Throughout the evolution of the automotive industry, cars have taken different shapes and functions that keep changing and unfolding.
There are and there have been some good cars, some bad cars, some ugly cars, and of course, some really cool cars. That last category is the focus of this article. I’ve decided to compile a list of some of the coolest cars in the world, either current, old, or… from a maybe not so distant future.
This list is, of course, totally subjective, and by no means comprehensive. I’ve chosen to write mostly about concepts cars, because, well… there are some pretty cool ones. You’ll also find videos and pictures for your viewing pleasure. Go on and check out the list, and you’ll see one cool car after another…
11. Google Self Driving Car (currently in development) – Look Mom, No Hands!
Sure you’ve heard all the craze about self driving cars. It’s a race, and the stakes are high. So far, Google seems to be the front runner.
In Silicon Valley, Apple, Tesla, Uber and Google are competing to build a completely autonomous car. Auto makers such as BMW, Tesla, Mercedes, Cadillac and Mitsubishi already offer vehicles with different degrees of (semi) autonomy. But the folks at Google X are developing this fully automated vehicle that doesn’t even have a steering wheel, or pedals. Enter the car, tell it where you want to go and it will take you there. Neat, uh?
Of course, getting a car to work like this implies developing some very sophisticated software and technology. The car has to be able to “sense” all the elements around it, and take decisions accordingly, just like a human driver would. Not an easy task, I guess. And probably one of the reasons why this project has been several years in the making. But they’re almost there.
Wondering about the looks? Matthew Inman from TheOatmeal called it “an adorable Skynet Marshmallow Bumper Bot”. Brilliant. His explanation: by making it look round, cute and small Google hopes to “spiritually disarm” other impatient drivers. And, sooner or later, Google plans to put it on the market. You can visit the Self-Driving Car Project here.
Check out the video:
10. Aston Martin CC100 (2013) – The Nostalgic Speedster
In my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful cars ever made. This cutie is based on Aston Martin’s 1951 DBR1, arguably the most successful racing car built by the company (and quite a looker, too).
Designed and constructed in less than 6 months, it was unveiled in May 2013 to celebrate the car maker’s 100th anniversary. It has no roof or glass, and instead of conventional doors, there’s a pair of special “safety bars”. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just over 4 seconds, and its top is speed is limited to 180 mph (290 km/h). The two cars Aston Martin built were sold to two different customers in England, each for 500,00 UK pounds (around USD 770,000 at the time). Oh well. Guess I was too late.
See it in action:
The Aston Martin folks built an awesome website for this car. You can check it out here.
9. BMW Gina Light Visionary (2001-2008) – It’s Alive!
Let me say that this one could actually be the coolest car in the world. GINA stands for Geometry and functions in ‘N’ (an infinite number of) adaptations. This is a shape-shifting car covered with “skin” – polyurethane coated fabric that’s flexible, stretchable, resistant to water, extreme temperatures and movement. The chassis is constructed of aluminum wire and carbon, an underlying structure that can move and change in shape.
Enter the car and you will notice how the steering wheel and instruments will move to assume the driving position. The headrest, previously hidden, will rise up to accommodate your head. When the wing doors close, they’ll leave a perfectly smooth, seamless surface on the outside. Turn on the headlights and the skin will “open” to reveal them, just like eyelids uncovering the eyes. The rocker panels can reshape themselves. It can grow a rear spoiler when reaching higher speeds. With 7 years in the making, it’s strange, beautiful, and definitely cool.
Chris Bangle from BMW talks about the design here:
Bonus Video:
8. Peugeot Onyx (2012) – Paper Mache Power
Looks great, doesn’t it? Peugeot says that the Onyx was “sculpted using materials processed as little as possible”. The cool two tone color scheme on the outside comes from the use of carbon fiber and copper. The interior was inspired by an egg box (!), which may explain why everything is covered in woven wool felt. The dashboard sort of looks like wood, but it’s actually made from compacted recycled newspapers.
Weighing only 1,110 kg (2425 pounds), and equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.7-liter diesel V8 engine, it can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.2 seconds. This is a powerful car with a hybrid component. The V8 produces 600 horsepower, and a temporary 80 hp boost is available from the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), which recovers energy from braking. Peugeot’s racing program was cancelled due to financial concerns, and (sadly) the Onyx will not go into mass production anytime soon, but hopefully we can see some of these looks and technology in Peugeot’s future offerings.
Here’s James May from Top Gear checking the Onyx out:
7. Mazda Taiki (2007) – The Celestial Dancer
Taiki is the Japanese word for “atmosphere”, and according to Mazda, this car “visually expresses the atmosphere that wraps the Earth in its protective mantle”. It’s meant to represent the natural movement of the air, and even the wheels and tires were designed with aerodynamics in mind. The interior details, coloured in black and white, also intend to depict the flow of the wind.
This car’s futuristic appearance is actually inspired in tales of the past: the design was based in “the image of a pair of Hagoromo – the flowing robes that enable a celestial maiden to fly in japanese legends”. It looks pretty cool, if you ask me.
This is the video Mazda made to promote the Taiki:
6. BMW Homage 328(2011) – Just… YES
The BMW 328 Touring Coupe still holds the record for the highest average speed on the Mille Miglia race – 103,6 mph (166,7 km/h), which, in 1940, was quite an impressive feat. It was a fast, lightweight, and really good looking car. The Homage 328 made in its honour looks stunning.
Made of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic), which is lighter and stronger than aluminium, this car weighs only 780 kilos (1720 pounds). Notice the “pepper-pot” hole pattern in the alloy wheels, the kidney grille at the front, the slightly assimetric windscreen, the leather bonnet stripes, and the no door-recessed body, all modern reinterpretations of its predecessor’s design. In harmony with the new information era, the minimalistic panel has a couple of iphones placed in custom holders for timing, GPS and navigation functions (or playing Angry birds, if that’s what you fancy).
BMW never divulged any technical details beyond the engine size and type (3.0 litre straight six engine), and this was a one-off car. Still, it’s a joy to look at.
You can find many more ultra-high resolution pictures of the BMW Homage 328 here. And here’s the video:
5. Lexus LF-LC (2012) – The “Boring” Killer
This is a gorgeous hybrid sports car that actually went from concept to production, and is expected to be hitting the roads some time in 2018. First unveiled in the 2012 Detroit auto show, and followed up by the LF-LC 2 concept, Lexus gave the go-ahead for production in March 2013.
Designed as a 2+2 coupe (yes, you can fit 4 persons inside!), it will have at least two different variants: the LC500, sporting a 5.0 litre V8 engine and 467 hp, and an hybrid version named LC500h.
Why is it so cool? Look at the pictures – the funky headlights, the spindle grille, the beautiful fluid body. The race car-inspired sculpted bucket seats, the navigation screens, the touchpad controlled door locks, windows, mirrors and seats. It’s fast (0 to 60 mph in just under 4.5 seconds). It’s a hybrid. And it’s really good looking. For a brand that’s often criticized as “boring”, they sure outdid themselves this time. Many of the equipment and technology details are still under wraps, as is the price tag, so expect more news to come…
Here’s a cool video of the design process – and the car in action:
4. Infiniti Essence (2009) – The Luxury Beast
Back in 2009, the Essence was designed to celebrate the 20 years of the japanese brand Infiniti in the car industry. It featured lots of groundbreaking technology for the time – side-view cameras, paddle shifters, and safety systems with names such as lane departure prevention (LDP), distance control assist (DCA), back-up collision prevention (BCP), and side collision prevention (SCP). All of this means that it could, for instance, brake the car for you if you didn’t notice you were getting too close to other vehicles or obstacles.
This hybrid car was capable of zero emission driving when using a custom designed “3D electric motor”. Combine it with a 3.7 litre, dual overhead cam, V-6 engine plus direct injection and twin turbo chargers (able to deliver 434 hp), and you have a total combined power of 592 hp. Not to mention the cool, elegant ”coke bottle” looks. Oh, and the floor slides out when the trunk is open so you can access… a three Louis Vutton luggage set (!). It is said that a production model is in the works…
Here’s the Essence at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show:
3. Buick Riviera Concept (2013) – Holographic Wireless Dreams
Did you know that there’s a Chinese saying that goes, “The greatest good is like water”? I didn’t, but I guess it sort of makes sense. Anyway, it turns out that this saying gave Buick designers something to think about… this is Buick’s idea of “adapting the brand’s famous image for a new era“, and, simply put, it flows.
This car came with all sorts of cool stuff, such as gullwing doors, luminous blue lightning, night view assist, an autopilot system, and of course, the set of 10 high resolution cameras and 18 high precision sensors that scan the surroundings for safety information, presenting the driver an holographic image on the windshield. To top it up, it’s a plug-in hybrid, and it can be charged wirelessly (no need to worry about jump starting your battery!).
This is the video made for the debut of the Riviera Concept at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show:
2. Ford GT 90 (1995) – The Blast From the Past
This is a mighty car. As Patrick George from Jalopnik cleverly points out, somehow it seems to have remained in the collective consciousness since its inception in 1995. You’ll find people complaining that it never went into production as it was originally intended, you’ll see it in videogames, and you’ll even hear about people attempting to build it themselves.
Even though it was constructed in 1995, it looks surprisingly modern. And breathtakingly beautiful. It debuted a new style of design, that they called “New Edge Design Language”. Ford later translated this style into models such as the Ka, Cougar, Puma and Focus.
Equipped with a 6.0 litre V12 engine with 4 turbochargers, and capable of delivering 720 hp and 660 pound feet of torque at the rear wheels, at the time, the GT90 was considered the most powerful car in existence. It went from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, and it could run as fast as 230-235 mph (370 -378 km/h). Still nowadays, that’s nothing to sneeze at – one notch above the Aston Martin One 77 (220 mph or 354 km/h), and side by side with the Pagani Huayra, currently considered two of the ten fastest cars in the world.
Building the GT 90 took 6 months and 3 million dollars. Why they never built a commercial version remains a mistery. Perhaps it just didn’t seem such a good business at the time. 14 years later, in December 2009, RM Auctions offered the only GT90 ever built at their Arizona sale, which, of course, created a lot of buzz. And then they pulled it out just before the event. Sad but true.
By the way, did I mention the really, really blue interior? And the cool spaceship looks?
The guys from Top Gear took the GT 90 for a road test in 1995, and this is their testimony:
1. SkyRunner MK 3.2 (2016) – Cruisin’ the Skies
It may sound like something pulled out of a science fiction story, or a James Bond movie. But believe it or not, there’s a bunch of companies and several hundred million dollars invested in developing flying cars. Google co-Founder Larry Page owns Zee.Aero and Kitty Hawk. Terrafugia and Aeromobil have functional flying car prototypes. Then there’s the Maverick Flying car. And even though, strictly speaking, the SkyRunner MK 3.2 is an off-road vehicle, we could say it’s also one of the few flying cars that have ever gone into production, since achieving full certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration in June 2016.
At first glance it may resemble a two-seater buggy. But if you look beyond the steel exo-skeleton, the carbon fiber and the aircraft-grade aluminum panels, you’ll see the large propeller in the back. “Most great automotive engines do not make good aircraft engines, and most great aircraft engines don’t make good automotive engines”, they say. So they decided to go for a two engine design – the 89 hp ProStar 1000 four stroke twin cylinder drives the wheels using a continuous variable transmission system, and the Rotax 912 USL engine takes care of the propeller in the back.
In rough terrain, you can reach 75 mph (120 km/h). When you are ready to take off, the parafoil wings unfold and the Rotax engine allows you to cruise the skys at heights of up to 10,000 feet (3048 m), and go as fast as 52 mph (83 km/h). The parafoil design provides greater stability and safety compared to “airplane” wings, so all you need is a sports pilot license. This is a sweet blend of off-road engineering and aviation technology.
Oh, there’s even an option for pro caterpillar tracks, in case you are worried about torrential rain or heavy snow. Or you could go for the set of “augmented reality driving and flight goggles”.
Alright, I might have to take it back. This should be crowned the coolest car in the world. Sorry GINA. Now, if someone could build me a time-traveling DeLorian…
This is a short video of the MK 3.2 in action. I don’t know what’s with all the guns though.
Special Mention: Mercedes Benz Biome (2010) – The Car Grown in the Lab
This car was conceived by Mercedes designers as “the perfect car of the future” and meant to be “an ultra-light vehicle at one with nature”. According to Hubert Lee, head of the Mercedes Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad,
“the Biome is a natural technology hybrid and forms part of our earth’s ecosystem. It grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree. It will be made from “BioFibre” and weigh just 875lbs (397kg). BioFibre, you see, will be grown from proprietary DNA in the MB nursery, where it will collect energy from the sun and store it in a liquid chemical bond called BioNectar4534.”
“The interior of the BIOME grows from the DNA in the Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle, while the exterior grows from the star on the rear. To accommodate specific customer requirements, the Mercedes star is genetically engineered in each case, and the vehicle grows when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule. The wheels are grown from four separate seeds”.
If that wasn’t enough, it’s meant to be fully bio-degradable. The thing is… BioFibre hasn’t been invented yet, and neither has the technology to grow a car using a genetically engineered code. BioNectar4534 doesn’t exist outside the realm of imagination. The pictures you are seeing are a full scale mock up model. Still, it’s a really cool concept, and in Hubert Lee’s words,
“There are elements within the design that could easily be progressed and developed for production.”
Maybe one day soon…
Here’s a short video of the Biome at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin:
So, there you have it. I hope you liked the 12 cool cars in this list.
By the way, in case you are wondering, concept cars are experimental, prototype cars made to test new technologies and designs, gauge customer reaction and show off the skills of car designers and manufacturers. Many of these cars are super cool, exotic, futuristic, and radical, so it’s a shame that most of them never go into production. There are many, many more cool concept cars I could have included here, but the thing is… even though they’ve been designed, they have never been built, and thus they remain a concept. With the sole exception of the Biome, which is way too cool not to deserve a mention, all of the cars in this list have actually been constructed as fully functional models, and are out there, somewhere in the world. So if you happen to bump into one of them, be sure to enjoy, and please let me know!