There are few things that excite me more than technological innovations. One area that genuinely pricks my interest is concept cars. While I understand that most of these cars will never reach mass production. The excitement at poking at what is possible stirs me creatively. Join me as we explore some of the wonders of automobile innovations as I take you through the Concept Cars that I found interesting in the last decade.
Bentley EXP 100 GT
This ridiculous concept was unveiled during Bentley's centennial celebration in 2019 to highlight the company's technological advancements. It envisions a future for luxury mobility that is electric, autonomous, sustainable, and it is beautifully crafted both inside and out. A supermodel that combines zero emissions, sustainable materials, and cutting-edge technology. The Bentley EXP features a one-of-a-kind capacity to choose between driving and being driven by AI, as well as the use of AI to rethink grand touring in which long travels can be captured and enjoyed.
**Porsche Mission E **
@automobilemag.com
The Mission E concept, designed in 2015, rationalized the principles of sports cars. It may not be the most attractive Porsche ever made, but it is a ground-breaking concept with abstract features. The Mission E concept can go 311 miles in 15 minutes because of its incredible driving range. It can recharge its battery to 80% while traveling this unlimited distance thanks to revolutionary 800-volt charging technology. It entered production in 2020 as the Porsche Taycan making it one of the most important concept cars that’ll improve the standards of Porsche as a brand.
Nissan IDx
The Nissan concept design, which was inspired by the original Datsun 510, was incredible and made gaming automobiles appear real. Nissan debuted it at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show to entice designers with their natural proclivity towards technology breakthroughs. The IDx was Nissan's imagined response to the Genesis couple and Subaru rear-wheel-drive tuners proposed by the Hyundai BRZ. A NISMO 1.6-liter inline-4 concept car with 330 horsepower, a seven-second 0-60 mph time, and a top speed of 130 mph. It was an amazing concept, well-known among JDM fans and gamers.
Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100
@testdrive.com.ua
With this model design, Rolls Royce may have convinced us that life on Mars is indeed possible. The Vision Next 100, also known as the 103EX, is a futuristic dream car that captures the joyful flavor of the mechatronic Model T. The lightning signature of this car was defined by the Autotrader network as "practically the Punisher's skull in LED form" to describe its surreal state. Instead of a traditional ground surface, the concept's set-out pod wheels resemble a floating satellite. Designed in 2016, Rolls-Royce may have persuaded us that in a few years, they will be able to lead us through the next era of automobile innovation.
**Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force **
Mercedes, a firm famed for its machine design geniuses, modeled a road-jam engine. The G-Force was a preview of the company's off-roader, the G-Class, in the future. Its prototype was unveiled in a 2014 design competition to revolutionize police with the LAPD cruiser of 2025. A strong off-roader with durable wheels that can survive extended use. A powertrain capable of recycling stored water in roof-mounted tanks into clean electricity that could be stored deep in the side sill batteries was incorporated in the concept. To keep cops safe inside, a window-sealed tinted glass was installed. Overall, it was an ideal police force companion.
Jeep Mighty FC
@automobilemag.com
Jeep enthusiasts may recognize this 2012 design as a modern reimagining of the original Brooks Stevens Forward Control from the 1950s (FC). The Mighty FC design, like the original, placed the occupants above and in front of the powertrain, allowing for increased aeration and varied off-road capabilities. The Mighty FC also had a cab-mounted axle, a 117-inch-long loaded wheelbase, and a rear-mounted bed. With a set of well-organized portal axes, the concept was an improved all-terrain pedigree.
Infiniti Prototype 9
@businessinsider.com
Infiniti has shown several concept cars over the last decade, but the 2017 Prototype 9 was truly spectacular. A racing monster that was unleashed at Pebble Beach and appeared to have won the race before it ever started. The outside and inside were built using exposed translational wheels in a streamlined aesthetic array like the Japanese techniques. For a solid grip, the concept also includes the old-style finned drum brakes. 9 was designed to be electric, but it also had mechanical counterparts with a 30kWh battery - a true masterpiece!
Mini Superleggera Vision
Mini in name, but not mini in concept. The 2014 Superleggera Vision was a return to form for the Mini brand in terms of roadster popularity. With an aluminum-like bracket cover, the concept was built while touring Superleggera. A super-concept with an "achingly beautiful" hybrid powertrain that makes autonomous decisions. The Superleggera Vision ended with the addition of a Union Jack taillight design on Mini's construction vehicles.
Alfa Romeo Tonale
@electrichunter.com
An electric concept sculpted to the beauty of the human body debuted at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The concept, which is Romeo's first plug-in hybrid, integrates electrification with the Italian marque’s trademark style. Tonale was sculpted with a touch of beauty, elegance, and automotive life through the observation of human bodies.
Project Flake
One of the best automotive concepts ever seen, created by a graduate student. A snowflake-shaped collection of separate panels that can change shape to fit the user's preferences. To add stability for a change in dynamics, carbon nanotube wires were used to regulate the components of the model. A high-speed brake might bring the car to a halt in a matter of seconds. The flakes also had a large aerodynamic footprint, like that of a flying plane. The sky truly isn't the limit.
If we conceive erstwhile models as whizzes, we can only wonder at how future technological advancements awaits us!
I am looking forward to the next 20 years and perhaps the next time I write this piece, there might just be all-electric or maybe something crazier. Who knows, Do let me know what concept car you found intriguing and What type of car will you like to see in 10 years.