Kia A1A Optima
Appearance: Brace yourself: Fast and Furious body styling has made a comeback. Allegedly inspired by the US state of Florida, Kia has taken an Optima and given it a huge twist. The showroom Optima is a really smart-looking car, but what we have here is not so much of a new concept but more of a stylistic revamp. Gaze upon the chrome wheels and rear-hinged back doors.
Prediction: Concept cars are meant to be radical in design, looking to the future or imagining one that can never happen. The A1A takes a very fine car from 2015 and simply gives it a rather flashy twist. We doubt that it will ever see the light of day.
Rating: 6/10.
Mazda MX-5 Speedster concept
Appearance: What a show-stopper! A stunning take on the fourth-generation ‘ND’ MX-5, the Speedster does away with the windscreen altogether and targets absolute light weight. Those alloy wheels are super-light specials made by Rays, and it sits 30mm lower than the production MX-5 thanks to a K&W adjustable coilover suspension. It weighs just 943kg, which, for a 2.0-litre version, is very light indeed.
Prediction: Clearly a car with no windscreen isn’t likely to be built for the European market. But since Renault sells the Twizy across the continent, stranger things have already happened. It’s likely, though, that the Speedster is just a stunning take on a retro design theme. We’d love Mazda to make it, but as much fun as the part carbon-fibre build looks, it probably won’t be produced.
Rating: 9/10.
Nissan IDS Concept
Appearance: This is grade A concept car stuff, with big wheels, ridiculously aggressive wheel arches and angles so sharp they’d probably cut a slice in the space-time continuum if the car was powered by something a bit more exciting than an electric motor. Which it isn’t.
Prediction: What we’re seeing here is Nissan’s efforts to develop an autonomous car and make it exciting. It ticks the box marked ‘Looks Mental’, but automated cars really are a bit dull by definition. Nissan says that technologies inspired by the IDS Concept will be fitted to production cars by 2020, so something a little less aggressive might arrive in dealers shortly after.
Rating: 8/10.
Subaru Impreza 5-door concept
Appearance: This design concept with a roughly finished look for the next generation of Imprezas looks familiar. It’s designed with aggression in spades, but even so, the modestly-sized wheels (for a concept) suggest that what we’re looking at is close to the final article.
Prediction: We can’t see the sheer in-your-faceness of the Impreza concept’s lines making it to production unless Subaru has awoken from the stupor that led to the conservative-looking version that is the current Impreza. If it were to be made, this would be a much better partner for the excellent BRZ coupé and could elevate the brand’s standing in a tough market.
Rating: 7/10.
Suzuki Mighty deck concept
Appearance: The bug-eyed and minuscule Mighty Deck is mighty only in name. At 3.4 metres long and less than 1.5 metres wide, it’s the smallest pick-up you’re ever likely to see. It uses the same 658cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine as the Caterham Seven 160. The wood-trimmed bumpers and load bay are a nod towards a trendy lifestyle look, which is appropriate because there’s only about enough luggage space for a stylish handbag.
Prediction: Check out the cool interior design and you’ll get a glimpse of Suzuki's possible future direction with dashboards and steering wheels, if nothing else. The question is... who would actually buy one?
Rating: 7/10.
Mazda RX-Vision concept
Appearance: This is hardcore stuff for sports car fans; a rotary-engined Mazda coupé with a stubby manual gear lever for short throw and faster shifts, gorgeous shapely rear wheel arches and an obviously narrower front track for seriously quick steering. This thing would be an absolute beauty to drive. The only thing wrong with it is the headlights, which make the car look a bit sleepy.
Prediction: Mazda uses the term ‘reference exhibit’ to describe what the RX-Vision is, but what it means is that – brace yourself for disappointment – it’s not planning to build it. Instead the Japanese firm is just looking for feedback on the idea. It has never given up on the idea of rotary engines despite them being higher-maintenance. With SkyActiv technology, Mazda hopes to change this.
Rating: 10/10.