Awesome Rides

Say you cracked a tail light on your classic car. You could search eBay or junkyards for a replacement, but if you can’t find one, a repair might be your only option. We watched in awe as this talented craftsman fixed a missing piece of plastic from an old taillight, precisely matching its texture and color, and making it look as good as new.

Nissan takes its potent Z sports coupe and gives it the NISMO performance treatment. The 2024 Z NISMO has seen its 3.0L twin-turbo engine tuned to make 420 hp and gets upgrades to its brakes, suspension, aerodynamics, transmission, plus track-friendly tires. Inside, you’ll find Recaro seats with leather and Alcantara with a red center.

The new Land Cruiser marks a return to form. The US-bound SUV will start in the mid-$50K range. It’s shorter and narrower than before, has a 2.4L turbo hybrid drivetrain with 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. of torque, and available multi-terrain modes for off-road fun. Every 2024 Land Cruiser has full-time 4WD, a locking rear diff, and a choice of round or rectangular headlights.

Dip My Car already painted a car in the world’s blackest paint. Now, there’s something even blacker than that – Musou Black Fabric Kiwami. This unique textile is made with special dyes and an arrangement of fibers that absorb 99.9% of visible light. James from The Action Lab got a spool of the fabric and turned his black car into a really black car.

Artist LiuMutou shows off his expert model-making abilities by carving an impeccable replica of a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. Every detail is there, including a tiny steering wheel, a curved acrylic windshield, working lights, and sharp tailfins. And it doesn’t just sit there; it’s got a working powertrain and even can drift.

The Ford Bronco Sport goes retro with its 1970s-inspired Free Wheeling special edition. Like those classic Free Wheeling trucks, vans, and Broncos, the compact SUV is decorated with red, orange, and yellow body stripes. It’s also got unique 17″ black and red rims, a silver painted grille, and its interior has colorful seat inserts with ombre stitching and red trim accents.

If you’ve ever curbed the rims on your car, you know how awful it can look. But with the proper equipment and expertise, it’s possible to repair damaged rims. Wheel Restore USA shows how their diamond cut wheel lathe can make even heavily damaged wheels look as good as new by removing a thin layer of metal. They also have a wheel-painting robot.

A typical ATV has four wheels, and a tank rolls on tracks driven by several smaller wheels. This unique ATV from Finland marches to the beat of a different drummer, rolling on 18 wheels, each with its own motor and springy suspension. Invented by Eldar Aliev, the 18-wheeler can crawl over rocks up to 14″ tall, fallen trees, ride through water, and even climb stairs.

With a sticker price nearing $100K, the 2024 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Ultimate is the most extravagant truck we’ve ever driven. Thanks to a powerful turbo-diesel engine and heavy-duty transmission, it can tow a large trailer while its occupants enjoy comforts like soft leather, real wood trim, climate-controlled seats with massage, and much more.

The guys from Grind Hard Plumbing Co. have made some crazy custom vehicles, including a tricked out Barbie Power Wheels Jeep. Now they’ve equipped a shopping cart with a 125 hp motorcycle engine and dual powered rear axles. After an initial failure, they went back to the drawing board to improve its reliability. Driving footage starts around 32:30.

FIAT has stopped making grey cars. Why? Because they’re everywhere and that’s boring. As FIAT CEO Oliver Francois says, “Grey is not dolce vita,” alluding to the Italian way of living “the sweet life.” To prove he’s serious, Francois got into a 600e and had it dunked into an enormous can of orange paint.

While it’s possible to build a hubless bicycle, it’s a mechanically complex feat. Builder The Q came up with a similar look that does away with the spokes instead, replacing them with thick polyacrylate sheets. We’re not sure how durable they are or how they affect ride quality, but it’s a really cool illusion.

Someone’s ice cream dreams will come true with with a customized Drumstick inspired vehicle. Fancy a car with a waffle cone steering wheel and an ice box in the glove box? Or motorcycle with a cone-shaped sidecar? It’s all up to the winner of The Great Drumstick Summer Road Trip contest who will get $25K to pimp their ride. Details here.

Our pal Tim Esterdahl from Pickup Truck and SUV Talk got his hands on a vehicle that is neither a truck nor an SUV. The 2023 BMW 760i xDrive he reviewed is a $162,000 luxury sedan with a 536 hp, twin-turbo V8, a 48V motor, and a heaping helping of technology. Zoom from 0-to-60 in 4.1 seconds, or relax in the executive lounge seating while watching the 31″ 8K TV.

The guys at Garage 54 seem to have an infinite supply of junker Ladas lying around their workshop. In this video, they took one of the notoriously bad Russian compact cars and cut away half of its body and chassis. By keeping the engine, transmission, driveshaft, axles, and exhaust system in place, it’s still fully driveable.

Hyundai takes the Santa Fe and reinvents it as a boxy, Defender-esque SUV for adventure seekers. Its elongated wheelbase, tall roofline, and fold-flat seats provide plentiful space for people and cargo, while its modern cabin offers a curved dual-screen display and available Nappa leather. We dig the H-shaped headlights, though we’re not sold on its backside.

While we’ve seen bowling balls fly faster, this is the first time we’ve seen someone bowl a strike from a fast-moving car. Back in 2019, pro stock car driver Aric Almirola and pro bowler Jason Belmonte pulled off the fastest human-thrown strike while zooming around Charlotte Motor Speedway at 140 MPH.

Oregon’s Train Mountain is home to the longest model railroad in the world. It has a 1/8th-scale electric-powered train that rolls on 37 miles of track, including multiple pathways controlled by switches, tiny towns, railyards, bridges, and a turntable. DownieLive managed to score a ride on the miniature train to experience its many wonders.

Inspired by the expensive airless tires seen on construction equipment and concept vehicles, The Q set out on a mission to make his own shock-absorbing, puncture-proof bike tires using a similar design. What’s even more impressive is that he built them using only PVC pipe, nuts, bolts, and the tread from a standard bike tire.

Aston Martin will make just 110 of this gorgeous sports car to celebrate its 110th anniversary. Its 5.2L twin-turbo V12 engine produces 705 hp and 555 lb-ft. of torque, and offers maximum driver engagement with a custom 6-speed manual transmission. It has adaptive dampers, anti-roll bars for sharp handling, and carbon ceramic brakes for serious stopping power.

Petrol Vibes makes metal wall art based on the silhouettes of sports cars and motorcycles. In addition to classics like the Ferrari 250 GTO and C2 Corvette, they can fabricate custom designs. Each is made from laser-cut 2mm steel and comes in sizes from 31″ to 55″ wide.

Inventor Colin Furze has created some wild and wondrous things over the years, and his Rhino tank build looks awesome. But as you’ll see in the video for the hemispherical-wheeled tank, good looks don’t necessarily mean capability, and beauty is only skin deep.

Since its 2020 debut, the Kia Telluride has become one of the Korean automaker’s best-selling vehicles. The 2023 Telluride has seen some design changes, along with new packages. The X-Line and X-Pro give the three-row SUV added off-road capabilities while going upmarket in a swanky SX-Prestige trim. Read on to learn why it’s one of the best SUVs you can buy.