Year: 1999
Debut at Tokyo Motor Show
Production cost: $20,000*
The sharp-edged, Blade-runner inspired Fuya-Jo debuted in 1999, and was part of the F-Mover series. It was designed to be driven in a city environment and represented what the Japanese designers thought would be the future of inter-city transportation. The vehicle seated four people and had a high silhouette.
The name Fuya-Jo’s meant “Sleepless City” and really turned heads with its purple exterior at the Tokyo Motor Show. Definitely catering to those with eccentric tastes, the steering wheel and dashboard were designed to resemble a DJ’s mixing booth. Fuya-Jo continued to debut at auto shows till 2002 but was never allowed for public consumers.
Peugeot Moovie Concept Car
Year: 2005
Debut at Frankfurt Motor Show
Production cost: $50,000*
In 2005 Andre Costa, a designer from Portugal, created the sleek, environmentally-friendly “Moovie Car.” Costa won a design concept with his scale-one concept car, which he had dubbed “The Moovie”. He manufactured it at the Peugeot Style Centre in keeping with the design rules. It took three months, from conceptualization to final model, to end up on the showroom floor.
The two-passenger vehicle featured a weight of 1,102 pounds and was 60.6 inches in height and 91.7 inches in length. The Moovie was 70.9 inches wide and made its appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Ford X2000 – 1958
Year: 1958
Debut at: Ford Rotunda
Production cost: $58,400*
Designers Bill Balla and Tremulis created both the X1000 and the Ford X2000 which was built in 1957. The X2000 was created to display the essence of what cars in the future might look like or how they would be used. One thing the designers got right was the X2000 grille-shape which was later seen in the horse-collar grille designed by Edsel.
The vehicle was displayed at the Ford Rotunda and was later listed at the Sotheby’s Auction in London, England. The exterior of the car had an ultra-aerodynamic look, a manual gearbox, and a 2wd drivetrain.
Aurora Safety Car
Year: 1957
Debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Production cost: $30,000*
A curious fact about the Aurora Safety Car was that it was actually created by a Catholic Priest! It was also the first safety concept vehicle ever created. Father Alfred Juliano, used church donations to fund the prototype, which at $30,000 was more expensive than the actual car (which was priced at $12,000-$13,000).
The Safety Car was made of fiberglass and built on a ’53 Buick chassis. The car was named a “safety” car because it came with seatbelts (not seen in most cars at the time), a padded instrument panel, a collapsible steering column, and a roll cage. The most novel feature about the car was that it was designed to absorb impacts. In fact, the seats would swivel and face rearwards during a collision.
Ferrari 512S Modulo
Year: 1970
Debut at: Geneva Motor Show
Production cost: $100,000*
Paolo Martin is responsible for the Ferrari 512S Modulo design. This space age-looking model debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1970 and featured a canopy roof that allowed both driver and passenger to enter the cabin. The wheels were partially-covered, and the V12 under the hood reached up to 550 horsepower.
The Modulo’s low-profile structure aided in its speed capabilities. The top speed recorded for the Modulo was 220 miles per hour, and it could go from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds flat! The Modulo was of course not mass-produced but was sold privately to James Glickenhaus in 2014.