Even though we know concept vehicles are sometimes just that, "concepts" that are way out there - maybe never going beyond the prototype - that's also what makes the wildest ones the most interesting. I asked Jody Victor to pick his favorites from the Tokoyo Motor Show where they feature some of the most outlandish concept vehicles on the planet.
Jody Victor: The concept vehicles I chose just captured the kid in me or, hope for the future, or maybe even tickled my funny bone - so here they are.
Nissan Pivo2 - The PIVO2 looks like it'd be a perfect mascot car for a baseball team, with its spherical passenger compartment sitting on a 4-wheeled platform. The wheels can be turned in any direction and the passenger compartment itself can spin 360 degrees. Very cute but don't look for this car driving down public roads anytime soon.
Suzuki X-Head - This cross-utility vehicle from Suzuki is a car to satisfy all of your Tonka toy fantasies. It is functional, fun and dependable, says Suzuki. Its greatest attribute is its ability to transform into many guises. By changing the load bed, X-Head can become a camper for two adults, stylish urban mobility in fashion guise or able to respond to emergencies in extreme environments when in Rescue mode.
Mazda Taiki - Look closely enough and Mazda's Takai just about bridges the gap between fantasy and reality. Takai looks like the kind of car that a superhero comic illustrator might draw in a 25th century cityscape - yet at the same time it looks as though it just might work. It's all about line rather than technology, although there's bound to be some of that under the swoopy skin, too.
Suzuki BiPlane - This modern take on a '70s drag bike aims to capture the sensation shared by airplanes and bikes. The aerodynamic concept is inspired by the elevating feel riders get when accelerating through a long straightaway - like an aircraft taking off. Biplane is powered by a 1,000cc, liquid cooled, 4-stroke DOHC, V-four engine, and it will certainly turn heads
Thanks, Jody! We'll have to check them out on www.msn.com!