Road ,News
NOV 07th 2023
Russell Campbell
Concept cars are a gilt-edged opportunity for car manufacturers to get their creative juices flowing, giving us hints at what their next models will look like, their motors and their tech. As it happens, 2023 has been a bumper year for four-wheeled glimpses into the future, with events like the Munich and Tokyo motors shows becoming steaming hotbeds of innovation. On this list, you'll find some of the coolest concepts revealed in 2023 with the promise that they'll be produced in the not-too-distant future.
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1. Mazda Iconic SP
Mazda's Iconic SP isn't the fastest sportscar here or the most expensive, but it's arguably the most important because it previews the look of the next Mazda MX-5 – and it looks wonderful. Mazda's expertly judged mixture of sharp face and flowing curves made the SP one of the standout reveals of 2023's Tokyo Motor Show.
And the tech is just as exciting. It previews a new electric MX5 that keeps alive Mazda's commitment to Wankel engines with a two-rotor motor that pumps out 370PS (272kW) to serve as a brawny range-extender that keeps the Mazda's batteries topped up. That means Mazda can keep the batteries small, giving the SP a relatively light 1,450kg kerb weight and a 50:50 kerb weight that will mean a new generation can enjoy the MX-5. Expect it to be revealed in 2026.
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2. BMW Vision Neue Klasse
Recent BMWs have looks that make you want to scoop out your eyeballs and set fire to them, but the BMW Vision Neue Klasse is something different – it's a new BMW that looks good.
The gopher-tooth grille and flared nostrils of the current M4 are only noticeable by the absence; there's none of the unnecessary bulk of the M2, but neither has the Vision Neue Klasse got the hom*ogeneous design of the i4. Instead, the Vision Neue Klasse handpicks some of the best design elements of BMWs of old and gives them a modern twist. The result is a car with hints of classic BMWs like the 2002 and E30 3 Series, amalgamated with the crisp lines and infotainment-heavy interior of the manufacturer's current flock. Good news because the Vision Neue Klasse previews a new electric 3 Series out in 2025.
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3. Porsche Mission X
Porsche's hypercars tend to push boundaries further than rivals dare. The 959 was proof in point: a four-wheel-drive, active-aero, sequentially turbocharged missile that made competitors look like they arrived by time machine from the dark ages. Its successor, the Carrera GT, had a V10 that revved like an F1 car motor, while the 918 Spyder could flick from a fire-breathing V8 hypercar to a town-friendly EV at the flick of a switch.
The pure-electric Mission X aims to be the fastest road car around the Nurburgring with a 1,500PS (1,103kW) and a lightweight body that should make this one of the lightest performance EVs. Porsche rounds off the Mission X's attributes with the claim that it will have "extreme downforce well above the level of the 911 GT3 RS" thanks to an active rear wing and a sculpted floor. Expect it to be revealed in 2007.
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4. Mercedes-Benz CLA concept
Mercedes has already launched the EQS and EQE, and the CLA Concept previews a new small electric saloon that slots below them as a rival for the recently updated Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4.
The larger models give us an idea of what to expect from the CLA. The CLA's appearance makes it look like one of the company's conventional saloons has melted under the sun, with gloopy looks and soft curves. A strong accent line means it's more distinctive than the company's other EVs, though. Inside, you get a massive hyperscreen infotainment display with augmented reality and sustainable materials like fibres, recycled plastics and faux leather. Charging speeds of 250kW mean adding nearly 250 miles of range in just 15 minutes. It's expected in showrooms in 2024.
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5. Nissan Hyper Force Concept
The Nissan GT-R is known for hiding mind-bending technology under a relatively solemn shell. Once you strip away its concept car glitz, it is a modus operandi upheld by the Hyper Force Concept that previews a new GT-R due in 2028.
Its chiselled jaw breathes the confidence of a car famed for humbling the Porsche 911 Turbo, boxed wheel arches hint at a complex four-wheel drive system and the swan neck rear spoiler points at a renewed focus on aerodynamics. Inside, you get a dashboard laden with geeky readouts, while under the skin, you'll find electric power and a high-density solid-state battery. Expect the new GT-R to feature a motor on each corner, allowing the 4ORCE four-wheel drive system to perform the handling trickery the GT-R is famed for.
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6. Volkswagen ID. GTI concept
The march of EVs may have left you wondering if it was time to bid bye-bye to your GTI, but thankfully, Volkswagen has other ideas. It's called the ID. GTI concept, and it gives us our first look at what an electric VW hot hatch could look like.
And it looks marvellous. The ID. GTI takes the bluff grille and smooth lines you'd expect of an EV and sprinkles them with sporty touches like a sporty body kit, cool wheels, red highlights and GTI badging. It's playful on the inside too, where you'll find MK1 Golf GTI-inspired tartan seats and a dimpled drive selector that mimics the old car's gear knob. Power has yet to be confirmed but expect the ID. GTI to have more than 200PS when it goes on sale in less than two years.
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7. Porsche 357 Speedster
The Porsche 357 Speedster gives us an idea of what the new electric Boxster could look like when it goes on sale in 2025.
Like the 357, you can expect the electric Boxster to look similar to a petrol-powered model as Porsche attempts to keep loyalists happy. Inside, you'll find stacked infotainment screens identical to those in the Taycan. It's an exciting car that will give us our first taste of what a pure-electric Porsche sportscar will feel like from behind the wheel. Predictably, its large batteries mean the new Boxster will weigh much more than an ICE equivalent but expect Porsche to counter that with an excess of thrust – the 357 produces more than 1,000PS for 0-62mph in less than three seconds. The electric Boxster is due in showrooms in 2025.
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8. Toyota FTSe Concept
The Toyota FTSe Concept previews an electric replacement for the old MR2 that went off sale in 2007, although the production car is several years away.
Like the MR2, the FTSe is a sportscar that focuses on nimble handling rather than headline power figures, and its heavy rear-end proportions hint that the car could have its weight distributed towards the middle for handling characteristics that mimic the balance of a mid-engine layout. Toyota will heighten the driving experience further with an electric powertrain that can mimic the gear changes and torque dips of a petrol sportscar. The FTSe has a compact and energy-dense lithium-ion battery that allows for a low and sporty driving position and an impressive 500-mile range.
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9. Honda Prelude
Toyota isn't the only Japanese company toying with the idea of resurrecting one of its most famous name tags; Honda is getting in on the action, too, with its new Prelude. The last Prelude, famed for its four-wheel steer and high-revving VTEC engines, went off sale in 2001.
You can expect Honda to take inspiration from the old car to design the new one (which is just as well because hard facts on it are hard to come by). What we do know is that it looks great. The beaky front end – a Prelude tradition – meets angled creases and a vivacious rear end similar to the Aston Martin DB9's or, erm, a Renault Laguna Coupe. Honda's new sportscar will have a hybrid engine, and you can expect to be at least a year away.
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Russell Campbell
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