Top Concepts From 2021: How Carmakers See The Future

In 2021, concept cars don’t just demonstrate how we’ll use transportation in the future, but also the new ways our cars will interact with us. Electric vehicles (EVs) are poised to become ubiquitous, but something tells us carmakers haven’t lost their sense of humour either (see item two). Here’s a list of our favourite future cars that we saw this year: 

Audi Grand Sphere

It may look like a four-door shooting brake from another galaxy, but the Grand Sphere is a sneak peek into Audi’s future flagship electric sedan. It has projectors in place of an infotainment or driver’s display, and a lounge-like interior complete with a glass roof. More realistically, it’s powered by a 120kWh battery (300km estimated range) and a pair of front- and rear-mounted electric motors making a combined output of 720PS and 960Nm.

Hyundai Grandeur

In the late 1980s, Time magazine had showcased the polluted earth as "planet of the year" on its cover. This was also the time when Hyundai had launched the Grandeur as its flagship sedan, as a rival to the Japanese and American sedans of the time. Close to 35 years later, sustainability and emissions reduction have become top priorities for governments and carmakers, and Hyundai has resurrected the Grandeur as a zero-emissions electric sedan part of its Heritage Series concept vehicles. It’s a retro concept that wouldn’t look out of place in a Back to the Future movie, with pixel-LED headlights and tail lamps, and covered wire-mesh wheels. Inside, it features modern tech such as a panoramic infotainment display and an 18-speaker sound system, alongside burgundy velvet and Napa leather upholstery, and design cues from the original Hyundai flagship from 1986. 

Kia EV9 

Kia unveiled the EV9 concept as an opening act for an upcoming full-size three-row electric SUV for the family. It gets a sleek design, its interior is made from recycled marine waste, and the front- and third- row seats can swivel around for different seating modes. It promises a 480km range and charging time of half an hour at the maximum-rated 350kW of DC fast charging. Electric motors at the front and rear axles give the SUV AWD, and their combined output is 585PS and 740Nm. 

VW ID.Life

If the Grandeur concept’s headlights seem unusable for lighting up the road at night, check out the retro lighting elements on the ID.Life that debuted at this year’s Munich Motor Show. It’s an oversized hatchback with an electric powertrain good for a 400km range, powered by a 234PS electric motor. Volkswagen plans to slot it below the ID.3 at a price of EUR 20,000 (around Rs 17 lakh) when the production version goes on sale in the global market by 2025. 

Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV

The electric Maybach EQS was unveiled in September, and it previews an upcoming opulent Mercedes electric SUV that’s set to arrive next year. On the outside, it has a massive front grille and gigantic 24-inch chrome wheels. The interior is minimalistic with a full-width display screen on the dashboard, and a digital driver’s display behind the yoke-shaped steering wheel. Mercedes estimates a 600km range, and the EQS SUV is likely to share the sedan’s 330PS rear-wheel-drive and 500PS AWD powertrains. It was unveiled alongside the EQG concept that previews the electric G-Class SUV. 

MG Cyberster

The MG Cyberster broke cover in early 2021 as an electric open-top speedster. It draws inspiration from the quintessential British sports car, especially the MGB two-seater roadster that Morris Garages sold between 1962 and 1980. Unlike the petrol-guzzling roadster, the Cyberster has an electric powertrain that’s good for 800km and boasts a 0-100kmph time of under three seconds!