Few things get us more excited than hearing about the latest concept cars coming out of our
favourite luxury brands. By their very nature, concept cars are all about pushing the
technological envelope, seeking solutions to all kinds of issues and problems, showcasing
extremes of new design languages, and seeing just how far the brand’s creative teams can
go.
Over the years, we’ve seen some truly out-there concept cars, which have paved the way of
all kinds of technological revolutions in the supercar industry. They may not have ever made
it to the production line, but nobody could deny that the impact their creation made was
monumental. Let’s take a look at five of the world’s more bizarre luxury concept cars, and
consider what they brought to the industry.

2011 BMW 328 Hommage

Image: Top Gear
Sometimes, the most impactful ideas come about from looking backwards as much as from
looking to the future. The BMW 328 Touring Coupe from the 1930’s was the speed demon of
its day, and was one of the most influential car designs of all time. Still hugely sought-after
by classic car collectors, it was also a thing of real beauty; all sensual curves and early
roadster attitude.
The 2011 BMW 328 Hommage was the German car manufacturer’s attempt to recreate
some of that vintage magic, and it also demonstrated beautifully how far car design had
come. It maintained those dangerous curves, those striking headlights, and that sense of
teutonic elegance matched by excellence in realisation.

Ferrari 512 s Modulo

Image: Motor 1
Concept cars are often at their best when they rip up the rulebook, and reimagine what a
luxury car can be from scratch. The awe-inspiring Ferrari 512 s Modulo did all of that… and
then some. Looking less like a car, and more like a UFO straight from a 70’s sci-fi movie, it
really was a head-turning vision of the future from back in 1971.
The body of the car seems to hover over those tucked-in wheels, and the massive windows
were a groundbreaking feature which actually went on to be standard for certain supercar
brands. What’s more, with a 0-60 of three seconds, it was blisteringly fast for its day. A true
radical, delivering in trailblazing style.
Toyota Kikai Concept

Image: Toyota Global
Toyota love toying with expectations, and showing off the technical superiority of their
designers. The Kikai Concept took this approach to its logical conclusion; it was a futuristic-
looking city car which wore its heart on its metal sleeve… quite literally.
Moving the engine to the outside of the car, and making it visible instead of being hidden
beneath a bonnet, seems like a simple idea. However, few car manufacturers have ever
attempted it, or pulled it off with such fantastic panache. Sure, the Kikai looks odd. But it also
looks like nothing else on earth, which is surely exactly what a concept car should do.
Rinspeed Oasis

Image: Top Speed
2018’s rush of concept cars have demonstrated that the luxury car market is more interested
than ever in meeting the expectations of a millennial market. The Rinspeed Oasis fits this bill
very nicely indeed. Not only is it a zippy, compact city car, perfect for driving from coffee
shop to artisan food market, it’s boasts a genuinely impressive electric motor which can run
for 250 miles, and which recharges 50% of its battery in just half an hour. Oh, and it has a
miniature garden tucked behind the dashboard, for good measure.
Volkswagen Microbus

Image: Volkswagon
Few vehicles defined an era quite like the original Volkswagen microbus. It was the ultimate
hippie-mobile, the stuff of teenage dreams, and a vehicle which guaranteed adventure on
the open road unlike any other. There has been a huge amount of fervour and excitement
surrounding an update of this classic, and in 2017, VW unveiled a concept car which showed
us how it might eventually look.
Sticking to its hippie roots, the new microbus has a massive range for an electric motor – 270
miles on a single charge. However, it has been updated with an incredibly sleek and
futuristic look, and features a load of autonomous features, smart device link-ups, and much,
much more besides. Far out, man.