Now, behind every safe and sedate production car that you and I are able to buy, there is a designer or an engineer with some frankly wild ambitions. In concept cars is where they get to let it all hang out, really let those freak flags fly. Now, whether you're

talking about testing new technologies or previewing cutting-edge design, concept cars are also where you and I get to weigh in on what's next in automotive. And these are the best concept cars of 2024. Now, my favorite bit of trivia about the Kia PBV5 Weekender

is that it's the concept car based on another concept car. See, in January at CES, Kia rolled out its Platform Beyond Vehicle series of purpose-built vehicles for... a blank slate, highly configurable micro-van designed around modular construction, electrification, and, in some cases, high levels of autonomy. Think

little electric delivery vans for the city. Fast forward to the SEMA show, and we get the PBV5 Weekender concept: an electric overlanding van based on the PBV concept. The Weekender adapts for the trail with a lifted suspension, a winch with a digital gauge, beefed-up

bumpers and recovery points, and flared wheel arches to make room for the off-road tires, which are mounted on hydroturbine wheels that can generate electricity while parked using little more than the wind or moving water. This is perhaps the most concept-car feature

here. Inside, the PBV's concept of a modular mobile space is in full effect, able to be transformed into a tiny living and off-grid working space and featuring a slide-out kitchen for campsite cooking. Up top, the solar roof pops up, allowing you to stand up inside.

the little van can power all of your outdoor gear while trick-or-treating, or charging the battery when camping to make sure the Weekender is ready to rock when it's time to return to civilization on Monday. Another CES debut was the Honda Zero Duo of electric concepts, but it was the Zero

Saloon that stole the show with its dark, futuristic take on 1980s supercar vibes. Now, within the simple wedge shape, there's space for four passengers, and I say passengers because while you can, and I very much want to, drive this thing, the

Zero series is designed around robotics-based autonomous driving tech. So the idea is that the drive-by-wire steering yoke can be retracted into the dashboard for full autonomous driving, or to make getting in and out easier, and then it can be deployed when you want to

experience the joy of driving. Now, mostly the saloon makes the list because it looks so, so cool with its glowing doors, but it's worth your attention because of Honda's claim that most of what you see here will make its way into the next generation of dedicated electric cars

slated to launch in 2026. You can check out more about this dark horse by following the links in the normal places. Things are getting weird at Jaguar, and I'm loving it. Earlier this year, the luxury British automaker announced that it's stopping

production on most of its vehicles while it gears up for a vaguely defined reinvention as an electric car brand. And in November, it announced a rebranding with a new look, a new logo, and a colorful new, copy-laden promo video with no cars, traditional drag stands,

were, let's say, concerned. And then came the Type 0000 concept: a long and low GT coupe concept that marries the proportions of Jag's past with the clean and sharp EV styling of the brand's future. The simple, stark design, with its LED strip

headlights, draws attention to the long hood, the flowing roof, and the massive wheels. But it hides interesting details, like hidden rear-view cameras that deploy when you need them and then tuck away behind brass accents when you're parked. And yes, this first showing of

Jag's new "copy nothing" design ethos looks like it borrows a lot from Audi design, but I'm mostly just here for the chaos that Jaguar's created amongst both its fandom and people who haven't seriously thought about the brand for years. Yes, the Cadillac Celestiq Solaire concept is

a convertible version of the ultra-luxury Cadillac Celestiq concept, but is there anything more iconic than a big, convertible Cadillac? Argue that out in the comments. And besides, there's more to this than just a topectomy. The all-electric 2+2 is draped in a Manila

cream yellow hue, originally used on 1957 and '58 Cadillac cars. Inside, the upholstery features a sunbeam motif, which is repeated throughout the design: on the complementary wood inlays in the doors and in the seats. Everywhere you look, there's a subtle, pink, iridescent

pigmentation that only really pops under the sunlight. Now, the rest of the Solaire's details and specs closely match those of the Celestiq upon which it's based, because this is mostly a styling exercise focused on luxurious materials and design, and the concept of an even

more limited, coach-built variation of what's already a limited-run, $300,000-plus electric car. Oh look, another wedge-y electric sports car. Okay, sure, but the Lotus Evija is just too crazy not to mention. Where to start? The central, McLaren F1-inspired driving position, the

dihedral Synchro-Helix doors? How about the crazy peak output of 987 horsepower and a 0 to 60 time in under 2.5 ticks? This thing's claims are insane, but the detail that stands out to me most is the

weight. If you're familiar with Lotus, then you've heard the phrase "Simplify, and add lightness," which is attributed to the brand's founder. So, one of the main focuses of the Evija is lightweighting, which can be best seen in the car's central carbon fiber tub. At

less than 3,500 lb, it's still pretty heavy, but light for an EV with dual-motor all-wheel drive, which is how Lotus reckons it'll be able to top 200 mph and 250 mi of range (though not simultaneously, of course) with just a 70

kW battery. Honorable mention goes to the Polestar TRX, designed by Shashank Shakar. Technically not a concept car, this electric pickup truck is the winner of Polestar's 2024 Hot Wheels design contest. It merges big, chunky wheels and

comically raised suspension with exposed EV hardware. I mean, there's a Polestar car in there somewhere. The DNA can be seen in the yellow highlights and the sheet metal details and the brand's LED light signature. And unlike every other car on this list, you'll eventually be able to

Buy a poster or TRX of your own at 1:64 scale when Hot Wheels releases the concept in toy form sometime in the future. Now, this list is mostly in no particular order, but I do have a favorite: the Hyundai RN24, which I was

able to actually drive recently. I mean, how often do you get to say that about a concept car? The tube-chassissed RN24 is the latest in Hyundai's N Performance wing series of rolling lab concept cars, which it uses to evaluate technologies that usually make their way into production

performance cars. The feature tested here is the e-handbrake with regen braking force, a fully electric handbrake that uses the rear electric motors to instantly lock the rear wheels for rally-inspired gymkhana drifts and slides. I tried it myself, and it's crazy how

well it works. Without pads or hydraulics to keep the slide going is the powertrain from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N with dual electric motors making 641 horsepower. It's got drift differentials, suspension and steering bits from Hyundai's winning rally car, and an amped-

up version of the brand's N Active Sound +, which generates engine sound using speakers mounted around the chassis. Okay, that last bit doesn't add any performance, but it sounds great and it makes me giggle, which is what I love most about N cars. From the Veloster N to

the new Elantra and Ioniq 5 N models, they understand, above all else, that we're driving these cars because they're fun. Anyway, you can check out my full first drive of the Hyundai RN24 over on cnet.com, and that's where you'll also

Find us gearing up for CES 2025. Now, if you're a fan of concept cars and new technologies, you're not going to want to miss what's next in automotive. So, drive safe, and I'll see you there.

2024's Best EV Concept Cars: Charge into the Future

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2024's Best EV Concept Cars: Charge into the Future

2024's Best EV Concept Cars: Charge into the Future

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