Awesome Concepts

Pixar animator and robot designer Alonso Martinez dropped by Tested to show off prototypes of his upcoming robot toys. Alonso wants Mira and her siblings to evoke empathy and joy through nonverbal cues, and we think you’ll agree that he’s on the right track.

Designed by a group of students from ETH Zurich and ZHdK, the Voliro is a hexacopter that has tiltable rotors, allowing it to fly parallel to walls, hover diagonally and even flip in place. The students also plan to give the Voliro an omnidirectional wheel for ground movement.

While sitting in traffic one day, Elon Musk had a crazy/brilliant idea – to build a network of underground tunnels which would rocket cars between destinations. A recent concept video envisions cars descending via street elevators, and zooming around on autonomous sleds.

Design students Zuza Gronowicz and Barbara Motylińska came up with a shoe that’s 100% 3D printed and biodegradable. Aside from being customizable, it uses significantly fewer materials and less energy to make compared to conventional shoes.

Toyota’s compact 4WD concept is both rugged and easy to live with. Its toolbox-inspired design includes a versatile cargo system, hot and cold storage, and nifty touches like a removable water bottle, removable lights, and an armrest that doubles as a sleeping bag.

Jeep and Mopar will debut several concept vehicles at the 51st Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari on 4/8/17. The highlights of the collection include the powerful Quicksand off-road hot rod, the see-through Safari, and the 1990’s Grand Cherokee-inspired Grand One.

A winner of Android Japan’s Experiments: Object contest. Kosho Tsuboi’s Magic Calendar is a large digital calendar. Tsuboi’s prototype uses a low reflection display, but he hopes that in the future there will be an E-ink display that looks and feels like paper.

A four-door offshoot of the AMG GT-R. And it’s a hybrid. On paper, it seems like the folks at Mercedes-AMG have lost their minds, but in this case, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A twin-turbo 4L V8 and an electric motor combine to give this AWD up to 805 hp.

A dramatically styled 2-seat convertible concept from the British luxury automaker, with a fully-electric drivetrain, a bold backlit grille, and an extravagant interior featuring a curved glass console with an OLED display, and an aircraft-inspired “U”-shaped steering wheel.

LEGO Ideas member MProtagonist’s proof-of-concept for a LEGO set based on the tearjerking fantasy pet simulator. Trico stands nearly 10″ tall and is almost 12″ long when assembled. Best of all, you can make him do what you want 100% of the time.

What happens when you take one of the world’s most powerful hypercars and make it off-road ready? This. Sadly, Rain Prisk’s rendering is just a concept, but hopefully some billionaire will make it real some day. For now, we’ll have to settle for a Rally Fighter.

The Volkswagen microbus gets a 21st century remake. The pure electric is spec’d to offer 270 mi range, dual motors w/369hp total, and autonomy features. A reconfigurable interior is designed to provide maximum versatility for passengers and cargo.

Honda’s one-off Riding Assist motorcycle uses an advanced steering actuator to keep itself balanced at rest or at low speeds. Its front wheel and fork can also be adjusted to provide greater balance. As a bonus, it can move on its own and follow a subject.

Oscar Boyson traveled around the world to interview people working to create new cities or improve existing ones under a humane and optimistic mindset: that real estate companies and governments will build cities not for buildings or cars, but for people.

LEGO Ideas member Chiho Kim’s proposal for a kit based on the iconic off-roader. The model even comes with a net to secure things at the back as well as emergency cones. Chiho has since updated the model with larger tires, a light bar, fog lamps and a winch.

LEGO’s new BMW R 1200 GS set is boss, but we think this proposal for a 1967 R60/2 has the potential to be even better. Designed by LEGO Ideas member maximecheng03, it’s a tad skinnier than the actual bike, but we’re pretty sure LEGO can easily fix that.

Inspired by the Tenere XT600Z enduro motorcycle, the T7 concept is a long-range off-roader with a lightweight midsize chassis, an aluminum tank, carbon fiber fairing and skidplate and 4-projector LED headlights.

Minifigs with attitude. LEGO Ideas member bruceywan presents this spot-on concept for a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers LEGO set. It comes with all seven Rangers, each with a removable helmet, Zordon, Alpha 5 and the Command Center.

One of the cooler builds at SEMA 2016, this 1971 Challenger combines classic style with modern performance. It rocks a brand new 392 Hemi V8 crate engine packing 485hp, a lowered suspension, and Hellcat brakes. We love the “Bitchin Black” paint and minimal red accents.

Here’s something we never thought we’d see. Luxury and sports car maker Mercedes-Benz is showing off two concept variants of a mid-size pickup. While we’re not sure we’d want to take these trucks off-road and get them really dirty, they sure look pretty. Launching late 2017.

BMW’s far future concept for a motorcycle is one that’s so smart and safe that riders will not need safety equipment. It balances on its own, and has a flexible frame and adaptive tires instead of joints, bearings or suspension.

One of the many tricked out vehicles slated headed to the 2016 SEMA show, this special off-road SUV has been blessed with a nitrous-boosted 3.3L V6, and a jacked-up suspension with massive wheel articulation and ground clearance, 35″ tires and 17″ beadlock wheels.

Renault’s big reveal at the 2016 Paris Motor Show is… the Saab Aero X?! On the other hand, the Trezor has more elegant proportions and an electric motor that produces 350hp and 280 lb-ft. of torque to go with that familiar 180º windshield and cockpit canopy.