Lancia Fulvia concept

The classic Lancia Fulvia coupe by Castagnero has been 'redefined' by the Lancia Style Centre in this new concept car. Proportionally and dimensionally the new design is very close to its predecessor, except for being a bit wider. It also has more weighty surfacing than the lithe original and a more modern Lancia face.

With Ford successfully delivering its ‘Living Legend’ products and BMW’s revitalised Mini brand proving a big success, it seems logical that Lancia should draw upon a back catalogue of classic designs far richer than Ford’s or BMW’s. The Fulvia does so in a more literal way than other recent Lancias, but maybe this quality could help this concept car become the icon production car that the brand so badly needs. SL

Renault BeBop concepts

Renault showed two interpretations of a compact MPV with different personalities. The silver Be Bop is an SUV riding on chunky 21inch Michelin PAX tyres, with a rugged exterior detailing. The yellow Be Bop is a more sporting MPV characterised by the chromed multispoke alloy wheels and different front end treatment.

The main motif of Be Bop is the deep side glass, reminiscent of a water droplet which is meant to symbolise the aerodynamic efficiency of the design with its streamlined floorpan.

The interior is dominated by a high central arch to which the seats are anchored, freeing up floor space. On the silver Be Bop SUV, the rear seats slide on S-shaped tracks to stow under the front seats when required. NH

  Read our Interior and Materials review...

Ford Visos concept

The Ford Visos is a four-seat coupe which not only gives a glimpse of Ford's future design direction in Europe, but also celebrates its heritage. The proportions, with long hood and cropped tail, clearly echo the iconic Capri of the 1970’s.

The concept also introduces ‘Active Surfacing’ where aerodynamic aids, such as the front and rear spoilers or the door cameras, only activate when required. The doors open conventionally but include folding roof lights that flip up to aid access to the rear seats.

Other design cues that hint at the Capri include the side DLO graphic, twin side vents, rectangular front face and even the wheels, which remind one of the popular Rostyles of the period. NH

Toyota CS&S concept

Toyota has been very active in introducing new hybrid powertrains and uses the IAA for the world premiere of the hybrid “Compact Sports & Speciality” concept. The 2+2 speedster follows the Renault Argos/Audi TT Roadster theme with a symmetrical side profile but introduces a new front face.

A clever sliding tonneau cover reveals two tiny rear seats nestling behind the front pair, while a Multi-function control panel, called Space Touch, uses hologram projections to allow the driver to activate different settings.

What’s important about this concept is not so much the styling but to showcase just how serious Toyota are about using hybrid technology for a sportscar. With a mid-mounted 1.5 litre petrol engine driving the rear wheels plus hub-mounted electric motors driving the front wheels, it can be either RWD, 4x4 or zero-emissions FWD for guilt-free sports car motoring. NH

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Peugeot 407 Elixir concept

Peugeot is showing the 407 Elixir as a preview to the new 407 medium sedan due next year – or rather the front and rear of it. The Elixir concept is a 3-door, 4-seater coupe which introduces the new wide-mouthed grille design that will become a key design identity for Peugeot in future.

Although it has shades of the Chrysler Concorde, the new face, with the secondary Peugeot lion grille mounted on the hood surface, is certainly aggressive and distinctive. The wrap-around rear window and reverse rake C-pillar are likely to feature on the 407 too – although probably on the estate version.

Inside, the dash and center console feature a mixture of polished and turned aluminum inserts and ivory leather. The concept features a 2.7 litre 200ps HDi diesel with the latest-generation particulate emissions filter that meets EU2005 regulations. NH

Volkswagen Golf

Making its international debut is the fifth generation is the Volkswagen Golf, in many ways the most important new car of the 2003 IAA. Of particular interest is the GTi variant, showing as a concept version that preludes the production car to be launched next year at Paris.

The car has a turbocharged FSI engine producing 200bhp, the Direct Selection Gearbox previously only seen on Audis and the more sophisticated rear suspension common to all 5th generation Golfs. The full depth grille graphic that overflows the otherwise body coloured bumper, and the strong grille honeycomb mesh pattern are also of particular note. SL

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