xPeng, a Chinese company, just conducted the first public viewing of their flying car and it has gotten car enthusiasts very excited. The concept of flying cars was extremely outlandish just a few years ago. It is always fun to think about how far can the design and technology of a vehicle be pushed and how much time will it take for humans to actually make it.
While some cars are “exotic” because of their price tags, some cars are cool because they just don’t exist; only their idea or prototype exists, and there is a high chance that they’ll never come into the hands of a consumer. However, they give insight into what’s theoretically possible (or what engineers are hoping will be possible soon).
Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR
One of the most incredible-looking concept cars out there, The Mercedes-Benz Vision AVTR is almost a little too extreme to be a reality anytime soon. The concept car has been inspired by the film Avatar and some of the proposed features are equally futuristic.
The proposed car will have a fully retractable steering wheel and pedals along with self-driving ability. The car will use a brain computing interface or BCI which will let users control the car as well as the interior through their minds. The AVTR will also come with super-fast charging and organic battery technology. AVTR is also an acronym for Advanced Vehicle Transformation.
Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX
Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX is one of the sleekest looking concept cars out there, and not just because of its looks; the car has a drag coefficient of 0.17Cd, which is impressive even by racing car standards. The incredibly low drag is meant to increase the car’s efficiency, not just speed.
The company claims that the car will have a range of about 620 miles on a single charge, even with a battery size 50% smaller than the EQS Sedan. The improved battery will be 20% more efficient while being 30% lighter.
Audi Skysphere
Audi Skysphere looks like a thing of beauty that also boasts a 724-horsepower engine. The two-door convertible roadster will also be a self-driving vehicle. The car also boasts a retractable steering wheel and pedals along with adaptive air suspension.
The car’s wheelbase can also change depending on the kind of drive the user is in, being able to transition from a grand touring model to a sports car. The concept will also have a fully digital cockpit along with rear-wheel steering. If this car were to exist in real life, it would be one of the most recognizable vehicles on the road.
BMW i8 M
BMW showcased its Vision M Next concept car back in 2019, but because of its close resemblance to the discontinued i8 plug-in hybrid, people have been calling it The i8 M. BMW states that this car will go for sale in late 2023 and will cost about $160,000.
It will be capable of producing 591 horsepower through its turbo-four engines included in the PHEV system. The company also states that i8 M will only be capable of 62 electric-only miles on a full charge.
Cadilac InnerSpace
The Cadilac InnerSpace is one of the most futuristic concept cars out there. The car is geared towards providing a lounge-type environment for the passengers. The car is fully autonomous to the extent that it does not even have a steering wheel or pedal.
The dashboard of the car is comprised of a curved screen that stretches across the entire length. The seats look more like lounge chairs that can be separated into two separate seats. The InnerSpace is supposed to create a unique environment for passengers that “Enhances their well-being.”
Polestar Precept
Polestar Precept was showcased as the concept version of what would become the Polestar 5, set to release in 2024. The car is a statement piece for the design and innovative culture the company wants to portray. It is a four-door all-electric GT with a unique infotainment system called “Polestar Human Machine Interface HMI).
The system will let the driver control the car through eye tracking and proximity sensors. The system will only show the information that the driver wants when they want it.
Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100
BMW showcased what Rolls-Royce might look like in 100 years through the Rolls Royce Vision Next 100. Of course, thinking this long term means the car looks and sounds out of this world. The car is meant to provide a place where consumers can travel in complete peace.
The autonomous zero emissions concept will also let users customize their rides in terms of driveability to the car’s exterior and interior look. The Spirit of Ecstacy will turn into Eleanor, an AI system that will take care of most car needs through voice commands. The roof of the car will be able to open up to airflow, and the cabin will boast a full-length OLED display.
Buick Centurion Concept
Although revealed back in 1956 at the General Motors Motorama, the Buick Centurian looks so cool that anybody would want to drive it even today. For the time, the car boasted a lot of futuristic features and a 325hp V8 engine. It was made from a fiberglass body with a transparent top.
The car introduced bucket seats and rearview cameras, which have trickled down into modern commercial cars. The dashboard also had an oval-shaped TV for the television camera mounted on the trunk. It looks like one of the classic James Bond cars from back in the day.
Mercedes-Benz Biome
The Mercedes-Benz Biome is the prime example of too good to be true. Revealed at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, the car would be built from ultralight BioFibre grown from two seeds. The wheels would also be grown from 4 separate seeds.
Not only this, but the car will also be powered by a new type of fuel called BioNectar4534 which will be stored in the BioFibre material present in the chassis, wheels, and interiors. The company also proposed that trees will be equipped with sensors capable of converting solar energy into BioNector4534. It would be cool to have a car that can be disposed of easily and be one with the ecosystem. With so much AI, Biome could easily star in a horror movie about cars going rogue.
Ford GT90 Concept
The Ford GT90 was unveiled at the 1995 Detroit Motor Show. It was an experimental car for Ford to test out their design, performance, and other engineering upgrades for a driver-oriented car. The car had a retro yet futuristic look with some inspiration from a fighter jet.
It boasted a 48-valve quad-turbocharged 5.9 liter DOHC V-12 which would potentially produce 720hp and 660lb of torque. This could make the car reach 253mph, which would still be considered one of the fastest production cars.
