This article was taken from the December 2014 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Scubacraft DDV4
The British-developed 5.9-metre Diver Delivery Vehicle looks like a high-speed surface craft, but it can also descend to 30 metres. It houses a Yanmar V8 Twin Turbo 370hp diesel engine capable of ferrying four crew up to 100 nautical miles on the surface, and a 130hp electric motor to propel it another ten in dive mode. £tbc scubacraft.com
John Deere Gator RSX8501 Midnight Black
With the brawn to conquer almost any off-road environment, the limited-edition Gator is powered by an 839cc motorbike engine with a closed-loop electronic fuel-injection system and a top speed of 85kph. The 4WD utility wagon has Fox 2.0 performance shock absorbers and a front-mounted 1587.6kg Warn winch to rescue less capable vehicles, plus a midnight-black hood, cargo box, decals and alloys. $15,999 deere.com
Bultaco Rapitan
Bultaco is another motorbike brand to come back from the dead but there's little retro about the Rapitan. It's powered by a brushless electric motor that delivers a top speed of 145kph. The onboard lithium-ion battery offers a theoretical range of 140 kilometres, helped out by regenerative braking. A mass of 191kg is impressive for an electric bike and there's even room to store your helmet where the fuel tank should be. £tbc bultaco.es
Brabus
The Mercedes G 63 AMG not bonkers enough for you? Brabus has created the tricked-out B63S. The 5.5-litre V8 produces 690bhp -- enough to power this four-tonne colossus from 0-100kph in just 7.4 seconds, although the 94cm off-road tyres limit the top speed to 160kph. From around £400,000 brabus.com
Citroen C4 Cactus
Marketed as a car with a philosophy, the Cactus claims to lower your heart rate with its wide, sofa-like seating and innovative Airbump door panels -- air-filled thermoplastic polyurethane pockets designed to deflect those dispiriting day- to-day bumps
and scratches. This family car is full of automotive tech, including static cornering lights providing improved visibility on bends, an automated hill-start assist mode and in-roof air bags that free up cabin storage; as a result, the boot capacity is a whopping 358 litres.From £12,990 citroen.co.uk
Aston Martin Vanquish
Nobody does emotive better than Aston Martin, and subtle changes to the flagship Vanquish have also helped make it a more rational choice. A new eight-speed gearbox mated to Aston's 568bhp V12 has raised the top speed from 294 to 323kph, reduced the 0-100kph time to 3.6sec and improved fuel consumption by ten per cent. Aston's engineers have also retuned the suspension, increasing the front damper rates by 15 per cent, and those at the rear by 35 per cent, while also reducing the weight of the alloy wheels by 7kg. The result is a supercar that's more engaging to drive than ever. £192,995 astonmartin.com
Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
Launched as a roadster, the R Coupé has taken Jaguar's F-Type to a new level. The supercharged 5.0-litre V8 produces 542bhp, enough for 0-100kph in just 4.2 seconds, and on to the electronically limited top speed of 300kph. The stopping power -- important with that much thrust -- is provided by carbon-ceramic brakes. £85,000 jaguar.co.uk
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
