Awesome Concepts

The EV-Cub is a green version of Honda’s ridiculously popular 50cc Super Cub motorbike; along with the EV-N, it’s part of their research into short-distance commuter vehicles.

Green with a whole lot of lean, Nissan’s all-electric Land Glider concept sits on four wheels but handles like a bike; a computer controlled steering system lets it lean into turns.

Smaller than a Nissan 370Z, Toyota’s FT-86 is a hot little 2+2 concept created with Subaru engineers; it sports a 2.0L boxer four with 6-speed manual, RWD and ADVICS brakes.

Despite its crossover dimensions, Subaru’s Hybrid Tourer goes way beyond soccer mom-mobile: a turbocharged Boxer engine, two electric motors, AWD, and freakin’ gullwing doors.

We liked yesterday’s Evolution Bike Case, but the Eco // 07 urban bike does it one better: not only does it easily disassemble, but its wheels can be folded up via a system of pivots.

Anne Forschner’s BMW Lovos is what car concepts are all about: it may look creatively insane, but each of its 260 hinged pieces are solar photovoltaic cells that double as air brakes.

It looks straight out of The Matrix, but Brian Novello’s Flood Harnessing Housing is benign: these modular and deployable communities harness waterway currents for energy.

The Giz has scored a first look at Microsoft’s Courier Concept; it’s basically two tablets (a booklet?) in one with dual 7″ multitouch/stylus screens, a 3 MP camera and single home button.

A topless version of the MINI Coupe Concept, the MINI Roadster loses two seats from the current convertible but gains 8.8 cubic feet of trunk space and a new multi-function display.

With one 180 degree turn, Hyuk Jae Chang’s Power Bridge concept turns the surge protector into an organizer by both hiding and routing unsightly cables underneath its body.

Short for “map projector,” Jinsun Park’s Maptor seems redundant with GPS-equipped phones; however, it’d be a godsend for group use such as search & rescue and tour guides.

We wouldn’t mind BMW’s Vision EfficientDynamics concept in our garage; a 3-cylinder turbodiesel and two electric motors churn out 356 hp / 590 lb-ft of torque while getting 62.6 mpg.

It came from Earth: Le Petit Prince is a slightly creepy, four-legged robotic greenhouse designed to seek out nutrients on Mars; it’ll talk to other robots wirelessly for optimal locations.

Celebrating the 50th birthday of the original MINI, the MINI Coupe Concept is a hot little two-seater; it packs a 211 hp, turbocharged 1.6L and an Overboost mode good for 206 lb-ft.

Seunghan Song’s Window Phone is more form than function, but the novelty factor is “cool” enough: it can change the appearance of its display to reflect weather conditions.

Julius Tarng’s Chef’s Tool bag lets up-and-coming culinary masters look the part of students and keep their hands free; it includes a detachable knife compartment and first-aid pouch.