Naturally, a concept gives engineers and designers free reign with their ideas and the ability to experiment with new technology as well as materials without the massive burden of production-focused rules guiding all their decisions. Running the gamut from crazy to wild, concept cars are known to provide a peek into a manufacturer’s soul and often portray future design directions. With concept cars, our future has never looked so beautiful and even when we cannot afford these incredibly engineered automotive, we have every reason to appreciate their impeccable design. And of the dozens of concept cars that have so far emerged, here are some of the very best.
BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe
People are saying BMW has just unveiled a concept car which does not involve any kind of hybrid powertrain or virtual butler that runs unicorn smiles. Not really! This is arguably a serious contender to the Bentley Continental GT as well as the Aston Martin DB11, taking pride in some serious styling which BMW is hoping will put their machine in line with the premium big boys. While there are no official details regarding the engine range, this concept car will undoubtedly include the company’s signature 4.4-litre V8. Essentially, the M8 Gran Coupe is just an exercise in design, with its gold-tinged grille, overtly muscular haunches, as well as the almost pearlescent paint finish which was deliberately implemented to make it a contender for the top supercar positions.
Honda Sport EV Concept
The sports EV concept was unveiled by Honda at the Tokyo motor show. This is a beautiful electric sports car that has hit the headlines for its zero emissions. This vehicle is the company’s second model to be previewed on the company’s electric platform. This concept car is synonymous with a long bonnet with some proportions of a real-wheel-drive, front-engine electric vehicle.
Volkswagen ID Vizzion
The Volkswagen group continues to propel its electric vehicle concepts to the post-dieselgate arena, with the ID Vizzion following in the fashionable footsteps of the ID Buzz Microbus, ID Crozz SUV, and the ID Hatchback. Unlike its predecessors, this latest concept is more of a lounge-like saloon thing, and it has eliminated the conventional regular controls in favor of gesture and voice control. In fact, a user interacts with this level 5 autonomous electric car through a virtual host as well as an array of interior touchscreens. At the moment, however, we should focus on the electric powertrain since Volkswagen group intends to launch this emission-less car in 2021. The Volkswagen ID Vizzion is fitted with cameras and laser scanners that will let the driver and his passengers to enjoy the car’s interior without distractions of having to pilot the vehicle physically.
Audi Prologue
Anyone interested in the future of the Audi design should not look beyond the Audi Prologue. Being the first concept vehicle to debut after Marc Lichte took the mantle at Audi design, this concept car gives quite a literal outlook on the company’s future. Slightly lower than the Audi A8 sedan, this vehicle blends the company’s traditional styling cues LED Demon Eyes with some modern touches like a touch-sensitive dash as well as full-width tail lamps.
Happily, this concept car uses a twin-turbocharged four-liter V-8 engine and an all-wheel drive that we have all come to know and love with some of the latest Audi cars. With 605 horsepower, this car can accelerate to 62 mph in less than 3.7 seconds, which is incredibly impressive.
Renault SYMBIOZ
For many people, this car could easily be defined as a home distant from home and Renault have taken this concept a notch higher by producing not only a vehicle but also a domestic interior, which could be viewed as a room within a car. Showcases at the Frankfurt motor show in 2017, this fully autonomous electric vehicle now proposes an alteration in the manner in which human beings interact with their cars by maximizing the car’s comfort levels as well as letting it function as a livable space.
Porsche E Cross Turismo
The telltale indicator that change is looming came from Porsche, and it took all punters by surprise after Porsche whipped their silk sheet with this new concept car. Nicknamed a ‘design study’ to feel the public’s opinion regarding electric cross utility vehicles, this machine is powered by two synchronous motors which deliver a total power output of 600 horsepower, which is enough to accelerate this vehicle from 0 to 62mph in a maximum of 3.5 seconds. In fact, the company’s CEO was keen to outline that this model would withstand all manner of performance punishment its customers expect. On the inside, this car has an infotainment system which has three displays spanning the width of the dashboard. This technology is rumored to incorporate an eye-tracking device which makes driver interaction less distracting and more natural.
Toyota GR Concept
While this is probably not the road grinding Supra most car enthusiasts were hoping for, this Toyota GR Concept goes a long way in cementing the company’s commitment to a high-end racing beast. While this racing beast’s specifics and performance figures are yet to be unveiled, this concept car is apparently a front engine, and rear-wheel drive vehicle and its body design is made of composite materials to make it lighter. As for now, we just have to sit tight and wait to see whether Toyota has given this iconic Supra its deserved justice later in April.
Infiniti Q50 Rouge
As concepts make entry into the market, the Q50 Eau Rogue seems to have its fair share of the market as well. Created to take advantage of Infiniti’s association with Red Bull Formula 1 racers, this concept car uses a 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V-6 engine that gives it the performance of a GT-R sedan. Besides taking after the GT-R sedan, this concept car sports a lower ride height, bigger wheels, and a requisite carbon fiber body. Its exterior design coupled with the engine performance make this concept car more than a typical eye-candy.
