The Ford GT40 has to be one of the most beautiful things on the planet. Never mind cars; if all it did was toast bread, we’d be better off as a species that we’re capable of such timeless design. Born in 1964 at just forty inches tall (hence the name), this automotive giant’s legacy includes Carroll Shelby, four consecutive victories at 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the desire to spite Mr. Enzo Ferrari. It’s incredible to think that the GT40 was already tearing up the road at a time when most people were still watching black-and-white TV.

If we did a bit of free-association with the word commute, most people would picture either a crowded subway, being stuck in crawling traffic, or arriving exhausted and sweaty after a bike ride to work. Thanks to the MEIJS Motorman, you can add a much better alternative to that list – a lightweight electric moped inspired by the design of classic American motorcycles, that promises a range of 70km at a top speed of 45km/h. It’ll get you to the office effortlessly, quietly, and looking like a goddamned boss. (via Cool Material)

With a hand-built V8 biturbo engine, 503 horses under the hood, a top speed of 310 km/h, and a stance reminiscent of a wild animal about to pounce, the new Mercedes-AMG GT S is as beautiful as it is powerful. It goes zero to a hundred in 3.8 seconds, and it took me just a fraction of that time to decide that I’d like a midnight blue one in my driveway.

Here’s a potential solution for large cities with plenty of pollution-causing vehicles. Gogoro’s Smartscooter is an electric scooter concept that would rely on a network of battery-swapping stations. When running low on energy, rather than plugging in for a charge, you’d simply pull up to a GoStation to exchange your battery in less time than it currently takes to fill up the tank. Pototypes are able to hit 50 km/h in 4.2 seconds, and promise a range of about 100 kilometers on a single charge. If this concept ever takes off, I’ll be first in line with bells and helmet on. (via The Verge)

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We have already established that life is exponentially cooler with a sidecar motorcycle, and I think I just found mine. Ural’s 2014 limited edition model is the MIR, commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Shuttle-Mir space mission. One of the most beautiful things on three wheels, it features a variety of intergalactic touches, including a brilliant orbital white paint job, a tonneau cover based on NASA’s insulated astronaut blankets, and a sidecar-nose luggage rack that swaps out for a solar panel to maintain your battery’s charge or power any accessories. Only twenty will be built for the North American market, which means that twenty lives are bout to get exponentially cooler. (via Gear Patrol)

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One of my favourite things about publishing this site is that over time, I tend to discover patterns I wouldn’t have found otherwise. For example, it turns out that I’m drawn to right-angled all-wheels inspired by the classic Willys Jeep. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class was originally developed in 1978 as a military vehicle, followed by a civilian version a year later. After almost three decades in production – and a résumé which includes a Dakar Rally win and several stints as the Popemobile – it was slated to be replaced in 2007 by the new GL-Class; but its popularity held strong, and to this day, it is still made almost entirely by hand in Austria.

It would be impossible for me to publish a post about the Toyota Land Cruiser J40 and not follow it up with one about the Land Rover Defender. Just like the J40, the Defender traces its roots back to WWII, and a design inspired by the original Willys Jeep. Over the past sixty-plus years, this off-road beauty has naturally evolved, but I love that it has retained a lot of the classic styling of its predecessors. Unfortunately, production of the Defender will apparently be shuttered late next year, but on the bright side, with many of them still on the road and going strong, it should be relatively easy to pick one up with a few miles on the odometer.

I’m guessing that practically everyone who’s ever seen Roman Holiday instantly wanted a Vespa of their own, to glide over Italian cobblestone with Gregory Peck’s effortless elegance. Even better if you could do so without using a drop of fuel, and quietly enough to not disturb siesta. From Munich-based unu, comes a two-seater electric scooter, available in 65 combinations of colour and leather options. It weighs in at just under 127 pounds (about half compared to a Vespa), and a single battery charge will give you a range of about 50km. A few more spins around the Colosseum? (via Selectism)

In the past few months, I’ve noticed the Toyota Land Cruiser J40 popping up more often in my Pinterest feed. Reverse-engineered during WWII from the Willys MB US Army Jeep, the J40 has incredible, classic styling, and is apparently still highly sought after world-wide for its solid off-road performance. Toyota released an interesting update in the FJ CRUISER several years ago, but I wish they could have just applied modern technology to the original form. My name would be first on the waiting list if that ever happened. (photo via WorldCarFans)

When it comes to cars, I’ve always leaned more toward function than form. With a gear list that includes kayaks, and bikes, and paddleboards – and a love of roadtrips and impromptu camping weekends – I need a vehicle that can easily carry everything, first and foremost. And then something like the Volvo XC70 comes along, and not only is it excellent with cargo, in my eyes it’s one of the best looking cars ever made – a perfect blend of rugged and refined.