TORONTO: Springing forth from the imaginations of their creators, concept vehicles are the result of automotive designers being given the freedom to fully pursue their creative visions.
But the concept cars manufacturers have rolled onto the show floor at the 2018 Canadian International AutoShow aren’t just the stuff of dreams — some of them will ultimately make it into production and onto the road, and AutoShow visitors play an important role in the process. Manufacturers use concepts to gauge public reaction to their designs. A total of eight concept vehicles — ranging from beautiful speed machines and high-end luxury sedans to SUVs are on display.
Genesis GV80 Concept: The GV80 Concept is a hydrogen fuel cell-powered SUV that offers a glimpse into the future of mobility from luxury automaker Genesis. The exterior design has a bold stance with broad proportions
Infiniti Project Black S Concept: The Project Black S Concept is a collaborative effort between Infiniti and the Renault Sport Formula One Team. This technology does not yet exist in a current road car.
Infiniti Prototype 9 Concept: The Prototype 9 Concept represents a reimagining of a 1930s race car with time-honoured production techniques employed to realize its retro design.
Lexus LS+ Concept: The LS+ Concept expresses the future direction of Lexus styling, as applied to the LS flagship sedan.
Mercedes-AMG Project ONE: The collaborative effort that created the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE brought together engineers from AMG HQ in Germany, along with the company’s Formula One operations in Britain. And their creation is simply incredible.
MINI Electric Concept: Designed for use in urban areas, this MINI Electric Concept vehicle offers a window into how pure-electric day-to-day mobility might look in the years ahead.
Nissan Xmotion Concept: The Nissan Xmotion Concept (pronounced “cross motion”) is a six-passenger, three-row SUV that fuses Japanese culture and traditional craftsmanship with North American-style utility.
Toyota i-TRIL Concept: The Toyota i-TRIL Concept is an environmentally friendly compact electric vehicle for urban lifestyles – with a difference.
In addition to these current concepts, two historically significant models are also on display at the show:
1958 Firebird III: Arguably the most exotic General Motors concept car ever, the Firebird III represented the pinnacle of the 1950s obsession with fins.
1956 Pontiac Club de Mer recreation: The brainchild of Harley Earl, General Motors’ chief of design, the Pontiac Club de Mer concept was built for GM’s Motorama auto show in 1956 to show the company’s commitment to futuristic design.