You remember the Jetsons – that space age family with all their mishaps, a robot maid and a pretty sweet flying car. With the space race of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Americans thought more about the future than they had ever done before and with good reason. The post-war economy was booming, life was vastly improving for the middle class and technology was developing faster in those few decades than it had done in the previous centuries. It seems natural, then, that car enthusiasts and science fiction fans began to speculate as to what the future held in terms of high-tech transportation and that’s a curiosity that 21st century inhabitants have inherited.
What seemed incredible and outlandish then – a mapping device in James Bond’s 1960s Aston Martin, for example, which would become a feature more and more common in today’s vehicles in the form of GPS navigation – has at least partly come true now, from upgrades to your Hyundai Sonata Mirror to other advancements. It’s an impressive journey tracing the technological development in the past forty, fifty years and it makes you wonder what’s still to come. Moreover, it also makes you ponder which “crazy” ideas now will become reality later. All over the world auto makers experiment with cars from the near future and while it might be a few years (or decades) until showroom concepts become dealership best-sellers, it’s no less thrilling to consider the possibilities for consumers.
Audi e-tron
With the first e-trons expected to appear in showrooms in 2014, the Audi electric-hybrid is expected to change the way the world looks at and thinks about alternative fuel technology. While much is still unknown about the vehicle, what has been released describes four electric engines (one for each wheel), producing 3,320 pound-feet of torque and a top speed of 124 miles per hour, plus a 150-mile range on one full charge. The conceptual model includes technology that enables the car to communicate with other cars or even road signs.
Chrysler 200C EV
Another plug-in hybrid from American automaker Chrysler, this vehicle is expected to last about 40 miles on one charge in battery-only mode (putting it about right on par with other current electronic vehicle, or EV, models available now), while it propels passengers forward at zero to 60 in about seven seconds and reaches speeds of over 120 mph. With a touch screen providing control over the interior multimedia system and flooring said to be designed based on the inspiration of a Zen rock garden, if Chrysler ever gets the 200C EV to the showroom, this midsize sedan might be a good option for everyday American families.
Volkwagen Bulli
With an expected release date in 2014, the VW Bulli has sparked a lot of interest since the concept model was unveiled in 2011. Resembling that old hippy ferry from the 1960s, the incomparable VW bus, the retro-inspired Bulli would look right at home next to its sister update, the rereleased Beetle. According to rumor, it’s could also be an EV with a range of 185 miles and a charge time of just an hour. Yet news lately has been scarce, so there’s no recent word on how production is coming along.
Kinetia Cuboy Concept
From developer Sasank Gopinathan, the Cuboy takes mini and compact to a whole new level of small. The box-shaped vehicle seats three, one in front and two in back, with two doors – one in the front for the driver and one in the back for the two passengers. Its headlamps are detachable, the steering wheel is collapsible and the round design makes for easy parking no matter where you go. Chances are, this car would cause a lot of those hopeful moments in crowded mall parking lots where you think there’s an excellent free spot near the front – but no, it’s taken by a tiny, hidden Cuboy.
Viera Concept Car
A single seat is all you get in this concept car, which is the brainchild of two South Korean design students. The Viera revolutionizes the auto world with a front intake valve which sucks in polluted air, filters it and released clean air. The wheel and axle system on the Viera complements the narrow body, allowing for easy maneuvering on crowded city streets, while the four wheels can be adjusted for better stability on different road conditions.
About the Author: Stacy Ells is a contributing writer. She’s fascinated by concept cars, but until then, she’s working away on her own car, searching for parts like a Sonata side view mirror among others.
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