From a runaway swarm of bees in Texas to a record-setting Dodge Viper, here's this week's most unusual automotive news.
A semi-truck hauling beehives containing an estimated two million honeybees overturned in Orange County, Texas.
The driver lost control while negotiating a curve on a highway. Although the driver escaped without injuries, thousands of bees swarmed out of the damaged hives after the crash.
Professional beekeepers from across the state were called in to recover the colonies and relocate the hives. Local officials urged residents to avoid the area until cleanup operations were completed.
One of the most unusual street-legal vehicles in the country is once again making headlines.
The giant banana-shaped vehicle, built on a 1993 Ford F-150 chassis, was recently stopped by police near Billings, Montana, because part of its personalized license plate reading "SPLIT" was obstructed.
Owner Steve Braithwaite says he's been pulled over hundreds of times during the more than decade he's spent driving the custom creation across the United States. According to him, during the first few years after completing the project, he was probably one of the most frequently stopped drivers in America.
Braithwaite began building the fiberglass banana car in 2008 and finished it in 2011. The vehicle measures roughly 23 feet (7 meters) long.
Crocs has introduced a limited-edition collection inspired by the Formula 1 cars of Red Bull Racing.
The lineup includes two designs. The more dramatic Crocband Clog features a sculpted rear section modeled after an F1 rear wing, a miniature driver's helmet beneath a protective halo, wheel-inspired details along the sole, and a race car-style nose cone at the front.
The Classic Runner version offers a more conventional appearance with improved heel support and a redesigned sole. It features a black finish accented by a blue checkered-flag graphic.
The Crocband model is priced at $95, while the Classic Runner costs $85. Buyers can also customize either pair with official Jibbitz charms for $20.
A virtually brand-new 2017 Dodge Viper has become the most expensive street-legal Viper ever sold after bringing $533,000 at a duPont Registry Live online auction.
The car is a track-focused ACR equipped with the optional Extreme Aero Package, which adds enhanced aerodynamic components and upgraded Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes.
Power comes from the factory 8.4-liter V10 producing 654 horsepower, paired with a six-speed manual transmission.
The car also stands out as the only fifth-generation factory-built Dodge Viper produced through Dodge's GTC customization program with a yellow exterior and a single black center stripe.
American Formula 1 fans will soon be able to watch select Grands Prix on giant IMAX screens nationwide.
Beginning with the Miami Grand Prix, fans will be able to enjoy a live 150-minute presentation that includes pre-race coverage, the full race, and podium celebrations. Tickets will cost $30.
In addition to Miami, IMAX theaters will also broadcast the Monaco, British, Italian, and United States Grands Prix during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
General Motors has filed a patent for a system designed to identify impaired drivers by analyzing the way they walk.
Developed in partnership with researchers from the National University of Colombia, the technology uses artificial intelligence to examine surveillance camera footage. The system tracks roughly 20 key body points and evaluates walking speed, rhythm, balance, and movement symmetry, comparing them with the gait of a sober individual.
According to the researchers, the system achieves an accuracy rate of about 93%. False positives may occur with people who are fatigued, ill, or have mobility impairments. The technology has already been tested using real-world video recordings of volunteers who consumed alcohol under controlled conditions.
GM says the system could eventually be integrated into security systems at parking lots, gas stations, or venues such as bars. If cameras detect signs of impairment, they could automatically alert security personnel or even prevent a connected vehicle from starting through a dedicated mobile application.