Ten “coolest” Concept Cars

In 1938, when Harley Earl designed the Buick Y-Job, the auto industry would never be the same. The said car became the first concept and the first of the numerous concept vehicles to this day.

Concept cars or show cars are generally designed to demonstrate a new concept whether in the design, performance or features. These are commonly displayed on auto shows where car manufacturers can gauge the level of acceptance among the countless auto show attendees. These vehicles are considered to be some of the best looking cars given the fact that they are designed not for production meaning car makers can spend a lot of money in producing a single prototype. In recent memory, there are at least ten “coolest” concept cars which are not expected to be mass-produced anytime soon. These ten concept cars were listed by ign.com, a multimedia news and reviews website which also cover cars.

One of the ten coolest concept cars is the Chrysler Firepower – a concept car based on the iconic Dodge Viper. The said concept car was developed by DaimlerChrysler back when the German and the American companies were still together. One of the most pleasing attributes of this concept car is its sleek styling and luxurious interior. Not only does the Firepower boasts of its looks but also of its power which comes from a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 engine.

According to Chrysler, the Firepower concept’s engine can produce as much as 425 horsepower and can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 4.5 seconds. With Chrysler facing reduced sales and being separated from its parent, the production of the Firepower is almost impossible indeed.

Another concept vehicle on the list is the Ford SportTrac Adrenalin. Just like the Chrysler Firepower, the Adrenalin was also announced to be produced by the Dearborn-based company. Unfortunately though for those who were expecting the production version of the Adrenalin, production was called off for undisclosed reasons. The Adrenalin would have been part of Ford’s Special Vehicle Team which specializes in the production of tuned version s of Ford production vehicles. The fact that the Adrenalin was supposed to be a “tuner” production vehicle shows how the concept car got into the list. Its production version was, before it was called off, would have been a V8 engine which reportedly can produce 390 horsepower.

Another advanced concept vehicle which made the list is the Jeep Hurricane. This concept vehicle is unlike the Firepower and the Adrenalin in the sense that this vehicle was never intended to be mass produced. One apparent reason for that is the cost of production since the Hurricane comes equipped with two HEMI engines. Both of these engines can produce as much as 335 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque. That means that the Hurricane has access to as much as 670 horsepower and 740 lb-ft of torque.

If the vehicle had been mass-produced, its engine could have produced more power if fitted with Jet chips aftermarket parts. The two engines are placed on both ends of the vehicle to give the rear and the front wheels equal power. The two engine configurations are not the only “cool” things about the Hurricane though. The vehicle has the ability to turn all four of its wheels inwardly which allows it to have a zero-foot turning radius. With those features, the Hurricane would have become the supreme off-road driving vehicle in production.

Next on the list of the “coolest” concept vehicles is the Maserati Birdcage. This concept vehicle was produced by the Italian car manufacturer based on the MC12/Enzo chassis. This means that the Birdcage not only has good looks but it also has the power under its hood to back up its sleek styling. A real statement in the exterior design of the vehicle is its canopy which opens and closes similar to that of jet cockpit. It was designed by Maserati to pay homage to the Birdcages of the 1960s which won races even against German cars.

Another concept vehicle on the list is the Nissan Terranaut. While it differs among the other concept vehicles on the list in terms of exterior styling, the Terranaut offers the most advanced interior among concept vehicles. This is a roving scientific lab complete with advanced workstations. This is one concept vehicle that will not be seen on any showroom in the near future. When it comes to the interior of a concept vehicle, the Saab Aero-X is on the top of the list with its cockpit resembling that of a jet fighter. Similar to the Birdcage, the canopy of the Aero-X is operates like that of a jet fighter.

Another concept vehicle on the list is the Suzuki P.X. This concept vehicle is arguably the biggest in the list. According to its manufacturer: “For people who want to indulge their sense of enjoyment without compromising family mobility, Suzuki presents the P.X. Inside it has a streamlined form that’s refreshingly modern but comfortingly familiar, to give a roomy, high-class environment equipped with everything you need for enjoyment. Three rows of limousine-style Recaro seats combine relaxing comfort with a second-row function that creates even more space. The P.X. is the ideal compact minivan in which to chill out and enjoy the ride.”

In terms of size, the concept vehicle Toyota F3R is not left behind by the P.X. This minivan exhibits the same characteristics of the Scion xB. Both the xB and the F3R are boxy but quite appealing in their boxiness. The F3R is also loaded with cool features such as ambient lighting, a lounge in the back, and a high-end AV system.

Another concept vehicle on the list is the Volkswagen EcoRacer. This concept vehicle is not only in the list for its good looks and high level of performance. That is because its 1.5 liter turbo diesel engine is one of the most efficient in its class. The fuel efficiency of this car may have given Volkswagen the green light to mass produce this vehicle but due to unknown reasons, the company does not plan to mass produce the EcoRacer.

Last but not the least on the list is the Volvo 3CC. This concept vehicle runs on an electric motor which makes it a cleaner car than the EcoRacer. Similar to the EcoRacer though, the 3CC combines its environment friendliness with stunning good looks and a performance level to boot.