The original 6-cylinder engine was upgraded to a V12, increasing its horsepower several times over.
Front-wheel drive was replaced with four-wheel drive, improving handling and adaptability to various terrains.
The exterior shell was swapped for a stronger alloy, and the frame was reinforced, making the body as robust as a military transport vehicle.
New hydraulic rods were added to the suspension system, controlled by an onboard intelligent program, which not only stabilized performance but also added the function of 'adjusting chassis height on the fly according to terrain changes'.
The chassis was widened and lengthened, and with the expanded body, the interior space increased significantly. Even with Shi Xiaolei's height of over two meters, he wouldn't feel cramped or uncomfortable.
The interior was replaced with a more luxurious set, and it also gained high-end features that were not originally equipped, such as an onboard refrigerator, car TV, premium sound system, and a fully automatic sunroof.
Coupled with an even more advanced intelligent control system... it's no exaggeration to say that, from top to bottom, inside and out, front to back, the only original part of the entire car was probably the emblem; Stark had tinkered with everything else.
"So, what do you think? Satisfied with the car?" Stark leaned his elbows on the hood, gesturing with his thumb to the car behind him, raising an eyebrow smugly, practically screaming "Admit I'm awesome!" with his expression.
"Satisfied, of course I'm satisfied!" Shi Xiaolei rubbed his hands together, nodding excitedly, "Tony, you're amazing. Honestly, I thought it was completely totaled and beyond repair, but you not only fixed it, you even transformed it like this. This, this... it's incredible."
"I am Tony Stark," Stark chuckled triumphantly, feeling greatly pleased.
Standing up straight, he walked around to the back of the car, patted its U-shaped rear, and said with a smile, "Actually, there's something very special about this car that you haven't discovered yet. Move aside, I'll show you."
Under Shi Xiaolei's questioning and expectant gaze, Stark opened the trunk, reached in, lifted the soft mat covering the floor, opened a small hidden compartment, and pulled out something that looked like a remote control, pressing it lightly.
Several support struts extended from beneath the chassis, firmly stabilizing the car body. The compartment began to disassemble and transform, and within a few seconds, it re-positioned and secured itself. "How about that? Inspired by my armor." Stark proudly introduced, patting the trunk, which had expanded four or five times in volume, now as large as two capsule hotel rooms combined, "One-button operation, fully automatic deployment and retraction. With this, camping trips will be incredibly simple."
If the previous modifications could still be measured in terms of money, then this major transformation appearing before their eyes was something money couldn't buy.
After all, the technology required for such a function had far exceeded the level of civilian popularization.
"..." Shi Xiaolei's eyes widened, his heart greatly shaken. He had never expected Stark to invest so much in his car.
After a long moment of stunned silence, he blinked, deeply moved, then suddenly shouted, jumping up, "Holy crap, Tony, what is this? Wow, this, this, this is such a surprise, I don't even know what to say! It's so cool, it's so cool, man!"
"I knew you'd love it," Stark lifted his head, growing even more smug.
Feeling great and wanting a drink, Stark turned and went to the small bar in the corner of the workshop, took out a bottle of his long-cherished fine wine, and poured a glass for himself and Shi Xiaolei. "Come on, when you're happy, you should have a drink. Cheers!"
"Tony, thank you." Raising his glass, Shi Xiaolei clinked it with Stark's and drank the wine in one gulp.
Perhaps the new car was so much to his liking that even the foreign liquor he usually disliked seemed to taste a bit better.
Looking back at the car parked under the lights, a surge of impulse rose in Shi Xiaolei's heart; he was already eager to take it out for a drive.
Of course, thoughts are one thing, actions are another.
It wasn't as if he could set off immediately just because the idea came to him today. After all, this wasn't a trip where he could just grab a backpack and go; it was a road trip by car.
Before hitting the road, some preparatory work absolutely had to be done first.
For example, some camping gear for resting on the road, as well as ingredients and seasonings needed for camping, all had to be prepared in advance—fresh ingredients like vegetables, meat, and seafood were not a concern. Whether buying some along the way when passing through a small town or having Stark use his 'money power' to have them airlifted, they were easy to sort out. The key was the dried goods and various Chinese seasonings used in Chinese cuisine; those couldn't be bought on the road, and even if entrusted to Stark, there was no guarantee he wouldn't get them wrong.
Additionally, he had to go to the school to personally meet the teacher and ask for a leave of absence for Connie.
It was highly likely to be approved, but no one could guarantee it. If the school disagreed, or if other group activities had already been scheduled and missing them would not be worthwhile, then the departure date might have to be pushed back to accommodate Connie's schedule.
Finally, he also needed to buy some clothes for emergencies.
This didn't mean things like hiking boots or waterproof jackets. For a self-driving tour, they would go to places accessible by car, rarely needing to walk, so specialized functional clothing for walking wasn't necessary.
What needed to be prepared were some autumn and winter clothes for changing—when they transmigrated to this world, it was late spring and early summer. Over the past few months, both Shi Xiaolei himself and the later arrivals, 2B and Connie, had only acquired summer clothing with good heat dissipation. Now, the weather was gradually getting cooler... As the saying goes, 'a spell of autumn rain brings a chill.' No one could guarantee they wouldn't encounter rain during the ten-odd days on the road, so, to cope with a possible 'sudden drop in temperature,' it was best to prepare a few warm clothes in advance.
He spent Saturday at Stark's place and drove the newly repaired car back to the temporary rented apartment building.
The next day, Sunday, Shi Xiaolei took 2B and Connie out again for a big shopping trip.
Then, under little Connie's incredibly eager anticipation, Monday finally arrived.
"Connie, are you ready?"
At Shi Xiaolei's call, little Connie, with her small backpack on, pattered out of her room: "I'm ready! Xiaolei, Xiaolei, let's go!"
Partly because Shi Xiaolei was rarely taking her to school, and partly because she knew she was going to ask for a leave today and then go out to play, Connie's mood was noticeably higher than usual. Her bouncing and skipping while holding Shi Xiaolei's big hand made her look even cuter than usual.
"Alright, alright, let's go." Shi Xiaolei chuckled, helping the little one adjust the bow in her hair, and while responding, he urged towards the room again: "Sylvia, hurry up, Connie can't wait."