Awesome Rides

Fresh from the LA Auto Show, the 2009 Porsche Cayman and Boxster get minor facelifts, but the real news is under the hood: direct injection adds 10-25 ponies and improves fuel economy.

If you can ignore the fugtastic rear on Honda’s FC Sport concept, the Vader-esque frontend, McLaren-style three seat layout and fuel cell powertrain are pretty intriguing.

It’s by no means an official race, but check out this video of a Dodge EV concept beating a Challenger; the EV is actually an ell-electric, Dodge-branded Lotus Europa.

Ford’s 2010 Mustang is an evolutionary update, with tighter bodywork, a more upscale interior and improved aerodynamics; the GT will also get a power bump to 315hp and 325 lb-ft of torque.

Fiat and Yamaha may make strange bedfellows, but this FZ1 naked bike is named after Karl Abarth, who before selling his racecar company to Fiat in 1971 also raced motorbikes.

Bentley’s premium luxo-boat gets an upgrade with the 2010 Azure T; it gets “Le Mans” air vents, tinted front grills, diamond quilted seats and goes 0-60 in 5.5s with its 6.7L twin-turbo V8.

The Streetfighter’s burlier (and sexier) sibling, the Ducati 1198/1198 S has a 1198.4 cc engine that pumps out 170bhp and 97lb/ft of torque; it’ll also get superbike-level traction control.

It doesn’t get much better than this for car enthusiasts: watch this drag race between a Chevy ZR1, Ferrari 599, Nissan GT-R and a Porsche GT2. Hint: the Axis powers lose.

The GT4 Supersport is an amped-up version of Lotus Sport’s 2-Eleven club racer, with a full roll cage, sequential gearbox and 270 hp/181 lb-ft of torque; only ten will be built initially in 2009.

Tesla competitor Fisker is getting set to produce the Karma, a plug-in hybrid sedan which will go 0-60 in 5.8s and an all-electric range of 50 miles; it should be available in late 2009.

With Land Rover looks, Recaro bucket seats and a supercharged 4.2L 500HP Jag V8, Bowler Racing’s Nemesis is a crazy expensive off-road racer which will be limited to 50 a year.

Forget coach class: the SkyCar is a bio-fueled flying car that will go from London to Timbuktu in January 2009. Above is the next gen sport model, which will be available in 2010.

Honeycombed leather and chrome trim: no, it’s not a Maybach, but Mercedes-Benz’s Trust Edition Semi is designed to showcase the third-gen Actros platform and cause extreme trucker envy.

If the giant typographic grille isn’t obvious enough, Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor means business: the off-road package sports a wider track, softer suspension and internal bypass shocks.

Nearly killed in a motorcycle accident at age 16, Chicara Nagata creates million-dollar bikes in honor of those who have died; everything except the drivetrain is built by Nagata.

Ferrari’s Scuderia Spider 16M has a bit of an identity crisis, as it’s designed for the track but is a drop top with a built-in iPod Touch in its center console; it’s limited to a run of 499.

Mow down woodland creatures and tear up the slopes with this Tracked Hummer: converted into a snowmobile/ATV for SEMA, it’s even got avalanche-inducing speakers in the trunk.

BMW’s LO Rider concept is an experiment in Harley-style customization, with bolt-on accessories including exhausts, seats and headlamps available to choose in the showroom.

Coming straight from Carroll Shelby himself, Restoration Hardware is auctioning off Shelby’s ’68 “Black Hornet” on 12/2; the proceeds will go to kids who need heart and kidney transplants.

Luxury carpeting, boardroom seating and a PS3: believe it or not, we’re desribing the Knight XV, a fully armored, badass man-tastic SUV with 40″ tires and a bio-fuel powered 6.8L V10.

22 inch shoes, airport strut arms and a man-eating grille up front: this Cadillac VRS Sport Rod has a big DO WANT stamped on it. It’s powered by a 6.0L 400hp engine in a fiberglass body.

Chevy is bringing a quartet of custom Camaros to SEMA; these rides range from nostalgic (the 60s inspired LS7) to the environmentally friendly (the E85 sipping Dale Earnhardt Jr.).

Tired of waiting for the real-life JSF, Dutchman Arthur van Poppel has created his own drivable mini F-35; the plane is awesome, but Arthur, seriously… a John Denver soundtrack?