What's your favourite concept car? PH Blog
Ollie's raided the archives for his favourite far fetched concepts - what are yours?
Not just the old concepts that were mad!
It wasn't just style that took a turn for the mad back then, with concept engines becoming every sillier too: see the nuclear Ford Seattle ITE XXI. Who wouldn't fancy a go in a six-wheeled nuclear Ford?
And don't think the daft concepts have stopped in the 21st century. Just today Toyota revealed its gloriously odd Setsuna, a car made primarily of wood to "capture the developing relationship between people and their cars in the way it changes in appearance over the years." Anyone else sort of drawn to it? Just me?
What's fascinating to think is how fairly recent concepts will influence our production reality in years to come; think of cars like the Mercedes BIOME, said to be "designed as a vehicle which is fully integrated into the ecosystem". There's the stunning BMW GINA too, featuring an outer skin comprising of a flexible, stretchable water resistant translucent man-made fabric. Might make Sunday morning cleaning a little different...
A look into the future?
My favourite concept is one firmly from the old school though: the Bertone Stratos Zero. A stunning concept to begin with, it eventually became one of the great road and rally Lancias too. A true legend.
So they're our picks from the decades of concepts; no doubt there are plenty more we could have mentioned! What would you pick as your favourite? We'd love to hear them.
Ollie
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Also, the incredible Maybach Exelero
A special mention for the original Audi TT concept too. It was radical, brilliant, and Audi had the foresight to put it into production, largely unchanged. The effect has somewhat worn off due to their popularity, but a true design great. The Porsche Boxster concept too for similar reasons.
I also liked the Fulvia reimagining that did the rounds about 10 years ago.
Who wouldn't have each and every one of the concepts which have been posted here? Fantastic. Also, in the original article, I see the BMW Gina from 2002. I loved that car.
Some further contributions:
From 1933, the aerodynamic and efficient future promised by the Dymaxion. More info here.
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From 1938, the Phantom Corsair and its ardent expression of streamlined design. More info here.
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From 1960, the asymmetrical Plymouth XNR, conceived by Virgil Exner. More info here.
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From 1964, the Stiletto by General Motors. Never mind those pedestrian-impact regulations issued by Brussels! More info here.
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From 2010, the prescient Mazda Shinari concept. More info here.
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From 2013, the improbable and utterly gorgeous Cadillac Elmiraj. More info here.
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Great looking car.
One day, I said, all cars would be like this. I became a little obsessed by it, and kept drawing it, and making Lego models of it. As time passed, its impact on me faded, and it gradually crept back into the darkest recesses of my mind.
This fine automobile? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Renault Zoom:
What the f
k was I thinking?In retrospect, I think I was wowed by its party trick of the variable wheelbase. It doesn't explain the utter horror of the rest of it though.
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