motorifik

A somewhat preview of the future design of the New Beetle, the Ragster (cross between a ragtop and a speedster) was a New Beetle Convertible modified with a new roof and Hot Rod stance. The interior differs from the original New Beetle, being a 2+2, and having distinctive control dials and the rear-view mirror is mounted on its dashboard, a retro feature reminiscent of the first Type 1 - 2005 VW Beetle Ragster

Developed by Chrysler engineer Fred Zeder to evaluate the feasibility of producing a vehicle that would capture a portion of the growing American sports car market. Built on a rigid tube frame chassis, it was intended to be a dual-purpose sports/racing car. When raced, the comfortable touring body currently fitted could be removed by unscrewing four bolts and replaced with an ultra light 150 pound fiberglass body - 1953 Dodge ‘Zeder’ Storm Z-250 by Bertone

(via americabymotorcycle)

The La Tosca arrived in the thick of a run of Ford jet-age bubbletop concepts such as the Mystere, Gyron, Lincoln Futura and others. It was conceived by radical Ford designer Alex Tremulis “as an exercise to show students in the Advanced Studio how hard it was, even for professional designers, to design a car.” - 1955 Ford La Tosca (model)

The 2+2 shooting brake (station wagon) is the same size as the Rapide and uses Aston’s 470 HP 5.9-litre V12 from the current model. The C-pillars are bent forwards and connected to the tall, muscular wheel arches to create a perception of movement even when the car is stationary - Aston Martin Rapide Jet 2+2 Concept by Bertone

The battle for market share starts well before the cars are built as this futuristic Merc proves. The full-sized design model is a mid-engined eco supercar set to battle the future BMW Vision ED. Once on the road the vehicle would run on “BioNectar4534” stored in the car’s BioFibre, of which the only by-product is oxygen - 2010 Mercedes-Benz Biome Concept

Built by GM Styling for the 1953 GM Motorama and named after recent Cadillac racing successes by Briggs Cunningham at the 1950 LeMans 24-Hour race.  Four fiberglass show cars for various shows and exhibits were constructed - 1953 Cadillac LeMans

The new BMW M1 Hommage, a concept/design study that pays tribute to the original M1 (E26) and shows what could be possible if BMW were to produce a new mid-engined sports car…again - 2008 BMW M1 Homage Concept

Audi’s latest future-car vision promises to involve the driver in the process but do it in a smaller, lighter, more maneuverable, and electric way.  Following in the steps of the Messerschmitt KR200, two occupants sit in a fighter-jet-looking cockpit (complete with a rollback canopy in place of doors on the coupe) - 2011 Audi Urban Concepts

Work commenced on the Norseman in 1953 after its design was finalized. The Ghia team spent 50,000 man-hours and approximately $200,000 to build the car. When the work was finished, the car was crated for the voyage to New York and loaded deep into a ship… unfortunately that ship was the Andrea Doria - 1956 Chrysler Norseman

The Golden Rocket was a gold colored, 2 passenger car styled to resemble a rocket. It made its debut at the 1956 General Motors Motorama and was used at many other auto shows and was revised several times and stayed on the show circuit for several years. The Rocket had a fiberglass body with nerf-like built in bumpers that give an overall rocket effect. It was powered with a 234 CID, 275 horsepower Rocket V8 engine and weighs 2,500 pounds - 1956 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket Concept

The cars body consists of transparent solar panels, which “collect ambient light” and create electricity. The electricity is fed into a water tank to split the hydrogen from the oxygen. The hydrogen is stored and used to power the vehicle while the pure oxygen comes out the exhaust. The car essential functions like a plant does, with its own version of photosynthesis - 2020 Hyundai City Car Concept

This concept is a spiritual successor to the 1925 Sunbeam Tiger racing and Land Speed Record car, and was created to virtually commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tiger’s Land Speed Record. Estimated 0-60 performance is 2.3 seconds with a electronically limited top speed of 160mph and a driving range of about 800 miles - 2025 Sunbeam Tiger Concept

It is with great regret that we inform you of the death of the Jaguar C-X75. The British hybrid supercar, first seen at the Paris Motorshow in 2010, was due to enter production next year. The firm intending to build 250 cars with cooperation from the Williams Formula One team.  Power was to be provided by gas turbines and electric motors. Struggling economies around the world is to blame.

It’s one of the earliest mid-engined sports racers, and its body was shaped according to the most advanced aerodynamic thinking of the time. It also pioneered a central driving position - 1937 Alfa Romeo Aerodinamica Spider

The new Numero 9 is a hybrid vehicle that combines a 225 HP 1.6 liter petrol engine powering the front wheels with a 70 HP lithium-ion powered electric motor positioned on the rear axle enabling it to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 152 mph. - 2012 Citroen Numero 9 Concept