Fine-NWhat's with the bizarre hyphenated name? We didn't have the time to ask Tiffani-Amber Thiessen what she thought of the Fine-N concept. But undoubtedly she'd approve of the Fine-N's fuel-cell powertrain and groovy shape. The lack of an engine up front means all the interior room you could want, and because it sits low to the ground, rollovers should be much less likely. Until a pro athlete or rally driver gets their hands on one, at least. Toyota says you could theoretically drive 300 miles in the Fine-N, but it's just a guess until they decide where they're actually going. Right now, the votes are in favor of Ft. Lauderdale.
CS&SAnother hybrid concept from Toyota plunked a gas-electric powertrain in a lissome, curvaceous 2+2 body. The CS&S puts a version of the Prius' Hybrid Synergy Drive amidships, which would give a road-going version great handling, along with the concept's all-wheel drive. It all sounds impressive until you realize it displaces 1.5 liters; the Mustang vs. Camaro crowd will be lining up to beat you up, guaranteed.
NissanG2What wackiness does Nissan have in store for the world after foisting the strange Quest minivan on the U.S.? The G2 concept gives a hint of what's coming from the design department at Nissan, but don't expect it to emerge exactly as it looks in concept form. The light bars that run from bumper to windshield, for one, would be a nightmare to keep bug-free. We're also concerned about the three-leaf-clover wheel design, because leprechauns freak us out.
SerenityMake no mistake, Nissan is not about to enter the adult-undergarment market. But the aptly named Serenity would give anyone with a full bladder peace of mind. The straight-edge design makes the most of the silhouette pioneered by the DeLorean, with the origami-window lines you should be used to now after two generations of Pathfinders. Nissan sees this as the spiritual kin of the Murano crossover, but we see it more of a Star Wars X-wing fighter on a cigarette break.
FugaFuga me? Fuga you! We can hear the Brooklynese comments already on the attractive Fuga, which is said to be the lookalike for the next-generation Infiniti M45. The dowdy current M45 could use a new shape, after all, and the Fuga is all about being slinky, what with its G35-inspired lower body and a sharp kicked-up beltline at the D-pillar. Underneath the hood, it's all mystery, but we bet you'll see something like this with a 320-hp V8 sometime in the next two years.
RedigoYou Redigo? Well, Nissan is with the concept that reminded us that cutesy soft-utes aren't a thing of the past just yet. The crossover concept's hunched-up shape and lilypad-green paint seem faintly froggy, but the vast interior spaces might make up for the outside if looks don't matter much to you. Nissan plans to show another small crossover concept at Detroit, and with any luck, it'll be far more attractive.
HondaHSCWe've been looking for the next Acura NSX since, oh, 1995. Honda's gotten around to a design concept that might accurately reflect the successor to the NSX said to be under development. The HSC, however, still sports a mid-engine V6 with more than 300 hp-not the 16-cylinder, quad-turbocharged hybrid 100-mpg powertrain we've come to expect, nay demand, from Japan's cleverest engine maker. (They make cars, too, it turns out.) The HSC sports a Formula 1-style paddle shifter and a cockpit curiously reminiscent of the Ferrari Enzo-curious because, for all we know, the inside of the Enzo is made entirely of prosciutto.
ImasWant to know what the next Honda Insight will be? No, it's not "we should never do another Del Sol, ever again," although it's sound advice by any rational measure. The next hybrid Insight might in fact look something like this IMAS concept, a two-seater with an aluminum frame and a composite body wrapped around a hybrid powertrain. The IMAS is said to be faster than the current Insight, with the potential for 80-mpg fuel economy and a career in Nashville, some say.