When automakers dream without constraints, they create concept cars, experimental one-offs that imagine what driving could look like in the not-so-distant future. These vehicles serve as design laboratories, pushing boundaries with outlandish styling, next-gen technology, and performance specs that make today’s supercars look tame.
While every concept car has its brand of brilliance, whether it’s a bubble canopy, a hydrogen powertrain, or wraparound LED panels, some manage to capture our collective imagination more than others.
In a world where oversized grilles and artificial engine sounds plague production cars, these concepts serve as a refreshing reminder of what could be. And maybe, just maybe, they hold the antidote to the most frustrating trends in today’s automotive landscape.
Chrysler Firepower
The Chrysler Firepower concept is a masterclass in restrained aggression, a blend of muscle and elegance that channels everything Chrysler could have been at its most daring. Its long, sculpted hood and low-slung proportions clearly nod to its Dodge Viper underpinnings, yet the overall design feels far more refined and European in inspiration.
From some angles, the Firepower could pass for a futuristic Aston Martin or a lithe Jaguar grand tourer, with its flowing curves, sculpted fenders, and precisely tailored proportions. But then the bold grille and crisp bodylines ground it firmly in Chrysler territory, offering American performance with upscale confidence.
Inside the Firepower
The Firepower’s interior is a blend of elegance and intent. Ocean Deep Blue surfaces, Oyster leather, and Behr maple wood create a cabin that feels handcrafted rather than assembled. It’s upscale, but never overdone.
From the finely stitched sport seats to the sculpted dash and watch-like gauges, everything looks and feels meticulously curated for driving pleasure. There’s a sense of quiet confidence here, a blend of American boldness with European restraint.
Porsche 919 Street
The above photo is actually a clay model, revealed by Porsche during the Porsche Unseen campaign in 2020. Despite the concept coming to “life” in 2017, it was not shown to the public until then. According to Adrian Padeanu at Motor1, the Porsche 919 Street was designed to be a hybrid hypercar with 900 horsepower, allowing it to rule both the track and the road.
The racing-inspired 919 Street design features a wraparound windshield, doors that open upward, and dramatic wheel arches to create an aerodynamic and sleek look. One of the standouts is the large rear diffuser. Unfortunately, this aggressively styled concept car will not be hitting the roads, and the 1:1 clay model went on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart in 2021.
BMW M1 Hommage
This unique, one-off concept car came out in 2008 to commemorate the BMW M1 of the late 1970s. According to BMW, this concept car was presented on the 30th anniversary of the BMW M1’s appearance at the Concorso d’Eleganza on Lake Como, which featured a collection of stunning cars that only qualify by being “exceptional” or rare.
To celebrate the original BMW M1, the Hommage features a handsome aerodynamic design with aggressive lines and a dramatically sloped roofline. The wheels feature bold lines that artistically pair with the car’s body. The Hommage also has an oversized kidney grille on the front and air vents to cool the engine and direct the airstream. While the exterior is glorious, BMW admits they never envisioned what engine it would have.
BMW Vision M Next
I’m not a BMW enthusiast, but I had to include another of their stunning concept cars. Instead of looking to the past, this concept car embodies BMW’s vision of the future (as the name suggests). Unlike most concept cars, this one is widely available as a poster, wallpaper, or 3D-printed model. That’s right, BMW shared the design for people to print on their own 3D printer while we await the fate of the real-life version.
The BMW Vision M Next is BMW’s take on a futuristic plug-in hybrid sports car, with a bold and minimalist two-tone body, dramatic lines, and butterfly doors. The plug-in hybrid concept was also designed to provide an “acoustic and emotional experience” thanks to a boosted sound created by film composer Hans Zimmer and BMW sound designer Renzo Vitale. While the fake engine sounds of current EVs are irritating at best, the Vision M Next’s boost sound is quite mesmerizing, I must admit.
Karma SC2
Karma Automotive is known for its luxury electric vehicles, most of which are currently concepts, except for the Karma GS-6 sedan. Reviews have criticized the GS-6 for cabin noise and an interior that can feel claustrophobic. But the SC2, revealed in 2019, looks like a completely different animal. Its low profile looks extra sporty and aggressive, with glaring headlights and dramatic scissor doors. Karma described it as designed for “advanced mobility.”
This makes sense when Karma said the SC2 concept car had 1,100 horsepower and up to 10,500 lb-ft of wheel torque. Karma claimed it could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 1.9 seconds and stated a 350-mile range target. It’s definitely a car I’d love to have in my garage if I switched to electric.
Astro I
General Motors designed the Astro I to be like a more extreme version of the Monza GT and Monza SS, and it was based on a Chevrolet Corvair, featuring an extremely low profile to experiment with aerodynamics. According to Ronnie Schreiber at Hagerty, the car was just 35.5 inches tall, so low that conventional doors would be problematic. Instead, it featured an innovative clamshell that tilted to the rear and chairs that would rise up.
To me, this vehicle is the epitome of exaggerated 1950s aesthetic, with a bubbly and futuristic appearance like that of a cartoon spaceship. I also love that it defies normalcy, taking things to such an extreme that conventional solutions no longer work. Based purely on appearance, this is one of GM’s most memorable concept cars.
Renault Trezor
The Renault TREZOR was revealed at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, featuring bold lines, a low profile, and futuristic detailing that excited the car community. The most distinct exterior features were the honeycomb-shaped air inlet and its stamped metal lower body design that gave the TREZOR an organic sci-fi feel.
MotorTrend design critic Robert Cumberford argued that the TREZOR’s all-electric drivetrain pointed toward an increasingly electric future. While the TREZOR represented the future, the concept car itself never materialized.
Cadillac Innerspace
The all-electric Cadillac InnerSpace was designed with serenity in mind. According to Cadillac, they believe the InnerSpace represents what the driving experience will be like in the next decade, including autonomous driving technology that would allow passengers to focus on its immersive panoramic SMD LED display, which could show what’s going on outside, augmented reality, and even entertainment and wellness programming.
The two-seater has a sleek and elegant shape that pairs the simplicity of future EVs with the detailing of a more luxurious vehicle, with stunning slopes and a futuristic grille. The idea of relaxing inside this self-driving car while the screen plays a bunch of peaceful nature videos seems like the most relaxing road trip ever, one that you’d never want to end.
Hyundai N Vision 74
The gorgeously geometric Hyundai N Vision 74 features new technologies wrapped in a retro package. With a blocky body reminiscent of an ’80s robot and pixel-style taillights in the back, the Vision 74 took the Hyundai Pony Coupe and blended it with old-school gaming and anime aesthetic to create a stunning take on a track performance vehicle that also supports sustainability. That’s right, the Hyundai N Vision 74 is a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid concept, using hydrogen to generate electricity for its electric drivetrain.
Hyundai states that the Vision 74 is track-ready thanks to its optimized heat management, integrated control system, and Torque Vectoring Logic for precise handling. It then has two hydrogen tanks, and Hyundai has described a target range of over 600 km, which is roughly 370 miles. While it’s meant to be “what a future high-performance car” looks like, I’d take one right now.
Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven
The Vision One-Eleven is meant to be a revival of Mercedes-Benz’s supercar concept collection C111 from the 1970s — except this time, it’s electric. The beyond-gorgeous concept car will even feature liquid cooling that uses cylindrical cells with a similar chemistry to what they use in Formula 1, according to Motor Authority.
The interior swaps that bare-bones track car feel for a very plush cabin. This is due to Mercedes-Benz’s belief that the cars of the future will have autonomous driving, allowing commuters to relax inside. Outside, the Vision One-Eleven is extremely dramatic, a burnt orange missile that seems impossibly aerodynamic. The retro gullwing doors add drama, making the car feel even more special.
Volkswagen ID. Buggy
With its frog-like eyes and smiling grille against a playful green body, the Buggy is one of the most adorable concept cars I’ve come across. The retro styling is thanks to Volkswagen’s mission to bring retro-styled dune buggies, reminiscent of the 1960s Manx Dune Buggy, into the future, making it all electric with a zero-emissions drivetrain.
Featuring no doors, Volkswagen explained that drivers will feel at one with the world around them as they go off-roading. It has 18-inch wheels and a solid aluminum underbody to inspire drivers to take the car off the beaten path. The interior was also made with the elements in mind, including a water-repellent steering wheel. Plus, it looks like something Kermit would drive.
Keep Dreaming
These one-of-a-kind concept cars seem straight out of our fantasies, from chaotic electric dune buggies to luxurious autonomous vehicles with augmented reality screens.
Some of them wouldn’t look out of place on the road in just a few years, thanks to their stunning designs and stellar performances. While they are currently unavailable because they’ve never been produced, there’s no harm in crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.
