11 Concepts Robb Report Wants to See on the Road One Day
Hyundai/Cadillac/Mercedes-Benz/Genesis
Whether it’s an industry convention or marquee car show, nearly every big event on the automotive calendar brings with it the debut of a new concept car or two. These outrageous prototypes represent a way for automakers to showcase their capabilities, while, in theory, also offering a glimpse of an imaginary future that is better in every way than today.
However, some concepts are more than just substanceless attention grabs. Some offer up a real sneak peek of a future production model, whether it be the second-generation Acura NSX, the Audi E-Tron GT, or the Cadillac Celestiq. Late last month, at the annual Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW announced plans to build a limited-run vehicle based on the striking Speedtop shooting brake concept, one year after doing the same for the equally stunning Skytop roadster.
Not all concepts are fit for production, of course, but there are plenty we’d love to see automakers at least explore bringing to the market. Here are 11 prototypes from the first half of the 2020s that we hope to see out on the open road sooner rather than later.
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Cadillac Sollei
Image Credit: Cadillac Think the Cadillac Celestiq, the luxury marque’s attempt to build a saloon as exquisite as a Rolls-Royce, is a beauty? Just take a look at the Sollei concept the company showed off last year. The stunning convertible has the same distinctive lines and graceful shape as the striking saloon, but lacks the rear set of doors and, most importantly, its roof. The resulting design is about as exciting as a Caddy has been since Elvis’s heyday. Now that examples of the hand-built Celestiq have finally started to leave the factory, what better time to release its even more stylish sibling?
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Dacia Manifesto
Image Credit: Dacia If Dacia ever decides to try its luck stateside, the Manifesto would be quite the way to make an impression. In the fall of 2022, the Romanian brand, which is owned by Renault, unveiled a futuristic buggy concept that would immediately become one of the best-looking 4x4s on the market if it were released. The open-door two-seater features an angular design, a bold lighting package, and a set of puncture-proof all-terrain tires. Nearly three years later, the company still hasn’t said anything about actually building the off-roader, but it did initially refer to it as a “lab for ideas” which means it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see at least some of its forward-thinking features make it onto a production model at some point.
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Genesis X Gran Equator
Image Credit: Genesis The New York Auto Show may not be what it used to be, but that doesn’t stop some automakers from still going all out. Genesis has brought a fine mix of concepts to the convention in recent years, the finest of which has to be the X Gran Equator from this year’s show. With smooth lines and a gigantic set of all-terrain tires, it’s just about the most gorgeous 4×4 you’ll ever see—and that’s before you check out its ultra-luxurious interior. The company’s first adventure vehicle prototype is meant to signal its intent to get into the “lifestyle-oriented” segment, so there might be a chance that something like it eventually makes its way to market.
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Honda 0 Series Saloon
Image Credit: Honda Honda isn’t necessarily the first name that leaps to mind when one thinks of daring automotive design. But the Japanese company is responsible for one of the most visually stunning concepts of the decade, the 0 Series Saloon. The low-slung, wedge-shaped four-door looks more like a supercar than any sedan we’ve seen. Its exterior is far from its only futuristic feature, as its interior features an infotainment system that the brand has referred to as “human-machine interface,” along with “posture control” seats designed to make driving more comfortable. Best of all, it’s actually meant to preview a future model that may debut as soon as this year.
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Hyundai N Vision 74
Image Credit: Hyundai Most concepts serve as a preview of what’s to come, but Hyundai’s N Vision 74 is actually a celebration and reinterpretation of the past. The sporty two-door features an angular design inspired by the Pony Coupe concept from the early 1970s. There’s a lot to like about the retrofuturistic coupe, including its pixel lighting package, disc-style wheels, and a giant rear wing. It also features a hybrid powertrain that pairs a hydrogen fuel cell with two electric motors. The forward-thinking setup produces a rather impressive 671 hp and 664 ft lbs of torque. Since making its debut in the summer of 2022, there’s been tons of speculation that it might go into production as a limited-edition model, something we hope turns out to be true.
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Lincoln L100
Image Credit: Lincoln The Lincoln L100, which was unveiled to celebrate the brand’s centennial in 2022, isn’t going into production anytime soon, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. The Ford-owned luxury marque’s designers went big with the L100, a futuristic saloon that can drive itself. But it’s not just the tech that makes the low-slug vehicle so forward-thinking. It also features a jaw-dropping design that opens up like a flower to reveal its ultra-luxe interior. If even just a feature or two from the concept make it onto a production Lincoln, it would go a long way towards rejuvenating one of the more staid lineups in the American auto market.
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Mazda Iconic SP
Image Credit: Mazda There aren’t many concepts from this decade as likely to turn heads as the Mazda Iconic SP. The slinky coupe is a thoroughly modern reinterpretation of the style favored by so many front-engine sports cars of the 1960s. But looks aren’t what earned this car a spot on our list; instead, it’s the unique hybrid powertrain. The vehicle is propelled forward by a pair of electric motors connected that utilize a twin-rotor rotary motor as a generator. The setup, which is unlike anything that’s ever gone into production before, runs on carbon-neutral fuel and produces a respectable 365 hp. We’ve learned drivers aren’t as keen on fully electric sports cars as initially thought, but this is one electrified option that would garner plenty of interest if it ever went on sale.
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Mercedes-Benz Project Maybach
Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz Unveiled just days after designer Virgil Abloh passed away at Art Basel Miami, the Mercedes-Benz Project Maybach is one of the more visually striking concepts of the century, let alone this decade. The two-door is a gloriously stretched out grand tourer outfitted in all the gear you’d expect to find on the burliest of off-roaders, including a roof rack, auxiliary driving lights, and skid plates. But the tough-yet-sophisticated exterior is just one part of this prototype’s appeal. Its leather-covered interior, which features reclining seats that look stolen from the set of a 1970s sci-fi flick, is just as much of a showstopper. Little has been seen of the concept since it appeared in the video for Drake’s “Sticky,” but one can dream that changes—and sometime soon.
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Nissan Hyper Force
Image Credit: Nissan After 18 long years, Nissan will finally end production of the R35-generation GT-R, the spiritual successor to the legendary Skyline GT-R, late this year. The Japanese automaker has yet to say if another version of the car will follow, but the Hyper Force, from 2023, suggests that if one does, it will be electric. The concept has a similar profile to the outgoing GT-R, but is, somehow, even more sculpted and features a giant rear wing. It also has an all-electric powertrain that makes over 1,300 hp. That’s impressive, of course, but our favorite feature might be the pixel GT-R logo up front.
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Porsche Vision 357
Image Credit: Porsche Porsche celebrated its 75th anniversary by unveiling a futuristic concept called the Vision 357 inspired by none other than its first sports car, the 356 No. 1. Two version of the prototype were built, a coupe, which is based on the ICE-powered 718 Cayman GT4 RS, and an open-top Speedster based on the experimental, all-electric 718 Cayman GT4 e-Performance. Regardless of the roof situation, both cars sport a sleek-yet-muscular body, are covered in a racing-style livery, and ride on a set of center-lock mag wheels. If this is the future of Porsche sports cars, then sign us up.
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Renault Filante Record 2025
Image Credit: Renault We haven’t seen many concepts this decade with a design as out there as the Renault Filante Record 2025. The bold prototype, which was first shown off earlier this year, looks more like a jet car than anything else the French automaker has built during its 126 years of operation. The head-turning design is about more than just grabbing attention. The stretched out one-seater looks the way it does so that it can cut through the air with the utmost of ease. Add this to its ultra-lightweight construction—the vehicle, outside its powertrain, weighs less than 1,000 pounds—and you begin to see why the company thinks it can be one of the most efficient vehicles of all time.
