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Manufacturers' visions for future cars have evolved dramatically in the last few decades, and these 2010s concepts are sheer science fiction.
Every year, gearheads flock to top automotive shows like the Geneva Motor Show, Tokyo Motor Show, and New York International Auto Show hoping to see the new concept cars manufacturers have to show. Concept cars may not end up getting produced, but they allow manufacturers to show potential customers what they’ve been working on and get reactions, whether positive or negative.
RELATED: 10 Upcoming 2023 Cars That Are Worth Waiting For The last decade has been incredibly exciting for the auto industry as hybrids and electric cars became mainstream. Every automaker is working day and night to outdo the competition, which is why we have so many fantastic concept cars developed during that period. Let’s explore ten of the most impressive.
Mercedes-Benz stunned attendees at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas when they unveiled the insane Vision AVTR concept. The Vision AVTR was developed specifically to show how humans will likely be interacting with their cars in the future using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and Brain-computer interfaces (BCI).
The Vision AVTR looks like something straight out of a Sci-fi film, as it has a uniquely shaped body with transparent side panels, weirdly-shaped wheels that glow in the dark and can be operated independently, and 33 bionic flaps in the rear that can communicate with the outside world.
Like many European automakers, Rolls-Royce has accepted the fact that the automotive future is electric and is developing various models in preparation. One car that indicates what the future of Rolls-Royce might look like in the next few decades is the 103EX - or Vision Next 100.
This insane electric concept car provides a glimpse of how the rich and famous will be traveling in the future. It has an eye-catching futuristic design featuring a long front end with a tall grille, a rear-hinged door that allows occupants to stand up before exiting, and half-covered seats. Inside, the 103EX has a single rear seat where the owner will sit while it autonomously gets them to their destination.
Lordstown Motors is a small American EV automaker that's interesting in stealing a small part of Tesla's fast-growing market share. Lordstown's first vehicle is called the Endurance, and it'll likely be one of the best electric pickup trucks when it hits dealership floors next year.
Unlike most electric cars available today, the Endurance will have independent hub motors mounted on all four wheels, which will reduce the number of moving parts and overall maintenance costs.
Audi isn't the first manufacturer that comes to mind when you think of sports cars. However, the German marque is looking to change that in the coming years with a range of high-performance electric sports cars, with the Skysphere Concept leading the way.
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The Skysphere wowed gearheads when it debuted in 2021, largely thanks to its unique design. The Skysphere is the first 'transformer' supercar, as it can shorten or extend its wheelbase by 9.8 inches at the touch of a button.
Formerly part of Citroen, DS Automobiles has been trying to establish itself as one of the leading European EV and hybrid manufacturers. One concept that shows DS Automobiles will be a big player in the near future is the X E-Tense.
The first thing you instantly notice about the X E-Tense is its weird design, which DS prefers to call 'asymmetrical'. It looks like it's made up of two vehicles smooshed together, as the driver's side has an open-top design while the passenger side is enclosed in a cocoon.
We all love the Mazda RX-7, which is why it's currently among the most expensive Japanese classic cars you can buy. For decades, gearheads have been begging Mazda to build a worthy successor for the RX-7, and with the RX-Vision Concept expected to be in production in the coming years, it looks like they're finally getting one.
The RX-Vision was first presented at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, where it received a lot of praise for its gorgeous design. Like the RX-7, the RX-Vision will be powered by a Wankel rotary engine - a 2.6-liter naturally aspirated quad-rotor unit paired with a six-speed SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission.
Over the last decade, the EV industry has grown so much that we now have a wide selection of fast electric sports cars. Lamborghini has noticed this trend, and even though we’re a few years away from getting a fully electric Lambo, the Terzo Millenio shows that we will get there someday. The Terzo Millenio is an electric sports car concept that Lamborgini built in collaboration with The Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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The Terzo Millennio impressed many when it debuted in 2017, largely thanks to its futuristic design with glowing wheels. It is powered by a quad-motor system that stores its power in high-capacity supercapacitors instead of the more common Lithium-ion batteries.
Renault has been making affordable point A to B cars for most of its existence. However, if the Trezor concept is anything to go by, it looks like the French automaker is aiming higher up the market.
The Trezor debuted at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, where it wowed gearheads with its stunning design featuring a clamshell-type roof that opens up to allow for entry. It is powered by a 349-hp electric motor and has autonomous driving capabilities.
Yes, you read that right! After decades of dominating the home entertainment and appliances sector, Sony is looking to join the electric vehicle industry with the Vision-S Concept. The Vision-S concept was developed to showcase the platform that Sony will use to develop electric vehicles under its new subsidiary Sony Mobility.
Sony unveiled two concepts - the Vision-S 01 and 02. The 01 is a four-seat sedan while the 02 is a seven-seat SUV using the same platform.
Another fantastic concept that shows what Mercedes-Benz vehicles might look like in the future is the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet. The first thing that people noticed about this car is its beauty - it has a long hood, a curvaceous body with a sharp feature line that flows across the entire length of the vehicle, and a luxurious interior with a high-tech virtual cockpit.
It has an electric drivetrain made up of four electric motors that collectively produce 738 hp, giving it superb performance.
Martin is a seasoned content creator who has been writing about cars for over a decade, and has been in love with them for even longer. Growing up, Martin was surrounded by gearheads who instilled a deep love and understanding for cars in him at a young age. He loves to learn and write about all the developments happening in the auto industry - especially in the EV space. When he's not writing about cars, he likes to spend quality time with his wife, kids, and fur baby.