A California mechanical engineer displayed his jet engine-propelled Volkswagen Beetle for students at a Detroit high school.

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Ron Patrick, who holds a doctorate from Stanford University, told students at Cass Technical High School in Detroit he does not know what the car's top speed is, but it's "way more" than the speedometer's top reading of 140 mph, The Detroit News reported Tuesday.

Patrick said the Beetle contains a regular gas engine in addition to the converted turboshaft jet engine, which has 1,350 horsepower.

"The biggest challenge was making sure the jet engine wouldn't fly out -- attaching it to the car," Patrick said.