Top Concepts at Detroit Motor Show

Never less than eye-catching, concept cars offer a fascinating glimpse into the future. Sometimes they’re prototypes that will eventually go on sale, sometimes they’re test beds for wild ideas, and sometimes it’s hard to tell what the designers were thinking. Here are the top concept cars of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Audi R8 V12 TDI Concept
Perhaps the sexiest diesel car in the world, this special R8 not only looks fetching in its matte silver finish and shiny red brake calipers, it sports the most powerful diesel engine ever put in a road car. Derived from the powerplant in Audi’s Le Mans-winning R10 race car, the 6.0-liter V12 twin-turbo engine develops 500 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque. It nails the 0-62 mph sprint in just 4.2 seconds, with a top speed of more than 186 mph. Mountainous torque is available at just 1750 rpm. If that’s not impressive enough, this diesel meets strict California standards while delivering up to 24 mpg. We hope to see this one make it to production.

Buick Riviera
Reviving a famous name and catching attention at the Buick stand was this gull wing coupe concept, unveiled last year at the Shanghai Motor Show in China. The fruit of collaboration between Buick and the Chinese automaker SAIC, the Riviera interprets Buick’s design heritage in a new way. Features such as the tapered tail and mid-hood crease recall the original Riviera, which was last sold in 1999. The curvaceous roof, bold grille and ambient exterior lighting strips give it a 21st century look. Technically advanced features include carbon fiber body panels and a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. The luxurious and futuristic interior is focused on comfort, and designers prioritized this above driving pleasure. Internal lighting in green recalls both Chinese jade stones and the classic Buick paint color. The car is intended to show East and West working in harmony, and help to position Buick as a brand with global appeal and a transnational character.

Cadillac CTS Coupe
Looking at the front of this Cadillac, one may guess it’s simply a CTS. Although technically correct, such an assumption doesn’t do the concept justice. Cadillac made a very bold statement in Detroit by creating a coupe concept of the CTS luxury sedan. The aerodynamic design incorporates flared fenders, a sloping roofline and 21-inch wheels. The luxurious interior features black leather, ochre-colored seat inserts and leather stitching. A range of engines can accommodate the Coupe concept, including Cadillac’s popular 3.6-liter V6 and eventually a new 2.9-liter turbodiesel currently in the works. It’s a great-looking concept that almost didn’t happen. During the press introduction Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president of design, said a coupe concept should not have been made, since most Cadillacs are traditionally sedans. But after seeing the initial drawings, “it was so beautiful we had to go ahead,” he said.

Fisker Karma
Henrik Fisker teamed up with Quantum Technologies for his latest creation, a premium sports sedan with a full plug-in hybrid powertrain. Scheduled to go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2009 with a price tag of $80,000, the Karma will have a 50-mile range on electric power only. Developed by Quantum Technologies, Q Drive consists of an electric motor that powers the rear wheels and a small gasoline engine that powers a generator, which creates electricity to charge a lithium-ion battery pack. A solar roof charges the battery and provides cooling to the interior while the car is parked. Although Fisker didn’t give details on how much power the Karma will possess, he did claim it will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds, with a top speed of more than 125 mph. The driver will be able to select between Stealth Drive for quiet economy and Sport Drive for full power.

Ford Verve
Ford expects a large increase in small car sales as a new generation of drivers hits the road and fuel prices continue to climb. Attempting to leverage its small car strength in Europe, the Blue Oval's designers based this concept on the Verve hatchback concept unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany last fall. Since American buyers generally prefer a separate trunk, this Detroit sedan version has a restyled nose. It also has a panoramic glass roof, 12-spoke wheels and a bold black and red interior with a distinctive center stack design. The European three-door was also on display, but we think the sedan version looks better, with its cleaner, simpler lines and balanced stance. Larger wheels would improve the sedan's styling.

Hummer HX
This concept sports serious attitude. Hummers generally have a “don’t mess with me” look about them, but the HX takes this brash go-anywhere approach much farther. The HX brings a sense of fun and adventure to the brand, which is not surprising since the concept was created by three young designers new to General Motors. This clever vehicle can reconfigure its body shape via removable components. Different rear roof assemblies allow the HX to be set up as a sport-utility truck with the roof assembly removed, a slant-back or a traditional SUV design with a larger, covered cargo area.

Land Rover LRX
This diminutive SUV is not only great to look at, it also represents some of the most imaginative thinking from any manufacturer at this year’s show. Oil prices, fuel economy requirements, and environmental considerations threaten the size of the sport-utility market in the long term. That’s a problem if you only sell SUVs. So for Land Rover, the LRX could be an important part of its future. Brimming with Land Rover class and character, yet small and friendly looking, the LRX has Range Rover levels of luxury and character in a tiny package. Its diesel hybrid powertrain gets 50 mpg, but with a clever design that actually enhances its off

Lexus LF-A Roadster
Lexus continues to tease us by displaying tantalizing concept versions of its LF-A, but there’s no sign of a production model yet. There was no official presentation in Detroit, so clearly the Japanese luxury automaker believes this concept has the authority to generate its own publicity. And they’re probably right. It’s on the overtly sporting side for Lexus, almost straying into Corvette territory, but stunning to look at. This big two-seat sports car has a long, sloping hood and deep air scoops disappearing into the fenders to cool massive ventilated discs front and rear. White leather seats contrast with red trim. This concept does a great job of combining luxury with performance. We wish Lexus would build it.

Mazda Furai
In terms of sheer show presence, Mazda’s Furai race car concept wins hands down. We can say, hand on heart, that this was the most radical-looking car in Detroit. When the covers were removed, Mazda Design Director Franz von Holzhausen fired it up and gave the throttle a few blips. The crisp crackle from the ethanol-powered 450-horsepower rotary engine was exhilarating and totally in keeping with Furai’s bold, sweeping lines and its name, which means “sound of the wind.” Seen in the context of the various design concepts that preceded it, this is the ultimate expression of “Nagare” (flow) design language. Yet despite being a full-blooded street racer, you can see how this concept could convert into a high-performance supercar. We would love to watch Furai flowing through the curves of a track. This concept bursts with vitality, agility and power from every angle and looks like it wants to move fast — very fast indeed.

Mitsubishi Concept-RA
The Japan-based automaker may be headed in the right direction with the introduction of the aggressive-looking Concept-RA. This low-slung sports coupe concept takes styling cues from the new Lancer Evolution. Decked out with 21-inch wheels and dual exhaust tips, it features doors that open like those on an exotic sports car. To help reduce the car’s weight, outer panels are made from recyclable plastic resin; the rigid body structure sits on an aluminum spaceframe. Combine relatively low weight with a turbodiesel powertrain and it’s evident that the Concept-RA is not all show with no go. The 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 201 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Mitsubishi’s next-generation all-wheel-drive system puts power to the pavement at all four corners.

Source : MSN Auto