What is your dream car?

A look into some of the most outstanding concept cars of 2010


Lotus Esprit

The Lotus marquee has been in the doldrums for the best part of the last 20 years. While it continues to be the standard bearer for lightweight sports cars, the Elise and its derivatives are track day specials by most drivers.

The five Lotus concept cars shown at the Paris Motor Show is the company's best hope for survival and the Esprit was the most beautiful of them all. The elegant proportions, aggressive lines and altogether modern look interpret the Lotus ideals very well.

While purists will say that the Esprit is not immediately identifiable as a Lotus, it is a matter of time before the gorgeous and coherent new design language becomes the identity of Hethel.



Perodua Bezza

This is not an outlandish sports car but a fresh interpretation of what can be done within the accepted dimensions of a compact car. The three-box profile is next to impossible to wrestle into a beautiful flowing shape but Perodua's styling has done rather well. Compact cars will be more important in the future as fuel prices soar - this is why we think anything that gives motorists a choice in this segment is an outstanding effort.



Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Cars coming out of S'ant Agata has always been dramatic and spectacular and this concept car is no different but for the fact that it is Lamborghini's first no-holds barred effort to explore the idea of a compact sports car in carbon fibre.

In a way this is the anti-Lotus, an eye wateringly expensive all carbon track-day special that will help carmakers better understand how to work with the materials and adapt their design and engineering approach to suit the black stuff.



Renault Dezir

Electric cars are usually designed to look futuristic and reflect their technology and the result is usually ungainly, boxy and characteristically nerdy.

It has never been clearly explained why carmakers feel that electric cars should look a bit odd.

The Dezir looks like just any other cool concept car except that it is powered by electric motors. Did you know that Renault's entire range of cars scored perfect five in the EuroNCAP safety tests? They don't have to look boxy to be safe, do they?



Audi Quattro

The original Audi Quattro was a Frankenstein job - a shortened Audi 80 platformed and shoehorned with every technology Ingolstadt could get their hands on and the result was a fire-breathing rally legend.

The Quattro concept is a great design because it evokes all the nostalgia of the original car in its proportions and design details without looking retro.