Concept cars are sure to drawn in crowds at the Toronto auto show, even if many of them come from foreign lands and had their original debuts a while back. But Toronto has scored a couple of coups this year, including one outrageous concept that was created right here in Canada and another that made its first ever auto show debut. Take a look.
Nissan Rogue Warrior
How fitting that this tongue-in-cheek concept didn’t just make its world debut in Canada (at last month’s Montreal auto show), but it was also built in the Great White North. And it actually works. Putting a whole new spin on all-wheel-drive traction, the Warrior has been fitted with snow tracks at all four corners. The conversion was performed by Quebec-based Motorsports In Action (MIA), using a track system from American Track Truck. Ground clearance is increased to a whopping 58 cm – more than twice as much as even renowned off-roaders like the Land Rover LR4.
Audi H-Tron Concept
It may not look radical on the outside, but the H-Tron is packed with novelty under the skin. The fuel-cell vehicle combines oxygen and hydrogen on board to generate electricity that drives its electric motors. It also has an 8.8 kilowatt-hour battery that can be recharged from a plug, or through regenerative braking. This battery can boost the fuel-cell, or provide up to 50 km of all-electric range before switching to the fuel-cell. The hydrogen range is 500 km, and refuelling takes only a few minutes. Audi claims the technology is production ready: All that remains is to resolve the chicken-or-egg conundrums of market demand and refuelling infrastructure.
Hyundai Enduro Concept
Hyundai doesn’t yet have a subcompact CUV to challenge the likes of the Chevrolet Trax and Honda HR-V, so could this Enduro concept be a teaser for such a Hyundai? The Enduro concept is a three-door vehicle, and having seen how relatively low it sits to the ground, we’re thinking perhaps this points to a replacement for the Veloster or a stylish and sporty model to compete with the Mazda CX-3. As for the look of the Enduro concept, Hyundai says it was inspired by off-road motorcycle endurance racing.
Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept
Given the huge (and profitable) demand for pickups, we’re surprised ever-ambitious Hyundai hasn’t grabbed a piece of that pie yet. When it does, don’t expect a traditional body-on-frame truck with a cart-spring rear suspension. Instead, look for a de-radicalised version of this Santa Cruz concept. The production version will likely share its architecture with the car-based Santa Fe and will be a four-door five-seater (the concept looks like a two-door, but actually has a pair of rear-hinged rear doors). Don’t expect it to challenge the toting-and-towing abilities of conventional full-size and mid-size trucks.
Toyota Urban Utility Concept
Toyota’s U2 concept is making its first appearance at an auto show right here in Toronto. The Urban Utility (its full name) is aimed at today’s city-dwelling creative classes, a.k.a mobile entrepreneurs and Makers. While the overall appearance projects “funk-tionality,” actual practicality will be supported by retractable roof panels and what Toyota calls a “uniquely configurable utility rail system.” Toyota isn’t completely ruling out a production version, saying only that it’s under consideration.
Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept
Many concepts are imagination-run-wild exercises to gauge public reaction to radical new ideas. Not so with the Impreza Sedan Concept. Subaru is clear that this thoroughly grounded compact is a teaser for the next-generation Impreza. Like the five-door concept that had its North American debut in Montreal last month, the new sedan is built on a new global architecture and hints at “the design direction not only of the new Impreza but of Subaru’s future models as a whole,” the automaker says. The concept is about 30 mm shorter than the current Impreza sedan but has a 25-mm longer wheelbase.
Buick Avenir
The Avenir provides a rare opportunity to directly compare a concept with the subsequent production car inspired by it. Buick unveiled the Avenir last January, and 10 months later revealed the 2017 Lacrosse sedan featuring the new grille and other styling elements previewed on the Avenir. That said, there was more to the Avenir than “teasing” the Lacrosse. Unlike the front-wheel-drive Lacrosse, the Avenir features a rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive architecture and overall dimensions that seem remarkably similar to those of the new Cadillac CT6. And remember, Buick is huge in China where wealthy buyers want big sedans with spacious back seats. Are you thinking what we’re thinking?
Lexus LF-C2
The Lexus RC has been on sale more than a year, with still no sign of a drop-top version to replace the former Lexus IS C. Why is it taking so long? This LF-C2 concept – a roadster very close in overall size to the RC Coupe – first broke cover in November 2014. True, the concept doesn’t even have a convertible top, but it wouldn’t be a stretch for Lexus to create one for a production version. After all, the core structure of the RC is already based on the previous IS C. Want one? Tell Lexus.
Volkswagen GTI Roadster Concept
Making a surprise Canadian debut in Toronto is Volkswagen’s GTI Roadster Concept – and it’s our pick of the show. This concept started life as a purely “virtual” design for the GranTurismo 6 video racing game. Then someone said, let’s build a real one. The resulting one-off flight of fancy is powered by a 503-hp 3.0-liter biturbo V-6, powers all four wheels through a seven-speed DCT transmission, does 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and … well, just look at it! And no, there are absolutely no plans for production.
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