Awesome Rides

This upcoming FIA racing series will send drivers to some of the toughest terrain on earth. The Extreme H series will feature special Pioneer 25 race cars powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and a dual-motor AWD system capable of producing up to 550 hp. These zero-emission off-roaders can zoom from 0 to 62 in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 127 mph.

When it comes to performance vehicles, the Hyundai Sonata isn’t the first name to come to mind. The 2025 Sonata N Line offers stellar driving dynamics, a powerful drivetrain, and sporty styling outside and in. From its bold design to its zesty engine, this Korean sports sedan is among the best new car values on the market today.

We’ve been promised flying cars since the Victorian era, yet they’re still not roaming our streets and skies. Maker Akira_OA created his own flying car that’s based on one of those tiny Kei cars. By using lightweight materials like carbon fiber and aluminum, he was able to get off the ground. Unfortunately, the car body is just for show, so it doesn’t drive.

BMW brings performance and agility to a mid-size wagon. The M3 CS Touring has a 3.0 L twin-turbo I6 engine that produces 550 hp and 479 lb-ft. of torque. It sends that power to four wheels via an 8-speed automatic and zooms from 0-to-62 mph in 3.5 seconds. The wagon also has an active rear diff, sport exhaust, and carbon fiber components outside and in.

The Polaris Slingshot heads into its 10th year with a sharp new front-end design. The 3-wheeler’s engine has been bumped to 180 hp for the S and SL, and 204 hp for SLR and R, with an improved torque curve and retuned AutoDrive transmission and suspension. There’s 1″ more ground clearance for the S, SL, and SLR, and the audio system has larger speakers.

Annie Koehler is 79 years old and drives a restored 1957 Cadillac. She also loves to smoke its tires. The Drive met up with the burnout queen to hear her story and how she came to love classic cars with big block V8s. Annie has won numerous burnout contests with her Coupe de Ville and its wonderful whitewall tires. (Thanks, Rob!)

After building a V16 engine from chainsaws, the madmen at Garage 54 returned to their workshop to make another crazy engine. They built the engine by securing 50 cordless drills to a frame, fitted them with pulleys, and connected them to a driveshaft with belts. After wiring them to a single power switch, they jammed it into a heavily modded Lada.

It’s been a few years since we drove the mid-size Lexus ES sedan. After receiving a makeover last year, we experienced the latest iteration of the ES 300h, the hybrid variant. While it’s not as potent as the V6-based ES 350, it’s undoubtedly more fuel efficient, and the F SPORT Handling trim we drove offers bold looks and a performance suspension for agility.

The performance version of the Cadillac Lyriq is the quickest accelerating factory Caddy yet. The AWD electric SUV packs 615 hp and 650 lb-ft. of torque and launches from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. It has a special Competitive Mode, adaptive damping, Brembo front brakes, and rolls on 22″ alloy wheels. Its 102 kWh battery provides up to 285 miles of range.

Engineer James Bruton expands on his collection of unique vehicles with an impressive electric two-wheeler, er two-baller that balances itself and can even drive sideways. He started with a pair of circus balance balls and built a mechanism that pushes them around with motors and omni-wheels. Can you imagine people riding around town on these things?

The recently redesigned Toyota Tacoma is particularly impressive in its Trailhunter grade, which loads the pickup with its most potent powertrain and a full array of factory-installed equipment for overlanding adventures. Its ample upgrades include a beefed-up suspension, rugged off-road tires, heavy-duty bumpers, and rock rails.

Quiet Nerd created this wild-looking vehicle with trail-riding abilities and everything needed for camping. The rover rolls on four tank-like tracks, carries multiple storage bins, and has a fold-out tent. It also has onboard batteries, lights for night driving, and an inverter that can power appliances. Those square steel tubes are like giant Meccano/Erector beams.

This short film by Santiago Menghini and a team of talented artists follows a pair of smugglers who must traverse a dangerous border under cover of night while transporting a hostage. Made using Unreal Engine, Rally is a tense and exciting mini-movie that also shows off what a modern 3D engine can do when it comes to lighting and atmosphere.

In this thrilling video from Red Bull Motorsports, World Rally Champ Kalle Rovanperä drifts up Japan’s Mount Iwaki in his Toyota GR Corolla. But he’s not alone. On his ascent through its 69 treacherous turns, he must face off against street racers, supercars, and some of the world’s greatest drifters. The nighttime ride back down features an unexpected racer.

Honda arrived at CES 2025 with a pair of EV prototypes slated for production in 2026. Both the Honda 0 Saloon and SUV will offer Level 3 automated driving and will be powered by an integrated computer running Honda’s new ASIMO OS. While specs have yet to be revealed, both will offer at least 300 miles of range, fast charging, and vehicle-to-home connectivity.

Ice-drifting in a Miata is a fun way to spend a day. The guys at Garage 54 had a different idea for driving a Mazda in the winter. Their plan? Take the front half of a junkyard Mazda, attach an underbody sled, and slide it around on the snow. Since the donor car was front-wheel drive, no rear wheels were needed.