The connection between a super cool new car and a super bad villain like Darth Vader or The Joker might not be obvious.

But that's what Halloween is for.

At least, that's the thinking behind Kelley Blue Book's list of "10 Sinister Car Faces."

In putting together the list, the www.kbb.com editors kept in mind a study published late last year in the journal Human Nature that said, "People seem to like mature, dominant, masculine, arrogant, angry-looking cars."

Facial features common among vehicles considered for the 2009 version of the list include sharp angles, squinting eyes and gaping maws (as if emitting battle cries or preparing to eat their next victim). Some of the cars that made the list evoke images of science-fiction villains and birds of prey, while one entry is even named after a mythical serpent.

"This list highlights the fact that some of the most beloved cars on the road wear the wickedest expressions," said Jason Allan, online content editor for Kelley Blue Book. "We might profess a preference for a friendly face, but we often vote with our dollars and the Dodge Neon is long gone."

Some of the vehicles on the list include the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Ford F-150 Raptor. If you can find the courage, check out our slideshow to see the entire list and what the Kelley Blue Book editors had to say about each menacing entry.