Awesome Rides

Honda’s HSV-010 GT is now official: the GT500 racer will compete in the 2010 Super GT Series in May and sports a 3.4L liquid-cooled V8 good for 496 hp and 289 lb-ft. of torque.

Beyond the new headlamps, grille, and front fascia, BMW’s 2011 3 Series coupe and convertible get a revised N55 engine; the single turbo 3.0L I6 boasts a fatter torque curve.

QT is anything but cute: the offroad company has three new models, ranging from the street legal 300STR to the 4.0L Jag V8 400DKR, which placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Pharaons Rally.

TommyKaira’s Nissan GT-R leaves performance alone but ups the aesthetic ante; the full kit packs a wet carbon front bumper and rear diffuser, F15 wheels, and optional dry carbon components.

Riding your bike on a tightrope looks precarious, but Kolelinia is actually a well thought-out and safe half pipe and cable system that lets riders avoid dangerous auto traffic.

Subaru’s WRX STI A-Line Type S is a JDM trim package, but that won’t dissuade Impreza fans; it boasts 18″ gunmetal rims, gold Brembos, Recaro seats and a 10 speaker audio system.

Gemballa’s Mig-U1 is a high-flying version of the Ferrari Enzo, sporting a jet-inspired widebody kit and 700 hp; the interior gets upgraded too with a 7″ touchscreen and 950 watt amp.

Mercedes, the monochrome doth suit thee: the SL Night Edition sports a black matt finish with blacked-out lights, while the SLK Grand Edition features graphite paint with grey nappa leather.

Audi’s E-Tron V2 speeds closer to a 2012 launch with 204 hp and 1,955 lb-ft of torque at the wheels, good for 0-60 in 5.9s; it also gets an improved interior, heat pump, and regenerative braking.

It may not get your pulse pounding, but there’s no denying the clean, Audi-like lines of Volkswagen’s Compact Coupe Concept; the hybrid TSI/electric is roughly the same size as a Jetta.

GMC’s Granite is skinnier than the Fit, shorter than the xB, and lower than the Cube, but looks like it’ll eat all three for lunch; it’s made for tight city streets and sports a turbo 1.4L 4-cylinder.

Kinetic styling and 80% global parts make Ford’s 2012 Focus a C-segment contender; it’ll be available in sedan and hatchback with a 4-cyl 2.0L DI Ti-VCT good for 155 hp/145 lb-ft of torque.

With no M7 on the horizon, the 2011 Alpina B7 is as fast as it officially gets; BMW’s flagship sports a tuned 500 hp/516 lb-ft 4.4L V8 good for 0-60 in 4.5s and 21″ Alpina wheels.

Steve Saleen’s SMS Supercars rings in the New Year with the 2010 SMS 620 Camaro; it supercharges the SS’ 6.2L V8 to 575 hp/600 lb-ft., with an X model pushing 715 hp/700 lb-ft.

The Aveo RS concept may just make a dent for Chevy in the B-segment; the hot hatch will get a turbo 1.4L 4-cylinder good for 138 hp/148 lb-ft of torque and a six-speed manual gearbox.

Remarkably tame for a Peugeot, the SR1 concept is a green, AWD-capable Grand Tourer; it makes 313 hp and 48 mph thanks to a 1.6L turbo 4-banger mated to a 95 hp electric motor.

Now available: the Ariel Atom 3’s steel tube chassis exposes you to the elements, but it won’t take much time getting from A to B: it boasts a 0-60 of 2.9s and weighs just 1,375 lbs.

OnStar’s Mobile app for iPhone, Storm, and Droid literally plugs you into your Chevy Volt: start or charge the car, lock/unlock the doors, or check battery levels, range, and MPG.

You don’t have to own an M to try out BMW’s M Power Meter for the iPhone and iPod Touch; the free app lets you calculate your own g-forces and 0-60 times–legally, of course.

Available summer 2010, Cadillac’s 2011 CTS-V Coupe joins their high-performance line with the same 556 hp V8 in the sedan, auto or manual 6-speed transmission, and Brembo brakes.

With a non-functional scoop, spoiler, and stripes, Mopar’s Performance Appearance Package for the Dodge Challenger may be the epitome of all-show and no-go; still, we like it.

Mitchell Collet’s sculptures aren’t just any old car parts; they’re slices of automotive history, including the side panel from a 1967 Honda R300 or the grille of a 1961 Aston Martin Zagato.

The 2011 5 Series isn’t out yet, but Racing Dynamics’ R50S and R35 already give BMW’s new sedan a beefy power bump; former nets 620 hp while the latter gets 410 hp/383.5 lb-ft.