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Is the 2026 Passport Worth the Upgrade?The Cars of the Future
From the mild Dodge Charger Daytona concept to the wild DeLorean Omega, the car body style of the future is an open discussion, one that we look at here.
Science Fiction, or Science Fact?
Nearly twenty years after the futuristic film I, Robot hit the silver screen, life inches closer to imitating art. In the movie, Will Smith was toted about in a funky Audi that could be driven by its human occupant if needed. Today, we have the far more outrageous Lincoln L100 concept car.
Without a steering wheel or pedals, this fully autonomous concept can be controlled, if asked, by moving a tiny model of the car around a center console board. This futuristic Lincoln is part of a current crop of vehicles that hint at what the car body style of the future will be.
The Emissions-Free Future of Cars
Existing trends point to a future without tailpipe emissions, which currently come in the form of gas-electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids, 100% battery-powered electric vehicles, and even hydrogen power. Most automakers are pushing the envelope on true hands-free driving and vehicle technology is a top priority.
Some of these companies, like Mazda, are taking a gradual approach as seen by the new CX-90 PHEV that we dive into here. Others continue to expand their existing lineup in funky, if not exactly futuristic, ways as seen with the new Porsche 911 Dakar off-roader. All of this points to three broad categories for future cars. Those that are evolutions of current offerings, those that lean futuristic, and those that are – at the moment- simply pipe dreams.
The Evolution of Dodge Muscle Cars
Dodge fits the evolution mold with their Charger Daytona SRT concept car. At a glance, this future EV has Dodge muscle written all over it. And yet, it manages to look sleek and futuristic at the same time.
The future Charger appears to be an ideal transitional vehicle for Dodge with its cultivated image of guzzling gas and smoky burnouts. To that end, the Charger concept has an “exhaust” system that will crank up the electric motor hum past 120 decibels of Hellcat-worthy racket.
BMW XM: The Shape of Things to Come
On the ever-popular SUV front, BMW is already selling its XM, a new flagship SUV that we discuss here. It sports an in-your-face front grille and PHEV powertrain based on a thumping twin-turbo gas-powered V8. Not exactly the Saint of Emissions, this evolution of the brand’s X7 is nonetheless a stepping stone to BMW’s electrified future.
The BMW XM is also laden with tech like a headliner embedded with fiber-optic lighting capable of dazzling effects and a huge curved display that stretches nearly the width of the dashboard.
Ultra-Luxury EV’s and Wild Off-Road Designs
Pushing into the futuristic spectrum is Cadillac’s stunning CELESTIQ fastback, which radiated at last year’s Monterey Car Week. Though it looks like a concept car, the CELESTIQ is actually slated for production next year. Yes, it will cost as much as a small house and yes, it will be hand-built to bespoke customer specification by a dedicated team of artisans. But that shape! And that 55-inch digital information display!
Caddy’s new EV looks to step into the realm of Rolls-Royce with features like an electrochromic roof, 38-speaker stereo, and backlit perforated wood trim. It is also set to debut Ultra Cruise, the next generation of GM’s hands-free driving tech that is targeting functionality in 95% of driving scenarios…and Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Capability.
Out in the far reaches of automotive wonderland are concept cars like the aforementioned Lincoln L100 super coupe and DeLorean Omega off-road buggy. Along with full autonomy, the Lincoln has a digital floor to improve cabin feng shui and is designed with individual solid-state battery-powered motors at each wheel – tech that does not yet exist. The wild DeLorean appears to forgo side windows in favor of a full-length “windshield” and rides on huge rubber tires giving it a distinct Mars rover look.
The Future of Cars is Still Being Written
In reality, the car body style of the future looks to be an open discussion. Currently, vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Mercedes-Benz EQE go the polished river-rock style to imbue these cutting-edge EVs with superior aerodynamics. Pickup truck offerings range from the current Ford Lightning that is dressed like a regular F-150 to the wacky, and not-quite-ready, Tesla Cybertruck that looks to be pulled from Mad Max.
Cadillac is clearly aiming for renewed greatness with a slew of concepts like the low-slung Innerspace coupe that we cover here. Thanks to the wireless battery management system enabled by GM’s Ultium technology, the battery modules can be spread around the vehicle, freeing the design of modern constraints.
Mercedes is already applying augmented reality to their latest head-up display in the S-Class and the traditional steering wheel has seen an evolution into an aircraft-style yoke – perhaps disappearing for good down the road.
As more concepts are unveiled, it is apparent that the car industry is undergoing momentous changes at the moment. No doubt it will be fun to watch this evolution and which future car styles move from concept to production.
