FOR RACING Mizuno Wave Musha 3 ● These flashy flats are light and fast but have enough support and cushioning to keep your feet from getting battered on asphalt. $85 @ mizunousa.com FOR ADDED CUSHIONING New Balance 890 ● Comfortable, light, and durable with a new, super-responsive foam-sole compound designed to keep the shoe low to the ground. $100 @ newbalance.com FOR AGILITY Asics GEL-Speedstar 5 Read More

It's easy to think of the Audi TT as a chick car. After all, it’s cute, small, and sporty. But don’t write off the line just yet. Suspend your judgment until this fall when Audi launches the testosterone-laced TT-RS. To earn that RS badge (the designation is Audi’s version of Mercedes-Benz’s AMG or BMW’s M-brand and is only given to the company’s highest-performing models), the TT had to undergo some serious training—and chug some serious supplements. The biggest improvement over the standard TT is a new turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine that stuffs 360 horsepower under the hood. Although it’s not quite a six, yet bigger than a four, five-cylinder engines have a unique, slightly uncouth character that suits the car perfectly. Even better, the engine roars with the same mechanical aggression as the Audi race cars that dominated rallying in the 1980s. (Compared to the competition, those 30 extra ponies will make bringing the shame only that much easier.) Read More

The Chevrolet Camaro is at war with the Ford Mustang. The battles are waged at racetracks, drag strips, and especially red lights across the country. Don’t believe it? Check out Chevy’s latest attack on Ford—the Camaro ZL1, a direct assault on Ford’s most powerful Mustang, the 550-horsepower Shelby GT500. Looking at the two adversaries’ histories, it’s amazing just how much the Mustang and Camaro have in common. Like the Shelby moniker Ford uses on its top-of-the-line Mustang, the Camaro ZL1 name dates back to the 1960s. In 1969, Chevy gave an exclusive group of 69 custom Camaros a very special V-8 dubbed ZL1. Built for racing, the original ZL1 engine was an all-aluminum 427 cubic-inch monster boasting 430 horsepower. To avoid being hassled by insurance companies that were fighting against other high-powered machines, many believe GM underrated that original ZL1 by about 100 horses. Read More

COMPACT Bodum Fyrkat Cone grill Half grill, half art installation, the Fyrkat actually delivers function with its bizarre form. The cone shape helps to retain and focus heat better than typical charcoal grills. Use it as a traditional grill for burgers, kebabs, steaks, or dogs; or rig up the easy-to-use battery- powered rotisserie and brown up some yardbird. $180, bodum.com GAS Weber Genesis E-330 Read More