Automobile enthusiasts understand that making a vehicle look and sound hot shouldn't involve leopard seat covers, rhinestone-encrusted bumper stickers, or a horn that honks out “La Cucaracha.”
What's sexy for cars has always come down to three things: exclusivity, power and style. The same goes for the concept cars of the future. With enough open road, any of these cars can turn heads and break hearts.
The Past
Cadillac Club (1949) Maybe the Cadillac Club isn't exactly the infamous Cadzilla, but its driver will be turning heads from behind the wheel of this classic vehicle anyway. No other car has gone so far as to capture the aesthetic qualities of automobile sleekness. The Cadillac Club is simply timeless. And with fewer than 100,000 made in the U.S., its famous fastback is as exotic as it is perfected.
A glass pack muffler is the only option necessary to the '49 Club. That is, unless the flames painted on the sides of the hood are fully worthy of the V-8 under the hood.
Porsche 911 S Targa (1968) Arguably, there is no other convertible as widely recognizable and as widely collectible as a Porsche 911. By 1967, Porsche had taken a whole new approach to the vehicle, opting for a steel-based roll bar that would bypass any potential laws prohibiting unprotected convertibles.
As a result, the unmistakable Porsche Targa was born. With sleek lines and a myriad of accents, the vehicle is a perfect blend of beauty and creativity. Anyone with a 1968 holds a true gem; as it turned out, the redesigned model of that year was not imported to America on account of its unsatisfactory emissions.
Chevrolet Corvette (1978) With the 25th anniversary of its premier in sports car history, the Chevrolet Corvette was almost completely re-designed for its appearance as the pace car for the 1978 Indy 500. It featured a 350 cubic inch motor with 185 horsepower and a commemorative badge on the front nose.
Although production of the Indy 500 replica was originally set for 2,500, because of its instant popularity, Chevrolet ended up making over 6,000.
Many of the '78 Corvettes were originally outfitted with a light silver accent along the lower part of the body, and two-tone combinations are a favorite among collectors.
The Corvette is a staple in American car-making history and, while the '78 wears the crown, a Corvette from any year is a hot ride.
The Present
Mercedes G-Class (2008) While the C-Class may be the most popular of the current Mercedes vehicles, it's the SUVs that best define the current perspective on luxury vehicles.
The updated Mercedes G-Class SUVs' interior overhaul paves the path for upcoming trends in the refinement of SUVs. The new design compliments its urban adaptation, while retaining all the necessities for off-roading.
But anyone who would actually take a new Mercedes SUV mudding without proper modification would be deemed either too crazy or too naïve.
Otherwise, the Mercedes G-Class is a safe and smart (and sometimes overpowered) luxury 4x4 with plenty of chrome options. A quick cruise downtown will allow its owners to flaunt their insurance plans.
Maserati Spyder Vintage (2004) As the first Spyder landed in 2002, it took the automotive world by storm. With powerful lines and a high-tuned V8, there was only one complaint: the shaky chassis.
Evidently, Maserati felt the need to respond quickly. So, it re-released the Spyder, fixed its chassis problem, and added a “Vintage” package that featured newly-designed wheels and enough chrome trimmings to make it glow in the dark.
Greg Mortenson, a Maserati Spyder owner, finds the car's cabin its finest feature. “It's very high performance but you could sit and cruise in all day and not get uncomfortable,” Mortenson said. “And it's very stable at high speeds.”
Audi R8 (2007) Finally, the five-time Le Mans winner is ready for the streets. Setting the bar for the future of the Audi brand's sports cars, the R8 features an entirely aluminum body sculpted with both familiar contours and expressive details.
What's most attractive about this sports car is it's engine. The V-8 packs a wallop with a maximum speed of 187 mph and 420 bhp. Interestingly, the motor is actually visible from outside the domed rear window and from inside the cabin.
All drivers need is a set of tasteful rims to make blatantly ignoring speed limit signs look classy.
The Future
Mazda3 (2018) Students of design have some unique approaches to car bodies nowadays and, if they get what they want, the future of sports cars will be nothing less than amazing.
The first photos of a futuristic Mazda3 , which won't be ready until 2018, have just surfaced on the Internet. The car was voted the best concept car through an online challenge and premiered, in the flesh, at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show.
Mallory McMorrow, a student of design at Notre Dame and winner of the challenge, will work with Mazda designers in the near future to bring her dream to the streets. It will be a long decade until the Mazda3 is road-ready.
Lamborghini Embolado (20??) The Embolado is a concept design originally rendered by Luca Serafini, a student of design in Italy.
Aside from being a Lambo lover's dream, the aesthetic qualities of the Embolado concept are well-rounded: hard lines, fat tires, and just straight up muscle. Hopefully Lamborghini will take this one seriously and turn it into a reality within the next 25 years.
Ferrari ____(????) The top twenty designs of 2005's “Ferrari of the Future” contest each deserve honorable recognition for their space-age concepts designed for the brand.
With students from some of the most prestigious design schools across the globe each inking out their visions for the sports car, there is still a lot of work to do when it comes to production.
In fact, most of the submissions probably don't belong in this century anyways. Just by looking at (what is technically) the roof on the Fiorano concept, car enthusiasts must agree that “hot” will take on a whole new meaning when it comes to burning rubber.
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