  We tackle the problem of the accelerating universe by reconsidering the most
general form of the metric when the speed of light is allowed to evolve with
time in a homogeneous and isotropic universe. A new varying speed of light
(VSL) model naturally emerges. We find it unconvenient to perform a general
coordinate transformation to obtain the usual constant $g_{tt}$ as such an
operation would mask the relation existing between the evolution of the scale
factor and the frequency shifts. In the model proposed the expansion rate and
the acceleration of the universe turn out to be apparent effects induced by the
evolution of the speed of light. The model is beneficial in that no sort of
exotic (and so far unobserved) fluids, not even a cosmological constant, are
needed for our solutions to be compatible with observations. Only dust and
radiation are put into the energy-momentum tensor and these are found to be
sufficient to reach the critical density for the model and therefore to obtain
a spatially-flat universe. The field equations for the model are derived and
solved. Among others, one fashinating possibility is that of an eternally
bouncing universe. The relation with the varying-$\alpha_\textsc{em}$ results
is discussed.
