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15 Extraordinary Designs: The Past & Future of Concept Vehicles

by Steven Hays on 03/03/08 at 4:15 pm

The concept vehicles that are built each year illuminate our imaginations and our dreams as we wonder over the technological and mind-bending designs of the most state-of-the-art earth transportation gear available.

Here are some of the outstanding, bizarre, and awe-inspiring ideas that have been, or are being produced during this decade in the field of concept vehicle transportation.

  1. SNAP! Multicar

    This is a full family Sedan that can separate, into single pods for transportation. They can be arranged in two, three or four pod set ups. They are driven by two wheels that have a range over each pods entire body, and when in individual use, a third wheel pops out to keep the vehicle from rolling at faster speeds.

  2. Concept Truck with a Retractable Bed

    This is a unique concept truck with a retractable bed. It will be all-electric, and has the capability to seat five. When the bed is not in use, it tucks neatly into the bottom of the vehicle.

  3. Autonomous Vehicles

    These autos are making their move. These are vehicles that are
    less and less “car” and more “robot”, but the sole purpose is still
    intact. To make life easier, and get the passenger from point A to B.
    Sensors surround the vehicle to identify signs, and markers, while the
    inside is fitted with a GPS system.

  4. Nissan NV 200 Scuba Cartridge Car

    This is a concept car devised by Nissan, specifically designed with the
    rear easy-access tool rack in mind. This particular model is decked out
    for marine research uses. The outside rack contains the gear, while
    when expanded, the inside becomes the lab.

  5. Sky Lift

    This is a mobile elevator, which is designed for airline boarding. It
    was technologically designed with safety, speed, and comfort in mind.

  6. City Cars

    These “cars of the city” are concepts modeled after air-port rent-a-carts.
    They will be located at subways and airports, and the user can rent one
    out by the swipe of a credit card.

  7. Moller Skycar

    The Moller Skycar is the first and only feasible, and privately
    affordable flying automobile concept conceived. It is qualified as a
    large automobile, and can seat four people, making it an ideal family
    vehicle. It will be completely autonomous, guided by GPS.
    It will take off and land vertically, much like a Harrier Jet. It will
    have a cruising speed of 275 mph, with an estimated top speed of 375 mph.

    Completely refundable deposits can currently be put down to reserve one of these
    vehicles when they become available to the public. The first 100 people
    to reserve one can get it for $995,000.

  8. The Javelin Speedsled

    The Javelin Speedsled as it is called, can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds
    on its way to a top speed of 200 mph. Its secret is its aerodynamics which,
    rather than fighting air flow, turns it to the vehicles advantage.
    It will have limited “morphing” capabilities in the front and back of
    the vehicle for this purpose. This supercar will be able to seat four,
    in a 1+2+1 configuration. Another feature is the electrochromatic
    painting that can be adjusted to any color the driver wishes.

  9. Futuristic Dump Truck Design

    This is a future projection for dump truck design. It looks much like
    any other vehicle on the road might, giving it a more appealing look.
    However, it seems to be “soft” where it will wear and scratch easily.

  10. BMW ‘CLEVER’ Concept

    The “clever” design by BMW features the three wheel trend that great deals of concepts seem to carry.

  11. Peugeot Design Competition 3 Wheelers

    On this vehicle, the rear wheel contains an electric motor while front wheels are steered by computer-controlled electric motors. Tilt is also a computer-controlled function built to match the speed and turning radius with the proper lean angle.

  12. Toyota’s ‘RiN’ Concept Hybrid

    Toyota’s RiN is designed to embody health and comfort. It has
    several features that make life more enjoyable for the passengers:

    Seats that promote better posture

    Mood sensitive steering wheel that changes inside displays (and colors) to best raise the mood of the driver.

    An oxygen-level conditioner to make breathing easier and clearer.

    Features “green” in the interior and out, to evoke a mental and
    physical feeling of oneness with nature, and altogether feeling of
    healthiness.

  13. Tesseract Hybrid Motorcycle

    This Motorcycle/quad design by Yamaha may be more for appeal than anything
    else. The Tesseract Hybrid Motorcycle as it is called, will be a hybrid
    as the name suggests, but not much else is known about it. It will have
    a V-Twin engine, but what size the engine will be is not known, so this
    picture may be nothing to go by.

  14. APTERA Diesel Electric Hybrid Car

    This fishlike car is soon to be available for the public (only in California though). For over $30,000 it can be reserved now, and can be taken home within the next couple of years. This car can be purchased as a hybrid or as a purely electric vehicle. Off electricity, most people can get 300 miles before plugging it back in, and for the hybrids, a longer travel distance can be achieved at approx. 300 mpg. It can be driven with a motorcycle license, and can seat three.

  15. Loremo Concept Car

    This car is designed specifically to be lightweight and fuel reserving. The German concept Loremo will get 150 mpg when using Diesel.

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7 Comments

Tarra B.

Mar 3rd, 2008

excellent article, amazing vehicles! I will be sure to stumble this for you.

Liane Schmidt

Mar 4th, 2008

What a great article – those pictures were incredible!

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

-Liane Schmidt.

Michael Roeten

Mar 5th, 2008

Hi,
my children and I really like the SNAP Multicar.

Personally I like the City Car as well.
That way you dont have to own a car to use when needed.

All the best,
Michael Roeten

Tami

Mar 5th, 2008

Hey! Great post, the pictures are great too. I love the city car concept, I would love to have that as an option. How Jetsons!

lee

Jun 14th, 2008

just one word to describe it———–”awesome”

pradeep

Jul 23rd, 2008

Moller Skycar,APTERA Diesel Electric Hybrid Car

leo

Oct 2nd, 2008

those are amazing are these ready for production in the next few decades?

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