A motorshow wouldn't be quite the same without a flurry of concept cars. Although such vehicles are rarely made available for purchase, they serve many purposes; not least to generate excitement about a brand, convince the market that a company is still capable of innovation, or to work as design studies for future road cars.
Mercedes Concept IAA
The S-Class-sized IAA takes its initials from the Frankfurt Motor Show's official name, Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, but actually stands for Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile. It's a valid name, as this four-seater luxury sedan physically transforms itself to increase efficiency. Below 50mph, it looks like a sensible enough imagining of a Mercedes CLS from the 22nd century. But drive any faster and it begins to change shape.
The segmented rear bumper area extends by 15 inches using electric actuators, the wheel rims transform from a cup-shape to become totally flat, and a fin in the front bumper retracts to improve under-body airflow. According to Mercedes, the whole transformation improves the car's aerodynamic efficiency.
Bugatti Vision GT Concept
Bugatti's arresting Vision GT Concept started life as a digital design intended to appear in the Gran Turismo 6 video game, but has also appeared in physical form at IAA 2015. Based on the Le Mans-winning Type 57 heritage model, the Vision GT Concept brings with it several clues as to the design direction Bugatti will take with the upcoming successor to the Veyron.
The Vision GT is designed for outright performance, eschewing the understated luxury for which Bugatti is famed. Luxury accoutrements, safety systems and anything designed to promote comfort have been eliminated in a bid to decrease weight and increase performance.
Hyundai N 2050 Vision Gran Turismo
Bugatti isn't the only company to have brought a virtual car to life. Hyundai's offering takes a similarly extreme approach that probably wouldn't look out of place in a Le Mans race a few centuries from now. The N 2050 serves to illustrate the point that, while Hyundai is capable of delivering the down-to-earth crossovers and SUVs it's famed for, it also has an eye on the highest levels of motorsport, particularly with its high-performance N brand.
Nissan Gripz
With this crossover, Nissan aims to convince the world that exciting cars needn't be low-slung, uncomfortable or impractical, and that sensible crossover vehicles needn't be dull. The company says the Gripz has a dual personality; on the one hand offering comfort and convenience for the day-to-day commute, but on the other allowing for wild rides at the weekend.
The company states the Gripz is categorically not a replacement for its Qashqai or Juke models, but rather a standalone offering that could be pushed into production should the company decide to pursue a more extreme take on the crossover.
Porsche Mission E
The Mission E is a bold play from Porsche. This all-electric sports car offers room for four passengers, straight line performance to best the 911 and a long enough driving range to persuade anti-electric vehicle critics that it's worth investing in.
The Mission E also incorporates an in-vehicle entertainment system, which features a holographic, gesture-sensitive user interface, although this technology is still in its infancy.
Porsche says there's a very strong chance it will put the Mission E into production. If it does, expect it to be a considerable shot in the arm for the entire battery electric vehicle market.
Honda Project 2&4
This visually arresting contraption, the result of a global competition between 80 of Honda's in-house designers, attempts to fuse the company's expertise in motorcycles and cars. The body design is a nod to Honda's 1965 Formula 1 car, the first Japanese vehicle to win a Grand Prix race, although the company has taken a different approach to the seat design.
Rather than being shielded by bodywork, the driver's seat is completely exposed, floating inches above the ground. Such a design is unlikely to be seen on roads, but Honda may consider this an attractive proposition for track day enthusiasts.
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