Awesome Rides

Winner of the 2009 Design Challenge, Nissan’s V2G concept is short for vehicle to grid and not only envisions a moddable vehicle, but a high-speed solar-powered highway system.

Send a space travel buff over the moon with this Full Scale Apollo Lander; it won’t be touching down in Copernicus Crater anytime soon, but it’s a high-fidelity, 1:1 replica of the LEM.

The Gryphon Wingsuit is a chute/glider hybrid with a guidance system and HUD that’ll drop from 30k feet and glide 30 miles with an average speed of 60 mph; next up? Bolt-on engines.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid uses Toyota’s first Li-ion drive-battery and goes up to 13 miles and 60 mph in electric-only mode (hybrid for longer distances); it’ll arrive in the US in 2010.

Land Rover’s 2010 Range Rover Sport Autobiography arrives stateside for the first time; it features Santorini Black paint, new bodywork, 20″ wheels, and a supercharged, 510 hp, 5.0L V8.

Because awesome firefighters deserve a awesome ride: the Amatoya Fire Recon Vehicle features dual cannons, a 2200 liter water tank, and aerogel protected windows and bodywork.

For well-heeled (and well-oiled) sheiks only: Maserati’s GranTurismo S MC Sport Line will be limited to just 12 vehicles at Middle East dealers and features a Matt White “ice” finish.

The Prius and other EVs have been criticized for their deadly silence at low speeds, but HALOsonic offers an awesome solution a-la-the SoundRacer: simulated futuristic noises.

Audi’s flagship 2011 A8 sports mostly evolutionary changes for the fourth generation including full LED headlights, a 4.2L FSI V8 good for 372 hp, 15% better MPG, and 8-speed Tiptronic.

Wimmer RS’ GT2 Speed pushes Porsche’s 911 body to its limits with twin turbos and other engine mods; it’s good for 827 hp, but the real zinger is its top speed: a blistering 234.9 mph.

Take that, Camaro: Ford’s 2011 Ford Mustang V6 gets 305 hp and 30 mpg thanks to a 3.7L 60-degree Duratec V6; it’ll also get two new transmissions, GT disc brakes and a dual exhaust.

Tonal but not tone-deaf, the BlakRoc Camaro celebrates the collaborative BlakRoc album; it sports tinted windows, smoked taillights, 22″ Lexani rims, and a 500 W amp w/subwoofer.

Finished with one of three gorgeous matte paint jobs, the C6 BlackForceOne Corvette gets a twin-turbo 783 hp powerplant (0-62 in 3.4 s), carbon-ceramic disc brakes, and a widebody kit.

SpeedART’s PS9-650 ups the sex-appeal of Porsche’s oddly-shaped Panamera not only with a slick aero kit but a tuned engine that pumps out 650 hp, good for a 0-62 of 3.5 seconds.

GoRide’s iPhone Bike Mount does double duty: not only can it be mounted vertically or horizontally to your bicycle, but it easily detaches to serve as a regular case for your iPhone 3G/3GS.

Limited to an initial run of 125 units, Subaru’s WRX STI Special Edition trades handling for amenities; you’ll get a stiffer JDM spec C suspension and charcoal 18″ 14-spoke alloys in return.

Easily the baddest-ass DIY’ers ever, 81-year old Jim O’Hara and his wife have built a two-thirds scale P-38 fighter using little more than CAD plans; it made its maiden flight 10/24/09.

BMW’s 6th-gen BMW 5 Series arrives June 2010: the top-of-the-line 550i sports a twin-turbo reverse-flow V8 good for 400 hp and features regenerative braking plus active cooling air flaps.

The 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe is official; a sleek, 2-door version of its CTS sports sedan, it’ll come standard with a 3.6L V6 good for 304 hp/273 lb-ft torque and 6-speed manual.

The last of 75 built, the 1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT is the rarest of the rare; it’s one of six converted to aluminum for vintage races and rallies in the late 90s and goes to auction 1/21/10.

Yamaha and Lexus team up to provide this 3 minute, in-the-cockpit sound recording of the LFA’s luscious 4.8L V10; want more visuals? We’ve embedded a separate Launch film above.

MTM’s Audi TT RS mods push the stock turbo 5-cylinder up to 424 hp (from 340 hp) thanks to ECU and exhaust tweaks; also available: MTM cat back exhaust and bimoto rims.

Made for international GT3 racing, Porsche’s 911 GT3 R replaces the Cup S in every way; it’s faster (+30 bhp with a 480 hp 4.0L flat-six) and easier to drive (ABS, traction control, throttle-blip).