Concepts

It seems like its been ages since Toyota debuted its FT-86 concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The sport coupe concept featured a front-engined, rear-wheel-driven configuration and would be built in collaboration with Subaru, borrowing a shortened version of the Impreza platform and a 2.0-liter, over-200-horsepower variant of Subaru's boxer four-cylinder engine--hence the "Toyobaru" nickname that's been floating around the 'Net.

If the latest shadowed teaser photo released by Toyota is any indication, the sports coupe project is still on track and inching toward production with a second concept, dubbed the Toyota FT-86 II, … Read more

After being cut loose from Ford, Mazda seemed to lack direction, but its new Minagi concept showcases a rethought design language along with a line of fuel-efficient technologies. The Minagi concept will be unveiled at the Geneva auto show in March.

Mazda spent most of the last decade showing concepts that embodied its Nagare design language, which featured organically contoured lines. Nagare began to see some slight realization in the Mazda3 and Mazda5.

But with a new chief designer in charge, Mazda junked Nagare for Kodo, first seen when the Shinari concept was unveiled in Paris last year. Mazda describes … Read more

Last week, CNET Editor-at-Large Brian Cooley walked us through the more interesting aspects of the Porsche 918 RSR Racing Lab concept at the 2011 Detroit auto show.

Now Porsche has released a video on YouTube of the high-performance hybrid doing laps on a test track. The highly stylized "Torture test" video (after the jump), tortures only the viewer because it's just a mere glimpse of what the RSR can, no doubt, do.

The two-seater, midengine coupe is fitted with 911 GT3 R hybrid technology and the design of the 918 Spyder.

In a press release, Porsche boasts … Read more

At the 2011 Detroit auto show, Harman International, supplier of infotainment systems for brands such as BMW, showed off a new navigational concept that uses the windshield for route guidance. The demonstration was shown on a small LCD that also portrayed a new rotational menu interface.

In the short video above, at 14 seconds and again at 28 seconds, you can see what the view out of the windshield would look like in a car equipped with this navigation system. At the very top of the windshield, a translucent line stretches out along the road. When the navigation system wants … Read more

DETROIT--At this year's Detroit auto show, the concept cars looked like serious moves toward a production vehicle rather than a designer's fever dreams. And telling among this crop was the predominance of compact SUVs, a segment that automakers expect to grow.

We started off with a new Civic concept, and in Honda style this car was a mere preview of a production vehicle. Toyota also had a small hatchback concept in its Prius line.

More exciting concepts came from Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Mini. This crop of compact SUVs featured upright seating positions and raised rooflines. Among these, … Read more

DETROIT--It wouldn't be a car show without a few wild concepts. So alongside the wild Veloster production model, Hyundai also unveiled the crazy HCD-12 Curb concept.

The Curb, for short, is a compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) with an overall length that's only 4-inches longer than the smallest of Hyundai's lineup, the Accent. However, the Curb manages to cram a good deal into that small space.

Starting with styling, the Curb's wheel wells are filled by massive 22-inch wheels that are wrapped with special graphic tires. Sitting atop those wheels is a body that takes the … Read more

DETROIT--Kia tries to break new ground with the KV7 concept in the world of minivans, but others have been there before. The front-end of the KV7 concept uses an upright grille and windshield, purposefully bringing a trucklike design to the minivan.

In a typical concept move, the side door opens upward, the floor is wood, and the podlike chairs swivel around. It looks like a comfortable place to ride. And Kia even points out its past record of turning forward-looking concepts such as the Soul and Forte into production vehicles with few changes.

But many concepts have shown similarly loungelike … Read more

DETROIT--Today, Honda drew back the curtain on a pair of concept cars. The Honda Civic coupe and sedan concepts sit at the end of the nameplate's almost 40-year history and offer us our first glance at what will eventually be the model's 9th generation.

Both concepts feature profiles that aren't much different from the sedan and coupe currently on the road, but they have more muscular sculpting in the side panels. Glaringly, the 2012 concepts feature more aggressive front ends, with angular headlamps sweeping back from their honeycomb grilles. Where the sedan features chrome bright work atop … Read more

DETROIT--Toyota fulfilled its promise to expand the Prius lineup at the 2011 Detroit auto show, turning the once single model name into a whole set of hybrid cars. Joining the Prius lineup is the mini-minivan-sized Prius V, a plug-in version running a lithium ion battery pack, and a new compact concept.

Prius C concept

We saw a version of this concept previously at the 2010 Detroit auto show, dubbed the FT-CH. This sporty-looking little hybrid hatchback is Toyota's effort to design a Prius for young, urban buyers. Its size should make parking easy in cities and its looks will … Read more