Awesome Rides

After tearing through 99 nailbiting turns on the way up, Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Ho-Pin Tung and a Range Rover Sport Plug-In Hybrid became the first vehicle ever to climb the insanely steep 999 steps to the top of Heaven’s Gate at Tianmen Mountain, China.

Real Engineering ponders a question that you’d think would have an obvious answer: Which is faster: the world’s fastest production car or the world’s fastest helicopter? The answer might surprise you, and the physics at play are pretty fascinating.

The madmen at Shifted Interests swapped a 1000 cc engine from a Yamaha FZ1 motorcycle into a Smart Fortwo, substantially increasing its power and turning it into an angry little machine, perfect for making tiny powdered donuts – at least until they killed it.

Alta’s 2018 Redshift MXR is its most powerful motorcycle yet. Its 14,000rpm electric motor pushes 50hp and 147lbft of torque right from the get go. It also features Alta’s newest battery pack, which lasts up to 4h and charges in just 1.5h.

Headed to Asia/Pacific markets first (then hopefully the US), the off-road ready version of Ford’s baby pickup packs a 2.0L turbodiesel engine, a 10-speed gearbox, Fox shocks, upgraded rear suspension, increased ride height, all-terrain drive modes, and much more.

Nissan had a little fun with this modded 370Z by fitting it with tracks in the back and skis in the front. Otherwise, the 332 hp winter convertible is largely stock besides the lifted suspension and widened wheel wells. The car will debut at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show.

Outfitter Iron and Resin teamed up with 4×4 restorers New Legend to bring this classic 1972 International Scout II back to life, loading it up with a modern GM LS 5.3L engine, a leather and waxed canvas interior, modern roof racks, a swing-out motorcycle mount, and more.

We headed to the French island of Corsica to spend some quality time behind the wheel of Jaguar’s beautiful baby crossover. In R-Dynamic trim, it packs a zippy 296hp turbo 4, and its active driveline offers fantastic control and handling. Plus it seats five, and looks spiffy.

Legacy Overland’s awesomely restored and upgraded 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ-45. It has a 3.5L 6-cylinder diesel engine, Old Man Emu suspension, Daytona Beadlock steel wheels, BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires, LED headlights, and a Bluetooth radio connected to four speakers.

The Kalk is an electric dirt bike designed to be light while still able to take a beating. It weighs only about 150lb, thanks to its aluminum frame and swingarm and carbon fiber body. It also has custom designed Öhlins suspension. It goes up to 50mph and lasts up to 50mi per charge.

Death Machines of London found a discarded 1982 Le Mans Mk2 and wondered how Moto Guzzi co-founder Giovanni Ravelli – a former Italian air force pilot – would redesign the motorcycle. The result is a streamlined machine that looks like it’s mid-flight even at rest.

To celebrate Super Bowl Sunday, Mercedes-Benz is offering a chance to win an AMG C 43 Coupe. Simply keep your eye on the Benz on your smartphone, and keep your finger on it as long as possible. The last fan standing wins the car. Register on Sunday 2/4/18 by 6:25pm ET.

Revolve splits the tire into segments, which are then mounted on a hexagonal frame. The frame lets you collapse the wheel into a pod that’s 60% smaller than normal. Inventor Andrea Mocellin hopes it will lead to transforming and compact transportation devices.

This multi tool is one of the more interesting items in Land Rover UK’s online shop. Shaped like the Defender, it has 11 tools in one credit-card sized package, including a tire tread gauge, a cutter and a bottle opener.

Honda commissioned Thailand-based motorcycle shop K-Speed to customize the 2018 Honda Super Cub for the retro motorcycle’s launch. The shop’s Super Power Cub is modern and beefy yet retains a vintage charm by leaving the lower fairing. More on Bike EXIF.

A must-own print for any fan of motorsports. DNBK. cataloged and digested down 69 iconic race liveries into a bold, colorful, and dynamic piece of wall art. Measures 18″ x 24″ for easy framing, and printed on acid-free archival stock. (Thanks Chris!)

A very special way to wrap up the last-gen Land Rover Defender, this model packs a 400 hp 5.0L V8 engine, an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox, Recaro leather seats, and does 0-to-60 in 5.6 sec. Limited to just 150 vehicles, and sadly none of them are headed to the US.

If you thought the EV2 personal tank was badass, get a load of this amped up version, which packs a 727ci Hemi that makes an insane 1500 hp. It tears over any surface thanks to 112 inch-long tracks, and boasts 16″ of suspension travel. It’s so powerful that it can pop wheelies.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee has redesigned front and rear fascia that make it look more like its big brother, the Grand Cherokee. It also gets a new more fuel efficient 270hp 2L inline-four engine alongside the 3.2L Pentastar V6 and 2.4L Tigershark inline-four options.

The Korean 3-door hot hatch we deserve. With former BMW “M” boss Albert Biermann leading the charge, the Veloster N gets a 2.0L turbo-4 with 275 hp, 260 lb-ft. of torque, high-flow dual exhaust, a 6-speed rev-match manual, sport suspension and brakes, and a limited-slip diff.

Inspired by the car in the 1968 Steve McQueen flick, but based on the latest Mustang GT, it packs an upgraded 5.0L V8 that makes at least 475 hp, performance exhaust, and a 6-speed manual with a cue ball shift knob. It looks great in Dark Highland Green, with minimal badging.

Etsy artist VictorianDollhouse created this series of baltic birch plywood models which let you create your own miniature sculptures of classic cars. Choose from the Citroen 2CV, Jaguar E-Type, Mazda Miata, Chevy Corvette Stingray, and Morgan 3-wheeler designs.

Honda’s concept autonomous ATV is designed to work like a robotic pack mule, carrying loads to work sites, and also performing tasks like plowing snow, tilling soil, or harvesting crops with attachment modules. It’s rugged, has a 4-wheel drivetrain, and runs on electric power.