Remember when regular electric cars were considered space-age? Today, we don’t bat an eyelid when a Toyota Prius passes us on the road. The cars of tomorrow, on the other hand, really are on a whole other level: think self-driving, zero emissions, 3D mapping, biometric authentication and voice control systems.
These next-gen vehicles will blow your mind.
Toyota Concept-i RIDE
Toyota first introduced its Concept-i series (the Concept-i, Concept-i RIDE and Concept-i WALK) at the 2017 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Designed with vehicle-sharing and accessibility in mind, the compact Concept-i RIDE has gull-wing doors, universal sliding seats and automated driving functions. It still has a steering wheel — although it looks more like a video game controller — but drivers can rely on the powerful artificial intelligence (AI) “Yui,” described by Toyota as “more pal than interface,” to help them out.
Honda NeuV
The Honda NeuV (pronounced “new-v”) is an electric mini-car with built-in AI programmed to detect the driver’s emotions and provide help and advice. As well as being a car that cares, it has a touchscreen dashboard and an inbuilt payment system, and sells energy back to the electric grid when it’s not being used. It even comes with an electric skateboard for “last mile” transit.
BMW Vision iNext
In February 2019, BMW released photos of its Vision iNext undergoing winter testing in Sweden, marking the start of two years of development before its scheduled release in 2021. Hailed as the future of the electric SUV and designed like a living room on wheels, one of its coolest features is its touch-sensitive back-lit fabric, which reacts when you touch it. According to BMW, the Vision iNext will be able to go 400 miles on one charge, which is way more than any current electric car.
Audi Aicon
The Audi Aicon impressed on aesthetics alone when it was first unveiled in 2017. The sleek electric autonomous car, which is still a few years away from going into production, has four motors, a range of up to 497 miles per charge, and can charge wirelessly up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes. The interior is just as stylish and will satisfy fans of the minimal look: it has no visible steering wheel or pedals.
Nissan IMx Kuro
The Nissan IMx Kuro concept vehicle, a fully autonomous electric crossover with zero emissions, was a hit at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show and is scheduled to go into production sometime in 2020. Nissan’s Brain-to-Vehicle (B2V) technology deciphers signals from the driver’s brain to help with driving and strengthen the link between driver and vehicle. Drivers can choose between manual drive or ProPILOT (fully autonomous) operation, which automatically tucks the steering wheel into the dashboard and reclines all the seats.
AeroMobil 4.0
The AeroMobil 4.0, another futuristic plane and car combination that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, has retractable wings, a propeller in the back and a driver’s seat that’s more like a pilot’s cockpit. The elegant design is inspired by “a perfectly aerodynamic teardrop shape,” and the exterior is constructed of carbon composite construction for optimum strength and aerodynamic performance. It’s available for pre-order — but bear in mind you need a runway for takeoff and a pilot’s license to fly it.
Hyundai Elevate
If a flying car doesn’t appeal, how about a walking car? After being in development for three years, the Hyundai Elevate, a veritable real-life Transformer with multiple attachments, created a buzz at CES 2019. The first Ultimate Mobility Vehicle, it has extendable robotic legs to let it overcome obstacles up to 5-feet high or 5-feet wide, combining technology used in electric cars and robots to surpass the potential of every other off-road vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz F 015
You can’t get much more futuristic than the Mercedes-Benz F 015. It has no steering wheel, a cabin with seats facing each other, and is fully autonomous with a built-in AI system. It’s also incredibly polite; if someone tries to walk in front of it, it stops and says, “Please, go ahead.” The manufacturer describes the F 015’s interior as a “digital living space” — it has six displays to let passengers interact intuitively with the car by motion or touch.
Mercedes-Benz Vision Urbanetic
The Mercedes-Benz Vision Urbanetic is based on an electric self-driving concept with a twist. It has switchable bodies, allowing users to choose from a passenger module with room for up to 20 people (eight sitting and four standing) or a multi-level cargo unit to transport goods. In either case, the base of the vehicle does the autonomous driving and stores the electric batteries and motors.
Bosch IoT Shuttle
While electronics and engineering company Bosch doesn’t have any immediate plans to make cars, it showcased its Bosch IoT shuttle at CES 2019 to showcase its take on autonomous driving. The shuttle is powered by electric drive axles and uses software designed in-house to reveal remaining battery range and whether battery power is sufficient to reach the next destination; when a shuttle runs low, it is taken out of service and directed to the closest charging station. Bosch predicts that, in 2020, there will be about a million shuttles on the road in Europe, the United States and China, and 2.5 million by 2025.
Harley-Davidson LiveWire
Another big reveal at CES 2019 was a pre-production version of the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, an electric motorcycle with an estimated range of 110 miles on a single charge. Its level of cellular connectivity (transmitting information about motorcycle status, tamper alerts, vehicle location, service reminders, etc.) is a first for mass-market motorcycles. Authorized Harley-Davidson dealers are taking pre-orders for the LiveWire now and anticipate first deliveries in August 2019, with a price tag of $29,799.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo
The ID. range is Volkswagen’s contribution to electromobility, and fans of their iconic camper van won’t be left out. The ID. Buzz Cargo is based on the concept of “variable space,” thanks to its innovative interior design that can be a living space or even a creative hub. Augmented navigation keeps you on the right path, and there’s a promise of a fully automated mode, too. There’s no release date yet, but the people at Volkswagen say they’re “working hard to ensure that it’ll be worth the wait.”
Bell Nexus Air Taxi
The general consensus is that one of the most thrilling concept vehicles at CES 2019 was the Bell Nexus Air Taxi, a huge flying drone/helicopter hybrid that can seat four and has a range of 150 miles. It’s not a car, but it’s definitely worth knowing about. Described by Bell as “a rideshare in the air,” it’s being tested in Dallas, Dubai and Los Angeles, and may be released as early as 2025.
