27 Brilliant Concept Cars You Wish You Could Drive
We might be many years away from Jetson-style flying cars, but the cars of the future will still be pretty cool — at least if these concept cars are any indication. Many are autonomous, and those that aren’t, feature impressive artificial intelligence capabilities that can react to a driver’s habits and even mood. Most are electric, pointing to a zero-emission future for the automobile world. And luxury reaches new levels with the cars of tomorrow, with lounge-like interiors, panoramic roofs, widescreen displays and aromatherapy features.
Many of these concept cars will never go into production, but there are a few dream cars you might actually be able to drive one day. Keep reading to see what the future of automobiles will look like.
Last updated: Oct. 21, 2020
GFG Style Kangaroo
Introduced: 2019
Legendary car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and his son revealed this fully electric vehicle design in March 2019. Its standout feature is definitely its giant turn signals, which take up the entire rear grille. According to a GFG press release obtained by Road & Track, each dot in the turn signal is a small prism with an LED light and they work together to create a “jewel effect.”
This is Giugiaro’s third supercar concept. The first two have not gone into production, and it’s unclear if this one ever will, according to Road & Track.
Audi PB18 e-tron
Introduced: 2018
Audi’s all-electric high-performance sports car features a broad and flat design, inspired by the wind tunnel and the race track. The driver’s seat can be moved and positioned in the middle of the interior as it would be in a race car — a design feature enabled by the by-wire design of the steering wheel and pedals. The car has a 500-kilometer (311-mile) range, 470 liters of cargo space and it can be charged in just 15 minutes.
The Audi PB 18 e-tron will be available in a limited production beginning in the near future, Motor1.com reported.
Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6
Introduced: 2016
This luxury-class coupe is a two-plus-two seater with the classic proportions of a show car and a rear that’s intended to resemble a yacht. The interior is much like a 360-degree lounge, and it has a front windscreen that displays driving-related data and geographical information. It also boasts a 200-mile all-electric range.
Infiniti Q Inspiration
Introduced: 2018
The highlight of Infiniti’s concept car is its Variable Compression Turbo engine — the world’s first production-ready variable compression engine. It also features ProPILOT drive assist technologies that allow the driver to release control of the vehicle and take it back when they want to.
Although the Q Inspiration will not go into production, according to Digital Trends, it serves as a preview of what Infiniti’s future models will be like.
Rolls-Royce 103EX
Introduced: 2016
The Rolls-Royce 103EX is the luxury carmaker’s first-ever vision vehicle. The car allows the buyer to be the architect, choosing its dimensions, form, space and materials. According to the brand, in the future, “each Rolls-Royce will be designed less like a car, and more like an individual sculpture made from one seamless surface.”
The concept car features a roof canopy that can be opened entirely and an interior space that’s designed to be private and relaxing. It also features an AI companion named Eleanor.
Honda Sports EV
Introduced: 2017
Honda’s electric vehicle concept car has a design that evokes the brand’s first fastback, the 1960s S600 Coupe. At the time Honda introduced the car, there were no set plans to bring it to production.
Jeep 4SPEED
Introduced: 2018
This concept version of the Wrangler is 950 pounds lighter than the original with a carbon fiber hood, fender flares and a rear tub, Road & Track reported. Even though it’s lightweight, it maintains the Wrangler’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.
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Audi e-Tron GT
Introduced: 2018
Audi said this electric concept car with a completely vegan interior will go into production in 2020, according to Road & Track. The car has a total horsepower of 590 that’s capable of reaching a top speed of 149 mph. It also has an onboard 800-volt charging system that can recharge the e-tron to 80% of its battery capacity in just 20 minutes.
BMW Vision M NEXT
Introduced: 2019
BMW’s sports car concept is decidedly not self-driving, focusing instead on features that give the driver a fully engaged experience — including a sound system designed by legendary Hollywood film composer Hans Zimmer and a Boost+ Mode, which gives the driver extra engine power at the click of a button.
The BMW M Vision NEXT will arrive in 2023 as a replacement for the i8, BMW Blog reported.
Volkswagen ID. Vizzion
Introduced: 2018
Volkswagen has introduced a number of ID. electric vehicle concepts, including the Vizzion sedan. VW imagines the four-door coming out in 2030, equipped with level five autonomous capability, artificial intelligence and a holographic user interface, Motor Trend reported. What’s not included? A steering wheel or pedals — the car is designed to drive itself.
Volkswagen ID. Buggy
Introduced: 2019
Another concept car in Volkswagen’s ID. line is the Buggy, inspired by the retro Beetles of the 1960s. There’s no door or roof on this car, which sports all-terrain tires, a tall ride height and skid plates around the whole vehicle. It’s unknown if the vehicle will ever go into production, Road & Track reported.
Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet
Introduced: 2017
A year after Mercedes unveiled the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept car, it upped the ante with the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet. The electric two-seater has an impressive 750 horsepower, a sporty stretched design and a high-tech intelligent interior. Sadly, this beauty might never go into production, according to Road & Track.
Mazda RX-VISION
Introduced: 2015
Mazda’s rotary sports car concept features the brand’s next-generation SKYACTIV-R rotary engine with front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car styling. It represents the revival of Mazda’s rotary engine, which was discontinued along with the RX-8 in 2012.
At the time of its release, Mazda noted that the “mass production [of rotaries] is currently on hold” and the car is a “vision of the future that Mazda hopes to one day make into reality,” Road & Track reported.
Honda Urban EV
Introduced: 2017
Honda hopes to mass-produce its EV models, beginning with the Urban EV concept. The compact car is designed for urban driving and aims to make the roads more friendly with front and rear displays that can show messages and greetings. The interior resembles a comfortable and modern living room and is equipped with the “Honda Automated Network Assistant,” which uses AI technology to learn the driver’s tastes and offer them suggestions.
Buick Avista
Introduced: 2016
Buick’s two-plus-two coupe concept has a contemporary design while harkening back to the brand’s historic performance roots. The Avista is equipped with a 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 engine driving the rear wheels, and a driver-focused cockpit with touchscreen controls on a widescreen instrument panel display. The concept car also features advanced noise cancellation technology, ionic air purifiers and aromatherapy for elevated passenger experience.
Infiniti QX Inspiration
Introduced: 2019
The QX Inspiration is Infiniti’s first full-electric concept car. Its look is based on Japanese design and architecture, with creases throughout the body that are inspired by origami. Its interior is lounge-like, with an open atmosphere, a handcrafted quilted leather backseat and ambient lighting inspired by the colors of a Japanese spring.
Like the Q Inspiration, the QX Inspiration will not go into production, but rather indicates the direction of Infiniti’s future lineup of crossover vehicles, Motor Trend reported.
Mercedes-Benz Concept EQV
Introduced: 2019
The Mercedes-Benz Vans concept vehicle has all the bells and whistles people have come to expect of the brand with a battery-electric drive. The Concept EQV can be charged with a Mercedes-Benz wall box or a regular household plug socket and can be charged with enough energy for a 100-kilometer (62-mile) range within just 15 minutes.
Mercedes will create a production model based on the concept that is expected to be for sale in 2020, Motor Trend reported.
Toyota S-FR
Introduced: 2015
Toyota introduced its S-FR — which stands for Small, Front-Engine, Rear-Drive — at the 2015 Tokyo Auto Show as an entry-level sports coupe. Road & Track estimates its mechanical capacity at about 130 horsepower, with a curb weight under 2,200.
When Toyota debuted the car, there were plans to put the car into production in late 2016, but those plans never came to fruition.
BMW Vision iNEXT
Introduced: 2018
BMW’s futuristic Sports Activity Vehicle is all-electric and highly automated, with driving assistance features that include BMW Personal CoPilot and Intelligent Personal Assistant. Design elements include a windscreen that seamlessly merges with the panoramic roof, an open-design in the interior, Jacquard fabric and fine wood accessories and digital displays that appear on demand.
The BMW Vision iNEXT is set to go into production in 2021, and it will be on sale by 2025, CNET reported.
Infiniti Prototype 10
Introduced: 2018
Infiniti reimagined the classic speedster with the electrified Prototype 10, a single-seat car designed to meld thrilling performance with driving pleasure. With a push of the accelerator pedal, the concept car can immediately deliver 100% of the available torque. Its exterior features a long bonnet, open cockpit and dramatic fin behind the driver’s seat, with ultra-modern shapes throughout.
It doesn’t seem that Infiniti has any actual plans to produce the Prototype 10, stating that it’s “a bold representation of the way Infiniti vehicles may look in the future.”
Mercedes-Benz Vision EQ Silver Arrow
Introduced: 2018
Mercedes-Benz’s one-seater vehicle pays homage to the brand’s 1937 W 125 with its streamlined shape and silver color. It’s built for both acceleration and driving pleasure, with a digital cockpit that includes a screen with back projection and a touch-integrated steering wheel.
It’s unclear if this attention-grabbing, LED light-adorned concept car will ever actually be produced.
Rivian R1T
Introduced: 2018
Rivian is the company behind the world?s first Electric Adventure Vehicles, including the R1T all-electric truck. The R1T has a 400-plus mile range, a quad motor system, a wading depth of 3 feet and it can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in three seconds. It’s also spacious — it can transport up to five passengers and has greater lockable storage than any vehicle in its class.
The R1T is available for preorder now.
Nissan Xmotion
Introduced: 2018
The Xmotion is Nissan’s autonomous SUV concept — it’s a mix of technology and Japanese artistry. The three-row compact SUV features a U-shaped bodyside highlight, Nissan’s signature V-motion grille and an interior powered by Nissan Intelligent Mobility. The floating center-rear console can sense a passenger’s movement and can be used to control the entertainment and temperature systems.
As of now, there are no plans to produce the Xmotion, but its styling is a good indication of what future Nissan SUV models will look like, according to the Matt Castrucci Nissan blog.
Toyota GR HV SPORTS
Introduced: 2017
Toyota’s GR HV SPORTS concept car was designed to embody “the thrill of a sports car with the environmental friendliness of an eco-car.” The hybrid vehicle has a look inspired by Toyota’s Le Mans prototype, as well as both automatic and manual transmission options.
Road & Track reported at the time of the concept car’s debut that it could be in production in the near future.
Aston Martin Lagonda Vision Concept
Introduced: 2018
Aston Martin hopes its Lagonda can be the world’s first zero-emission luxury brand. The Lagonda Vision Concept takes advantage of the latest advances in electrification and autonomous driving, and it’s shorter and lower than traditional limousines thanks to the placement of the batteries at the floor of the car. Although modern, the car remains luxurious with a unique interior that utilizes premium materials not typically found in cars, like cashmere, silk and hand-woven wool. Fully able to drive itself in all routine circumstances and on recognizable roads, the car features a steering wheel that can retract entirely, allowing the driver to turn the seat around to face backseat passengers. As for the power of its battery, it’s able to travel up to 400 miles on a single charge.
Aston Martin plans to begin production of the Lagonda Vision Concept in 2021.
Chevrolet eCOPO Camaro Concept
Introduced: 2018
Chevrolet introduced the eCOPO Camaro Concept 50 years after the original COPO Camaro special order performance models, and this new version represents an electrified vision for drag racing. The electric motor of this race car provides more than 700 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. General Motors partnered with the pioneering electric drag racing team Hancock and Lane Racing to develop the eCOPO Concept, which features GM’s first 800-volt battery back. And it’s fast, with a quarter-mile time in the nine-second range.
Genesis Essentia
Introduced: 2018
The electric Genesis Essentia is a “grand tourer for the 21st century.” Its electric motor is capable of propelling the car from zero to 60 mph in three seconds, and it’s equipped with an artificial intelligence system that can adjust to the driver’s behavior and mood, and respond to voice commands, Digital Trends reported.
The Genesis Essentia likely won’t go into production, but the site reports that Genesis’ first electric model will go into production in 2021.
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