Awesome Rides

Toyota is showing off some fantastic special projects for the 2023 SEMA show. Our favorite is the FJ Bruiser – Motorsports Garage’s custom-built off-road chassis with the body of a 1966 FJ Land Cruiser and the brawn of a TRD race engine. It also has a conveyor belt track underneath to help it move if it gets high-centered. Check out the full four-episode build here.

No matter how much we’ve wanted one, Mattel never made a real-world Hoverboard like the one in Back to the Future II. JLaserVideo built a working hoverboard that can float a couple of inches off the ground. After exploring various kinds of levitation technology and their limitations, he settled on a design that works like an upside-down air hockey table.

Say what you will about the Tesla Cybertruck; Elon Musk’s chunky and funky electric truck has given us countless memes and fan-built projects to enjoy. ND – Woodworking Art’s metal-framed, wood-covered vehicle is a roughly 1/2-scale replica of the truck. It runs on battery power like the real deal and has room in its bed for his kid’s mini Cyberquad.

When it comes to high-horsepower, off-road-capable trucks, few vehicles can compete with the Ford F-150 Raptor R. This souped-up pickup packs a 700-horsepower, supercharged V8 engine, a Baja-tuned suspension, and massive all-terrain tires. We spent a week living with this impressive truck, including a day hooning around in sand dunes.

Mazda teases the future of sports cars with the beautifully sleek and aerodynamic Iconic SP concept car. The 365-horsepower hybrid electric car has a mid-mounted rotary engine that generates power for an electric motor. It’s got billionaire doors and pop-up headlights and looks every bit as good as a Ferrari.

Toyota is showing off a high-performance sports car that brings back mid-engine MR2 memories. But the FT-Se runs on battery power and has electric motors. It has a sleek, aerodynamic design and can send tremendous amounts of torque to the rear wheels for serious drifting. Inside, it has a minimalist dashboard and an F1-style steering wheel.

Playforever makes some of the coolest toy cars you can buy. Their latest creation is the Luft, a wonderful little drop-top inspired by a 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Targa. The 6.9″ long 2-seater features the iconic Targa band and a right-hand driver wearing a shiny helmet. It’s made from ABS plastic and suitable for ages 1+.

The fastest car we’ve ever experienced was a dragster that launched from 0 to 60 mph in about two seconds. Tom Scott got behind the wheel of AMZ Racing’s Mythen, an electric vehicle that holds the world record for EV acceleration – 0 to 100 km/h in a mindblowing 0.956 seconds. Tom didn’t quite hit that number, but he still accelerated insanely fast.

Created by Bavaria’s eLegend, the $890,000 EL1 is an all-wheel drive electric sports car with a design inspired by the 1980s Audi Sport Quattro rally car. Dual motors output 816 hp, launching it from 0 to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. Its carbon fiber monocoque chassis is designed to minimize aerodynamic drag. Only 30 examples will be made.

Alpha Motor Corporation outfitted its Superwolf electric truck for overlanding. The dual-motor EV comes loaded with gear from Roam Adventure Co., KMC Wheels, KC Lights, DMOS Collective, and rolls on BF Goodrich mud-terrain tires. The truck seats four, has a 65″ cargo bed, zooms from 0-to-60 in 5.9 seconds, and can go up to 275 miles per charge.

The Citroën Ami Buggy is what Carwow calls “the world’s smallest SUV.”  While we question the “sport” and “utility,” it’s definitely a vehicle. This sub-sub-compact car has open sides, plastic windows, and a sunroof held in place with a zipper and Velcro. With an 8 hp motor, it tops out at 28 mph. Mat Watson spent some time with this tiny EV, so you don’t have to.

When it comes to SUVs, they don’t get much bigger than the Lincoln Navigator L. And in Black Label trim, this voluminous ride is one of the most luxurious vehicles on the road, too. We spent a week living with the 6-figure Lincoln, getting to know its many comforts and what it’s like to feel like a limo driver and an executive riding in the back.

Handy Geng wanted to know what it was like to feel weightless. But since he’s not planning on heading to space any time soon, he decided to build a machine that approximates that sensation on Earth. The vomit-inducing car has a cylindrical passenger compartment that can flip 360º. The faster it’s driven, the quicker it spins.

Most go-karts have a frame made from metal. But Doctor D.S. shows us how it’s possible to make a homebrew kart using a wooden shipping pallet and a 200cc gas engine. He still had to use metal for the axles and mechanicals, but it’s still an impressive build. We’d love to see how fast it goes on something besides grass, though.

You’re supposed to park your car in your driveway, not in front of it. This whimsical motorized gate in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil has a slice of a hatchback welded to its front, so it looks like the car is driving along the sidewalk whenever the gate opens or closes.

The Lexus TX takes aim at the 3-row SUV market with a spacious cabin, upscale styling, and a smooth ride. We spent a day behind the wheel of this comfy 6- or 7-passenger vehicle, getting to know its performance, ride quality, and many features. It’s an excellent option for larger families and drivers who don’t want to feel like they’re driving a truck.

Most battery electric vehicles require substantial energy, making solar charging pretty impractical. Drew Builds Stuff shows how, with a light and efficient design, it’s possible to create an EV that can recharge itself with the sun. His speedy little 4-wheeler can go about 100 km (62 miles) per charge and can nearly double that range on a sunny day.

A car-nut fantasy came true for Wayne Dick of Alberta, Canada, whose custom Chevrolet Corvair Rampside Truck won top honors at Hot Wheels’ El Segundo HQ in the toymaker’s coast-to-coast Hot Wheels Legends Tour quest to find real wild cars to recreate as genuine Hot Wheels toys.

Lexus vehicles are known for their luxury and performance, but there’s a deluxe Lexus you won’t find here in the U.S. The Lexus LM is an opulent minivan with a truly first-class cabin. Passengers enjoy reclining seats with heat, cooling, and massage, a 48-inch ultrawide monitor, privacy shades, tray tables, a refrigerator, and a Mark Levinson surround audio system.

Recently, engineer James Bruton put together a self-balancing vehicle using a hoverboard and omni-wheels. Now, he’s transformed that strange-looking machine into something that vaguely resembles a Star Wars speeder bike. It’s easier to steer now and can travel forward, but it’s not exactly something you’d fly between the trees on Endor.

When it comes to factory-spec off-road vehicles, the Ford Bronco Raptor is at the top of its class. Thanks to an excellent suspension, powerful engine, massive tires, and great clearance specs, Ford’s top-of-the-line 4×4 SUV can handle every kind of terrain. We spent a week off-roading and daily driving the “Braptor” and fell in love with this impressive beast.

Ascento’s agile robot has a pair of articulated legs that roll on bicycle wheels. This design allows it to ride on uneven surfaces, up and down hills, and even climb stairs with ease. It can autonomously drive at speeds up to 12 km/h and 8 hours per charge. Ascento has created a version designed specifically for autonomous security patrolling.

Celebrating 50 years, Toyota’s Calty Design Research has helped design some of the company’s most popular vehicles, including Camry, Corolla, Supra, Tacoma, and Tundra. But their Baby Lunar Cruiser is a flight of fancy. Inspired by the classic FJ40 Land Cruiser, it has in-wheel motors, airless tires, joystick controls, and an augmented reality dashboard.