Meet Mental Breakdown, a 1,700-horsepower VW Microbus dragster

By Stephen Edelstein Published May 12, 2017

Who said Volkswagen Microbuses were only for hippies?

This 1,700-horsepower VW Microbus-based dragster is named Mental Breakdown, probably because only a person with psychological issues would ever think of building such a monster. It looks like someone grafted the front half of a VW Bus onto a Top Fuel dragster.

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The Volkswagen front end and the massive engine, drag slicks, and rear wing behind it make for quite the juxtaposition. While it may look outrageous, the VW Bus design probably doesn’t help this dragster in the area of aerodynamics. With so much frontal area, it’s probably about as aerodynamic as a house, notes Speed Society. But 1,700 hp can deal with that.

In the video above, Mental Breakdown turns in a 7.6-second quarter-mile time at 182 mph at the U.K.’s Santa Pod Raceway. Not bad for a vehicle that, in stock form, has a reputation for leisurely acceleration. With its standard-issue flat-four engine, the Microbus was never mistaken for a race car. Mental Breakdown runs an 8.4-liter supercharged Hemi V8, fueled by methanol.

Volkswagen is considering bringing back the Microbus, which is one of its most iconic models. But the automaker is going in the opposite direction of a fire-breathing dragster. The recent Budd-e and I.D. Buzz concepts both combined modern versions of the Microbus styling with electric powertrains. Volkswagen hopes to sell 1 million electric cars per year by 2025, and a new Microbus could be part of that mix.

Both concepts utilized VW’s new MEB platform for compact electric cars, which was designed to accommodate a variety of different model types, including the I.D. hatchback and I.D. Crozz crossover concepts Volkswagen has also displayed at recent auto shows. MEB places the battery pack in the floor and electric motors at one or both axles, for maximum space efficiency. But can it accommodate big drag slicks?

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Electric Muscle Misfire? Dodge Pulls Charger Daytona R/T from 2026 Lineup

electric muscle misfire dodge pulls charger daytona r t from 2026 lineup all new

The Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, once hailed as the vanguard of Dodge’s electric muscle car future, is being dropped for the 2026 model year.
According to a report from MoparInsiders, the Scat Pack variant will now lead the Daytona lineup, marking a significant pivot in Stellantis’ EV strategy.
Originally introduced with bold ambitions, the Charger Daytona R/T was designed to offer an accessible gateway into electric performance. With its 456-horsepower dual-motor setup and optional 509-horsepower Direct Connection stage kit, it seemed poised to excite both muscle car fans and EV newcomers. However, market realities have painted a different picture.
Industry and media reports highlight the core issue: buyers just weren’t biting. Despite its impressive specs and nostalgic design cues, the R/T struggled to justify its price tag, starting near $60,000. At that level, buyers expected either more performance or more premium features. Without strong sales traction, Dodge made the tough call to shelve the R/T variant for 2026, opting instead to focus on trims that resonate better with customers.
As we reported in December, the Charger EV was launched with an off-beat marketing message to “save the planet from self-driving sleep pods.” The goal was to retain Dodge’s brand identity—muscle, aggression, and driver engagement—even in the electric era. The Charger Daytona R/T was supposed to be the perfect balance of price and performance, but it seems the target audience wasn’t ready to make that leap at that price.
Importantly, this doesn’t spell the end of the Charger Daytona altogether. Higher-performance models like the Scat Pack and Banshee are still in the pipeline and, interestingly, are being adjusted for price competitiveness. Several trims are reportedly seeing price cuts, suggesting Stellantis is serious about making these vehicles more appealing and accessible.
For enthusiasts, the takeaway is clear: the electric muscle car isn’t going anywhere, but automakers are still figuring out how to sell it. The demise of the R/T is less a failure and more a recalibration—proof that even the boldest plans need to stay flexible in the face of consumer demand.

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The all-electric Cadillac Vistiq makes the Escalade redundant

2026 Cadillac Vistiq front-quarter view.

Cadillac wants a full lineup of electric vehicles, and it’s nearly there. It has a standard crossover SUV (the Lyriq), an entry-level model (the Optiq), an electric version of its flagship Escalade (the Escalade IQ), and even a baroque showpiece (the Celestiq). But something’s missing.

For a modern luxury brand, a midsize three-row crossover is key. Customers for whom a Toyota Highlander is too déclassé need something to take their kids to lacrosse practice, but may not want something as big as an Escalade. This isn’t the most exciting design brief, and that’s reflected in the gasoline Cadillac XT6, which has always felt like nothing more than a placeholder. Its new electric counterpart, the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, is anything but.

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With the Ioniq 9, Hyundai struggles to clear its own high bar

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 front quarter view.

Hyundai has used the clean-sheet nature of electric powertrains to make new vehicles radically different from its internal-combustion models, but what happens when the best thing a new car can be is ordinary? The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a three-row SUV that, to succeed, needs to prioritize space and an effortless ownership experience over radical styling or sports-car driving dynamics. That doesn’t leave much room for creativity, but Hyundai has done its best by giving the Ioniq 9 futuristic styling combined with the proven E-GMP dedicated EV platform from its other Ioniq models and the Kia EV9. The enthusiastic response to the EV9, from Hyundai’s sibling brand, shows why, despite having two gasoline three-row SUVs in its lineup already, Hyundai needed an all-electric one as well.

Another daring design from Hyundai