Awesome Rides

Transferring technology and expertise from the road to the water, BMW is the driving force behind The Icon, the first maritime luxury electric vehicle. BMW teamed up with boat builder TYDE to create a visionary experience that progressively blends the ideals of luxury and sustainable mobility. In other words, it’s a glass-encased plaything for the one-percenters.

The current-generation Nissan GT-R (R35) has been around for quite some time now, but it’s still a fantastic sports car. The 2023 GT-R is as fun to drive and attention-grabbing as ever. Other vehicles may have surpassed the GT-R’s specs and tech, but Godzilla can still hold its own in a straight line or a curve and makes anyone look like a pro driver.

A limited edition of Ford’s electric truck, the F-150 Lightning Platinum Black comes factory-wrapped in matte black. It rolls on matte black 22″ wheels, with black badging, power running boards, a black tonneau cover, a smoked light bar, a gloss black roof, and a black leather interior. The fully-loaded truck has dual motors and a 300-mile driving range.

The second-gen Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe is as powerful and quick as its predecessor, but it’s now a proper grand tourer, adding 7″ to its overall length and stretching its wheelbase by 3″. That improves luggage capacity and makes a 2+2 config possible so the kids can ride along. 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering are now standard as well.

Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be done. But that didn’t stop Cullen and the crew from Up North Outdoors from building the dumbest 3-wheel ATV ever. They started with a Honda 200M all-terrain cycle, chopped it up, and added a tall metal frame to get its rider over 12 feet off the ground. Naw, this thing doesn’t look sketchy at all.

Developed by Ford and built by Multimatic, the Ford Mustang GTD is the ultimate street-legal pony car. The $300,000 car has a carbon fiber widebody shell, a massive rear wing, and a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine making 800 horsepower. Power goes to the rear wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle. Hear it roar around the track at Road Atlanta.

Jeep’s venerable Grand Cherokee SUV is at its best in its most luxurious version: the Summit Reserve. The extended-wheelbase model we tested features a beautifully refined interior with room for six passengers, top-grade materials, the latest technology, and a fantastic sound system. Plus, it’s still, at heart, an off-road capable Jeep.

The limited-edition Porsche 911 S/T packs the same high-revving flat-6 as the GT3 RS, but it’s tuned for the street. It has an understated design, and it’s the lightest 992-series 911 to date weighing just 3056 lb thanks to magnesium wheels and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic hood, roof, front fenders, and doors. There’s also a matching Porsche Design watch.

4WD racer Blake Wilkey hit the streets of Tijuana with his insane Baja Bug trophy truck to kick up dirt and catch some air. Director Michael David Squier and his talented film crew captured the wild ride as Blake burned rubber through the heart of the Mexican city, fled from the police, taunted a bullfighter, and snacked on some churros.

C3’s remote-controlled coolers keep drinks chilled and look awesome doing it. They come in several body styles, including SUV, truck, and even a Zamboni, in numerous color schemes with stock or custom graphics. Each has a foam-insulated, 24-can cooler, Bluetooth sound, LED headlights, and can tow an add-on trailer.

Say you cracked a tail light on your classic car. You could search eBay or junkyards for a replacement, but if you can’t find one, a repair might be your only option. We watched in awe as this talented craftsman fixed a missing piece of plastic from an old taillight, precisely matching its texture and color, and making it look as good as new.

Nissan takes its potent Z sports coupe and gives it the NISMO performance treatment. The 2024 Z NISMO has seen its 3.0L twin-turbo engine tuned to make 420 hp and gets upgrades to its brakes, suspension, aerodynamics, transmission, plus track-friendly tires. Inside, you’ll find Recaro seats with leather and Alcantara with a red center.

The new Land Cruiser marks a return to form. The US-bound SUV will start in the mid-$50K range. It’s shorter and narrower than before, has a 2.4L turbo hybrid drivetrain with 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. of torque, and available multi-terrain modes for off-road fun. Every 2024 Land Cruiser has full-time 4WD, a locking rear diff, and a choice of round or rectangular headlights.

Dip My Car already painted a car in the world’s blackest paint. Now, there’s something even blacker than that – Musou Black Fabric Kiwami. This unique textile is made with special dyes and an arrangement of fibers that absorb 99.9% of visible light. James from The Action Lab got a spool of the fabric and turned his black car into a really black car.

Artist LiuMutou shows off his expert model-making abilities by carving an impeccable replica of a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. Every detail is there, including a tiny steering wheel, a curved acrylic windshield, working lights, and sharp tailfins. And it doesn’t just sit there; it’s got a working powertrain and even can drift.

The Ford Bronco Sport goes retro with its 1970s-inspired Free Wheeling special edition. Like those classic Free Wheeling trucks, vans, and Broncos, the compact SUV is decorated with red, orange, and yellow body stripes. It’s also got unique 17″ black and red rims, a silver painted grille, and its interior has colorful seat inserts with ombre stitching and red trim accents.

If you’ve ever curbed the rims on your car, you know how awful it can look. But with the proper equipment and expertise, it’s possible to repair damaged rims. Wheel Restore USA shows how their diamond cut wheel lathe can make even heavily damaged wheels look as good as new by removing a thin layer of metal. They also have a wheel-painting robot.

A typical ATV has four wheels, and a tank rolls on tracks driven by several smaller wheels. This unique ATV from Finland marches to the beat of a different drummer, rolling on 18 wheels, each with its own motor and springy suspension. Invented by Eldar Aliev, the 18-wheeler can crawl over rocks up to 14″ tall, fallen trees, ride through water, and even climb stairs.

With a sticker price nearing $100K, the 2024 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali Ultimate is the most extravagant truck we’ve ever driven. Thanks to a powerful turbo-diesel engine and heavy-duty transmission, it can tow a large trailer while its occupants enjoy comforts like soft leather, real wood trim, climate-controlled seats with massage, and much more.

The guys from Grind Hard Plumbing Co. have made some crazy custom vehicles, including a tricked out Barbie Power Wheels Jeep. Now they’ve equipped a shopping cart with a 125 hp motorcycle engine and dual powered rear axles. After an initial failure, they went back to the drawing board to improve its reliability. Driving footage starts around 32:30.

FIAT has stopped making grey cars. Why? Because they’re everywhere and that’s boring. As FIAT CEO Oliver Francois says, “Grey is not dolce vita,” alluding to the Italian way of living “the sweet life.” To prove he’s serious, Francois got into a 600e and had it dunked into an enormous can of orange paint.

While it’s possible to build a hubless bicycle, it’s a mechanically complex feat. Builder The Q came up with a similar look that does away with the spokes instead, replacing them with thick polyacrylate sheets. We’re not sure how durable they are or how they affect ride quality, but it’s a really cool illusion.

Someone’s ice cream dreams will come true with with a customized Drumstick inspired vehicle. Fancy a car with a waffle cone steering wheel and an ice box in the glove box? Or motorcycle with a cone-shaped sidecar? It’s all up to the winner of The Great Drumstick Summer Road Trip contest who will get $25K to pimp their ride. Details here.