Awesome Rides

Genesis swept the 2022 iF Design Awards, winning four honors: three for Product Design and one for Interior Architecture. Then they topped themselves by unveiling the most jaw-dropping concept car of the NY Auto Show: the X Speedium Coupe, a streamlined preview of the Korean automaker’s next wave of luxury EVs.

Here’s some jewelry for Jeep lovers. These sterling silver rings from Callie feature a design inspired by the off-roader’s iconic 7-bar grille. A pair of birthstones take the place of headlights. Available in platinum, gold, rose gold, or black gold finishes.

40 years after the release of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, you can have the same bike that Elliott rode into the sky with his alien pal. This special edition Kuwahara bicycle looks like the one from the Spielberg classic, upgraded with a 4130 Chromoly frame and sealed bearing hubs. The bike drops in the fall of 2022 for $800.

The RS 3 returns with Audi’s wondrous five-cylinder turbo engine, making 401 hp and 369 lb-ft. of torque, launching this performance sedan from 0-to-60 in just 3.6 seconds. It now has a dynamic torque splitter for the rear axle and enormous new 14.8″ front disc brakes with upgraded cooling. Its top track speed is 180 mph.

EVs dominated the 2022 New York Int’l Auto Show. Demonstrating their ambitions to go all-electric by 2028, Chrysler unveiled a graphite version of its Airflow Concept with a 400-mile range. The sleek crossover offers a panoramic glass roof, fast charging, intuitive AI, and tech to sync vehicle, work, and home environments.

The latest Range Rover takes SUV luxury to new heights. We headed to California’s wine country, where we put Land Rover’s ride through its paces and experienced its composure and refinement from its first, second, and available third-row seats. While it retains its off-road skills, this Range Rover is as sophisticated as ever.

The new Supra finally gets the manual transmission we’ve been hoping for. A 6-speed manual is now available on the GR Supra 3.0, 3.0 Premium, and limited A91-MT models, plus all 3.0 models get new steering and suspension tuning, a “Hairpin+” function for tight, uphill corners, and a new 12-speaker JBL Audio system.

From gondolas to cable cars to staircases to skateboards, there are many ways to get down a hill. But in Funchal, Madiera, you can ride the Monte Toboggans, which are basically wicker sofas on rails steered by a pair of strong-footed pilots. Tom Scott takes us for a ride – without a seatbelt.

Instead of regular wheels, Fred Flintstone’s car had cylinders like a steam roller. It was also powered by feet. Brick Technology built a LEGO Technic vehicle that preserves the cylindrical design but updated everything else, adding a powerful motor drive and the ability to corner and drift by flexing its front and rear sections.

Electric scooters usually have tiny wheels, which makes them agile but not exactly grippy. The Q’s oversize scooter has a bit more contact patch thanks to its Formula One wheels, wrapped in slick Pirelli P-Zero tires. It’s powered by a 25kw brushless electric motor and has a battery pack under its riding deck.

Unexpected is an expert at building things out of popsicle sticks and glue. Unlike other constructions that still look like sticks, he manages to create objects that look more like carvings from a block of wood. Here, he show off a popsicle Ducati 899 Panigale, which is one of four wooden motorcycles he built.

Robert “Rocketman” Maddox is back with another crazy jet-powered vehicle which he hopes will be his fastest yet. The Dragon Kart 270-pound thrust engine lets out a bellow that’s sure to wake the neighbors. He’s yet to equip it with brakes or a seatbelt, but he still took the thing for a brief ride.

Unidragon’s flat-pack wood model lets you build a miniature muscle car. Clearly inspired by the Ford Mustang, the model has fastback styling, a mini V8 engine, a detailed interior, and its doors, hood, and trunk open. The 230-piece kit comes in red, yellow, or black, and it’s 50% off the original price at the moment.

Segway’s GT electric scooters are built for speed. The 6000-watt GT2 zooms from 0-to-30 mph in 3.9 sec with a top speed of 43.5 mph. Both the GT1 and GT2 roll on 11-inch pneumatic tires, with front and rear suspension, hydraulic disc brakes, and an extra-wide footboard. The add-on Segway Engine speaker simulates engine sounds.

This powerful electric off-roader is one of the concepts headed to the 56th Moab Easter Jeep Safari. Its axial-flux electric motor cranks out 625 hp and 850 lb-ft. of torque, silently and effortlessly traversing rocky terrain. It’s 12″ wider than a stock 2-door Wrangler and has a 3″ lift kit, 20″ wheels, and massive 40″ all-terrain tires.

Custom built by David Brown Automotive, this retro MINI is loaded with rock and roll touches. Celebrating 60 years of Marshall audio, it has black metallic paint and gold accents, a custom mesh grille, Marshall and “60 Years of Loud” graphics, an 8-speaker Marshall audio system, and a DSL1 combo amp that slides out of the trunk.

Manufacturing motors for EVs and hybrids is a very different process from making conventional engines. In this video, you’ll go inside the factory where Audi produces its EV motors, and robots and humans work in concert to transform metal, plastic, and coils of copper wire into a modern and powerful mode of propulsion.

The wake that motorized boats leave behind can disrupt smaller craft as well as the marine ecosystem. This extremely efficient Candela hydrofoil electric boat leaves only the smallest wake as it cruises through the water. The boat floats above the water, minimizing drag and surface contact, and maximizing battery life.

Flectr’s updated bike safety accessory improves nighttime visibility without impacting aerodynamics. These slimline reflectors attach to wheel spokes and weigh just 0.6 to 0.8 g. Their micro-prismatic reflectors are extremely efficient at bouncing light, ensuring you’ll be seen. Available for round or bladed spokes.

EV maker Tesla takes us on a high-speed drone flight around and inside of its Berlin-Brandenburg Gigafactory in Germany. Along the way, you’ll get closer to the incredible metal stamping and robotic assembly machines than most humans will ever get.

Mikael Kjellman lives in Sweden, where biking can be pretty unpleasant in winter. So he came up with this vehicle which offers enclosed seating and operates on pedal and electric power. A kit was funded on Indiegogo back in 2016, but we’ve yet to see any on the road around here.

The Corolla hot hatch has a 1.6L, 3-cylinder turbo engine that makes 300hp and 273 lb-ft. of torque. It comes ONLY with a 6-speed manual and has adjustable all-wheel drive, an upgraded body, suspension, brakes, and tires. The limited Circuit Edition has a carbon fiber roof, vented bulge hood, suede-trimmed seats, and more.

UK sports car maker looks to the future with not only its first SUV but its first EV. The Eletre is a sharp-lined crossover with cutting-edge aerodynamics and modern technology like flush, pop-out door handles, a deployable rear spoiler, and cameras in place of side-view mirrors. It’s also fast, with a 0-to-60 time of 3 seconds.