Photograph courtesy of Autocom

Over the years, we've let go of most of our boyhood dreams: jet packs, hover boards, threesomes. But thanks to U.K.-based Gibbs Technologies Ltd., the amphibious car is one we can hold on to. On land, the company's Aquada looks like an Italian roadster and reaches speeds in excess of 100 mph. Pull up to the water's edge, though, and depth sensors trigger retraction of the vehicle's wheels. Within 12 seconds you're skimming over the surface at up to 35 mph, courtesy of a massive water jet. The Aquada will sell for around $85,000 when it hits the market in 2009 or 2010, and it's durable enough to handle salt water and powerful enough to tow a water-skier. Just cut him loose before hitting the highway. Ian Daly

The BMW 335d. Photograph courtesy of BMW

SUVs like the Audi Q7 aren't the only beneficiaries in this era of diesel love. Here are three sedans that harness the technology to maximize your highway gas mileage. Not surprisingly, all three come from Germany—where the alterna-engine was born 115 years ago. Ian Daly

1. THE PRIUS KILLER
Volkswagen Jetta TDI
$21,990
44 highway mpg

2. THE GENTLEMAN'S DIESEL
Mercedes E320 BlueTEC
$53,775
32 highway mpg

3. THE TWIN TURBO WITH A CONSCIENCE
BMW 335d
$45,000 (estimated)
33 highway mpg

Courtesy of Audi

Diesel engines once spewed soot and sounded like tractors. The modern versions, though, are quiet, clean, and 50-state-compliant, and they can whip a hybrid in gas mileage on highway commutes. With that in mind, Audi is launching a diesel offensive in early 2009, when it will roll out the Q7. The SUV gets 23 mpg on the highway—four more than its gasoline-powered counterpart—and hits 60 in 8.5 seconds. It's also well-appointed, with a leather-wrapped dash, a rearview back-up camera, and exterior touches that would look at home on the carmaker's flagship R8 super-car. All of which pretty much guarantees that you won't be just a convert—you'll be an evangelist. Expect the price to be between $50,000 and $60,000. Ian Daly

The Audi Q7 in action

Is it ballsy to introduce a lavishly appointed SUV in the midst of an energy crisis? Perhaps. But Land Rover's safari-chic styling has always appealed to off-road diehards. This month the British 4x4 leader introduces a new flagship: the over-the-top Autobiography edition of its Range Rover. The interior is wrapped in leather—right down to the door bins, the console, and the borders of the floor mats—that lets the natural flaws of the hide show, like vintage boots. MPGs be damned. Ian Daly

Photograph courtesy of Classic Creations

She started out as a mythical being: a souped-up 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang, nicknamed Eleanor, that was Nicolas Cage's muse in 2000's Gone in 60 Seconds. But when gearheads began clamoring in online forums for a real-life version, studio execs licensed the rights to Classic Creations, an Oklahoma-based custom-car company. Mere thrill-seekers can pony up $140,000 for the hand-built 535-hp model, while the marginally sane are welcome to invest an additional $50,000 in the 770-hp edition. The movie car's twin racing stripes, graphite-black exterior, and muscular bodywork have been painstakingly re-created. The off-screen incarnation even has the famous go baby go gearshift button, which activates a power-boosting nitrous-oxide system (as if she needed more horses). A slew of high-tech braking and suspension upgrades make Eleanor road-ready, completing the stunning dream-to-reality transformation. Ian Daly

Nicolas Cage outruns police with Eleanor's help in Gone in 60 Seconds.

You have the horsepower but no place to unleash it. Here, performance-car gurus divulge the best places to find out if your ride grips curves like the salesman said it would. Ian Daly

NEW YORK
Head to Long Beach on Long Island and get on the 10-mile stretch of Ocean Parkway between the Robert Moses Causeway and the Meadowbrook Parkway. "It's as close to a public racecourse as possible," says Noah Lehmann-Haupt, owner of Gotham Dream Cars. "People push cars up past 200 miles per hour there."

LOS ANGELES
Escape the traffic on the PCH by veering off at Topanga Canyon Road. "It feels like the south of France," says Michael Prichinello, who's been scoping out an L.A. location for his Manhattan-based Classic Car Club. After the first few winding miles, there are straight runs where you can down­shift and bury the needle.

MIAMI
Sometimes the best option is the most obvious one, says James Hondros, director of Braman Motors, a rare-car dealership in Miami. In this case, that's Interstate 95. Traffic moves fast—80 to 90 mph when it's not rush hour—and there's safety in numbers if you want to gun it Sonny Crockettstyle.

CHICAGO
Forget Lake Shore Drive—take Sheridan Road from Highland Park toward Wisconsin through a windy 15-mile stretch called the Ravines. If you have the day, head west and follow the Great River Road north along the Iowa border, says Hugh Ruthven, who plans events for the Ferrari Club of North America.

Not many sports cars have a 45-year pedigree, so it's no small achievement that Porsche manages to keep improving its 911 while maintaining its noble heritage. The latest revamp sees sleeker, speedier iterations of four models—the Carrera Coupe, the Carrera Cabriolet, and the high-performance "S" versions of those designs. The look is futuristic, with new LED daytime-driving lights and a touch-screen navigation system—good news for anyone who's ever tried to type WEST PALM BEACH with a tiny cursor. Porsche has also managed to boost horsepower and improve gas mileage by 13 percent, and a new optional seven-speed double-clutch gearbox lets you shift through gears faster than Han Solo kicks into hyperdrive. Prices start at $75,600 for the Carrera Coupe and $120,400 for the lethal Carrera S Cabriolet. Ian Daly

TIMELINE OF A LEGEND

The 911 is entering its 10th generation. Here, some milestones from its near half-century of evolution

1964: The 911 hits dealer lots, replacing the 356, which was essentially a modified VW Beetle.

1973: Porsche introduces the first race-car-inspired Carrera edition, with flared fenders and a ducktail rear spoiler.

1976: The Turbo Carrera (otherwise known as the 930) becomes the first turbocharged production car.

1986: Porsche produces the streamlined 959, which tops out at 197 mph. Only 200 are made.

1998: The 911's first clean-sheet re-design, the 996, is unveiled with a brand-new body and engine.

The 2009 Porsche 911 on the road

Maybe it was parked on a cobblestone street in Burgundy or under an olive tree in Umbria. Either way, you've seen it: that irresistible Eurocar you can't get at home—and it's for sale. Good news: The road to your driveway isn't as rocky as you think. With the help of a freight forwarder, which will oversee the shipping and deal with the customs paperwork, you can have your car within weeks. The process costs around $3,000, says Jason Chachich, export manager at the New Jersey-based All Shore Forwarders (800-689-2982), including added charges like import duties. Pay about $1,000 extra (depending on where you live) and the forwarder will get it to your front door (rather than the nearest port). Just make sure your find is at least 25 years old—if it's any younger, you'll have to pay upwards of $20,000 to make the import compliant with the United States' generally stricter emissions requirements. But presumably if it called out to you it's more Federico Fellini than Roberto Benigni. Ian Daly

Courtesy of GM Media Archive

The Skylark, unveiled in 1953 to celebrate Buick's 50th anniversary, personified America's highway heyday—with a body sculpted by Detroit's Michelangelo, Harley Earl. But a redesign the following year garnered a thumbs-down from the driving public. So the automaker pulled the plug on the car until the early sixties, when it released a model with a longer, sleeker profile and twin headlights flanking a mile-wide grille. This time Buick had a hit. By 1966, the Skylark had gotten a high-performance Gran Sport V8 engine and decorative side vents to ensure that no one would mistake it for something less formidable. Today you can score one from '66 for $20,000. Ian Daly

Courtesy of Aston Martin

This month James Bond's carmaker of choice rolls out its first project since splitting from its parent company, Ford: an update of the hand-built V8 Vantage. While the exterior is unchanged (and for good reason), the inner workings of the car have been reimagined. A new center console is carved from die-cast zinc alloy, and a bigger, 420-hp engine takes it to 60 in just 4.7 seconds—and it does so with 13 percent more fuel efficiency. The Vantage's sticker price of $113,400 (a fraction of the cost of other Astons) places it squarely in Mercedes S-Class territory. Think of it as an extremely sophisticated gateway drug. Ian Daly

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage in action

With gas prices soaring and polar ice caps melting, car companies are championing their fuel-efficient models. But the saintly hybrid may not be your best option. Here's a breakdown of the types of cars that use alternative fuels and how to determine which one is right for you. Ian Daly

HYBRID

The Gist: The half-gas, half-electric engine is replenished by kinetic energy from braking.
The Upside: Great for stop-and-go traffic
The Downside: Fuel-economy payoff is generally minor considering the higher price tag.
Buy If: You have a bumper-to-bumper commute or drive in a city
The Ride: Lexus GS 450h ($52,975)

Courtesy of About.com

DIESEL

The Gist: The trucker fuel is more efficient than regular gas, and now it's cleaner.
The Upside: Good for long distances—gas contains more energy per unit than the standard stuff
The Downside: Slower, and requires special impurity-filtering tanks that need changing
Buy If: You have a traffic-free commute or drive on uncrowded highways
The Ride: BMW 335d (approximately $45,000, October release)

Courtesy of Carsandtuning.org

PLUG-IN HYBRID

The Gist: It's similar to the hybrid, but you can also plug it in to charge it.
The Upside: Uses no gas for short commutes
The Downside: Long charge time (overnight)
Buy If: You have short commutes in traffic but also take longer trips
The Ride: Fisker Karma ($80,000, 2010 release)

Courtesy of Autoreviewcity.com

ELECTRIC

The Gist: The only energy source for the fully electric car is its battery.
The Upside: Zero emissions, no trips to the gas station, and fast acceleration
The Downside: Short range and long charge time
Buy If: You never drive more than 200 miles a day
The Ride: Tesla Roadster ($109,000)

Courtesy of Elementale.com

FLEX FUEL

The Gist: Equipped to burn up to 85 percent ethanol (E85), these models take regular gas, too.
The Upside: Better for air quality and easy on your wallet (since E85 is cheaper than regular gas)
The Downside: E85 is still hard to find and gets inferior mileage.
Buy If: You live close to the source of the fuel: cornfields
The Ride: 4.7L Jeep Grand Cherokee ($29,215)

Courtesy of Motor Daily

Couutesy of The Car Nut

In the late fifties, Maserati was in trouble, having sunk most of its cash into its race cars. But it found a savior in the 3500 GT. Although the model was introduced in 1957, the best-loved version, the Spyder, hit the market in 1960 and had the iconic Vignale bodywork. The limited supply—the company produced only 250 Spyders during the initial run—means that museum-quality specimens can cost up to $275,000. Ian Daly

Courtesy of Chrysler/Dodge

In May, Dodge resurrected its classic pony car, the Challenger, and gave it all the speed and fierce curves of the 1970 original. What the automaker didn't revive was the feature that really turns purists on: the manual transmission. This month Dodge makes good with a six-speed stick-shift version of the 425-hp SRT8 (expect a price tag similar to the automatic's $37,995). The V8 coupe has a "pistol grip" shifter (think the handle of a 9mm Beretta) just like its ancestor—which is only fitting for an automobile with horsepower this lethal. Killer torque is, after all, your inalienable right as a muscle-car driver. Ian Daly

The 2008 Dodge Challenger STR8 in action.

Photograph courtesy of Lamborghini

The aftermarket-customization industry isn't known for spawning desirable trends (spinner wheels, anyone?). But one development has found so many fans that it's gone from a bespoke addition to a factory offering: the matte-finish exterior, which softens a car's curves and cuts glare. This summer, Lamborghini begins shipping matte Gallardos in Nero Nemesis (black), Bianco Canopus (white), and Marrone Apus (brown). And later this year Mercedes will offer U.S. customers special-edition SLs in gloss-free Designo Magno Kashmir White. It's a treatment you can expect to see more of, says Peter MacGillivray, vice president of the Specialty Equipment and Marketing Association: "When luxury brands start offering it, that's a pretty good indicator it's not a fad." Ian Daly

Photograph courtesy of Mercedes Benz

Image courtesy of Cadillac

The razor-sharp angles of the XLR stand out among the streamlined roadsters that clog our highways—which is a little ironic, considering it's modeled after a stealth aircraft. This summer, Cadillac is updating its edgy two-seater with a larger grille and an even sharper front end. Only 2,500 will be produced, and they'll come in two varieties: the Platinum ($85,000) and the XLR-V ($100,000), which has a supercharged 443-hp Northstar engine assembled almost entirely by hand by a single craftsman. Each version has a hardtop that retracts in less than 30 seconds, the power to outrun a Porsche, and a look that outclasses a Bentley. Ian Daly

Image courtesy of Car Culture/Corbis

The best testament to the timelessness of the Porsche 911 is the fact that after more than 40 years it looks pretty much the same as it always has. Launched in 1964 as the carmaker's answer to the long-nosed Jaguar E Type, the 911 (now the 997) remains the quintessential Porsche—long after the E Type's extinction—with the same unmistakable arched cockpit and Teutonic, bug-eyed headlights on the modern version as on the original. A model from the inaugural year can be yours for $40,000. Ian Daly

Image courtesy of Spin LA

Instead of cruising up to the valet at Chateau Marmont in the last car from the Avis lot—a Chrysler minivan—rent from Spin LA. The L.A. operation offers the rarest and most coveted classic rides—like the '78 Trans Am and the '62 Cadillac Eldorado—so that you can live out your childhood fantasy of being Knight Rider or James Bond, at least for a day. Rent the Cobra or coupe of your choice and mention Details Privileges for a discount of up to 60 percent off their listed prices (regularly $499/day or $999/week).

Spin LA: 1410 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291, 888-852-7746