Concept cars always look to the future, and looking at this crop, it seems as though cars are going to be great to drive and they’ll be using less fuel than ever.
Maybe these concepts aren’t as flamboyant or crazy as they have been in past years, but they show just how hard the designers and engineers have been working to make innovative cars even in truly tough times.
This is just a selection of concepts we expect to see in New York. As always, we can’t show you all of them, because manufacturers like to keep some firmly under wraps until showtime. For example, we’ve heard a rumor of a Scion tD to get young hearts racing.
So to see them all, you’ll have to come down to the show.
GMC Granite
The Granite Concept takes the professional brand in a new direction, following the Nissan Cube and Scion xB. Its bank-vault styling also echoes Ford’s SynUS concept from 2005. GMC calls it an urban-industrial-style wagon for young professionals. GM designer Dave Lyon equates the shape with an urban loft.
The Granite can drive five people in comfort, and its flexible interior has ample cargo room, plus flip-folding seats that move out of the way for mountain bikes and more. The Granite’s right-side seats fold toward the center to create a long storage area, and has rear-hinged doors to give easy access.
With a 1.4-liter turbo charged engine, it should be a fun little car, even if it only reaches 138 horsepower.
If it goes into production, it would be the brand’s smallest vehicle ever.
Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
Cadillac claims that this stunning wagon is just a “show car” but the word on the street is that this car is almost production-ready.
Wagons have been Mom’s car since the days of stylish Chevy Nomads and Ford Ranch Wagons in the 1950s. Since the success of the X5 and Range Rover, SUVs have been cool and, recently, crossovers.
If you simply stick extra luggage space on the back of a sedan, however, rather than lifting the whole car up to rock-clambering heights, you can keep the same sporty handling and balance.
The name Wagon seems too “prairie” for this elegant and powerful Caddy. It’s specifications read like this: “V-Series performance thanks to a 556hp supercharged 6.2L V-8, a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with steering wheel shift controls, magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires.”
Don Butler, vice president for Cadillac marketing, said: “The CTS-V Sport Wagon is a natural extension of both the V-Series and the CTS lineup, offering an uncompromising performance car to enthusiasts who want the extra room of a wagon.”
Toyota FT CH
We could be looking at a smaller, cheaper brother for the Prius, aimed at a younger audience. Toyota hasn’t said for sure whether this concept is destined for the showroom floor, but is hinting at it.
The CH stands for compact hybrid, because it’s just 153 inches long and 68.5 inches wide. That’s 22 inches shorter that the Prius, although it loses less than an inch in overall width.
“Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil, we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales president. “A century after the invention of the automobile, we must reinvent it with powertrains that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of conventional petroleum fuels. One of many alternatives is through what is commonly called the electrification of the automobile. By far, the single most successful example of this has been the gas-electric hybrid.”
The FT-CH should thrive in the inner-city environment; it’s sized to be nimble, responsive and maneuverable — and promising low gas bills.
Mini Beachcomber
The Mini Beachcomber is a 1960s Moke for the 21st century, or maybe it’s more like the VW beach buggy.
Beneath all the fun, the concept revealed clues to the look, size, interior layout and mechanics of the new Countryman Crossover, which can be seen at this year’s New York show.
Note the four-door body and four-seat cabin, a turbo charged 1.6-liter engine and four-wheel drive.
The Beachcomber’s design hints at some off-road ability, with generous ground clearance, protective cladding, underbody skid plates and mud-terrain tires. Short front and rear overhangs would also help. The Countryman does offer four-wheel drive, but no serious off-roading intentions.
The new Crossover is not the only new Mini to be heading our way soon. The company has also given a green light to a Coupe and Roadster.
VW New Compact Coupe (NCC)
The NCC hybrid concept is powered by a combination of Volkswagen’s 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged and intercooled gasoline engines, delivering an impressive 150 hp and 177 pounds per foot of pulling power, or torque, and an electric drive motor with 27 hp. Both units can work together, with the electric motor providing an added boost of power, or the NCC can run in full electric mode. All told, the NCC is capable of achieving a combined fuel economy rating of 45 mpg.
A seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox transmission (DSG) keeps power on tap while aiding efficiency, and the electric motor can help to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack during braking.
The NCC has an aggressive front end, with all-new Bi-Xenon headlights, LED running lights, and large, inset cooling ducts. Its profile is elegant, featuring emphasized curves, a high tornado line and large 19-inch wheels.
Will it go on sale? VW isn’t saying, but it certainly looks finished.