About a year ago, Audi released its first all-electric vehicle, a crossover called the e-tron. Now, expanding on the company’s promise of alternative-fuel cars, we have its little brother, the e-tron Sportback. Like its sibling, the e-tron Sportback doesn’t sip even an ounce of gasoline, instead running 100% on battery power.

I’ve often said that the 1980s and 1990s were the worst decades for automotive design and performance. So many of the cars produced in that era were either boring boxes or bubbly blobs, often with anemic drivetrains.

Volvo’s performance EV offshoot Polestar is readying the Polestar 2 for production later this year, and it looks like the EV could definitely give Tesla a run for its money. Powered by a 408 hp all-wheel drivetrain with 487 lb-ft.

A couple of years back, Toyota released the C-HR as its main entry into the compact crossover segment. While it offers dynamic and fun handling, its rather extreme styling didn’t appeal to everyone. Now, Toyota is showing off a new, even smaller crossover that has the potential to appeal to a much broader audience.

Tesla’s upcoming electric Cybertruck drew both cheers and jeers when it broke cover. With its primitive stainless steel body, its looks have divided opinions on whether it’s something a first grader would have come up with, or an innovative new approach to vehicle design.

The Ford Ranger is my favorite small pickup truck on the market today. It has rugged looks, modern driving dynamics, and great power for its size. Now, Ranger owners can now get an added performance boost that’s officially sanctioned by Ford Performance.

AMC (American Motors Corporation) is best remembered for its strange, quirky and oddly loveable 1970s cars like the Gremlin and the Pacer. But it also made some sportier cars, like the Javelin and its muscular cousin, the AMX.

With the recent redesign of the Hyundai Sonata, the automaker fired a shot across the bow of its competition with striking, upscale new styling, which arguably make it the best looking of today’s mid-size sedan segment.

Over the years, I’ve seen some really stupid things done to cars. One trip over to Reddit’s Awful Taste but Great Execution subreddit will fill your eyeballs with all kinds of automotive sins (among other horrors.) 

The Pontiac Aztek is arguably one of the ugliest vehicles ever created. While the early take on a crossover certainly wasn’t Pontiac’s proudest design moment, the brand did make lots of great sports cars over the years, with the 1970s Firebird Trans Am being one of the most iconic of its cars.

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.

Since crash testing of vehicles first started, the practice has saved countless lives, influencing the design and engineering of just about every aspect of modern cars, trucks, and SUVs. But cars designed for racing must handle much more extreme forces in order to protect their occupants, with reinforced roll cages, protective head restraints, and form-fitting racing seats with five- or six-point harnesses among their standard equipment.

Back in 1983, Nissan challenged itself to look forward to what their cars might look like in the 21st century. The concept car they came up with not only had an unusual design, but an unconventional drivetrain to go with.

Over the years, I’ve driven a number of vehicles based on FCA’s full-size car platform, which underpins the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Chrysler 300. Most of the models I’ve been in have been muscular rear-wheel drive cars with giant HEMI V8s, and crazy amounts of horsepower.

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.