truth.
Also, your relationship has to be in a certain place to influence someone. I once heard someone say it’s impossible to influence or change someone without first loving them. A bit corny, but I believe it’s true. I’m not sure I’ve ever openly taken advice from someone who hasn’t built a rapport with me.
Build rapport with someone. Invest in them. Encourage them. And when they are asking or need advice, don’t just tell them what they want to hear but what they need to hear.
Honestly, I hadn’t planned for this to be a 3,000+ word post. I have a lot more thoughts on this subject, but for now, I think I’ll end it here.
My hope is this could lead to some interesting and fun relationships in your life.
If you made it to the bottom of this wooly mammoth of a post, I’d love to hear from you. What is your best advice on how to build or keep great relationships?
Excited to hear from you and hope you have an amazing day!
—Heath (and Alyssa)
PS If you’re looking for a new book to read, you can check out my reading list here 🙂
Calibrant Energy has signed a definitive agreement with Iron Mountain to build, own, and operate a 23-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery at the latter’s New Jersey data center.
Data center as a clean energy source?
The battery storage system will be paired with the facility’s existing 7.2-MW rooftop solar array as part of Iron Mountain’s push toward 24/7 carbon–free energy at its data centers.
The project points to a bigger shift: Power-hungry data centers are starting to manage electricity more like a controllable asset than a fixed load, and Calibrant says its build-own-operate model helps customers cut costs while improving reliability.
The system uses real-time controls to decide when to store energy and when to deploy it. During peak demand, the stored energy can be dispatched to reduce strain on regional infrastructure, helping avoid the need for additional fossil-fuel-based power generation.
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Iron Mountain says storage is part of a broader strategy to support the local energy ecosystem, improve efficiency for utilities and customers, and increase reliability for its own operations.
Electrek’s Take
America’s data-center boom is about to collide with the power grid. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) projects that data centers could consume up to 9% of US electricity generation by 2030 – more than double the 2023 level.
That’s why data center projects like Iron Mountain’s matter: pairing solar with battery storage on-site can add resilience and secure cleaner power without waiting years for transmission upgrades. These on-site systems will be a bigger piece of the puzzle for data centers that don’t want to get left behind on reliability and sustainability.
Read more: This European company’s sleek solar roof just made its US debut
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Sambung bayar deals have been around for a good while, and the illegal practice has found many adopters, not surprising given the allure for both the vehicle owner and person paying for its use, for different reasons. It sounds dandy, but there have been enough cases where the contract hasn’t ended in pleasant fashion either the “buyer” or the owner of the vehicle.
The latest case where the pawning turned sour – mostly for the owner – happened in Kedah yesterday, when a Toyota Camry Hybrid was seized by the road transport department (JPJ) during an Ops Luxury operation carried out by enforcement officers at Kilometer 1, Jalan Sungai Ular–Taman Bestari, Kulim.
Inspection found that the vehicle was being run under a sambung bayar scheme and had no valid road tax (LKM) or valid insurance coverage. Following this, a P22 summons notice and a confiscation notice were issued under Section 64(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, and the vehicle was hauled off to the Kulim branch JPJ confiscation depot for further action, according to a posting by the state JPJ on its Facebook page.
The department said that action would also be taken against the vehicle owner for allowing the offence to occur. In this case, the negligence is on the part of the owner, as it’s the latter’s responsibility to ensure the road tax and insurance is renewed for the vehicle he or she owns. This covers all the saman obtained by the vehicle, regardless of who drives it.
The advice to those thinking of pawning their vehicles and to those wanting to “own” a fancy ride under a sambung bayar scheme remains as it always has been – don’t do it. It’s illegal and full of pitfalls.
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The first tangible evidence of life inside the new BMW-owned ALPINA has arrived. Not in the form of a new model, but in something arguably more permanent: structure, strategy, and a crest.
Following its acquisition by BMW, BMW ALPINA is now formally introduced as a standalone brand within BMW Group . That language matters. For decades, ALPINA operated in a gray space between tuner and manufacturer. Now it sits cleanly inside BMW’s portfolio, positioned as an exclusive marque rather than an affiliated outlier.
Production Moves From Boutique to Industrial
Future BMW ALPINA models will be built in select BMW Group plants that have been comprehensively enabled to meet the brand’s standards . Translation: production migrates from Buchloe’s small-scale operations into BMW’s global manufacturing network.
This is less romantic, perhaps, but far more scalable. The question is not whether ALPINA changes. It inevitably will. The real question is how much of its character survives industrialization.
The New Crest: Mechanical Heritage, Sharpened
The redesigned BMW ALPINA emblem keeps the two elements that have defined it for decades: the throttle body and the crankshaft . They are not decorative nostalgia. They reference the company’s origins in carburetion and engine development during the 1960s, when ALPINA earned BMW’s respect the old-fashioned way, with measurable gains in power and reliability.
What has changed is the execution. The new badge features clearer linework, reduced color, and a transparent outer treatment that emphasizes the circular form . It is cleaner and more precise, and notably less ornate. Paired with the recently introduced wordmark, the crest aligns BMW ALPINA visually with BMW’s contemporary brand architecture without stripping away its mechanical symbolism.
It looks less like something applied after the fact and more like something designed from the outset.
The 20-Spoke Wheel Reimagined
2011 BMW ALPINA B7
Equally telling is what BMW did not touch. The iconic 20-spoke wheel design continues .
That wheel has been a visual shorthand for ALPINA since the 1980s. Its tightly spaced spokes were originally functional, supporting brake cooling and structural stability during sustained high-speed driving. Over time, it became one of the most recognizable wheel designs in the industry. You do not need to see the badge to identify an ALPINA if you see those wheels.
Retaining that design is not a sentimental decision. It is brand continuity rendered in aluminum.
2022 BMW ALPINA XB7
Interior and Positioning
BMW ALPINA interiors will now feature superior quality leather as standard, offered in an expanded range of colors and complemented by additional materials for further personalization . The emphasis remains on curated specification rather than overt theatrics.
BMW continues to define the brand around the balance of exceptional high-speed performance and outstanding ride comfort, particularly for long-distance driving . That formula has historically separated ALPINA from BMW M. One chases lap times. The other optimizes velocity over distance.
Context Matters
Founded in 1965 by Burkard Bovensiepen, ALPINA began as a BMW tuner and evolved into a recognized low-volume manufacturer. Its cars were never about excess. They were about calibration. More torque. More composure. More effortlessness.
This relaunch does not attempt to rewrite that history. Instead, it formalizes ALPINA’s place inside BMW Group. The new crest modernizes the identity. The production shift industrializes the process. The 20-spoke wheel and mechanical iconography preserve continuity.
For the first time in its history, ALPINA is fully inside BMW rather than orbiting it. Whether that makes the cars different will be judged later.
Diesel in Europe: a misguided bet from Stellantis? | Automotive World
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As China surges ahead in BEV leadership, Stellantis is going back to diesel in Europe, which might offer a temporary lifeline. By Will Girling
Stellantis intends to maintain and potentially even increase the share of diesel engines across its European product portfolio, according to a spokesperson quoted by Reuters. This strategy makes sense, the automaker added, because customer demand aligns with keeping the powertrain alive.
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Audi is gearing up to debut the all-new RS5 Avant soon. The carmaker has just dropped a teaser video on social media ahead of the unveiling. But we already have the first images with us.
The new Audi RS5 will be available in both Avant and sedan body styles. The car looks uber sporty with the Singleframe grille upfront and muscular wheel arches. There are massive vents on the front bumper and an aggressive rear diffuser with twin oval exhausts, just as you would expect from an RS model. The car has sleek LED headlights with pixel LED DRLs and slim taillights around the rear connected by a light bar.
Inside, the new RS5 comes with a massive central touchscreen and a digital cockpit. It has a sporty steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara and body-hugging bucket seats with RS logos.
Under the bonnet will be a plug-in hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 generating a combined output of 639 hp. It will be capable of accelerating from 0-62 mph in around 3.4 seconds and is expected to have an electric range of 50 miles.
We’ve learned through sources that the order books for the new-gen Audi RS5 will open around mid-March, with first customer deliveries expected in June.
It’s an exciting year for sports: Along with the 2026 Olympics, it’s also the year that the biggest soccer tournament in the world (you know the one) brings screaming fans screenside across the globe. And for those of us lucky enough to call the U.S. home, we’re in even more luck — because in 2026, we’re playing host.
While the 2026 soccer tournament will actually be mutually hosted in Canada and Mexico as well as here in the U.S., for RV travelers, staying stateside is often the path of least resistance (and the most drivable). Below, we’ll walk you through the best places to stay if you’re looking for affordable lodging from which to enjoy the soccer tournament first-hand, as well as the RV rental tips you need to make this into a truly unforgettable road trip.
Why Soccer Tournament Lodging Will Be More Competitive Than Ever
The world’s largest soccer tournament is more popular and well-followed than ever. That means hotels near stadiums will sell out quickly, and prices will surge. The smartest lodging options include:
Staying outside of major downtown cores (though you’ll need to plan for the commute in)
Booking early in secondary cities, where rooms may remain available at a lower cost for longer
RV rentals near host stadiums, which often give you the flexibility to stay as close to the action as possible while maintaining creature comforts
Campgrounds within driving distance if the stadium doesn’t offer RV parking or camping (many won’t for this tournament specifically), so you can easily commute in
Park-and-ride strategies that can help save you from the trap of game-day traffic
Travelers who plan ahead can save thousands by choosing flexible accommodations like RV rentals instead of traditional hotels.
What Makes This Tournament Different?
The biggest soccer tournament in the world is always cause for celebration and hullabaloo. But this year, the stakes are even higher. The tournament lasts a whole month and is taking place in multiple host cities across the U.S. and America, and you’re likely to be competing with international travelers for places to stay. Even though the stadiums are in large, cosmopolitan cities, there’s a limit to the hotel inventory in each location — especially since the tournament coincides with peak summer tourism season.
In fact, data from Reuters back in the fall of last year showed that searches for flights and lodging near the tournament-host cities was up by nearly 70% compared to the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, Oxford Economics predicts a 3.9% increase in inbound international travel, largely thanks to the tournament.
Host Cities & Smart Areas to Stay Nearby
Alright, now that we know what we’re dealing with, let’s get down to business. If you’re wondering where to stay when this soccer tournament hits the USA this summer, here are our best suggestions.
Los Angeles
Lights, camera, action — Los Angeles is the kind of U.S. destination many international travelers are hankering to visit, even without the additional draw of the soccer tournament. It’s also one of the most traffic-heavy and population-dense cities in the world, so here’s how to get ahead of the crowd.
Where to Stay:
Inland Empire suburbs, like Riverside and San Bernardino, which may have more lodging available for longer (though do budget yourself plenty of time on game day to get to SoFi stadium)
Coastal cities south of downtown like Long Beach, Huntington Beach, and Laguna Beach allow you to combine event buzz with a relaxed, tranquil beach vacation
Choosing RV parks near major highways can help you balance availability with (relative) ease of transport
Why RVs Make Sense Here:
Heavy traffic means that you’ll be a lot more comfortable when your vehicle is also your home away from home
High hotel rates make campground fees and rental rates a lot more accessible by comparison
Finally, southern California is lucky enough to host a large regional campground network, whether you’re looking for resort-style parks or public lands; check out the local state parks, as well, when you’re booking
Dallas
Dallas is quietly one of the largest and most diverse cities in the entire United States. It’s also, as many frequent travelers will know, home to a sprawling international airport that’s likely to draw many international soccer tournament travelers. Here’s where to stay to be both central to the action and away from it all.
Where to Stay:
The Arlington area, just about smack-dab between Dallas and Fort Worth, is a good middle ground away from the big, downtown cores of either city (and also the area where AT&T Stadium is, so you’ll be close at hand on game day)
Other Fort Worth outskirts are also worth checking out, since they’re likely to be a bit more available and less expensive than their Dallas-side counterparts
A bit further north, Lewisville Lake is dotted with RV-friendly campgrounds, and offers an opportunity to combine a more relaxed lakeside view with the noise and color of game day — and there are other campable state parks in the Dallas area to consider, as well
Benefits of RV Travel:
Everything’s bigger in Texas, as they say, including the roads; RVers will enjoy easy highway access even in the state’s biggest city
This part of the state is also home to a wide range of RV parks, which makes it a bit of an exception (in a good way) compared to other 2026 soccer tournament host cities
Although hotel costs might not be as high as they would be in New York or Los Angeles, campground fees are still very likely to be even lower here in Dallas
Miami
They call it The Magic City for a reason, and juxtaposing your soccer tournament experience with sandy beaches and palm trees is sure to lead to picture-perfect vacation moments. In Miami, you can also budget some time to explore the Biscayne and Everglades National Parks, though chances are you’ll still feel the heat even if you just stay in one place.
Where to Stay:
The Fort Lauderdale area really isn’t that long of a drive away, and is likely to offer lower prices and more availability even if you wait a little longer to book (not that we recommend chancing it!)
To the south, Homestead offers a great combination of being slightly off the beaten path while still within an easy drive of Hard Rock Stadium (and also of preserved wildernesses like the Everglades & Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area and Big Cypress National Preserve
Speaking of which, there are plenty of other well-appointed and comfortable state parks within driving distance of all the hubbub in Miami
Considerations:
Yes, we all love Florida’s endless sunshine, but this tournament takes place in June and July — which means this part of the state is going to be not just warm, but seriously hot and humid
While the beach provides wonderful relief from what can be oppressive heat, expect beach traffic, especially if you’re hoping to explore the most popular shorelines
Like other major cities that are hosting this event, you can also expect high hotel surge pricing, even in areas that might otherwise be affordable — another great reason to RV it!
New York City
Ask any New Yorker and they’ll tell you there’s really only one city in the world, and you can be part of the magic this summer when you visit for the soccer tournament. Of course, traveling to the center of the universe means heavy traffic and sky-high pricing, but for some people, it’ll be well worth it — there’s just no other place you could be.
Where to Stay Instead:
If you are going to head to New York for the soccer tournament (or, frankly, ever), it’s well worth considering staying in one of the New Jersey suburbs like Jersey City or Hoboken; New York’s extensive public transit system makes it easy to get from place to place, and you could reasonably save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars doing so
Upstate New York campgrounds are a great option for those who want to commute in for game day, but spend the rest of their vacation in peace; Harriman State Park is a popular option, but be advised that it doesn’t offer hookups
Connecticut commuter towns are also worth scoping out, campgrounds start becoming more common once you reach West Haven
Why Avoid Midtown:
It may be tempting to be in the center of it all, but considering how expensive New York hotels are on a normal day, you’re looking at extreme pricing when it comes to the soccer surge
You’ll also face serious congestion if you travel in with your own vehicle, not to mention limited parking options (that may cost a fortune in their own right)
Atlanta
Hot-lanta, as it’s sometimes known, is indeed a hotbed of great food, vibrant culture, and fun things to do, even when it’s not hosting the largest soccer tournament in the world. This summer, RVing to Atlanta is a great choice for those hoping to experience both the tournament and a taste of the American south.
Where to Stay:
Atlanta itself does have some RV campgrounds to consider, though like hotels, they are likely to sell out quickly around the dates of the tournament (so book early!)
If you’re willing to travel a bit, north Georgia campgrounds and state parks offer the opportunity to commute into the center of everything and then head back home for a quiet night in the Appalachian foothills once you’re done (here are some campable Georgia state parks to consider)
Suburban RV parks in the towns surrounding the heart of Atlanta can also work well
For a combination of big-city action and tranquil relaxation, consider one of the many RV campgrounds in the Lake Lanier area
Why RVing Makes Sense:
Why RV Rentals May Be the Smartest Way to Attend
Don’t get us wrong, there are all manner of ways to enjoy the soccer tournament this summer. But many travelers may find RV rentals to be both easier and more cost-effective. Let’s take a closer look at why.
Accommodation Type
Average Nightly Cost (During Event Period)
Flexibility
Parking Access
Downtown hotel
$$$$ — as much as $500 or more per night, depending on the city
Low
Limited
Rental Home
$$$ — often hundreds per night, depending on rental type and size
Medium
Limited
RV Rental + Campground
$$ — can be customized to be quite affordable ($200 per night or less) depending on RV type and campground choice
High
High
More Key Benefits:
RV rentals allow you to avoid surge hotel pricing, since RV parks tend to be further from the action and insulated from those dynamics
An RV often allows you to stay closer to stadium parking zones
RVs combine lodging and transportation, lowering costs and saving hassle if you’re traveling through several different cities along the way
Plus, it’s just plain fun to travel by RV
How to Plan Multi-City Tournament Travel
The most serious soccer fans may choose to attend matches in multiple cities — or at the very least explore other destinations around the host city they choose.
When you travel by RV, you can avoid airport delays (no one loves sleeping beside their suitcase next to a hallway full of foot traffic), maintain a flexible schedule you set, save money by cooking your own meals, and stay near multiple venues without ever re-packing your suitcase.
What to Know About Stadium Parking & RV Access
While it’s true that many stadiums allow oversized vehicle parking for many events, including major-league football games and more, the soccer tournament imposes its own strict limitations onto its hosts — which means that in most cases, it will be impossible to park your RV at the stadium (perhaps at all, but almost certainly overnight).
That means that you’ll want to work ahead to ensure you can book a campground stay at a nearby location. Even though there may be less of a run on these than hotel rooms, you should still reserve campground spots months in advance, if you can, as well as your RV rental.
Of course, it’s also worth checking out event-specific parking rules early to see if you may be able to bring an oversized vehicle to the stadium itself, as doing so can help you save on both fuel and frustrating hours in traffic.
Best Types of RVs for Event Travel
If you are considering an RV rental to travel to the soccer tournament — or for any other event travel, for that matter — be sure to consider carefully what type of RV will work best for your travel needs and expectations. (Good news: renting on a peer-to-peer market like RVshare allows you to choose from a wider variety than you’d find at a traditional big-box rental outfit.)
Class B vans are ideal for couples or solo travelers who are hoping to navigate narrow, off-grid routes or covertly camp on city streets
Class C motorhomes are our top pick for small families and for beginners who may be a little intimidated by driving a Class A motorcoach (since Class Cs are built into normal truck chassis, they’re a little bit more approachable)
Travel trailers offer tons of flexibility for bigger groups, and also mean you have a built-in getaway vehicle for navigating to the game and beyond
Our biggest secret weapon: delivered & set-up RVs, perfect for parties who are flying into their destination city and don’t want to worry about anything except showing up and enjoying themselves
When to Book Your Lodging
No matter what type of accommodations you choose when the biggest soccer tournament in the world comes to the USA, one thing’s for certain: you want to book early. Here are some ideal timelines to consider for RV campers specifically.
6–12 months out for RV rentals
3–6 months in advance for campgrounds (though more time is always better)
If you’re keeping your finger on the pulse, get truly ahead of the crowd by booing immediately after match schedules are announced
FAQs
Where should I stay for the big soccer tournament in the U.S.?
There are several cities hosting the big soccer tournament in the USA this year, but some are more accessible than others. Why New York City, for example, will have extreme pricing and traffic congestion, cities like Dallas and Atlanta may be more approachable.
Will hotels sell out during the tournament?
Yes, it is highly likely that hotels will sell out during the tournament. It’s a good idea to book your accommodations as much as six or even twelve months in advance.
Is it cheaper to rent an RV for major sporting events?
It can be! While the specifics will depend on the type of RV you choose, where you rent it from, how long you rent it, and where you’re traveling, in many cases, traveling by RV is more affordable than hotels, rental cars, or flying.
Can you park an RV at stadiums?
In many cases, you can park RVs at stadiums for major sporting events, though you may need to purchase an oversized vehicle pass beforehand and be limited to certain lots. For the major soccer tournament coming to the U.S. in 2026, be aware that special restrictions are in place that will make it more difficult or impossible to park an RV at the host stadiums.
What cities are hosting matches in the U.S.?
Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco.
How far in advance should I book lodging?
As early as you can. We recommend as early as six to twelve months in advance, but basically, the sooner, the better.
Are campgrounds near major stadiums?
Yes, many of the U.S. host cities feature campgrounds close to the major stadiums where the soccer tournament will be held.
The Smartest Way to Travel This Summer
If you’re planning to be part of the soccer tournament this summer, you’re going to have an unforgettable time. It’s also true that you should expect hotel shortages, plan for traffic, book early, and consider flexible lodging — and RV travel may offer the best combination of value and freedom.
Ready to plan your trip? Browse RV rentals near you and find the perfect RV for your next adventure.Interested in renting out your RV? Learn more about how you can earn rental income when you aren’t using your RV.
