I see such vehicles occasionally out here, often driving up Coldwater Canyon Avenue - perhaps to test out hill-climbing ability? Don't know if the prototypes actually are driven all the way from Michigan - more likely, put on car carriers and hauled out to the West Coast. They often have a little thing on the rear wheel to track . . . miles driven? . . . rpm? Something.

When I pass one on my motorcycle, I always yell out "SECRET CAR! SECRET CAR!" and pantomime taking a photo, just to creep out the driver who usually scowls at me. I can just see the driver's report to the manufacturer: "I got 22 miles per gallon on crummy overpriced California gas and everyone was laughing at me and taking photos, too."