Awesome Rides

Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen kicked off 2022 with an icy start. His first F1 drive of the year wasn’t on a regular track but on a snowy GP Ice Race circuit in a race car equipped with special studded tires and chased down speedway racer Franky Zorn on his motorcycle.

The paint on classic cars isn’t always in good shape and needs to be restored. If you really want to do the job right, you need to start with a clean canvas. Cars Insider shows us how 3S Chemicals takes vintage car bodies and dips them in a series of baths to remove all the old paint, sealers, primer, and rust.

The 2024 Silverado EV is a bumper-to-bumper reimagining of Chevy’s best-selling truck, and this 664 hp stallion is no longer a gas-guzzler. The 4-door, 4-wheel-drive all-electric RST First Edition uses a DC fast-charging system to “fuel” up for a 400-mile range, and to carry or tow up to 10,000 pounds.

We’re still waiting for the jetpacks that sci-fi stories promised, but flying cars are here. AirCar Prototype 1 has received a Certificate of Airworthiness with production models due in 2023. The push of a button transforms the two-seater between car and aircraft modes in three minutes.

Designer and automotive enthusiast Joe Harmon wanted a sports car that stood out from the crowd. Rather than a Lambo or Ferrari, he built his own custom supercar. Known as The Splinter, the unique car features a chassis, body, and interior made mostly from wood. Naturally, the drivetrain is made from conventional materials.

This anti-theft lock attaches to your bicycle, moped, or motorcycle’s disc brake as an added layer of security beyond cable or U-locks. It’s compact enough to toss in your bike bag and can be locked and unlocked using your fingerprint or a key. It’s IPX7 waterproof and designed for durability. Fits brakes up to 6mm thick.

Sharing the same platform as the 2022 Tundra and Lexus LX 600, Toyota’s great-looking, redesigned Sequoia SUV has three rows of seating and comes standard with a powerful i-FORCE MAX hybrid drivetrain that makes 437 hp and 583 lb-ft. of torque. It will come in SR5, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and a luxurious new Capstone trim.

The 2023 Corvette Stingray and Z06 will offer a 70th Anniversary Edition package with distinctive wheels, logos, and badging in two unique colors: White Pearl Metallic Tri-coat and Carbon Flash Metallic. (Holy Batmobile!) VIN 001 of the special Z06 goes to auction at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 1.29.22 benefitting Operation Homefront.

Ford Performance amps up the already impressive Ford Bronco with a model fine-tuned for high-speed desert hijinx and rock crawling. It packs a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 that makes at least 400 hp, a Raptor HOSS 4.0 suspension system, and rides on 37″ all-terrain tires. It’s also a whopping 9.8″ wider than a base 4-door Bronco.

Now in its 4th generation, Lexus LX 600 is everything the original LX was and more. More power, capability, technology, safety, comfort, and more luxury than ever. It’s powered by a new 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 engine that makes 409 hp and 479 lb-ft. of torque that’s far more fuel-efficient than the outgoing V8.

Reporting for Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk, automotive journalist and friend of The Awesomer, Micah Wright headed to the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon for an up-close look at some of the weird and wonderful custom SUVs, trucks, and vans on display on the show floor. That Daihatsu Midget truck is bonkers. Watch part two here.

GazR’s Extreme Brick Machines built this unique LEGO Technic vehicle that stores energy in a flywheel. A rig consisting of 21 Powered-Up L motors and six Smart Hubs transfers power to the flywheel, then the car can continue driving on its own. It doesn’t go very far but has enough torque to climb a hill.

We’ve seen how circular saw blades can be used to provide traction on ice – at least until they cut all the way through. The Q modified one of those wheeled “hoverboards” to ride on saw blades. He added metal plates to each of the blades’ teeth so it doesn’t dig in as much, but we still wouldn’t want to fall onto them.

Wrebbit’s 280-piece puzzle lets you assemble a 3D model of the Ghostbusters’ ECTO-1 station wagon. The car is covered with lots of movie-accurate photographic details, from the license plates to the roof rack filled with gadgets for detecting and dealing with the paranormal. The finished model measures 14.5″ x 4.75″ x 5.5″.

The 2022 Toyota Tundra gets a luxury model, decked out with 22″ chrome wheels, chrome mirror caps, semi-aniline leather seats, power running boards, a 14″ touchscreen, a 10″ heads-up display, ambient lighting, and more. It comes with Toyota’s i-Force MAX powertrain, which makes 437 hp and 583 lb-ft. of torque.

Watch an artist make this incredibly precise model of a Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa motorcycle entirely out of paper and glue. Every tiny detail is there, from the engine to the dashboard gauges to the drive chain. It’s just one of several intricate papercraft models you can find on the Paper Modelling YouTube channel.

BMW turned up at CES 2022 with a uniquely eyecatching version of its all-electric iX crossover wrapped in E Ink panels, the same display material used in e-readers. The technology allows the vehicle to change from black to white and shades of grey as it transitions. The video explains how they created it.

Mercedes-Benz’s EQXX concept electric sedan aims to do away with range anxiety. The sleek and luxurious car has a target driving range of 620 mi or 1000 km thanks to reduced battery weight and aerodynamic efficiency. Other highlights include a solar roof for accessory charging and an ultra-wide digital dashboard.

This unique system parks cars in an underground garage while taking up minimal space. TreviPark’s silo-shaped parking lot has spaces set up in a circular arrangement around a central elevator which can rotate to access a specific car, then lift it to the surface. Here’s an interior view from another car’s perspective.

Usually, you have to stand in line at an amusement park if you want to go on a thrill ride. But with this rolling car you can spin yourself silly in the comfort of your own driveway. You can buy one for yourself on Alibaba if you dare. And there’s no way this thing is street-legal, so don’t even try.

This Japanese kei car has supercar looks, but the Autozam AZ-1 wasn’t exactly a powerhouse. Donut Media takes some time up close and personal with this awesome little lightweight that Mazda made from 1992-1995. Like a real exotic, it’s got a mid-rear-mounted, turbocharged engine, gullwing doors, and zero cargo space.

SEGA teamed up with Intel and ASRock to build an impressively quick gaming PC. But it’s not just the Core i9-12900K CPU and Radeon RX 6900 XT OC 16GB GPU that make it fast. The whole thing is built into a remote-controlled car that can hit speeds up to 100 km/h, or about 62 mph. SEGA is giving it away to one lucky winner.

Baja 1000 champ Alan Ampudia is back with a sequel to his epic trophy truck stunt film AMPD. This time, he drove through Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to catch some crazy air, kick up lots of dirt, and show off sponsor Toyo Tires’ rugged Open Country A/T III tires.