Gizmodo: concept cars

Toyota's Tacoma ATG: Gull-Wing Doors, and Four 24-inch LCDs with Xbox 360s

Danny Allen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:26:12 EST

Jalopnik is all over this week's SEMA car show in Vegas, where Toyota and Microsoft are parading their crazy Tacoma All-Terrain Gamer concept. Four Xbox 360 Elites hooked-up to four swing-out 24-inch Samsung LCDs? Check. Energy drink dispenser? You betcha.

Spectators can also watch the action via a 60-inch Sharp LCD that's mounted to the back of the truck.

"We've taken the idea of what would it be like to take an off-road vehicle and still be able to play your favorite video games in remote locations," said David Williams, a Toyota marketing planner.

Totally silly, but props for going completely over the top. The license plate holder even says "My other car is a Warthog". Lots more pics and info at: [Jalopnik and PickupTrucks]

Ford's Nucleon Concept: Twin Steam Turbines and a Nuclear Reactor in the Trunk

Danny Allen — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:20:53 EDT

Say what? Back in 1958, Ford designed models of its batmobile-like concept with lead-shielded uranium fission-plant. Fears of nuclear-meltdown meant it never got built, but it lovingly appears in two recent car retrospectives well worth a read. [Jalopnik and LIFE]

The Future Of Car Technology, As Seen From The Recent Past

John Herrman — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:00:00 EDT

Futuristic concept products—especially gadgets—always inspire the same thought: in about ten years, this is going to seem ridiculous. Jalopnik takes a look back at the technological dreams of the car industry, circa 1999.

Shape-Shifting BMW Concept Car Is Made of CLOTH

Adrian Covert — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:15:00 EDT

BMW has created a concept car called the GINA Light Visionary Model, which takes a seamless, plastic-coated lycra material, and stretches it over a metal frame with moving parts—allowing for the car to have shape-shifting properties. The shape of the body can be changed without tearing or loosening the fabric, and the steering wheel, gauges and headrest all move into place after you sit down in the car.

The car is based off a 4.4-liter Z8 with a six-speed automatic transmission. The body is composed of just four panels—hood, sides and rear—and the material is water resistant. As far as shape-shifting goes, the car can alter things like adding or removing a spoiler, or widening fenders. I'm not sure about you, but my mind=blown. [Wired and Jalopnik]

One To The Power Of Four Equals Honda Awesomeness

Sean Fallon — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:20:52 EDT

At this year's LA auto show, Honda pulled out all the stops in the design category with their One to the Power of Four solar hybrid. The challenge was to design a vehicle that will be on the streets a half century from now, and Honda decided to devote their energy to solving the carpooling dilemma. The car is actually four individually operated vehicles in one, and they can be "instinctively reconfigured" thanks to a blend of gyros, artificial intelligence, and molecular engineering. When combined into a single vehicle, commuters could take advantage of HOV lanes. Carpooling—that's great. Honda had me with the looks. [Autobloggreen]

Ford SYNUS Concept is Perfect for Your Vacation to Baghdad

Adam Frucci — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 10:53:06 EST

How's this for some ominous copy: "As the population shifts back to the big cities, you'll need a rolling urban command center." Yes, after the fallout we need to reclaim our metropolises from the mutant hobo zombie hordes, and Ford has got our backs. Their SYNUS (quite possibly the worst vehicle name ever) is a concept vehicle that has a home theater setup inside and all sorts of protective measures on the outside.

Inside, you get adjustable seating to point you towards the 45-inch Sharp LCD flat panel and DVD player. Outside… well, I can't put it any clearer than their description:

When parked and placed in secure mode, SYNUS deploys protective shutters over the windshield and side glass. Small windows on the flanks and roof are non-opening and bullet-resistant. The SYNUS concept also signals security through its use of a driver-side dial operated combination lock on the B-pillar.

Yikes. It all sounds so… necessary. Sure, it's a bit old, but their intent seems just as relevantly creepy now as it was when they announced it. Check another dark and scary pic after the jump.

–Adam Frucci

More on Ford's Synus Concept: Transportation for Urban Fraidy Cats [Jalopnik]
Product Page [via Born Rich]

Toyota FT-HS Hybrid: 0-60 in 4 Seconds

Charlie White — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 12:51:28 EST

Yeah, it's just a concept car, but this one might find its way onto the highway. It's the 400hp Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept, set to roll out on January 7 at the Detroit Auto Show. What really caught our eye was the Electric Tesla-like numbers of zero-to-60 in 4 seconds, and one big figure that's actually smaller than expected: Toyota is shooting for the mid-$30,000 price range.

Even though we like the Toyota Prius, it is kind of dorky looking. Maybe elements of this design could be incorporated into the next Prius. This is something we could live with. Check out six more wicked pics:

Check out the way the hard top folds into the trunk in pics three and four.

Even if this hybrid concept doesn't show up on showroom floors any time soon, it might just be foreshadowing of what we might see with a possible Toyota Supra in the works.

This is a great trend in hybrids: electric motor as supercharger. – Charlie White

2007 Detroit Auto Show: Toyota Unwraps The FT-HS Hybrid Sports Car Concept For Christmas [Jalopnik via Edmunds Inside Line]