Hot Wheels

Power, agility, and gorgeous design—with retro flair whether on two, three, or four wheels

MINI

Model: Rocketman Concept. First shown in 2011, and reappearing at this summer's London Olympics, this concept returns Mini to its eponymous roots with a length (about 11 feet) closer to the 1959 original. We imagine any more than two passengers will be pressed tight to its "wraparound" windows, though wide-opening doublehinge-jointed doors may help shoehorn in riders, (miniusa.com)

URAL

Model: Gear-Up Sidecar Motorcycle. A sidecar bike based on a vintage BMW design built by the Russians in the 1940s, this motorcycle looks classic but has modern components made by premier manufacturers like Brembo and Ducati. And with available two-wheel drive—powering both of the rear wheels—the grip and cornering scream toward stable. $13,949 (imz-ural.com)

HONDA

Model: Metropolitan NCH50 Scooter. This adorable runabout makes the most of today's pricey petroleum, returning up to 117 miles per gallon while still delivering modern zip. Plus, it's been redesigned with an inner storage bin capable of holding a one-liter bottle; fill that bottle with gas, and you can go an extra 30 miles! $1,999 (honda.com)

JEEP

Model: J-12 Concept. Jeep stopped making factory pickups in the early 1990s, and off-road enthusiasts have been clamoring for a new one ever since. This latest concept draws its inspiration in part from the brand's beloved Gladiator (1962—72) but is built on a stretched-out version of the current Wrangler Unlimited's underpinnings. Plaid-lined seats, body-colored interior panels, and steel wheels complete the retro package and have us dreaming of big rocks and mud. (jeep.com)

MERCEDES-BENZ

Model: SLS AMG GT. A fresh retuning of an instant classic. The GT suffix indicates that this bullish gull-winged coupe, or handsome roadster, has enhanced power, tighter handling, and a more responsive transmission, along with just the right new interior uphttings— all the better to burn up the racetracks and boulevards of the world's nicer neighborhoods, (mbusa.com)

BRETT BERK

DAVID FOXLEY

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