Remember our article looking at six of the best concept cars that we think deserve to be built? Well, today on the Prestone blog, we’re switching our focus to find the strangest, most out-there concepts that never made it to the forecourt.
From a car powered by magnets to another which drives on three spherical wheels; these extreme concepts are way too radical for the 21st century, but who knows what the future holds?
Peugeot Moovie Concept Car
Peugeot usually limit themselves to fairly conservative concepts, but it seems their design team were let off their leash when developing the Moovie Concept. Featuring two ludicrously big side wheels which run independently on an electric motor, the Peugeot Moovie is capable of rotating through 360° on its axis, making it perfect for squeezing into tight parking spaces and diving down narrow city streets. Could we be looking at the city car of the future?
eRinGo
With a name like eRinGo, you know this concept is going to be pretty weird — and with its ring-shaped design, it doesn’t disappoint. The eRinGo features a large wheel running around its centre, with a further two wheels on each side for stability. The driver and a single passenger sit in the middle of all this madness, and there are steering wheels for both occupants, allowing either to take control. Despite its weirdness, the eRinGo features technology that is becoming increasingly popular — a gyro/rotor system. We predict it won’t be long before more cars start incorporating this kind of technology.
A360 Concept
Part UFO, part fighter jet, part Babybel; the A360 Concept is arguably the weirdest concept car on our shortlist. Instead of traditional wheels, the A360 gets three spherical balls, meaning it can move in any direction at any given time. And, to ensure good all-round visibility, the cabin is capable of moving in the direction of travel, so you need never look through a rear-view mirror again. If the idea of spinning endlessly in your seat is enough to make you travel sick, don’t worry, the A360 is still just a cartoon.
BMW Lovos
BMW has been responsible for a handful of radical cars in recent years (just look at the i3 and i8), but none are as odd as the Lovos. Designed by artist Anne Forschner, the BMW Lovos is said to encourage motorists to “escape from the embrace of pleasant conformity” and notice the monotony of our mass-produced world. To achieve this, Forschner took a sleek aluminium body and covered it in 260 identical fish tails, which act as both air brakes and solar energy farms. Though eye-catching, we can’t see this catching on with British drivers anytime soon.
Honda Fuja-Jo
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Although April Fools’ Day isn’t celebrated in Japan, Honda’s Fuja-Jo concept is certainly up there among the best practical jokes of any western corporation. This absurd concept was first shown in 1999 at the Toyko Motor Show, and was met by bemusement from those in attendance. In Japanese, Fuja-Jo means ‘sleepless city’, a name which reflects the car’s design as “transport for party animals who demand the full excitement of night life”. The interior is themed to resemble a nightclub, with a DJ-themed dashboard and a powerful sound system to keep young revellers entertained. As far as concepts go, this is easily one of the worst ever dreamt up.
Mazda Nagare
First introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show of 2006; it’s impressive to think that Mazda came up with the Nagare concept over a decade ago — its fluid, nature-inspired body looking more a product of the 2100s than the 2000s. The Nagare is said to be an exercise in natural, organic car design, and we can certainly see that in the concept’s leaf-like exterior. Like the P-Eco, the Nagare did actually make it to the production line, but only one was built and Mazda has no plans to release it on a large scale.
Magnet Car
You guessed it; the Magnet Car is powered by magnets, and was designed to challenge traditional modes of transport and develop a more fuel-efficient way of powering an engine. The car features magnets which are the same polarity as the road (that’s the catch — roads must be magnetised), meaning that it effectively ‘floats’ over the surface. The aptly-named Magnet Car may be a long way from reality, but with huge demand for more energy efficient transport, we might not have seen the last of this bizarre concept.
P-Eco
The P-Eco might resemble a Star Wars Speeder, but it’s one of the only concepts on this shortlist that has actually been built. The brainchild of Korean inventor, Jung-Hoon Kim, the P-Eco is an all-electric car that boasts some seriously impressive technology. The car features four piezoelectric devices, which, when the car is switched on, vibrate at a high frequency to generate electricity. While it still needs charging, the P-Eco is said to offer greater mileage than any current electric vehicle; it’s just a shame it has no roof, no seats, no boot and no windscreen.
Whatever the future holds for the humble car, Prestone will be here to keep drivers moving. Our quality car care range is developed to work in all extremes and conditions, to protect your vehicle all year. To check out our complete product range, visit the Prestone website.
Image credits: Tristam Biggs, Wikimedia CC, Ian Muttoo
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