greatest concept cars ever

Most twinseaters like the Caterham R500s and Ultimas GTRs of this world tend to look a bit, well, nerdy. Not the Lamborghini Concept S. This 5litre V10powered concept, of which there are only two in existence, looks just as gutsy and inspiring as its Gallardo production brother.

At one point the tractor and supercar manufacturer decided to make 100 cars for the richest motoring enthusiasts, but later decided to keep the Gallardo Concept S as a style exercise only.

Combining fourwheel drive with a turbocharged engine for the first time ever in motoring history, the original Audi Quattro inevitably became a bit of an icon, not to mention a rally king. Plus it looks tougher than Jason Statham.

Audi rightfully decided to celebrate the original Quattros 30th anniversary with the Audi Quattro concept, and was planning on selling between 200 and 500 cars. Sadly the concept ? and its 2.5litre turbocharged engine ? were canned in 2012.

Lamborghini and family car are not words you would expect to see nestled together, but at one point the Italian manufacturer considered the idea. The Estoque, unveiled in 2008 at the Paris Motor Show, was a 4door sedan powered by a 5.2litre V10 engine.

Naturally, a car that could get your kids to school faster than just about everything on the road wasnt going to come cheap, especially with that legendary raging bull adorning the front. If Lamborghini ever releases this car, which it probably wont, expect a price tag of around $230,000.

The Scion brand was manufactured by Toyota ? which decided to create something sporty with the help of exrival Subaru. The result was the Scion FRS ? a rearwheeldrive gazemagnet that looks cooler than Steve McQueen.

While the FRS concept isnt for sale, it did result in two almost identical cars with different badges, the Toyota GT 86 and the Subaru BRZ. You can get your paws on either for under

Some concepts actually make it to production, and one example is the MercedesBenz SLS AMG ECell. Based on the current firebreathing SLS model, the ECell uses four electric motors instead of a gravitydefying V8.

The result is a more ecofriendly car that can get to 60mph in 4 seconds and then on to 155mph. Best of all, all those 525 ponies and 650lb/ft of torque are available from 4,000 revs. Were less sure about the colour, though, which looks like the aftermath of beer and kebab night.

Mazda discontinued the oilthirsty, twinrotary RX8 in 2011 (boo!) but the spirit will live on in the Mazda RX9 (applause). This attractive, almost Jaguarlike concept, set to become a production car in 2013, packs a 300bhp twinturbo, erm, diesel. Not quite as highrevving as its predecessor, then, but its still going to be rapid and a hell of a lot more ecofriendly than its predecessor.

Haters say that those who appreciate a good car never really grew up. If thats the case, then were going to absolutely love the Lotus Hot Wheels concept from 2007. As a 1:5 scale model designed by Lotus for the toy car maker, unless you are incredibly short, you wont be getting in it. Bit of a shame, that ? the opentop twoseater missile wouldnt look out of place with Tony Stark behind the wheel.

Turkey isnt known for its car design, but maybe it should be with design talent on tap like Ugur Sahin, the chap who created the stunning Audi Locus. This mesmerising set of wheels is curvier than Kim Kardashian and has a behind that would shame Jennifer Lopez. Nature is meant to be the design theme, which is probably why those flowing lines are so easy on the eye. The cars, not Kims.

Creating a modern version of what many petrolheads would say is one of the prettiest cars of all time was never going to be easy, but the Muira Concept ? created to mark the original cars 40th birthday ? sure gets our pulse racing. Conceived by Lamborghini design chief Walter de Silva, the concept Muira body sits on top of the Murcielago supercar, making it as beautiful as it is deadly.

Is it a plane? Is it a car? Actually its both rolled into one bizarre creation. The General Motors Firebird 1 comprises wheels strapped to what looks incredibly like a jet fighter with stubby wings. Dont laugh back there this was cutting edge back in 1953.

As what can only be described as a Thunderbirds toy, the Firebird 1 was actually created to see whether a gas turbine engine would be viable in the cars of the future. Obviously it wasnt, but the 370hp experiment certainly raises a smile, even though it never took off.