The 30 wildest electric car concepts

Concept cars are built to show off a brand's future model, while some are simply revealed to preview what the future of a car maker's line-up could look like.

Some concepts can look pretty close to the final production car, but more often than not, firm's will come up with a totally bonkers creation that is a far-cry from the machine that hits the road. 

With that in mind, we thought we'd take a look at some of the wildest electric car concepts ever made. 
 

Peugeot Inception

The stylish and radical Peugeot Inception Concept is a 500kW saloon that is unlike anything we’ve seen from the French car brand. What the Inception does highlight in particular is what the future of Peugeot could look like, previewing the firm’s brand direction and EV technology. 

Peugeot says it wants to bring a substantial amount of the Inception Concept’s innovation to its production cars from 2025. The dual motor Inception Concept sits on a new electric platform called STLA Large, which is one of four bespoke EV architectures being developed by Peugeot’s parent firm Stellantis. 
 

Nissan Max-out

Sports cars more your thing? No problem, as Nissan’s striking Max-out concept is out to prove that the future of performance cars is in safe hands. 

The Nissan Max-out features a distinctive exterior design, with a glass front end covering the light panels and a large windscreen.

Being a concept, little has been revealed regarding the Max-out powertrain, but Nissan has hinted that the concept was designed to showcase a future ‘skateboard’ electric chassis, with future models set to offer the firm’s e-4orce four-wheel-drive technology. 
 

Dacia Manifesto

Renault Group’s budget brand Dacia has gone even more wild with its Manifesto concept car which takes the form of an off-road buggy that previews features and ideas that could be seen on future models. 

In fact Dacia hasn’t even shared the technical details of the Manifesto, with the brand describing it as a “multi-fuel” car that could lead to developing models with electric, petrol, hybrid and LPG powertrains. 
 

Audi Urbansphere

The third concept from the German firm’s ‘sphere’ line-up of future autonomous-ready EV’s, the Urbansphere is a muscular concept aimed at tackling megacities in Asia. 

Audi’s biggest concept to date features a 120kWh battery, offering a range of up to 466 miles, with the Urbansphere capable of charging at speeds of up to 270kW. 

There’s no B-pillar on the Urbansphere meaning counter-hinged doors have been added. And when passengers climb into the car, the seats swivel outwards for greater access, and a ‘red carpet of light’ is projected onto the ground next to the vehicle.

Porsche Mission X

The German brand's striking new concept car arrived to mark Porsche's 75th Anniversary, with the Mission X previewing a potential successor to the Porsche 918 Spyder hypercar. 

Launched as an all-electric two-seater, the Mission X is claimed to have a 1118kW powertrain, although its key technical details remain under wraps. 

Porsche has set a number of objectives the Mission X must achieve before it enters production, with firm aiming for its concept to become the fastest road-legal hypercar to lap the hallowed Nürburgring Nordschleife. 
 

Citroën Oli

Citroën’s bonkers Oli concept is so far away from conventional design you’d be forgiven for thinking it was set for space exploration. Revealed towards the end of 2022, the electric concept car showcases what the French marque eyes at the future of affordable transportation. 

What else makes the Oli a bit niche? Its entire rear deck can be transformed into a pick-up truck-styled boot, with the car also using sustainable exterior panels made from - wait for it - cardboard. 

Mercedes Vision EQXX

Its design may be pretty striking, but it is in fact the EQXX concept’s range statistics that make it pretty wild. Revealed in 2022, the ultra-sleek four-door saloon features a 100kWh battery that is 50% of the volume and 30% lighter than the battery found in the Mercedes EQS. 

To prove the EQXX’s capabilities, Mercedes drove the car more than 600 miles on a single charge from Germany to France. Not only did the one-off EQXX concept complete the 626-mile journey, but it arrived with 15% charge left. Aerodynamics played a key role in the EQXX design, with the EV achieving a drag coefficient of just 0.17Cd - the lowest ever figure by a road-legal Mercedes. 

Cupra DarkRebel

No, this isn’t the new Batmobile, it is in fact Cupra’s vision for a future electric sports car. Taking the form of an electric two-seater, the DarkRebel concept is described as “a sports car that pushes the boundaries of design and performance”. 

Measuring 4.5 metres long, 2.2 metres wide and 1.3 metres tall, the striking concept features an aggressively-styled silhouette with a long bonnet, rakish roofline and scissor doors. 

Inside the DarkRebel gets a two-seat layout with bucket sets and a steering wheel inspired by a games console controller to give the car a more youthful appeal. 
 

Mercedes Vision One-Eleven

The super-sleek Vision One-Eleven concept is a one-off tribute to the Mercedes-Benz C111 concept of the 1970s, of which 16 examples were made for testing development programmes. 

Designed to showcase the German brand’s vision of a future electric sports car, the One-Eleven sports a smooth exterior silhouette and flush fitting glass canopy and majors on aerodynamic efficiency. 

The striking machine gets two rear-mounted axial-flux motors and a battery liquid-cooled cylindrical cells and a chemistry developed for use by the brands Formula 1 division. 

Mazda Iconic SP

Unveiled at the Japan Mobility show in Tokyo, the Mazda Iconic SP is a stunning concept car that previews a future electrified version of the brand’s acclaimed MX-5 sports car. 

The outlandish and beautifully sculpted concept is said to use a twin-rotor engine which charges a small 17.8kWh battery. The Japanese marque claims the SP develops 370bhp and weighs around 1450kg, which is similar to the Lotus Emira. 
 

Toyota FT-Se

Why is the FT-Se a significant concept for Toyota? Because it’s the first Gazoo Racing-badged electric sports car concept from the Japanese brand. Toyota says the FT-Se will be compact and lightweight, with the battery positioned low down in the chassis for a better centre of gravity. 

The FT-Se will sit on a new electric platform that will be used on future Toyota and Lexus electric models. Toyota will also roll out a new operating software on its electric cars called Arene, which is programmed to adjust the car’s dynamics depending on driver preference.

BMW I Vision Dee

Radical and retro, the German brand’s electric saloon concept turned heads when it landed in late 2022, with the I Vision Dee showcasing what a future BMW 3 series could look like. 

Packed full of technology, the i Vision Dee previews the future technology BMW plans to rollout across its future range of EVs.

Dee, which stands for Digital Emotional Experience, is a focal point of the concept. BMW is aiming to integrate physical and virtual experience into its future models.Despite its sleek and smooth exterior design, the i Vision Dee has retained some of BMW’s hallmarks, including a reworked version of the brand’s kidney grille which has been programmed to close, as well as work in unison with the headlights. 
 

Hyundai N Vision 74

The bonkers Hyundai N Vision 74 is a retro-styled futuristic performance concept that showcases the potential of hydrogen-electric powertrains. 

Launched in 2022 alongside the Hyundai RN22e, the Vision 74 used a hydro-electric powertrain, and uses what the Korean firm calls a 'hybrid' structure combining battery-electric technology with an FCEV system. The total power output is 500kW, with a whopping 664lb ft of torque. 

Hyundai says its eye-catching concept uses a 62.4kWh battery that runs at 800V allowing for fast charging. Range is up to 373 miles. 

Dodge Charger SRT Concept

Sleek, striking, and certainly wild, the Dodge Charger SRT Concept previews what the future of electrified muscle cars could look like. Piston-powered muscle cars are typically bonkers when it comes to power stats, and the EV version is no exception, with a 500kW powertrain called ‘Banshee’. 

And to retain the muscle car soundtrack, Dodge has fitted what it calls a Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust - a sound generator that can produce a 126dB sound that is similar to the SRT Hellcat. The futuristic electric muscle car concept features a new ‘R-Wing’ at the front of the car, which channels air through openings in the front of the car and out of the bonnet to increase downforce. 
 

Lexus Electrified Sport

More spaceship than concept, the Lexus Electrified Sport proved that the future of performance EVs is in good hands. First unveiled as one of 15 battery electric concepts from Lexus and parent firm Toyota, the Electrified Sport will serve as the spiritual success to the Lexus LFA. 

The twin-motor, all-wheel-drive EV will enter production but it is not yet known when the striking Electrified Sport will arrive. Lexus says it will have a 0-62mph time of around the low two-second range, and will be able travel at least 430 miles between charges. 

BMW Vision Neue Klasse 

While it does share some resemblance to the I-Vision DEE, the Neue Klasse concept is a more striking and aggressively-styled machine that showcases what future BMW’s will look like.

BMW says the Neue Klasse doesn’t preview a future production car, but more specifically a whole line-up of saloons and SUVS that are due after 2025. It is likely that the next-generation 3 series will take inspiration from the concept and feature most of the Neue Klasse concept’s hallmarks, such as its large kidney grille, minimalist interior and digital tech.
 

Fiat City Car

Ever wondered what the next Fiat Panda might look like? Well Fiat gave us a taste at the beginning of 2024 with the outlandish City Car concept, a chunky EV concept that takes inspiration from the Panda 4x4 of the 1980s. 

The bold and futuristic concept is similar in size to the new Citroën e-C3, sitting further from the ground than the current-generation model. The City Car also features a pixel-style front light bar, flared wheel arches and a new version of the brand’s iconic slanted badge. 
 

Mercedes CLA 

The eye-catching Mercedes concept will spawn a production model which is set to arrive later this year as a hi-tech electric saloon. Drawing on the firm’s EQ design language, the sleek CLA concept brings an even more vivid look for Mercedes and its future electric models, with the round LED headlights featuring the three-pointed star logo being the most notable addition. 

Mercedes claims the CLA features an “ultra-efficient” powertrain and should be able to travel up to 466 miles on a charge. 
 

Vauxhall Experimental 

Vauxhall shocked the automotive world when it revealed its Astra-sized Experimental concept, a coupe-SUV built to show how the Stellantis-owned brand will evolve. 

Unfortunately, the sharply-styled Experimental concept won’t make production, but certain elements of the car will be seen on future models, such as the ‘Vizor’ grille. 
 

Honda 0 Series Saloon 

Honda has been relatively quiet in the electric car market, with only the E and e:Ny1 forming the brand’s electric model line-up. That is about to change, as Honda is ramping up its EV ambitions and recently previewed its future line of electric vehicles in the form of the utterly bonkers 0 Series Saloon. 

The Japanese brand’s wedge-shaped Saloon will inspire its new electric cars that are set to go on sale in 2026. One notable feature of the Honda concept concept is its H-mark emblem, which has been given an LED reinterpretation. 
 

Nissan Hyper Force 

The Hyer Force concept, which made its public debut at the 2023 Japan Mobility show, previews a future electric performance coupe and hints at an electrified replacement for the venerable GT-R sports car. 

Nissan says its extreme EV concept develops 1000kW and uses a solid-state battery, which is being developed for mass production by 2028. The Hyper Force majors on aerodynamics for optimal downforce, and was developed with help from Nissan’s performance division, Nismo. The aero elements, such as the huge wing and active front winglets all help to provide greater downforce when cornering. 
 

Honda Sustaina-C

First shown at the 2023 Japan Mobility show in Tokyo, the ever-so-cute Sustaina-C is a funky electric supermini inspired by the Honda E. 

Intriguingly, the Sustaina was created using a special recycled acrylic resin which the firm says can be used again. The aim of using the resin is to meet Honda’s sustainability goals and to improve its circulation of resources.
 

Lancia Pura HPE 

This stunning Lancia Stratos-inspired concept was unveiled in 2022 as a new electric sport coupe that previews the brand’s design and technology of its future production EVs.

The four-seater was never intended for production, but much of the technology it showcases will feed into future models. Much of its design was inspired by the Stratos as well as other models, with the LED front light bar taking inspiration from the Lancia Delta. 
 

Subaru Sport Mobility

Designed to celebrate the Japanese brand’s rallying heritage, the jacked-up Sport Mobility Concept gave us an insight into Subaru’s future design language - and could spawn a potential off-road-going sport’s coupe. 

There is little to be said regarding the concept's technical details, but the car is claimed to have a central driving position and a quad-motor powertrain. 

BMW Vision Neue Klasse X

A close relation to the Vision Neue Klasse, the X showcases how the brand’s bespoke electric SUVs will be styled and previews the next-generation BMW iX3. 

The Neue Klasse X, which is similar in size to the current-generation iX3, will sit on the firm’s new bespoke EV platform and features advanced new software powered by four high-performance computers. 

The X’s most notable feature is its kidney grille design, which is formed of two tall, thin elements which take inspiration from the Neue Klasse saloons of the 1960s. It is enhanced by LEDs to create a light signature. 
 

Nissan Hyper Adventure

The big and bold adventure concept is pitched as a go-anywhere EV that features vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, and is claimed to use a high-capacity battery that enables it to power just about anything. 

The interior design also reflects the Adventure’s 4x4, outdoor attitude, featuring a large tailgate that allows for the implementation of a swivelling rear seat bench. This means passengers can exit the car through the boot. 

Nissan Hyper Punk

The eye-catching Hyper Punk is a radical crossover concept, which is comparable in size to the Nissan Juke and is described by its makers as “functional and stylish”. 

Revealed towards the end of 2023, the Hyper Punk is aimed at a style-focused audience and is said to feature vehicle-to-grid technology, origami-inspired styling cues and an ultra-modern AI-powered mood-sensing technology which can adjust the music and interior lighting. 

Lexus LF-ZL

Taking the form of a large SUV, the LF-ZL showcases a luxury flagship model that majors on technology, and is set to spawn a production version that will arrive with a suite of new hardware and software. Inside, the Lexus features an on-board AI generated assistant, which is operated through a huge passenger-focused digital infotainment screen. 

The new technology showcased by the LF-ZL has been created to offer the driver a more personalised experience.

Toyota Land Cruiser Se

This is what a future all-electric Land Cruiser could look like, with the boldly-styled Se concept featuring three rows of seats and an aerodynamically-honed exterior design that is a significant departure from the recently launched ICE-powered machine. 

If the concept hits the production line, it could use the same electric architecture as the FT-3e, the Land Cruiser promises a range of up to 621 miles. 

Lamborghini Lanzador

Lamborghini kick-started its electric revolution with the Lanzador concept, a high-riding 2+2 EV previewing a future electric production car that will arrive in 2028 and “stay true” to the brand’s “unmistakable DNA”.

The stunning electric concept took design inspiration from the Urus SUV and Sián hypercar, and has some cues to the silhouette of the 2008 Estoque saloon which didn’t make production. 

The Lanzador concept features an electric motor on each axle for permanent all-wheel-drive and active torque vectoring for “dynamic cornering behaviour”.