Here's What Happens When Car Designers Are Allowed to Do Whatever They Want

The Origins of Experimental Car Design

The history of experimental car designs dates back further than you may think. In 1938, Harley Earl designed the eccentric Buick Y-Job to showcase new styling and technology without the constraints of production at the time. Its features included power windows and hidden headlights, which are fairly run-of-the-mill today.

Similarly, around this time, other creators began designing concepts. For instance, Henry Ford began experimenting with making plastic parts, which led to the development of the Soybean Car concept in 1941. 

The Purpose of Concept Cars Today

Concept cars are used by companies today to explore new designers, test cutting-edge technology and gauge public interest. Take Honda’s new ultra-modern all-electric prototypes as an example, which are planned to go into production in 2026.

These can be hugely influential for inspiring future production models and showcasing a brand’s vision for the future of mobility.

1. Plymouth Voyager III (1990)

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you mash up an MPV with a mini? A certain designer at Plymouth did so back in the 1990s. Enter the Plymouth Voyager III, which was a hybrid car that was both absurd-looking and practical.

The concept was simple — it could instantly transform from a family-sized wagon to a compact city car. Picking up the whole family from soccer practice was no problem. Impressing a date might’ve been an issue, though.

2. Honda Fuya-jo (1999)

Revealed at the Tokyo motor show in 1999, the Honda Fuya-Jo is a concept vehicle designed as a nightclub on wheels. You read that right.

The name translates to “sleepless city”, with the intention to prioritize entertainment over traditional driving, keeping the party alive while transporting young people from one nightclub to the next. The interior of this party-mobile was also intended to resemble a nightclub, with the dashboard styled to resemble a DJ’s mixing desk and the steering wheel shaped like a turntable.

3. Citroën Karin (1980)

Rectangles are out, and pyramids are in. That's what one Citroën designer thought in 1980 when they unveiled this radical, pyramid-shaped concept car.

With sharp angles, a flat roof and enough glass to fill a greenhouse, this machine would certainly turn heads if it were to go into production. Sadly, it didn't, though — probably because it resembled more of a tricycle than a functional car, with only one front driver seat and two smaller seats behind.

4. Nissan Pivo (2005)

What happens when you design a vehicle like a fidget spinner? The Nissan Pivo happens. This out-there design is less of a car and more of a futuristic pod, and it drives like one, too.

The cabin is designed to rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to turn yourself around and pull straight out of any parking space. No more annoying three-point turns.