Videos : Car News And Reviews

Japan is home to both some very cool things, and some very weird things. One of the coolest things is a racing series that sees Japanese drivers hooning old short-wheelbase Dodge vans around a racetrack. Apparently, the sport grew out of a common practice for motorcycle racers to buy these vans and use them to haul gear and bikes to the track.

Stunt and race car driver Ken Block has amassed quite the collection of special vehicles for his Gymkhana series. He’s driven everything from a 1978 Escort Mk2 to a 1965 Mustang to a lowered F-150 pickup truck, all tricked out with crazy body mods and high output engines.

The guys at Hennessey Performance recently started producing the first of their Maximus 1000 Jeep Gladiators, and to celebrate the launch, they released a little bit of video footage of the beastly custom truck taking to the desert.

These days, automakers use virtual reality and simulation software to figure out everything from ergonomics and aesthetics to visibility. Car companies also use things like wind tunnels to simulate drag, and treadmills to test wear and tear.

If you’ve been following any of our coverage of the Bloodhound LSR, you know that this jet-powered vehicle is insanely fast. Not too long ago, it achieved a speed of 628 mph, as it tore across the South African desert during a testing run.

While it might be due for a round of modernization, the Toyota Land Cruiser is one of those vehicles that has stood the test of time when it comes to durability. But until we get a new Land Cruiser (hopefully in the next couple of years), we’re happy to enjoy what we’ve got.

Take a trip back in the wayback machine to 1976, back to a time when automotive companies loved to show off the capabilities of vehicles using outlandish stunts. In this vintage commercial for the Ford F100, they rigged up the pickup truck with a couple of propane torches then ran it alongside a bunch of balloons.

Produced from 1977 to 1995, the 928 was one of Porsche’s more controversial designs. Originally created to replace the 911 (blasphemy!), Porsche attempted to make the car appeal to a wider audience by making it easier to drive than other sports cars, and also adding features like fold-down rear seats for the kids, and driver-centric comfort features.

When I first drove the Toyota GR Supra, I was quite impressed with its handling and ability to get around a track pretty quick. But as is the legacy of the Supra, there will always be tuners who can eke more power and capability out of these cars.

This fascinating educational film was commissioned by General Motors back in 1936 to show how cars were produced at the time. The 30-minute movie, titled “Master Hands,” takes us back in time to watch the production of Chevrolets – from forging molten steel for the engine block, to hand-assembling every component of the chassis and body.

Yes, General Motors is bringing back the Hummer. But rather than the gas-guzzling beast of yore, the new Hummer won’t use a drop of fossil fuel. Instead, it’s going to be a pure electric vehicle, sold under the GMC brand.

While the idea of a 6×6 Mercedes G-wagon has tremendous appeal to me, it’s not necessarily the case that more wheels are always better. Take, for example, this ridiculous looking creation that recently turned up in Russia.

You might know Tim Burton from movies like Beetlejuice, Batman, and Edward Scissorhands. This isn’t THAT Tim Burton. This Tim, better known by his screen name Shmee150, is one of the world’s most famous car enthusiasts.

This is definitely one of the stranger custom vehicles I’ve seen in a while, but it’s actually pretty cool. To celebrate World Book Day a few years back, the guys at 7UP Argentina enlisted the help of an artist to create a custom car that doubles as a free library on wheels.

The much-derided Pontial Aztek sits atop many lists for being the ugliest car ever produced. And while it might have had some redeeming qualities, its exterior design most certainly was not one of them. But with a little nip here and a tuck there, could the Aztek have been a much better looking vehicle?