#Fun

There are plenty of new vehicles to choose from these days.

History is important, but so is progress.

In 2004 Mazda did something truly special. It took the already highly praised MX-5 Miata roadster and improved upon it in nearly every possible way.

In what must have been a logistical nightmare, Mazda simultaneously debut the next generation MX-5 in three different countries around the world at the same time.

Yesterday we took eight fun-to-drive performance vehicles under $30,000 and put them through their paces on the street.

After much deliberation, we chose the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST as the king of the street. Despite a somewhat harsh ride, nothing else matches the raw, hilariously fun driving experience behind the wheel.

I tagged along for a two legs of MINI Takes the States, an epic cross-country road rally that’s put on by the company. I participated in just two sections of this continent-spanning trip, but that was still enough for me to experience four Midwestern states and some 700 miles of America. But there’s much more to than this event than just the sliver I experienced.

Few vehicles have the majesty to rival an Italian supercar. Magnificent machines graced with prancing ponies or raging bulls are some of the most sought-after automobiles in the world. But you don’t necessarily have to be a “one-percenter” to drive something with the same passion. Fiat is bringing some of that excitement to the rest of us, revealing TWO special-edition models at the historic Concorso Italiano.

Your grip on the steering wheel tightens. Your eyes fixate on the yellow line. Your brain screams about the trees just beyond the shoulder. Wait for it… wait for it… ok, NOW! You pounce on the clutch as your right foot stabs the accelerator. A wrist-flick completes the downshift. Feather the brake, turn into the corner and scrub off some speed; the radius decreases slightly. You nail the apex, tires howling like a bloodhound on the trail. You roll back on the throttle for a speedy exit and dive into the next corner.

Toyota‘s Fun-Vii Concept debuted at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show featuring some very cool, futuristic technology. They dubbed the concept car as a smartphone on wheels, bragging about its exterior body that can be manipulated as a digital display.

But those that weren’t fortunate enough to be over in Tokyo when Toyota debuted the concept is now in for a treat. As much fun as it is trying to describe in words what Toyota aims to do with the Fun-Vii, it’s just a ton easier to show it in action through a video. In less than five minutes, Toyota shows off its smartphone integration, augmented-reality gaming, a holographic digital assistant and its vehicle-to-vehicle networking system in the video clip.

Toyota also touches on their future of electrified powertrains with wireless charging and autonomous driving mode. It might seem to be something out of a Tron movie, but we’re definitely excited to see how Toyota will pursue these concepts in future vehicles.

Check out the video after the break.