Back in the ’90s, car companies came up with some really wild ideas. These concept cars looked strange, cool, or just way ahead of their time. Some were fast, some were weird, and most never made it to production. Here are 20 of the boldest ones we remember.
BMW Nazca M12 – The Carbon Supercar
Built mostly from carbon fiber, the Nazca M12 was BMW’s idea of a futuristic supercar. Designed by Italdesign, it had a low, sharp body and a mid-mounted V12 engine. Though it never reached production, the Nazca showed just how far BMW could push design and speed in the ’90s.
Chrysler Atlantic – Art Deco on Wheels
Inspired by 1930s styling, the Chrysler Atlantic was a mix of vintage charm and modern power. It had long curves, a classic grille, and an engine made by combining two four-cylinders. This car looked like something Gatsby would’ve driven if he lived in 1995—and had a thing for speed.
Ford GT90 – America’s Space-Age Supercar
The GT90 was Ford flexing its muscles. It had over 700 horsepower, a quad-turbo V12, and a body made of futuristic angles and heat-resistant materials. The car could hit 235 mph. It never reached production, but it proved Ford could dream big—and loud—when it came to performance.
Volkswagen W12 Syncro – VW’s Wildcard Supercar
Volkswagen isn’t known for building exotic cars, but the W12 Syncro changed that. It had a mid-mounted 5.6-liter W12 engine and all-wheel drive. Built to test the waters of performance, it shocked everyone with its sleek body and serious power. This was VW’s boldest concept of the decade.
Cadillac Aurora – A Glimpse of Luxury’s Future
Before Oldsmobile used the name, the Cadillac Aurora was a stylish concept car. With smooth, flowing lines and a glassy roof, it looked like something out of a high-end sci-fi movie. Cadillac used it to test advanced tech and design language that would shape its future for years.
Toyota AXV-IV – Light as a Feather
The AXV-IV was built to be small, efficient, and super light—only 450 kg. Its canopy opened upward, and it looked like something you’d drive on Mars. It wasn’t meant for highways but for tight city streets where size, weight, and fuel use actually mattered. A quirky but clever experiment.
Nissan FX – Asymmetrical and Out There
Nissan’s FX was just plain odd. One side looked different from the other, and the whole car had this sharp, wedge look. It didn’t seem to follow any rules. Some people thought it was cool. Others didn’t. But either way, it showed Nissan was just having fun trying new things.
Mercedes F200 Imagination – Joysticks Over Wheels
Mercedes used the F200 to test futuristic ideas. It had butterfly doors, video screens for mirrors, and a joystick instead of a steering wheel. It wasn’t just a design study—it was a test bed for safety, comfort, and control systems. Some of its tech actually made it into production cars.
Renault Racoon – SUV Meets Submarine
The Renault Racoon was one of those cars that made you stop and stare. It had three seats, could roll through water, and even had night vision. The roof popped up like a jet cockpit. It didn’t feel real—more like something from a sci-fi movie than something you’d ever drive.
Italdesign Lucciola – Bubble for the Future
The Lucciola was a small, round electric car made for getting around the city. It had big windows and smooth curves, kind of like a toy. It wasn’t fancy, but it had smart ideas. Later cars like the Smart car took hints from it—showing small cars could still be cool.
Pontiac Rageous – Family Muscle Mashup
The Pontiac Rageous tried to blend muscle car vibes with practical features. It had a powerful engine, four doors, and a hatchback. Inside, it looked like a fighter jet. Outside, it looked like it wanted to fight your neighbor’s minivan. It was aggressive, weird, and totally ’90s in spirit.
Peugeot Asphalte – Go-Kart From Tomorrow
The Asphalte looked like a go-kart for adults. It had two seats, one behind the other, and no roof at all. The body was really small and low. It wasn’t made to be comfy—it was just meant to be fun. Peugeot clearly wanted to try something fast and different.
Ford Indigo – IndyCar for the Street
The Ford Indigo was basically an IndyCar with a license plate. It had a custom V12 engine, open wheels, and a body that looked track-ready. You wouldn’t want to daily drive it, but that wasn’t the point. This car was built to show what Ford’s engineers could do if unleashed.
Buick Signia – Wagon From the Future
Buick surprised everyone with the Signia, a sleek wagon with SUV vibes. It had a big glass roof, a wide body, and was packed with high-end tech. Inside, it felt more like a lounge than a car. Long before crossovers ruled the road, Buick hinted at what was coming.
Oldsmobile Alero Alpha – Tech Meets Style
The Alero Alpha was Oldsmobile’s Hail Mary. It had a sharp, wedge-shaped body and cool features like a holographic heads-up display. It was meant to make the brand feel young again. It didn’t save Oldsmobile, but it gave us a peek at what might have been if things had worked out.
Mazda RX-01 – The Rotary That Got Away
The RX-01 was built around Mazda’s famous rotary engine. It looked like a small sports car but was packed with clever design. Fans hoped it would lead to a new RX-7. It didn’t—but it helped shape the later RX-8. Clean lines, cool tech, and Mazda’s usual quirkiness made it special.
Honda Spocket – Roadster with a Bed
Yes, Honda built a sports car with a truck bed. The Spocket had two seats up front and a mini cargo area in the back. It looked like something a superhero would drive on weekends. Not very practical, but definitely fun. Honda showed they weren’t afraid to think outside the box.
Chevy Volt Concept – Not That Volt
This isn’t the hybrid Volt we know. This was an open-wheel concept with wild styling and exposed parts that made it look like a race car for the street. It wasn’t meant for production, but it was a cool way for Chevy to show off what their designers could imagine.
Lancia Kayak – Pure Italian Drama
The Kayak was all about style. Designed by Bertone, it had smooth curves, a long hood, and a tight cockpit. It didn’t need huge power to turn heads—it just looked that good. Lancia didn’t make it, but this car remains one of the prettiest concepts to come out of Italy.
Subaru SHARC – The Tiny City Pod
The SHARC was a weird little car Subaru made. It ran on electricity, had a see-through top, and used a joystick instead of a steering wheel. Only two people could fit inside. It looked more like a toy than a real car. Subaru was just messing around with city car ideas.