ConceptCar
Latest
BMW’s i3 is a long-range concept car you can actually buy
Electric cars are the future. Sadly, the future mostly resembles the past when it comes to car designs. Sure, early cars like the Honda Insight and the GM EV1 at least tried to look sleek -- even if it was for the benefit of aerodynamics. There is one company that's decided to release EV vehicles that look like the future though. Or at least TRON's version of it: BMW.
Volkswagen's crossover of the future uses AR to keep you informed
Volkswagen first showed off its next-gen ID platform at the Paris Auto Show last year with a concept car for where it sees electric vehicles going. Now the embattled automaker has debuted the ID Crozz, an all-electric crossover utility vehicle (get it?) VW hopes will help the company reach its goal of selling a million EVs a year by 2025.
ICYMI: Airbus and Italdesign exhibit a Pop.Up future
Today on In Case You Missed It: Airbus and Italdesign demoed yet another flying car concept at the Geneva Auto Show this week. Dubbed "Pop.Up" the modular and autonomous vehicle can transform from a four-wheeled car to a quadcopter, depending on your destination and habits. The Pop.Up system uses an AI to determine which form will result in the most efficient travel method, and will then attach itself to air or ground pod modules to get you there. While the broader idea is to produce a fleet of Pop.Up's that can be summoned at will by users, the concept faces some significant challenges in actual development such as battery technology and legal regulations.
Bentley unveils its first all-electric grand tourer
If you ever wanted a sign that the world is moving toward a greener future, you could find a big one at the Geneva Motor Show. Bentley, a company that makes enormous gas-guzzling vehicles for the one percent, surprised attendees with its first all-electric convertible, the EXP 12 Speed 6E Concept. Bentley has flirted with plug-in hybrids before, with one expected to launch in 2018, but this is the first "pure" vehicle it has made.
VW's 'Sedric' self-driving car could chauffer you or strangers
Volkswagen is planning for the future. Today the automaker laid out its plans for Sedric -- short for "self-driving car" -- a sort of hybrid between car ownership and ride-sharing. The boxy, Level 5 autonomous vehicle (no need for a human driver) is summoned by a remote dubbed "The Button" and from there "a single touch of the button guarantees mobility for everyone, at any time and at any location," according to a press release.
Supercar concept runs on electrolyte fluids
Alternative fuel cars are rarely pulse pounding thrill rides, but NanoFlowcell might have created an exception to the rule. It's teasing the Quant 48Volt, a supercar concept that runs on a combination of positive and negative electrolyte fluids. No, this doesn't mean that you can run it on energy drinks, but it does promise an environmentally friendly vehicle that doesn't compromise on performance or range. Reportedly, the Quant 48Volt's 760HP engine can take it to 62MPH in 2.4 seconds, hit a top speed of 186MPH (arbitrarily limited) and a range of over 621 miles.
VW's I.D. Buzz concept is a self-driving, electric microbus
As Volkswagen works towards rebuilding itself as an EV automaker, one great way to avoid losing diehard fans is to clean up and refresh a few of those old classics that won them over in the first place. While the company has teased electric reincarnations of the iconic VW bus before, the company's latest microbus concept, the I.D. Buzz, is the first to go all out with a fully autonomous driving mode.
Inside Honda's money-making, AI-based NeuV concept car
According to Honda, a vehicle is parked a whopping 96 percent of the time. With that in mind, the automaker this week unveiled the NeuV (New Electric Urban Vehicle) concept, an autonomous automobile that could potentially make its owner some extra cash by acting as its own low-level, Uber-like ride-hailing service.
The designer behind the Toyota Concept-i talks about being friends with a car
A lot of concept cars are coming out of CES. Most of them are geared toward making the passenger experience more relaxing. Toyota wants riders to also be at ease as well, but it also wants the driver to have a good time. Toyota worked with the design Studio Calty to create the car shown at CES. Chief designer Ian Cartabiano chatted with us about what his team hoped to accomplish with the vehicle's interior and what it means for people who love to drive. Interview edited for length and clarity
With the Concept-i, Toyota remembers people actually like driving
Toyota says its Concept-I vehicle is focused on creating a welcoming experience that grows and learns about the driver. But it's also built to be driven. That's refreshing for people who actually enjoy being behind the wheel and might be concerned about the concept vehicles being shown off by other automakers more focused on selfies than mountain roads.
BMW looks to the future of sitting in cars
While automotive startups strive to compete with luxury brands, BMW sits exactly where those upstarts would like to be. That means it has the opportunity to introduce smart features inside already-established vehicles. "Act like a startup, deliver like a grownup," said Klaus Frolich, member of BMW's board of management, at an event at CES in Las Vegas today.
Chrysler unveils its concept minivan for the selfie generation
The future of driving (or more likely, riding) has become less about speed and more about making sure occupants are comfortable and more importantly, entertained. At CES later today, Fiat/Chrysler (FCA) will unveil its Portal concept car. The electric vehicle will have face recognition and voice biometrics for what the automaker says is focused on millennials and will be "more than a tool -- it's an integral part of their lives."
Jaguar introduces its first electric concept car
A world where the majority of vehicles on the road are electric is pretty much inevitable at this point. With that in mind, British luxury automaker Jaguar unveiled its first battery-powered vehicle at the LA Auto Show today. But it's not the coupe or touring car you would expect -- instead the I-Pace concept is based on the company's F-Pace SUV line.
Nissan made a working prototype of its BladeGlider EV hotrod
Nissan is getting serious again about its futuristic BladeGlider EV. The delta-shaped, single-front-seater (with two rear seats) was first introduced in 2013, but after saying it might sell the car, the automaker quietly dropped the idea. Now, Nissan has revealed two working BladeGlider prototypes in Rio de Janeiro that it built in conjunction with Formula 1 fabricator Williams. With twin 130-kilowatt motors producing 268 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of instant torque (yep), the EV can get to 62 mph in under five seconds and reach a 115 mph top speed.
Mini's latest concept is the mood ring of cars
Mini has produced tight, efficient economy vehicles since its first car was introduced in 1959. But its parent company BMW has been exploring how differently cars will be used in the future with its concept cars. Unlike the luxury emphasis of its self-driving Rolls Royce and BMW models, the Mini entry in the Vision Next 100 line expands customization for multiple users, a clear benefit for a car-sharing ecosystem.
Honda's concept nav system consists of an Android phone and free app
Plugging your phone into your car has become second nature for most drivers. After all, at this point your handset probably has more functionality than your vehicle. Plus, while your car's infotainment system might see an upgrade every three to five years, smartphones are constantly being updated with new features and better apps. Unfortunately, tapping at tiny onscreen buttons while flying down the road at 60 miles per hour isn't exactly safe.
Audi's hydrogen concept car fuels up in four minutes
CES was a hotbed of car announcements this year, but luckily some surprises have been saved for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Take Audi's h-tron quattro, a hydrogen-powered concept car with a Tesla-beating range of 372 miles. It has three fuel tanks hidden beneath the passenger or luggage compartments which can be replenished in just four minutes. The fuel cell has an output of up to 110 kW, supported by a lithium-ion battery which supplies a further 100 kW for short, temporary bursts of acceleration. While you're driving, this secondary power source then slowly recharges every time you tap the brake.
BMW's concept car puts next-gen interior in a sports car
CES is quickly become the place to show off concept cars. Not to be left out of the fun, German automaker BMW shared its vision of an autonomous car that is the complete antithesis of the driverless pod cars that have been shown off by Google. Based on the i8, the BMW i Vision Future Interaction (that's a mouthful) gives the driver the option of driving the car themselves or kicking back letting the car take control while you check out the gigantic 21-inch panoramic display that's controlled via gestures, touch or voice. It's technology wrapped inside the vehicle you want to drive down the coast.
Faraday Future's insane 1,000-horsepower concept car leaks
Ahead of tonight's unveil of its concept car, it looks like Faraday Future accidentally leaked details of its concept vehicle via its app. The app showed up prematurely in the App Store. The company has been talking about how it aims to "redefine our relationship with the automobile." Right now it looks like that change resembles hitting the road with over 1000 horsepower and a zero to 60 of less than three seconds and top speed of over 200 miles per hour.
Watch this Lexus NX concept roll out on wheels made of ice
Lexus isn't a newcomer to the world of bizarre vehicle concepts. Back in October, the company introduced the Origami Car, a working electric IS sedan made out of cardboard. Fast forward to today and Lexus is showing off an NX crossover with ice wheels -- yes, ice wheels. This project, aptly called Ice-Tyre Lexus NX, features a set of hand-sculptured tires created from multiple blocks of ice, each one intended to recreate the look of Lexus' alloy wheel and its companion Yokohama winter tire.
