Awesome Rides

Yamaha’s 2009 YFZ450R motocross bike has improves heavily on rider comfort, with a better seat, more spacious chassis and an updated engine balancer that reduces vibrations.

Like the Lexus IS, the 2009 Audi A3 gets a minor facelift with a revised front bumper, grille, headlights and turn signals in the side mirrors. The 2.0L model also gets quattro AWD.

If the 2009 YZF-R1 is out of your budget, Yamaha’s 2009 FZ6R comes in at a more affordable $7k; it’s an upright bike but still sporty with a 78bhp engine; the seat is adjustable.

Yamaha released a slew of bikes yesterday, but we’re most excited by the 2009 Yamaha R1: it uses a big bang engine, which gets an inline four’s power and a v-twin’s traction.

Photos for the 2011 Chevy Volt have leaked, along with not-so-sexy GM execs draped over its hood. It’s a bit curvier than we expected, but we’ll take any plug-in hybrids we can get.

Sony’s GT Academy (real life, not a PS3 game) has finally picked two winners after an eight month competition. They’ll now go to boot camp for 4 months and race in Dubai in January.

Above are fresh pics of the 2009 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, the first superbike to get ABS. The non-ABS variant is largely the same mechanically but gets a tricolor scheme.

Calling the Tabbert Paganini RV a mere winnebago just seems wrong; with race-inspired lines, this 28-foot “caravan” includes LED lighting, an upscale kitchen and built-in shower.

Can-Am’s Spyder Roadster is a road-approved three-wheeled motorcycle. It’s available in the US and Canada through numerous dealers, and sports a 106 hp, 990cc V-twin engine.

While it’s been called a Prius clone, we welcome the upcoming 2010 Honda Insight (a 90% concept is seen above). The biggest news is its relatively low starting price point of $18,500.

Click on the pic above to see spy shots of the upcoming 2009 Ducati Monster 1100; it’s basically a 696 with an 1100CC engine, netting +15HP and +26 lb/ft. of torque. Vroom.

The 2009 Lexus IS has a slightly restyle grilled, L-shaped backup lights and turn signals on the side mirrors. Internally the IS gets VDIM, a revamped stability control system.

The Audi R3 above is just a photochopped Saturn Sky, but we can’t help but drool over news that Audi will replace the TT in 2013 with the R3, a proper mid-engined sports car.

Bugatti’s Veyron Fbg par Hermes is Grand Sport’s more opulent sibling; originally only available in brown, Bugatti has released four new color schemes. Above is “black and garance red.”

Created by design student Da Feng, the GYM Concept Car is plug-in electric car that can be powered by the driver using the bench press and other exercise machines inside.

BMW’s versatile R 1200 GS gets a modest 5% bump to 105 HP over last year along with ergonomic upgrades; this go-anywhere bike has sport, normal, comfort and off-road settings.

The 2009 Civic Coupe is up at Honda.com; the front fascia gets refreshed with a new grille and lower bumper, while the inside gets a USB port that plays music from any flash drive.

This ain’t your little brothers’ tricycle: Lazareth’s Triazuma is a chimera of sorts, borrowing a 180BHP engine from an ’06 Yamaha R1. No anti-lock brakes or traction control, so hang on.

Being green never looked as hot as Pete Bethune’s Earthrace trimaran boat, which runs on biodiesel. It recently circled the globe in 60 days and 23 hours, setting a new world record.

As if the stock Audi R8 wasn’t enough: here’s a GT3 racer version with rear wheel drive and a six-speed sequential tranny. It’ll also get a specially designed front and rear wing.

The Dirtsurfer Freestyle BMX is a hybrid skateboard and bike. Like a bike, it’s more stable at speed; unlike a skateboard, it can handle all sorts of terrain with its 16″ tires.

Limited to only 500 cars, the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is based on the 8C Competizione. It tops out at 180 mph and is fitted with a fabric top and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes.

We love the refined lines of this Fairlady Z concept by automotive graphics expert Jacek of Iacoski Design. It’s a tasteful blend of the original Nissan 240Z, the current 350Z and recent GT-R.

The X-Bow looks like an amped-up go-cart, but this mini roadster packs a 220hp turbo 2.0 liter from Audi (with up to 300hp). KTM hopes to bring a street legal version to the US soon.

The Soularc Board is a funky marriage of skateboarding and surfing. It’s made possible by the below-deck composite spring, which makes riders feel like they’re carving a wave — on land.

GM has a slew of official pics for the upcoming 2011 Chevy Cruze, which will replace the Cobalt. The compact car will debut in Europe first, which is ironic since it’ll be made in Ohio.