Awesome Concepts

We like William Volcoff’s MP3 headphone concept; it’s a tasteful blend of minimalist and utilitarian design, with 10GB of flash storage and just the bare minimum of features.

Fresh from the “Hell yeah!” department, Slovak artist Marek Denko’s jet engine powered Mad Max Buggy is actually a 3ds Max rendering that he made for his 10 month old son.

With two flexible OLED screens that extend and retract, Dell’s XPS Baton is a dream laptop using near-future technology; an electric current makes the screens go rigid when in use.

Made with two identical pieces and a handful of hardware, Jeffrey Wollenzien’s Karma Chair has efficiencies that would make Ikea green with envy; we’re digging the circuit-like cutouts.

It’s not quite as radical as the Quickie Bed, but the Slim Desk makes sense: it features three sliding panels that not only hide extra storage but increase the size of your work area.

Going retro has been hit-or-miss for recent muscle cars, but this concept C3R Corvette Stingray is undeniably sexy: it sports hideaway head lights and aggressive front fender peaks.

We never would have thought the stoplight needed a makeover, but Art Lebedev’s Luxofor concept makes sense: square lights use space more efficiently and are more noticeable.

If you can ignore the fugtastic rear on Honda’s FC Sport concept, the Vader-esque frontend, McLaren-style three seat layout and fuel cell powertrain are pretty intriguing.

The name may be loaded with innuendos, but Quickie is a pretty cool concept: designed by Jared Dickey, the tabletop slides open to reveal a bed, allowing you to catch some Z’s at work.

BMW’s LO Rider concept is an experiment in Harley-style customization, with bolt-on accessories including exhausts, seats and headlamps available to choose in the showroom.

Its official name is FieldCREW User Research Workstation concept, but “tricorder” works for us: it’s made for researchers, with subvocalization and wireless tagging.

Billy May’s Nike Hindsight concept uses Fresnel lens to extend the peripheral vision of wearers by 25 degrees on either side; images are distorted, but it’s enough to detect motion. Thanks, Verto!

These Dog Bookstands by Charles Kalpakian put the funk in shelving; we’re honestly not sure what to make of them, other than that we’d snap up a few of these puppies if they’re ever made.

Sure, it looks like a stretched out Nissan Z, but this rendering of the all-electric Tesla 4-door sedan is pure sex: it hits 0-60 in less than 6 seconds and goes 240 miles on a charge.

Miu’s Hybrid Dual Portable Computer is both a cellphone and a netbook with an Intel Atom CPU. It features a two-sided screen with a 4.1″ TFT on one side and a 2.4″ AMOLED on the other.

50% sailboat and 100% crazy, Mercedes’ Formula Zero Racer concept sports a rigid sail, solar skin and electric motors to combine bobsledding, F1 and yacht racing. Like we said, crazy.

Those of us with power plugs in short supply will find Sebastian Herkner’s nan16/plug lamp to be useful; each pendant lamp features a socket smack in the middle of the light.

Check out this gallery of entrants for the LA Auto Show’s Motor Sports 2025 challenge (we previously featured Mitsubishi’s MMR25); they include concept cars from BMW, Toyota and VW.

The paint on the PSP-3000 isn’t even dry but Tai Chiem has offered this compelling concept for the PSP2: it’s got a flexible OLED screen, two joysticks and stereo speakers on the ends.

All Day I Dream About Sneakers is an artistic collab between adidas Originals and Lifelounge; it features the dream kicks of sneaker designer Herr Fritz Traumer, viewable in a PDF.

A motorless version of the Brudeli Leanster, GBO Design’s CarvX recumbent bicycle is just a concept for now. It’ll have an aluminum frame, hydraulic disc brakes and a 14 speed Rohloff hub.

Debuting in Paris, the Venturi Volage is a 295hp all-electric roadster that goes from 0-60 in less than 5s and sports independently powered wheels; it’ll begin production in 2012.

We’re digging these kicks by Jim Kim; titled “Sneaker Fiend”, they’re a tribute to classic Nike shoes but completely rendered in Photoshop; if only he’d release wallpaper size pics.