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Rinspeed's latest concept is a self-driving sports car
Most prototype self-driving cars are designed for comfort, not performance. After all, wouldn't you want to take the wheel if you really wanted a thrill? Rinspeed thinks there's a case to be made, though: it just teased the Σtos, an autonomous sports car concept. The vehicle still has a steering wheel for those hands-on moments, but the controller automatically retracts into the dashboard when you're content to let the car do all the hard work. Two curved widescreen displays also move closer into view in this mode, and there's even a drone (complete with a landing pad) that could deliver goods or record your adventures on camera.
Toyota's hydrogen concept car could power your concept home
While we're stuck working out the mpg of a practical family sedan, Toyota's off playing with our dreams (or nightmares) with cars like the above. The latest round of concepts from the Japanese auto-maker are being shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, and include a diminutive, sporty-looking Scion S-FR (reverse-world FR-S?), the hot rod-esque Kikai and the hyper-futuristic FCV Plus (pictured).
Mitsubishi set to show off its latest far-out EV concept
You may have though Mitsubishi's Tron-like EV concept was a one-off when the company revealed it nearly four years ago. But the Japanese company has been toiling away on the Emirai ever since, and is finally set to unveil a third-generation version. The roadster style electric car looks like it flew in from the future, and has the toys to back it up, most notably the pair of huge, optical-bonding, LCD panels that allow for high visibility and user-selectable layouts. The system also detects hand movements, letting you operate the infotainment system and other controls without looking down.
Nissan's concept car is covered in displays for the selfie generation
There's little doubt the cars of the future will be increasingly more high tech. However, if Nissan has anything to do with it, those vehicles could be blanketed in customizable displays, too. The Japanese company revealed its "Teatro for Dayz" (yes, really) concept ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show later this month that covers most of the interior, and some of the exterior, with "a clean canvas" of LED panels. Nissan's goal was to make a car that "share natives" (the selfie generation, in other words) would find appealing. To do that, the automaker designed a vehicle where time spent riding could also be used for "connecting and sharing experiences with friends." And, you know, paying attention to the road.
Panoz unveils a concept version of its arrow-shaped road car
Panoz's years-long vision of an arrow-shaped road car is finally coalescing into something tangible. The automaker has unveiled a real-world concept version of the car, the DeltaWing GT, that shows that the idea isn't far-fetched. Despite Panoz's ambitions, it doesn't have the lowest drag you can get in a car (even a Mercedes CLA250 sedan is slicker). However, the company previously promised highway efficiency of 74 miles per gallon or more -- this could be one of the few gas-powered sports cars that doesn't require frequent top-ups. There's still a huge gap between this and a production-quality DeltaWing that you could drive around town, but the prototype represents a crucial step forward.
Bugatti's 'Gran Turismo' concept car hints at life beyond the Veyron
Bugatti's monstrous 1,000HP-plus Veyron supercar may be riding into the sunset, but you won't have to wait long to get a hint of what the exotic automaker is planning next. The company has taken the wraps off of its own Gran Turismo virtual concept car, the not-so-cleverly-titled Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo. This in-game prototype is a direct hint at both the brand's "future design language" and the kind of performance it's aiming for in an ideal world. Not surprisingly, that means something supremely quick. On a simulated Le Mans track, the VGT is powerful enough (thanks largely to its W16 engine) that it can reach 250MPH four times each lap -- ultimately, it's about as fast as the speediest real-world Le Mans prototypes.
The Big Picture: Chevy's self-driving concept car is straight out of sci-fi
Thought that Mercedes' F 015 self-driving car was futuristic? It looks old hat next to GM's autonomous electric concept, the Chevrolet-FNR. The pod-like design appears ripped straight from a sci-fi flick, complete with crystal laser lights, "dragonfly" swinging doors and sensors (including radar) that aren't as conspicuous as they are on other robotic vehicles. And that's just the outside -- inside, it's touting magnetic hubless wheel electric motors, wireless charging, swiveling front seats and eye recognition to verify the owner. As with most out-there concepts, the chances of driving what you see here are slim to none. However, it won't be at all shocking if the technology in the FNR eventually trickles down to more practical (if far less adventurous) cars.
Rinspeed reimagines the BMW i3 EV as a self-driving car
Rinspeed did a fantastic visual recreation of the Tesla Model S as a moving living room last year, and now it has given the BMW i3 EV a similar treatment. The Swiss car restorer and conjurer of futuristic concepts has reimagined the i3 as a self-driving car with rather far-out features in a new concept called "Buddi." For instance, it's equipped with a robotic arm that can move the steering wheel in front of either front-seat passenger or to the middle if nobody wants to drive. That robotic arm can curiously wind the in-car watch, as well, if the camera monitoring it determines that its battery is almost depleted.
Best of CES 2015 Awards, Automotive: Mercedes F 015 concept car
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Audi's 605HP Prologue concept car has touchscreens everywhere
Audi's always been more forward-thinking with in-car tech than most automakers, but it's about to take it to a new level(s), judging by its latest concept car. Our colleagues at Autoblog just took at look at the Prologue, and what it's lacking in green tech, it more than makes up with slick technology on the inside. To start with, the driver gets a "three-level" simulated 3D cockpit, with one showing crucial driving information and two simulating visual depth. Audi says that makes the mass of driving, vehicle, navigation and entertainment information "better organized and easier for the driver to comprehend."
Mercedes will talk self-driving cars and debut a new concept at CES
If you haven't started thinking about next year's CES yet, Daimler AG has beat you to the punch. Not only will Mercedes Benz CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche be delivering a keynote about autonomous vehicle tech and its greater impacts, but he's going to debut a new concept vehicle too, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Considering the the topic of his speech and the fact that Mercedes has been showing off a semi-truck with a pretty impressive auto-pilot system for the past year or so, it isn't much of a stretch to guess this new ride will be at least semi-autonomous. Don't want to miss his address? Set a calendar reminder for 8 p.m. Pacific, January 5th, 2015 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Or, you know, you could always come back here where we'll be covering the show from the ground. It's up to you!
Citroen's hybrid concept car gets 115 mpg from thin air (hands-on)
With the Cactus Airflow 2L, Citroen thinks it's found a way to bring the cost of hybrid technology down to earth using nothing but air. Based on a production Cactus model, the natty, low-roofed concept car has a unique hybrid compressed air/gas engine at its core. In a regular hybrid, batteries store energy from braking and coasting downhill. It's the same idea here, but instead of storing electricity, the Airflow 2L compresses air and stocks it in a tank. It can then be released when needed, powering the car during wasteful acceleration or city driving. While that may sound wonky, the system has been tested to an rather astonishing 115 mpg or so. Still, why bother with an untested system when existing hybrid drivetrains are so mature?
Nissan's 'Gran Turismo 6' concept car crosses over into reality
Nissan has just revealed that its 2020 supercar design of the GT-R created for Gran Turismo 6 has now become an actual, full-sized 2+2 car. The virtual game car was introduced last week, and the actual glass-and-steel model drew admiring gapes when it was revealed at Goodwood, England today (see the video below). That's no doubt because of the radical styling, which includes a four-wheel drive chassis, active suspension, ventilated hood and that carbon fiber front splitter. We're not sure if the real McCoy is even driveable, but you'll be able to get behind the wheel of the game car on Gran Turismo 6 sometime next month.
Toyota's LED-lit concept car lets your kids customize the hood
If you complained about your family's drab-looking car when you were a kid, you're going to love the latest incarnation of Toyota's Camatte concept. The vehicle lets children (and creative adults) customize the look by translating their drawings to nearly 7,000 LED lights on the hood; you could change styles at a moment's notice without having to swap panels (as with the 2012 Camatte) or break out some paint. There's no word on the possibility of this technology reaching production models, although we wouldn't count on it in the near future -- even if higher energy consumption isn't a factor, a light-up hood could get quite expensive. Still, Camatte raises hope that cars will one day be as unique as their drivers.
17 of history's greatest concept cars will gather in Atlanta next month
Here's the beauty about concept cars: you don't need to be a gearhead to enjoy them. Their allure lies in the promise of velocity, thrills and a future that could be yours before long... which might explain why auto makers have been cooking up wild-eyed designs for decades. 17 such concepts have been rounded up to share the spotlight at Atlanta's High Museum of Art next month, mixing up vehicles that inspired models to come with a few dead-ends of automotive evolution. One of our favorites: GM's Firebird I (above), which looked more like an early supersonic jet than it did new cars in its own family tree. Aside from that kooky fuselage, the Firebird's claim to fame is its gasoline turbine engine. Despite that fact that later versions of the GM's turbine could run on just about any combustible liquid (hello vegetable oil), the tech never really went anywhere. Modern minivans can trace their lineage back to the mildly derpy looking Stout Scarab (which'll also be on display), while the 33-inch high roofline of the Lancia Stratos HF stretched the limit of car construction... not to mention human comfort.
Audi's Sport Quattro Laserlight concept officially debuts at CES
Audi teased us with concept drawings of its Sport Quattro Laserlight months ago, and tonight it decided to show off the vehicle in the flesh (or metal and carbon fiber) at CES. Before we wax about the auto's looks, it's important to note the machine's technical details, as they alone inspire a fair bit of awe. The car's titular feature is its headlights, whose laser light can cut through through five football fields of darkness. Aside from the futuristic headlamps, the car's calling card is the combination of electric and gas motors -- the latter of which takes it 90 miles per gallon -- for a whopping 700 horsepower. Simply put, Audi's crafted the Laserlight to look stunning from any angle. From the front, its rectangular beams offer a dose of futurism, and its large grille looks eager to breathe in as much air as possible while tearing through the freeway. From the sides, it's difficult to ignore how the top of the car swoops down into its base, still leaving room for two seats in the rear. From behind, the iconic lights make a return alongside a carbon fiber accent, which can be found as trim in other areas of the hybrid. Of course, there's still no word on price or availability, as the automobile is still in the conceptual stage. To ogle at Audi's Sport Quattro Laserlight yourself, take a peek at the gallery above.
Mercedes-Benz GLA concept puts laser projectors in headlights, redefines SUV
All pretty young things eventually require face-lifts to stay fresh. And the same goes for car models too, which in the SUV's case means a total body lift. Mercedes-Benz is planning to do just that to the category, with an official unveiling of its Concept GLA premium compact SUV planned for the Shanghai Auto Show next week. The sportier, "more coupe-like" vehicle has a 208-horsepower four-cylinder turbocharged gas engine, 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, 4Matic all wheel drive and -- wait for it -- headlamps with laser projectors. Oh yes, really. Despite what you may think, the laser light show isn't all just for neat tricks, though you can display any photos or video compatible (shared via phone, hard drive or the wild interwebs) with the car's in-dash COMAND system. No, there's a practical purpose that prompted Mercedes-Benz' German engineers to include the feature: a real-time navigation overlay. And lest we forget, there's one last scintillating tidbit of this concept car's posh perspective. It also features 65-feet of hand-stitched interior leather. We believe the correct response you're searching for is: !#$&%. And we'd agree.
QNX unveils concept Bentley Continental GT alongside Car Platform 2.0
RIM's subsidiary QNX has a serious thing for cars. Today, the company announced the QNX Car Platform 2.0 and an associated development platform, which is now available to auto manufacturers. Later this year, the group will also release an HTML5 SDK, which will provide specialized APIs for accessing various hardware components within a vehicle. To show off the platform, QNX partnered with Bentley to produce a concept Continental GT, which the duo unveiled today at CES. It's said to boast smartphone integration, voice recognition and video conferencing -- scary to think about that last one. In the following clip, you'll find an overview of the development process, along with a peek of the interface and controls. Consider the Porsche 911 officially jealous.
CEATEC 2012 wrap-up: concept cars, eye-tracking tech and motion sensors galore
CEATEC, Japan's largest annual electronics show, is winding down here on the outskirts of Tokyo. We've spent the past two days scouring the halls of the Makuhari Messe, digging up no shortage of concept cars, eye-tracking technologies and even the odd Windows 8 device. The star of the show may have been Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo, with its gaze-controlled prototypes and real-time translation app, but there were plenty of other gadgets on hand to peak our interest -- even if many of them won't make it to market anytime soon. Have a look for yourself by browsing our complete CEATEC 2012 coverage past the break.
Nissan NSC-2015 self-driving car with LTE and smartphone connectivity (test-ride with video)
NCC-1701 is the machine that took the world's imaginations to strange new worlds in the '60s. If Nissan has its way, NSC-2015 will be the machine that keeps us out of strange new parking lots. It's a concept car from Nissan, part of the CEATEC 2012 Smart Mobility Zero exhibit that has half the show floor covered by crazy electric-powered cars of all shapes and sizes. Nissan's Leaf is one of the more conventional looking ones, but the technology that lets it drive itself down the road is far from standard. We just took it for a spin, so please cruise down past the break to read how it went.
