Electric Luxury Cars have their future in form of MERCEDES-MAYBACH 6 CONCEPT

With both the features and looks of retro and modern age, Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept become the future of all the electric cars. Mercedes-Maybach 6 is extremely luxurious, and in addition to that, it is comfortable. With the specifications, it is a sports car, which gives you a feel of the luxury car as well.

The concept of this car comes after the release of Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 concept. This is a four seater car all-electric vehicle was initially unveiled during the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance weekend.

The length of this car is around 6 meters which are around 18.5 feet long. Its roofline would be low and the hood would seem to go on for miles. According to Mercedes-Benz, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG Gorden Wagener said that the glamorous Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept is representing the ultimate in contemporary luxury. "It is hot and cool." It perfectly embodies the design philosophy of sensual purity and the company's pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency.

The maximum output of this car is 750bhp, according to the german carmaker.  Its acceleration 0-100 km/h can be achieved in less than 4 seconds. Its shallow underfloor battery has a capacity of 80 kWh.

The seat gives you luxury enough so that your body will thank you for the comfort you provide it. In short, this car is sporty by feature and luxurious by design. It is a magical electrical car.

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Future Automotive Technologies in 2017 - From Personal Assistants to Augmented Reality Systems

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Automakers have unveiled at CES 2017 Las Vegas personal assistants to make road trips more comfortable, and augmented reality systems that improve the experience of buying a car.

In recent years, the cars that we see every day on the streets have begun to benefit from a number of major improvements, such as Internet connectivity, electric propulsion and various autonomic functions.

In this context, the link between vehicles and other types of products such as smartphones or smart homes has become increasingly stronger, and manufacturers have started attending technology fairs as a complement, or in some cases as an alternative to car showrooms. This is the case of the technology fair Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where many manufacturers presented their vision of the future for the automotive industry.

The Germans from BMW unveiled at CES the BMW i Inside Future concept, which as the name suggests, is a vision about the interior for futu re cars. As part of this concept, BMW introduces HoloActive Touch, a system that combines the operation of a smartphone with gestures already available in the BMW 7 Series.

Basically we are talking about a virtual touchscreen in the form of a hologram on which the driver performs commands with his finger without touching a physical surface. The concept is visible just off the steering wheel to the appropriate height of the center console and a video camera detects hand movements in a certain area and records the position of the fingers.

When you press your finger on a function, the system emits a pulse through which the driver knows that his action was registered and activated.

With the launch of a new futuristic concept, Toyota introduced the integrated personal assistant Yui, with the role to customize the car, which becomes a traveling companion with whom you can discuss various topics and even warns you when you're tired. Thus, interaction with Yui goes from a simple discussion on current issues all the way to Yui taking complete control of a car to steer it automatically.

Audi announced at CES that it will develop autonomous cars by 2020 with Nvidia, a company known mainly for dedicated video cards for computers and laptops. Nvidia is working on this technology for two years, and the new computer for autonomous cars is known as Xavier.The Audi models will reach autonomy level 4, which means that the cars can drive themselves in most situations. For starters, Audi has demonstrated at CES the autonomous skills of a Q7 model.

Other solutions come from Ford which will soon allow you to talk to the car via personal assistant, Alexa developed by Amazon. Mercedes announced from late last year that they will use Google Assistant, while General Motors will launch a similar partnership with the Watson assistant from from IBM. Through these assistants, you can find out the weather forecast or you can order food through a simple voice command.

Intel and Qualcomm, two of the major processor manufacturers, announced automotive versions of their products. Gathered under the name Go, Intel processors will be adapted in versions for desktop and laptop computers, as well as modems integrated into chipsets that will enable 5G speed Internet connection. The folks at Qualcomm have announced a partnership with Volkswagen to provide 4G modems for 2018 models, as well as Snapdragon 820A processors from 2019.

Study Says Automakers Need New Business Model For Plug-in Car Sales

Automakers are on the cusp of seeing consumer demand grow sizably for electric cars, but they're being stifled by competition from conventional powertrains, automation, and mobility services.

This is according to a new global consumer study by McKinsey & Co. that points to strategies global automakers can adopt to tap into these market trends and build off consumer interest in plug-in electrified vehicles (PEVs).

Automakers face the challenge of making more investments in manufacturing and marketing the next generation of PEVs. Competition for spending has been increasing by research and development costs in new fuel efficient technologies to meet global government rules for emissions reductions; and fascination with new and expensive technologies for connected, autonomous vehicles, and shared mobility services of the future.

McKinsey conducted an online global survey on PEV consumer preferences in two studies. One surveyed about 3,500 consumers in the U.S., Germany, and Norway; and the second study surveyed about 3,500 consumers in China. The focus of the study was delving into consumer perceptions during the buying process, comparing potential PEV buyers to actual PEV owners.

Interest is very strong among both study groups, and understanding of the technology is getting better. About half the surveyed consumers in the U.S. and Germany say they understand how PEVs and related technology work. Between 30-and-45 percent of vehicle buyers in the U.S. and Germany, respectively consider a PEV purchase today; and strong demand is being seen in Norway and China.

Reaching that other 50 percent of consumers not yet familiar with PEVs and related technology points to a vast opportunity for automakers to run focused marketing and consumer education campaigns, McKinsey said.

Technology developments are helping increase PEV sales and consumer support. Decreasing battery prices, increasing range, and accelerating the charging infrastructure is starting to see results. Increased urbanization in crowded cities and governments toughening up on emissions regulations are playing their part in PEV sales growth, as well.

Barriers in the Market

However, serious challenges are keeping PEV sales stuck around 1 percent of the total in the U.S. and other key markets. "Unfavorable battery economics" is the first challenge the study profiles. McKinsey reported that the price is still too high, with a 60 kWh battery being a $13,600 component of the car last year. You also have to add in additional costs of building a PEV including e-motors, high-voltage wiring, on-board chargers, and inverters.

Automakers are still seeing better return on investment in deploying new, advanced technologies for fuel economy gains. These would include transmission improvements, lightweighting, aerodynamics, stop-start, turbocharging, and downsizing vehicles. Automakers are on the edge of having to increase their investments substantially to go the next level with more aggressive downsizing and other enhancements.

Another challenge is facing what the study calls a "capital crunch," where investing in autonomous, connected technology puts carmakers in a situation where R&D budgets are being tapped into with little left for PEV development. Opening up another plant, tooling, R&D spend, and "go-to-market" strategies need a lot of capital.

McKinsey sees another problem to overcome as the "supply/demand mismatch. The premium vehicle market is being well served by Tesla Motors and a few other luxury electric models on the market. For the consumers surveyed in the study, some needs are not being met for smaller cars, SUVs, and crossovers.

Looking at Solutions

The institutional changes behind companies testing autonomous vehicles, along with shared, connected, and electrified systems, also offer a set up opportunities for automakers. As the table below shows, these new developments will cost a lot in capital but do open doors for meeting emissions regulations and better serving growing market niches.

Diversifying the PEV product offerings will be a big part of seeing sales grow, along with addressing consumer misconceptions about how the technology works. A large gap exists among those studies between perceived and real-world range for owners of PEVs. That's also where experiences of current PEV owners can come to play with much of it coming down to how they drive their PEVs; they understand how much battery power they typically use, depending on their own driving performance, and how charging is typically done.

Another opportunity is to address misconceptions about PEV maintenance costs and vehicle reliability. Based on a comparison in the study of five PEVs from five different automakers and their comparable sized internal combustion engine counterparts from these same brands, PEVs typically had 20-to-40 percent lower maintenance costs over a five-year period.

The study found that traditional automakers have a lot more opportunity to compete with Tesla than they think they have. On the premium and luxury vehicle side, Tesla still has the advantage with consumers. What was surprising for McKinsey was how consumers in the study indicated that their highest levels of trust in PEV models overall come from established automakers. The potential is great for those established global automakers who can develop PEV-specific brands or sub-brands, according to the consulting firm.

Long-term, McKinsey sees that most successful automakers will be the ones who can integrate new automated technologies, electrification, and growth in mobility services and shared rides. This will be built around better targeted marketing campaigns reaching different consumer segments.

For example, consumers in cities want to see more options in "less costly, purpose-built EVs with smaller battery packs and shorter ranges." McKinsey sees real opportunity in serving consumers who want more basic mobility solutions.

Other consumer segments studies want more of the other option – they have high expectations for driving utility and want to see longer range per charge. These large consumers groups were labelled in the study as "urban families," "trendy families," "high-tech status seekers," and "feature-focused buyers."

New Business Model

Coming from a new business model will also be necessary for automakers to succeed in the fast-changing global market, the study said. Instead of focusing on purchase prices or traditional lease rates, automakers should switch over to the total cost of ownership (TCO) business model. They would be selling the reduced cost of owning a PEV versus a traditional gasoline-engine car over the lifecycle in fuel and maintenance costs.

Growth in ride-hailing, carsharing, and peer-to-peer car rental also points to another opportunity for automakers to change their way of thinking about the corporate business model. For example, companies like Uber and Lyft may find the fleets entering the ride-hailing business may find PEVs more attractive with lower operating costs than traditional ICE vehicles. The study found that more than 30 percent of those surveyed would prefer a PEV model over an ICE when using "e-hailing" services; and about 35 percent would pay a premium to ride in a PEV.

Tesla was founded with an EV-centric business model.

Automakers and other companies can maintain a PEV fleet for carsharing services. Consumers who subscribe to their service, such as Maven, Zipcar, and Car2go, can be incentivized to choose a PEV and would likely enjoy the experience. They could also choose a large SUV for weekend road trips then go back to a PEV during the week. This business model could also present a solution to automakers complying with zero emission vehicle and other clean vehicle mandates around the world.

P2P (peer-to-peer) car rental is another concept looked at in the study. Some Tesla owners already use this model today, renting out their Model S on P2P sharing apps for one week per month, according to the study. This could be another way to reach consumer segments such as those living in cities who don't want to own a car, but occasionally need access to one. It also provides a side income source for consumers who own a PEV and are willing to rent out their electric car when it's not being used in the owner's household.

James Bond Belongs Behind the Wheel of This Stunning Alfa Romeo Concept Design

Italian automotive designer Antonio Paglia has rendered a killer concept car design for an Alfa Romeo C18, one so sharp and exciting it's received plenty of notice, such as Auto Magazine's video rendering of his images above.

Along with the signature Alfa Romeo grille, Paglia's C18 has an incredibly sleek, almost seamless look, enhanced with LED headlights and running lights. The hood melds right into the windshield and over the passenger area—it would likely rely on VR to enhance the driving experience beyond the usual field of vision. 

Antonio Paglia

Paglia based his conception on the C8 Competizione, a powerful streamlined ride bearing a Maserati V8 turbocharged engine and 450 horses under the hood. The C8 was itself an ode to the 6C 2500 Competizione, a noted racing car from the early 1950s. 

Antonio Paglia

Naturally Paglia included renderings with the C18's potential as a race car in mind, perhaps a nod toward the design's—and Alfa Romeo's—racing DNA.

Antonio Paglia

For a much deeper dive, check out the designer's online display here. There's no telling if one of these beauties will roll off the line anytime soon, but if Paglia's genius makes it into physical form, we'd suggest producers of future James Bond films take note as well—007 would be totally at home powering one of these off some high Italian cliff into the Mediterranean one day.

h/t HighSnobiety

DS Sports Car Concept Could Get A Production Future

Posted on 01.27.2017 16:00 by Kirby Garlitos +

With so many concept debuts happening in any given year in the automotive world, it's hard to keep track of all these prototypes. There are a few though that stick in our heads, either because of their dramatic good looks or their impressive performance credentials. Then there are those that hit us squarely on both spots and these are the concepts that we actually look forward to seeing production guise. The DS E-Tense Concept from the 2016 Geneva Motor Show counts as one of these concepts and according to Autocar, we might end up seeing a production version of the electric supercar a lot sooner than we had hoped for.

Apparently, DS, the luxury division of the PSA Group that was born out of French automaker Citroen has filed a trademark for the E-Tense name, a sign that the automaker has bigger plans for the concept that stole the show in Geneva last year. Granted, filing a trademark doesn't automatically mean that the name in question will be used in production form. We've seen automakers file trademarks in the past before, only to not do anything with them.

But there are reasons to believe that DS has plans to use the E-Tense name in the future. For one, PSA boss Carlos Tavares has made his opinions clear of a performance car acting as a halo model for DS. The man thinks that there's enormous potential for the car if it does end up going to production. The French auto giant even took the E-Tense Concept out on the streets of Paris shortly after its debut in Geneva to gauge public reaction for the car. Then there's the fact that despite being labeled as a concept, DS actually built the model to production car standards, allowing it to be used as technology demonstrator to showcase all of its wares in real-world settings.

Read the tea leaves and there is cause to be optimistic about the E-Tense Concept's chance of making it to production. Just don't expect it to happen right away because the priority within the DS brand is to introduce an SUV to the market by 2018. That's the more pressing concern at the moment. Once the SUV is out though, look for the buzz surrounding the E-Tense Concept to pick up once again.

Continue reading for the full story.

Good move by DS, even if the results are unlikely to show yet

I can't speak for the preferences of other people, but I can tell you that I'm a big fan of the DS E-Tense Concept when it was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. A 400-horsepower electric sports car with the looks that could back up its capabilities would be a great flagship model for a DS luxury brand that's still trying to find stability after having just recently been turned into its own sub-brand.

That's one of the biggest reasons why I think a production version of the E-Tense Concept could work, but it's far from the only reason if you consider how the industry itself is evolving to the point that electric performance cars are becoming more and more popular these days.

There's a whole new segment that's opening up here and PSA and DS would be smart to capitalize on it, especially when a lot of the E-Tense's perceived rivals are also in similar – maybe a little bit more advanced – stages of development. We all know that a big part of success in the industry can be attributed to taking advantage of opportunities that present itself to automakers. Seize these opportunities and you put yourself in an advantageous position to attract success for your model.

I think that's what DS has in front of it and it's playing its cards right by looking at the potential of the E-Tense Concept as a production performance car and being proactive in considering the need of a halo car for the new brand. Whether this trademark filing amounts to anything is a question that will only be answered over time. But the signs point to it happening at some point in the future and that's a good thing for DS as it tries to establish an identity for itself.

Gallery DS E-Tense Concept

Read our full review on the DS E-Tense Concept here.

Toyota is back with an array of sport concept vehicles.

Toyota to Show Supra Concept in October (Plus Two More Sports Concepts)

Japan's signature auto show, the Tokyo auto show, was a must-see extravaganza of the country's future sports-car ideas and eccentric concept cars throughout the 1990s. Then, as the Shanghai and Beijing auto shows grew in prominence and Korean cars started eating into Japan's global market share, the Tokyo event lost its luster, dropping to second-tier status on [...]

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Toyota to Show Supra Concept in October (Plus Two More Sports Concepts)

Japan's signature auto show, the Tokyo auto show, was a must-see extravaganza of the country's future sports-car ideas and eccentric concept cars throughout the 1990s. Then, as the Shanghai and Beijing auto shows grew in prominence and Korean cars started eating into Japan's global market share, the Tokyo event lost its luster, dropping to second-tier status on the international calendar of car shows. And there it has stayed for the past decade. (It doesn't help that the show is held only every other year.) But that won't be the case in 2017, in large part because of one debut: the Toyota Supra concept.

The Supra concept leads a show-car trio from Toyota that also will include, according to the Japanese magazine Best Car, Toyota's S-FR and Corolla GTI concepts. We first saw the next-generation Supra's design direction when the company unveiled its FT-1 concept in January 2014, and the final product will take strong styling hints from that car, as the rendering published here shows. The final design is a collaboration between Toyota's headquarters in Toyota City and the company's Calty studio, located in California.

Co-developed with BMW and using the same rear-wheel-drive platform as the upcoming Z5, we can expect to see the Supra powered by Toyota's own 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and a flagship 340-hp turbo 3.0-liter V-6 married to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. A 2.5-liter hybrid is expected to join the lineup a year after the launch in late 2018. Although still a concept, the Tokyo car is described as very close to production.

The BMW Z5, on the other hand, will employ the German company's turbocharged inline-four and straight-six powerplants and incorporate special lightweight carbon-fiber technology borrowed from the i3 and i8. It's slated for a Frankfurt auto show debut in September.

In an attempt to show that Toyota means business with its effort to create a stronger sports-car range—one that encompasses small, medium and large sports cars—Japan's number-one automaker also will unveil a purist coupe called the S-FR II concept, an evolution of the concept seen at the 2015 Tokyo auto show. With its huge grille, funky proportions, and short overhangs, the tiny rear-wheel-drive coupe will slot in at the bottom of Toyota's sports-car lineup. It's powered by a 116-hp turbocharged 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine or a 130-hp naturally aspirated 1.5-liter inline-four, with both versions expected to be offered with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Toyota's "Mr. 86," Tetsuya Tada, father of the Scion FR-S (now the Toyota 86), has been tasked with bringing the S-FR to global markets at a starting price under $15,000—and , yes, that potentially could include the United States.

Rounding out Toyota's sporty concepts will be a GTI version of the Corolla. Based on the new 12th-generation car due out later this year, which will use Toyota's New Global Architecture (TNGA), the GTI is a four-door hatchback packing a 250-hp 2.0-liter turbo four and a specially tuned suspension in an effort to go up against the Volkswagen GTI.

Combine the high-profile splash of three sports-car debuts at the Tokyo show with a hoped-for win at Le Mans after last year's engine failure on the final lap, a welcome return to the World Rally Championships, and the all-new Lexus LC500–based GT3 challenging the top runners in Japan's Super GT series, and it looks like 2017 could reshape Toyota's image and inject some passion back into the brand.

Nissan Fairlady Z concept set for Tokyo 2017 debut

It's definitely not among the most in-demand sports cars today, having been largely forgotten even in enthusiast circles. Remember Nissan's Z-car? It has been around in current 370Z form for over eight years now, and we're thankful/surprised that Nissan hasn't already culled the brawny RWD sports car.

Not just that, but a new one is coming to refresh the franchise. Car and Driver reports that a concept previewing the next-generation Z-car will be revealed at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The motoring rag says that the future production Fairlady will have similar proportions to the outgoing coupe, which means a wide stance, long hood and pushed back cab (2011 Esflow Concept pictured above, illustration only). It adds that the next Z will sport edgier styling, including a gaping front end that takes cues from the GT-R facelift. Apparently, it will ride on a shorter wheelbase courtesy of the Infiniti Q60's FR-L platform.

It is said that of the three powertrains that will be available, a twin-turbo 3.0 litre V6 from Infiniti's Red Sport cars will be the flagship motor. The new VR engine makes 400 hp at 6,400 rpm and 475 Nm of torque from 1,600 to 5,200 rpm in the Q50 and Q60. It will be paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

This boosted V6 engine is 700 cc smaller than the 370Z's naturally aspirated VQ V6, and it's lighter too. C/D mentions the Porsche 718 Boxster S and BMW M2 as possible rivals for the hottest Z. A tasty proposition.

The report adds that in addition to the flagship motor, an entry-level 3.0 litre V6 with 300 hp and a hybrid variant – expected to use the same V6 alongside an electric motor for up to 500 hp – are on the cards. Expect a new Fairlady Z in 2019, the report says. If correct, this is good news.

GALLERY: 2011 Nissan Esflow Concept

GALLERY: Nissan 370Z Nismo

Bose Ride Concept First Ride: The Future of Luxury Seating

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Luxury automakers love to doll up the rear seat with big cushions, plenty of leg room, and lots of recline angle to mimic first class airline seats. Although they can make the seat itself comfortable, hide the outside world behind acoustic glass and active noise cancellation, and smooth out the ride with active suspension systems, they can't beat physics. Bose, however, might have found a loophole. It's called the Ride Concept.

The thing about those automotive barcaloungers is they're still bolted rigidly to the car, for obvious reasons. As such, whatever bumps make it past the suspension end up in your wealthy backside. Every time the car turns, the inertia generated goes right into your body as you lean away from the turn. The solution is as simple as noise cancelling headphones: produce an equal and opposite action to counter the bad ones. In other words, make the seat move the opposite way the car around it is, and the passenger stays right where he or she is.

If the idea sounds at all familiar, you're either or in the trucking industry or know someone who is. Years ago, Bose rolled out its Ride system for big rigs. In the base of the seat, an air spring supports your weight while an electromagnetic ram counters every up or down motion the truck makes underneath you. Thus, rather than bouncing up and down constantly thanks to that stiff big rig suspension, you sit still while everything moves up and down around you (a normal spring helps cushion fore-aft shocks, too). Research has shown this has major health benefits for full- or even part-time drivers, which saves money for owners. Because the system captures regenerative energy from all the bouncing, it only draws 50 watts from the vehicle to run a 3,500-watt system.

Bose has recently introduced its second-generation system, which is smaller and 30 percent lighter. Being more compact, it can fit in smaller cabs, and Bose is looking to install it in everything from heavy machinery to farm tractors to mining trucks and more. If it'll fit, they ought to seriously consider installing it in full-size pickups and selling it to ranchers, rangers, and others who spend a lot of time off-road.

You can already imagine such a seat might be nice in the back of a Rolls-Royce, but cars such as that already have active suspensions designed to isolate the cabin as much as possible from the road. The gains from this seat would be incremental, and it would take a lot to make it fit in the first place. This is where the Ride Concept comes in.

The Ride Concept seat takes the whole concept to the next dimension, namely lateral. In addition to cancelling most of the up-down motions of the vehicle, it also cancels body roll and side-to-side motions. In addition to reducing cornering gs, it greatly eliminates head toss as the vehicle rocks side to side.

To demonstrate, Bose put us in the back of a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter passenger van outfitted with several Ride Concept seats and drove us over a number of obstacles designed to simulate bumps, potholes, and anything else you might drive over and cause you to bounce up and down or get thrown side to side. With the system off and the stiff commercial van suspension loaded down with people and equipment, we bounced around like we were driving too fast down an old dirt road. With the system on, vertical motions were fully eliminated (so much as we could perceive) and side-to-side motions were reduced to tiny disturbances that caused our heads to rock slightly to the side. The lateral damping wasn't as good as the vertical damping, but hey, that's the prototype part.

As impressive as the improvement in ride quality is, it's not going to be for everybody. It's also not going to replace active suspensions. Your upper legs and torso are virtually stationary, but your feet and anything your hands are touching are going to move with the vehicle, which is odd at first. Add in the lateral damping capabilities, and on the biggest bumps and twists you can actually see the whole vehicle tilting side to side around you while only your feet register any movement. It's the exact opposite of those carnival rides where the seats move with a video screen to simulate changes in direction. For some people, that argument between their eyes and their bodies is going to be disconcerting, and indeed, not every trucker loves the Bose Ride.

Combine the Ride Concept technology with existing active suspension technology, and you might just have an ultra-luxury winner. Bose's demonstration was purposefully dramatic, but put the same seat in a car that already rides like a magic carpet, and the seat has much less work to do to keep you isolated because the suspension is already mostly handling the bumps. In this case, there'd be so little difference between what the car is doing and the seat is doing that it would likely go unnoticed except over the absolute worst bumps.

Bose officials were coy about any such plans but admitted some automakers have shown interest in the technology. Given its size, weight, power draw, and the amount of vertical clearance it needs to operate, the most logical place to look for a consumer application is in a luxury SUV. It's not hard to imagine something such as the forthcoming Rolls-Royce Cullinan offering a seat like this as an option for the billionaire who wants the absolute best ride in the world.

BMW M1 Shark Concept, The Future of BMW ?

Remember how we were all supposed to have flying cars by now? It seems the future will always be a lot more conservative than people imagine. Take this so-called BMW M1 Shark concept drawn up by Alex Imnadze. While we can't fault the execution, we wouldn't blame you if you're struggling to imagine a world where this car could exist.

From a practicality stand point, it's not only crazy-low for any road other than a race track, it's also very wide, which means you'd probably struggle to park it…just about anywhere – good thing it would probably do the parking, and driving, and connecting you to things all by itself.

All that aside, it does look out of this world, almost organic from a design stand point, which is something BMW actually haven't shied away from – remember the Vision Next 100 concept? This rendering actually has one or two similarities with that, like the design patterns on the body.

Speaking of concepts, the designer of the M1 Shark was actually inspired by multiple other cars, such as the BMW M1 concept, the Gina concept (the one with the cloth body) and even Bertone's old Stratos Zero prototype of the 1970's.

Now, if you're looking for some sort of timetable when it comes to these types of ultra-futuristic designs, the name of that "Next 100" concept pretty much says it all. It's hard to say how long it will be until automakers start abandoning practical designs in favor of just letting their imaginations run free.

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Mercedes-Maybach 6 Concept: The Future Of All-Electric Luxury Cars With 750 Bhp

The future of all-electric cars is here and it looks both modern and retro. The Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept pays homage to the aero coupe age. It is a sports car that is luxurious and aggressively over the top.

This 2+2 seater all-electric vehicle was initially unveiled during the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance weekend. Mercedes' concept for the Maybach 6 arrived a couple of months after Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 concept was released.

The Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept would likely measure around 18.5 feet long, with its proportions sportier. Its roofline would be low and the hood would seem to go on for miles.

According to Mercedes-Benz, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG Gorden Wagener said that the glamorous Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept is representing the ultimate in contemporary luxury. "It is hot and cool." It perfectly embodies the design philosophy of sensual purity and the company's pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency.

The coupe's exterior has clearly defined contours and it has a bulging and muscular body shape. Its grille, however, has been inspired by the pinstripe suit. Its boat-tail rear is similar to that found in Mercedes-AMG GT.

The all-electric luxury car utilizes gullwing doors for entry on the sides. There is also a remarkable contrast between the chrome strips sitting above the arches and the car's all red paintwork.

The Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept has been designed as an all-electric car. An all-wheel drive feature is available due to the car's four compact permanent magnet synchronous electric motors. The German carmaker claims that maximum output of the all-electric car is 750 bhp. Its acceleration 0-100 km/h can be achieved in under 4 seconds. Its shallow underfloor battery has a capacity of 80 kWh.

The German carmaker plans for a quick charging system able to deliver a 65-mile range in 5 minutes. Also, wireless charging and conventional socket charging have been part of the plans for the Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept, according to Express UK.

The interior of the all-electric luxury car treats the driver to a 360-degree lounge experience. The fronts widescreen will serve as a transparent display where data and other driving-related information will be shown. These will be motion-controlled. Meanwhile, dashboard wing curves on the doors are also part of the 360-degree lounge experience.

The seats tell another story. They will look after their person sitting thanks to the body sensor displays fitted inside the seat. They will monitor the passenger's vitals.

When the German automaker will begin production has not been unveiled, but this is one vehicle that they should make. The Mercedes-Maybach 6 concept redefines the whole concept of luxury cars and sports cars at the same time.

100 Years Of Concept Cars

There is much to consider when designing a car, with government regulations on emissions, safety features and fuel economy limiting the amount of freedom manufacturers have. But automobile designers are artists and sometimes they just want to say to hell with practicality and regulations and design something outrageous that they know will never make it to the production line. These vehicles are known as concept cars. They are shown off at expos and eventually, some of their features might be incorporated into future vehicles, but for the most part they are just something cool to look at while keeping us dreaming about the possibilities for the future.

The infographic below from TitleMax features 18 unforgettable concept cars from the last 100 years. Marvel at their design before you get back into your boring yet safe and efficient vehicle later today.Source: TitleMax

This 1982 Ford Concept Is The Perfect Car For the Zombie Apocalypse

You probably don't remember this Ford concept car. But if the zombie apocalypse that's so popular in movies and TV shows right now ever comes true, it could prove to be the perfect car for a world of walkers.

Debuting at the 1982 Detroit Auto Show and continuing its tour in Chicago, the Ford Alternative Fuel Vehicle was a highly aerodynamic two-door concept designed by Ghia—or whatever was left of Ghia after being reduced to a trim level after Ford took over the company in 1970.

At the Chicago Auto Show in 1982.

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The AFV was powered by a highly modified version of the European Ford Escort's 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine, and could run on natural gas, methane, ethanol or alcohol as well as conventional gasoline. A later development even promised to add diesel to the list of acceptable fuels. Yet it's not like Ford was about to put anything like that into production, according to a passage from the academic textbook Progress in Biomass Conversion, published when the AFV concept was new:

Ford Motor Co. is playing a leading role in developing alternate fuel vehicles for maximum operational flexibility. The AFV concept car introduced at the Detroit Auto Show in January 1982 has been designed to operate on compressed natural gas, with provisions for conversion to liquified propane, alcohol or diesel fuel. The current Ford engineering and marketing thrust is toward alternative single fuel vehicles, rather than multi-fuel vehicles, because of the performance and operational compromise associated with instantaneous multi-fuel capability [...] Ford has sold 40,000 cars in Brazil for operation on ethanol from sugar cane, and has 40 research cars on methanol in the Los Angeles mechanical fleet. Moreover, the auto giant has been selling propane diet Granadas and Cougars to fleet operators since November 1981, and will offer 2.3 liter four-cylinder Ford LTD and Mercury Marquis propane models to the general public starting in the fall of 1982.

Ford's multi-burner AFV concept wasn't as cool as the also Ghia-designed Chrysler Turbine Car. Then again, nothing is.

What It's Like to Drive the Chrysler Turbine Car

Looking at the tiny ATF and its giant compressed gas refueling system that you're supposed to keep in your garage, I understand why this Ford doesn't seem like an ideal survivor vehicle. But hear me out!

If too many people get through the end of the world as we know it, you're doomed anyway. Dream all day long about beefed up SUVs crashing through the debris, but with such a crowd sucking up whatever fuel is left, the party won't last long, and you're not Mad Max. That's why you need to wish for the brainless zombie apocalypse scenario, with only a scant number of humans surviving.

Frankly, zombies have no idea how to fill up a car. Nor do they have the dexterity. That leaves you, the few remaining humans, to pick from the variety of combustible fuels left at your feet. And while your friends who foolishly put their trust in finicky, slow-starting wood-gas generator setups get eaten alive ...

wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Sonett72

... you can comfortably drive around these obstacles in your 1.6-liter Ford, extending your range using gasoline, natural gas, methane, ethanol or alcohol. Hypermiling to safety has never been easier.

This is not what Ford had in mind in 1982.

Ford

Unfortunately, with only one AFV in the world—hidden only Ford knows where—it's going to be hard to secure access to this particular concept in the event of the zombie apocalypse. However, you should know that in Australia, the car we call the Chevrolet SS was available as the Holden Commodore LPG wagon in 2012. It's a bi-fuel V8 running on LPG as well as gasoline. You get less flexibility than with the AFV, but more burnouts.

So if the zombie uprising happens, you can try to make your way to Australia. Me? I'll stay in Europe, closer to where Ford keeps its discarded concept cars.

5 Future Concept Cars YOU MUST SEE

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5 Future Concept Cars YOU MUST SEEClick here for: Top 5 Luxury Sedan Cars 2017

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5. 2017 Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ Concept4. 2017 Volkswagen ID Concept3. 2016 Faraday Future FFZERO1 Concept2. 2017 BMW i Vision Future Interaction Concept1. 2016 Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 Concept

2017 Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ Concept :The German automaker has its sights set at competing in the electric vehicle segment, showing off the Generation EQ Concept in Paris. It's a bit of a Tesla Model X fighter, with two separate electric motors generating around 400 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Mercedes claims it has a driving range of about 310 miles and permanent all-wheel drive helps contribute to a zero-to-62 mph [0-100 km/h] time of less than five seconds.

2017 Volkswagen ID Concept :According to Volkswagen, the production version of the I.D. will arrive by 2020, and a fully self-driving version will be on sale by 2025. In autonomous mode, the steering wheel will tuck back into the dash.

2016 Faraday Future FFZERO1 ConceptThe company behind this new car is called Faraday Future. Just 18 months old, it's a new automaker, but it's backed by some serious friends. Supported by a Chinese billionaire and with help from Nevada state officials, Faraday Future will begin making cars right here in the U.S.

2017 BMW i Vision Future Interaction Concepte BMW i Vision Future Interaction concept, which is an i8 with an interior packed full of futuristic technology. High-resolution vehicle displays including a 21-inch screen are found throughout the interior, which are controlled using gestures, touch-sensitive surfaces and voice controls.

2016 Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 Concept :Rolls-Royce showed off its Vision Next 100 concept today in London, giving a look at what its vehicles might look like a century years from now. The Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 is the most luxurious car ever made. The chassis of this luxury car is a hand-built, and it is made from the most luxurious, advanced, and most expensive materials.

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In the future, we all might live in our cars out of choice

TreeHugger has looked at how self-driving cars or autonomous vehicles might change our cities and increase sprawl; we have even seen how they might connect right into our homes. Now NewDealDesign looks at how AVs might totally change the way we live and work with their concept of Autonomics.

Autonomics is a strategic insight into how autonomous objects will influence not just our transportation, but future businesses, services and brands. Contrary to popular belief, more Americans identify as living in suburban areas than ever before, spending hours 'trip-chaining' between commutes, errands and family life. In this framework, we see the largest impact of autonomous vehicles in suburban and rural areas where the majority of American's daily activity takes place, not dense city centers. Autonomics is a roadmap building off this insight into how economies and brand experiences will transform based on three new autonomous objects: Leechbots, ZoomRooms and DetourCity.

© LEECHbot delivery/ NewDealDesign

Everybody is on the move in their suburb of the future, sitting in the backseats of their AVs, getting deliveries on the move from unicycle "LEECHbots. Nobody actually walks anywhere (although there is one young man on a hoverboard crossing the street).

Fast Company

If your trip is boring you can hook up to a ZoomRoom, a bus-sized moving room; you just step from your moving car that sync's with the moving ZoomRoom through a door in the side.

Gadi Amit of NewDealDesign tells Mark Wilson of Fast Company that we will be doing a lot more driving in our future.

"The urban/suburb effect of these cars is not being covered. And one of the key points we're trying to make here is [with autonomous vehicles] you're moving more because it's easier to drive more. Maybe you'll drive around the countryside while getting the best services."

© New Deal Design/ Party time in the ZoomRoom

In fact, the whole idea of the city or suburb might break down as we get closer to actually living in our cars. It becomes our home address, with little LEECHbots delivering to you wherever you are.

"One other possibility, if I wanted to go more, sci-fi, is that along the highways you'll have moving, crawling communities," says Amit. "Because a few of these zoom rooms could pick up a lane, slowly move, and you'd have a crawling party happening."

It really is all coming together: We have tiny houses, then tiny houses on wheels, people living in buses and now this- mobile autonomous nation.

In the Future, We Might Live in Roaming Autonomous Cars

Lots of Americans in suburban areas practically live in their cars already, spending hours in transit. With that in mind, the team at San Francisco-based NewDealDesign proposed a futuristic concept where life is lived on the go among various autonomous electric vehicles.

Their vision, called Autonomics, pictures a new nomadic life on wheels where phones become permanent addresses, self-driving cars hitch onto configurable moving platforms and one-wheeled bots provide mobile services.

"Autonomics is a strategic insight into how autonomous objects will influence not just our transportation, but future businesses, services and brands," their online description reads. "In this framework, we see the largest impact of autonomous vehicles in suburban and rural areas, where the majority of American's daily activity takes place, not dense city centers."

With the motto "destination you," the concept includes one-wheeled LeechBots that zip among vehicles on the road and dock temporarily to deliver products. Rooms on wheels dubbed ZoomRooms would be configurable platforms that act like mobile malls. Autonomous vehicles could attach to them and ride along. A temporary pop-up community called DetourCity would appear randomly, made up of ZoomRooms and LeechBots.

One possibility is that we'll have moving, crawling communities along the highways, NewDealDesign founder and principal designer Gadi Amit told Fast Company. "Maybe you'll drive around the countryside while getting the best services."

RELATED: 10 Wild Ways To Travel In The Future

The whole concept hinges on using autonomous electric vehicles that don't currently exist, and a willingness on the part of Americans to ditch real estate for life in transit.

At present, 74 percent of American consumers polled for a recent study by Deloitte responded that they don't believe autonomous vehicles will be safe. Our ability to continuously power all those new vehicles with electricity from renewable sources is also in doubt. I love dreaming about futuristic transportation, but Autonomics sounds like a bad trip to me.

That's not meant to be a slam against NewDealDesign. The team has their hearts in the right place. Other projects include envisioning an end to oil through a network of EVs that get used and financed like smartphones and a device called Scrip intended to eliminate mindless spending. Life is already dominated by so many factors that feel beyond our control, though. The ability to put down roots shouldn't be one of them.

WATCH VIDEO: How Cars of the Future Will Keep Us Safe

Top 5 future electric cars at CES 2017 – Toyota Concept-i

Toyota Concept-i 2017.

Toyota says that their vision of the future car is represented by Toyota Concept-i, which is an all-electric car designed from the inside out in order to bring the future mobility that means a warm and friendly environment that was created to interact with the driver.

Toyota created an intelligent car that gets to know the driver and its needs in order to anticipate them better in the future.

The car learns this way to work together with the driver as a team, and a powerful bond is created this way between the car and the driver, which relies on trust and loyalty.

Toyota calls this vision "Yui", which in Japanese means "Conclusion".

The car creates an interactive bond with the driver and the passengers of the vehicle and tries to anticipate their needs.

Yui works together with AI (artificial intelligence) in order to anticipate and execute the next action according to the driver's needs.

Concept-i follows Toyota's belief that vehicles should start not with technology, but with the experience of the people that use the vehicle.

To achieve this goal, Toyota built the vehicle from the inside out, and created a future car that is immersive, energetic and approachable from the driver's point of view.

The interior of the vehicle looks very futuristic.

Toyota says that with the help of AI, they will create a future car that is connected with the driver and represent not only a machine, but a pal of the driver.

The technology embedded in Toyota Concept-i allows all people to enjoy the ride with the car (not special abilities are required) and by using biometric sensors, which were inserted throughout the vehicle, Concept-i can detect what the driver feels.

If the driver is sad, the AI will analyze its level of emotion, will make a recommendation, and if necessary, will take over and will drive the vehicle safely to the destination decided by the driver.

Safety and protection of the driver and the passengers of the vehicle are the main benefits of the relationship created between the car and its driver.

The car can protect the driver better if it knows him better.

Yui uses light and sound which can be seen and heard in the lines that flow from the center of the dashboard throughout the vehicle to communicate critical information to the driver.

The interior of the vehicle is clean and uncluttered and the car features a single full-color wide-screen, which is 3-D.

Toyota Concept-i communicates with others on the road.

The exterior of the vehicle shows the relationship between the car and the world around it, because the vehicle communicates with others on the road, while expresses motion and excitement.

Danny Ovy I am a writer and reporter for the clean energy sector, I cover climate change issues, new clean technologies, sustainability and green cars.

Danny Ovy

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Honda is borrowing a page from Tesla with its new concept car

Business Insider/Cadie Thompson

Honda seems to be aligned with Tesla when it comes to its vision for the future of transportation.

Honda unveiled a concept car, dubbed the NeuV, at the Consumer Electronics Show on Thursday. The vehicle is self-driving, electric, and meant for a ride-sharing service. In other words, Honda jammed the latest trends in the transportation industry into one car.

Honda didn't say whether the vehicle is completely driverless, but said it is meant for a future where a car could pick up and drop off customers when the owner isn't using it.

That's a concept Tesla CEO Elon Musk is also pursuing. Musk wrote in his "Master Plan, Part Deux" that he intends to develop a ride-sharing service called Tesla Network where owners can add their car to a shared fleet. Other people could then hail a ride in the Tesla, generating income for the owners when they aren't using the car.

Naturally, the idea is that at this point the Tesla would be completely driverless, made possible by the new hardware Tesla is currently integrating in its cars.

Business Insider/Cadie Thompson

Other automakers are exploring self-driving, ride-sharing services, but not so much the prospect of letting owners elect when it is used in a fleet setting or not.

For example, General Motors launched a car-sharing service called Maven last January. Dan Grossman, the chief operating officer of Maven, told Business Insider he envisions a time where a Maven car is self-driving and could pick you up at your home. But in that case the fleet would still be entirely owned and managed by GM. GM has also invested in Lyft to build self-driving cars.

Of course, Uber is also outfitting its own fleet of self-driving cars and is conducting pilot programs in Pittsburgh and Arizona for that purpose.

But Honda's concept car envisions a ride-sharing service that is managed by the owners of the car. Since this is just a concept, we can't be sure Honda is actually planning to pursue that kind of service. But it's interesting to see the automaker exploring the idea.

As for the car itself, Honda says it is equipped with AI that can feel human emotions. (My colleague Matt DeBord has written more extensively about that component of the concept.) But that's a premise Toyota is also exploring in the concept car it unveiled at CES, the Concept-i, which comes with an AI assistant named Yui.

As you can tell by the concept's general boxy shape and fairly dull appearance, Honda is trying to showcase a vision for the future of transportation rather than automotive design with its concept. In this case, it's a vision we can expect Musk to talk more about in 2017.

SEE ALSO: A closer look at the Toyota concept car that wants to be your best friend NOW WATCH: The $4.89 million Honda Civic of jets has just set 2 speed records Loading video...

How Will Car Companies Make Driverless Cars Fun?

Autonomous cars are going to revolutionize cities. If we're not careful, though, it could be a drab and lifeless future. Where are the popcorn machines? The Pimp My Ride-style big ideas? Here are 15 ways the car makers could inject some fun into proceedings.

Gym - Feel the burn as you drive to work. Italdesign Giugiaro and Audi presented the concept at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2015, with aluminum handles in the rear seats for upper body routines complementing the flat boards on the floor designed for lower limb exercises.

Tables - Okay, it's not very interesting, but it is fun. Concept car designers have immediately jumped to the idea of swiveling the front seats 180-degrees in self-driving mode, with a pop-out table allowing for card games and other group activities.

Retro stylings - There's plenty of scope to update some of history's best designs for the 21st-century. Volkswagen has already revealed a self-driving hippie van, but what about the Mini Cooper or the Volkswagen Beetle? The possibilities are endless.

Jacuzzi - Fancy a wind-down in a mobile jacuzzi? With the autonomous future, it's possible. "If there is a market for cars with Jacuzzis, someone is going to build them," Frank M. Rinderknecht, CEO of car maker Rinspeed, said in a report published last week.

Bed - What could be more fun than taking a nap? British artist Dominic Wilcox created the car-bed for an art project called The Mini Cathedral back in 2014, with a stained glass exterior creating a cool glowing effect that protects the user's privacy.

The safety ratings on this thing were... not good.

Cocktail bar - Another idea Wilcox conceived of was the portable cocktail bar. Have a drink on the way to the club, only to have the same car drive you home again.

Sunbed - Wilcox's third idea might be taking things a bit far, but it would be a cool way of driving to the beach. A sunbed on wheels would be a great way to get a tan on the go, and would take the top-down design of current cars to a whole new level.

Movie theater - A 2016 patent from Ford describes a portable movie theater, with screens and projectors that descend from the ceiling as the driverless car mode engages. Pass the popcorn!

"Massage parlor" - Jeffrey Tumlin, director of strategy at Nelson/Nygaard, told Inverse in November that self-driving brothels could roam the cities of the future. In a slightly more legal scenario, self-driving massage parlors could pick you up and take you to your destination fully relaxed.

Video games - With Ford's patent, every passenger could grab a controller and play each other head-to-head. Experience the ultimate game of Call of Duty at 100 mph in your own personal game machine.

High-quality audio systems - Ready for the most advanced in audio experiences? EY predicts that, because it's a concentrated experience, self-driving cars could add an extra 22 billion daily hours of media consumption. Rock out without worrying about staying on the road.

Virtual reality - Without any need to worry about keeping your eyes on the road, each seat could have its own personal VR kit. When autonomy hits, these VR kits will be even more immersive than today.

Projectors - BMW recently demonstrated a self-driving car entertainment system that used touchscreen projectors to track a user's hand without actually having to make contact with the screen.

Cushions - Okay, pillows don't sound particularly radical, but interior designers could design cars that are covered in thick rugs, cushions, and maybe even a water bed. It would be the ultimate chillout area, and you wouldn't even need to drive the thing.

Kitchen - Fancy hosting a dinner party on the highway? The caravan-meets-driverless car could be the perfect place to kill some time on the long journey ahead. Just don't hold any fondue parties: any sudden braking is bound to go down badly.

Essentially, self-driving cars will make the personal vehicle a very different experience than it is now. Cars will transform from a utility to another living space. Chrysler is already working on a self-driving minivan that explores this concept of a "third space" between work and home, and Hyundai's latest bit of concept vaporware imagines the vehicle as an integral part of your home — until it detaches and drives you wherever you want to go. We're not sure which of these visions will come true, but the future looks pretty fun.

Photos via Dominic Wilcox, Getty Images / Justin Sullivan

What the Audi Q8 e-tron Concept Says About the Future of Audi Design

Audi has always been known for its elegant, restrained design philosophy, but it looks like those days might be over. One look at the Audi Q8 e-tron shows that Ingolstadt is wresting itself from the shackles of inoffensiveness in the future. Audi head of exterior design Andreas Mindt peeled back the layers of his team's Detroit auto show concept car, diving deep into which elements we'll see in Audi showrooms, and which are pure concept-car fancy.

For starters, Mindt has been hearing criticisms about recent Audi design loud and clear.

"People say our cars all look to similar," he notes. "We want to differentiate more, while still maintaining a family resemblance."

Going forward, we'll see Audi SUVs adopt the stronger and tougher look seen on the Q8 e-tron concept, tweaked appropriately for the vehicle's size, segment, and role in the marketplace. Specifically, the "Singleframe" grille familiar by now in Audi's lineup will take on this eight-pointed shape for SUVs, while maintaining a softer six-pointed shape for sedans.

For an idea of what that looks like, think back to the Audi Prologue concept and stay tuned for the next-gen Audi A8. The prominent vertical bars seen on the Q8 e-tron concept will become a focal point of SUV grilles, while sedan grilles will seek to emphasize width, rather than height, with horizontal bars.

While the concept's massive 23-inch wheels will be available as an option (albeit with a revised design), don't expect the touch-release doors in real life any time soon. It's pure show-car fun.

Audi is also keen on making sure its vehicles are identifiable on the road compared to other automakers, and lighting signatures are going to be a key part of that strategy. While the Matrix headlights for Europe haven't yet made it to the U.S. for frustrating regulatory reasons, Audi plans to introduce the Q8 e-tron concept's laser lights and blue X-shaped lighting signature for most if not all models. e-tron models receive their own unique three-bar signature, which may also indicate charge status. At Q8's rear, expect to see the concept's full-width LED taillights — apparently Americans love this styling cue, and the U.S. market was a key reason it'll go into production.

Mindt is eager to point out that as much as Q8 e-tron concept signals evolution in Audi design, it's also rooted in brand heritage and tradition.

"I love expressing the drivetrain through the exterior design, and the even distribution of the design from front to rear speaks to our all-wheel drive system," says Mindt.

"If you look at the Q8 e-tron concept's triangular C-pillar, that's pure Ur-Quattro. We're don't want to do retro, but we are always developing the brand, and for that you have to know the history."

Fans of Audi's racing history will recognize on the Q8 e-tron concept how the taillight bar terminates on either end with integrated rear vent — a modern interpretation of the 90 quattro IMSA GTO race car design from 1989. With a wry smile, Mindt says to wait and see how that particular element ends up for the production Q8.

All of these pieces are meant to show that Audi design wants to be more expressive, says Mindt.

"You need a bit of futurism, right? It's good to have a goal to aim for. Americans showed in the 50s through their design that they wanted to go to the moon. We have Quattro now, but soon everyone will have similar systems. The question is how to make Audi stand out."

The Honda NeuV concept car is a glimpse into the company’s future

Honda's NeuV (New Electric Utility Vehicle) is a combination of ideas from the Japanese automaker, ranging from autonomous driving, to car sharing, electric charging, and connectivity. But perhaps the most ambitious idea put forth by Toyota in its latest concept car goes by the name of Hana (Honda Automated Network Assistant). 

Hana is NeuV's AI system and lives on the NeuV's sprawling monitor dashboard. It is meant to be a helper as well as a companion. 

"Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more important in vehicles because we want to kind of have a relationship with the vehicle rather than the vehicle just doing things on its own," says Nick Renner, who helped design NeuV. 

Hana can sense a driver's emotions through heart rate monitoring and face recognition, as well as carry on a conversation. But the AI bot can also take care of some more practical chores such as deciding when is the cheapest time to charge the electric NeuV on its wireless plate.

Martyn Williams

The NeuV's AI agent, Hana, lives in the car's vast digital dashboard. 

Another vision for NeuV: a car sharing service. According to Honda, the owner will be able to lend out their car while at the office or at home, earning a little extra cash in the process.   

Honda says the NeuV is at level 4 autonomous driving. This means that the car can navigate the roads in most situations, but there are instances in which a driver may have to intervene. One such instance may be maneuvering a crowded city street.

As a concept vehicle, the NeuV will not be available to consumers, but the time  when all of us will have an AI agent in our cars may not be so far away.

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Why Nissan's Stylish New Concept Car Could Be The Sedan Of The Future

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The Eyes On Design expert panel at the Detroit Auto Show recently named Nissan's Vmotion 2.0 concept as the top design at this year's annual auto extravaganza. The swoopy sedan previews Nissan's design direction for upcoming passenger cars like the Altima ...

Cadillac Escala Concept Makes Surprise Appearance at 2017 Detroit Auto Show [Photos]

 Added on January 16, 2017  Samuel Huist  2017 , Cadillac Escala concept , Detroit Auto Show , NAIAS , North American International Auto Show

The Escala Concept was the crown jewel of Cadillac's display at the 2017 NAIAS

Cadillac has made a number of exciting concept cars over the last 20 years, such as the Cien and Elmiraj, but neither of those cars were quite as long as the Escala Concept, which comes in at more than 210 inches in overall length.

Luxury For Less: Discover what benefits come with the Cadillac CPO Program

The Escala Concept made its public debut at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and was then shown at the 2016 LA Auto Show. Besides bringing lots of attention to the Cadillac brand, the Escala Concept is also used to preview the luxury automakers advanced technology, powerful engine options, and future design language.

Cadillac Escala Concept at the Detroit Auto Show

Underneath its hood lies a powerful twin-turbo V8 engine, which currently cannot be found in any other Cadillac model, including the new CT6 flagship sedan. However, the Escala Concept does have a few things in common with the CT6. For starters, it uses the same Omega platform as the CT6, albeit an elongated version that makes the Escala six inches longer than the CT6. Furthermore, both models comes standard in rear-wheel drive and are available with Active Fuel Management technology, which can shut down multiple cylinders during non stressful driving conditions, thus enhancing fuel economy.

Some of the Escala Concept's other notable features include its three-dimensional grille design, as well as its 22-inch wheels with two layers of spokes. In addition, the inside of the Escala Concept contains hand-tailored fabric on the seating areas and also provides three curved OLED screens that display information to the driver and passengers.

There were rumors about a production version of the Escala Concept, but that doesn't appear likely given the fact that GM is selling far more crossovers and SUVs these days than it is large sedans. So for now, the Escala remains a one-off concept that car enthusiasts can enjoy from a far, but probably will never get the chance to drive.

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