Awesome Concepts

Larger than the A6, details are scant on Audi’s Sportback; what we do know is that this lithe four door coupe concept is the basis for a 2010 production model that’ll be called the A7.

It’s usually no fun being green, but VW’s sporty Bluesport concept does away with such notions; its 2.0L turbodiesel not only gets 180hp and 260 lb-ft of torque but 57 mpg in Eco mode.

We’d be all over Cadillac’s Converj concept even without its electric motor; this swoopy 2+2 goes 40 miles on a charge but also gets a backup flex-fuel motor good for hundreds of miles.

Designed by six industrial design students at FH Joanneum University, these KTM Concept Vehicles posit everything from hydrofoil boats to a turbine-propelled flight vehicle.

Mac Funamizu over at Petitinvention is well known for his ultra-sleek gadget concepts that often favor form over function; his Lupa phone is part Aura, part iPod and all sexy.

With declining marketshare, Motorola might want to consider Brad Mitchell’s MotoFocus concept; two touchscreens allow for dynamic displays that separate work from play.

Questionable yellow pinstriping aside, this tuned Nissan GT-R concept by Cobra Tech has us drooling over its 3.5s 0-60 time, made possible by ECU, pressure and air intake mods.

Looking like a bug-eyed freak is a small price to pay with these concept solar-powered sunglasses, which feature organic dye solar cells in the lens to recharge your gadgets.

With a maze-like, kinetic design that blows any bookshelf we’ve ever had out of the water, Charles Kalpikian’s Graffititek is a creative take on urban graffiti and streetlamps.

Yanko Design is easily our favorite concept blog so their massive Best of Yanko Design 2008 post has us jumping for joy, even if their features are far prettier than they are useful.

It’s too bad that Eric Pautz’s Rubik’s Lamp is just a concept; the original Cube is capable of 43 quintillion combos, potentially making this lamp the ultimate in geek decor.

This Subaru Legacy Concept teaser doesn’t show much, but what it does show is tantalizing: stacked headlights and a chunky grill point to the future of the 20 year old Legacy model.

There’s no mistaking when your battery is finished charging with this Toasting Charger concept by Hyun-A Ko; just slide in your lithium ion and wait for it to pop back up when it’s done.

Bad memories of Apple’s infamous hockey puck mouse still give us nightmares, but we’re intrigued by this Multitouch Mighty Mouse concept by the good folks over at MacBlogz.com.

We’ve been nonchalant about the Dodge Challenger’s retro stylings, but these LeMans GT racing renders by the custom car designers at Vizualtech bring the musclecar to life.

The venerable Hourglass goes high tech with this LED Hourglass Lantern by Young Bok Kim; light “flows” from one end to the other by varying brightness based on a built-in timer.

Volvo’s staid design language takes a backseat with this 2010 Volvo S60 concept, due to bow at the Detroit Auto Show; an angular fascia + high shoulder line = sporty Swedes.

Julien Bergignat’s Tima watch concept is an excellent blend of form and function; ePaper allows it to display analog or digital time on a lengthy curved surface that hugs the wrist.

Powered by a Honda 999cc V-twin with a top speed of 145 mph, this Hawk concept may be sized like a Smart car but is flat out sexy, with three 19″ alloy wheels and a fighter-jet canopy.

With a case that tightly wraps itself around its internals, this Digit MP3 player concept could easily be a next-gen Nano (sans clickwheel); we’re really digging those wireless earphones.

Epicenter Designs’ Gottacha Wine Rack concept is both a brilliant conversation piece and a place to stow your sangiovese; whoever thought a game of darts could be so intoxicating?

Tired of waiting for Apple to release game-changing hardware, Mac|Life has dropped four crisply rendered (if fanciful) prototypes, including the triBook, GameDock, iCom and LMac.

Bruno Fosi’s Tactile Silicon Case concept addresses the iPhone’s accessibility shortcomings with bas relief buttons, tactile feedback and text to speech without affecting multi-touch.