Toyota FT-CH

Coolest Concept Cars From the Detroit Auto Show In looking at the concept, or prototype, vehicles unveiled at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit,

it’s clear that electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are here to stay. Even companies like Volkswagen, which just a couple of years ago didn’t consider hybrids as a viable long-term solution, have given in and are unveiling models like the gas-electric New Compact Coupe Concept. Others are adapting existing models to run on battery-powered electric motors, as BMW did with its Concept ActiveE. But not all of the new concepts at the show were hybrids. Cadillac, Chevrolet and MINI each showcased vehicles that point the way to future products with traditional engines. Here are our picks for the best concept cars at the show.

Detroit Show Car Audi e-tron

Audi e-tron
Audi’s newest electric car might have the same name as the one unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, but it’s quite different. Unlike the first e-tron, which is based on Audi’s R8 supercar, the so-called Detroit Show Car e-tron looks nothing like any model in Audi’s current lineup. Two electric motors with a combined power rating of 204 horses and a jaw-dropping 1,954 lb-ft of torque provide enough pep to get the small 2-seater to 60 mph in less than six seconds. The Detroit Show Car is 250 pounds lighter than the previous e-tron as well. One common denominator between the two is that they’re both drop-dead gorgeous.

BMW Concept ActiveE

BMW Concept ActiveE
The BMW Concept ActiveE is a fully electric car based on the 1-Series Coupe. Lithium-ion batteries power a 170-horsepower electric motor mounted at the rear of the car. BMW did not say exactly what the capacity of those batteries is, but the company estimates that the ActiveE should have a range of around 150 miles. The car is said to maintain the 50/50 weight distribution of the 1-Series, which means it will still drive like a BMW even though it’s electric. The car weighs about 3,900 pounds, which is hefty for its size. Look for BMW to put out a test fleet of these vehicles soon.

Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

Cadillac XTS Platinum
The Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept is a full-size plug-in hybrid designed to comfortably accommodate five adults. A production version of it is likely to replace Cadillac’s two largest sedans, the DTS and STS. The XTS Platinum Concept showcases the company’s new design language and strategy for its upper-level “Platinum” series, which will be incorporated on all future models. The XTS interior also debuts a new control layout with few traditional buttons and switches. Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays replace traditional gauges and screens. The plug-in hybrid powertrain uses a 3.6-liter V6 engine and an electric motor for a total output of 350 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac said that the battery can be fully recharged in roughly five hours and that the plug-in hybrid system can deliver efficiency double that of conventional hybrids in certain conditions.

Chevrolet Aveo RS

Chevy Aveo RS
The Chevrolet Aveo RS is General Motors’ answer to the Ford Fiesta. It’s larger, wider, more spacious and cooler than the current Aveo, and takes the model up-market to make room for the all-new Chevrolet Spark minicar, which should make its debut later this year. Although the concept version unveiled at the show has more aggressive styling than the production version that will go on sale as a 2012 or 2013 model, the Aveo RS gives a good idea of what the final product will look like. The show car uses the 138-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that will be offered in the larger Cruze sedan. Unlike the current Korean-made Aveo, the new one will be produced in the United States.

GMC Granite Concept

GMC Granite
The GMC Granite is a cross between a small utility vehicle and a minivan. With aggressive looks and a bold front grille, it is aimed at a younger buyer, and a production version would take the GMC brand into a lower price bracket. The Granite is two feet shorter than GMC’s smallest vehicle, the Terrain. It’s based on another minivanlike model from Chevrolet, called the Orlando, but seats five instead of seven. The side doors open “cabinet style,” with the rear doors opening from the front, not the rear, to reveal an interior with suedelike upholstery and aluminum trim. The Granite pairs a 138-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. Should it be approved for production, the Granite will be marketed as a premium small crossover, priced higher than the Orlando.

Hyundai Blue-Will Plug-in Hybrid Concept

Hyundai Blue-Will
Hyundai’s weirdly named Blue-Will plug-in hybrid showcases the Korean automaker’s next-generation electric drivetrain technology, some of which will debut on the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid that goes on sale later this year. Its “eco-sleek” design, with sweeping character lines, hints at what future Hyundai models might look like. The basis of Hyundai’s new hybrid system is a 152-horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a 100-kilowatt electric motor powered by a lithium-polymer battery. It gets an estimated 50 to 55 mpg. The Blue-Will concept’s plug-in system will reportedly get an estimated 106 mpg thanks to extended electric-only capability that enables it to drive up to 40 miles on a single charge. It can be recharged from regular household power outlets.

MINI Beachcomber Concept

MINI Beachcomber
The Beachcomber Concept gives a good idea of what MINI’s new crossover might look like, but you have to picture it with doors and a roof to get the idea. The open-air cockpit theme isn’t slated for production at this point; MINI is gauging people’s reaction to it to see if it holds promise. The Beachcomber Concept’s Jeeplike form was conceived as a way to tie the forthcoming MINI crossover to the classic cool MINI Moke, which was a stripped-down MINI Cooper produced from 1964 through 1993 that looks like a cross between a World War II Willys Jeep and a dune buggy. The Beachcomber Concept’s interior features an innovative rail system running between the front seats to the rear of the cabin, onto which cupholders, bins and mounts for electronic devices can be mounted.

Toyota FT-CH

Toyota FT-CH
The Toyota FT-CH is a compact hybrid designed to target young buyers and fill a slot just below the company’s already-small Prius. The car has a broad, sporty stance, nearly two feet shorter than that of the Prius, even though the FT-CH is just as wide as its older brother. Toyota didn’t give specs on the drivetrain or mention definitive production plans. The FT-CH illustrates the company’s strategy to expand its hybrid line with multiple Prius variants in a play to remain the leader in the segment. Toyota sold 530,000 hybrids worldwide in 2009; 195,000 of them were sold in the United States.

Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept

Subaru Hybrid Tourer
Expect to see more of the Hybrid Tourer’s design cues from Subaru in the future. But don’t expect the concept car’s fanciful gullwing doors to make it onto production models — they’re a common concept-only feature designed to better showcase the interior. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and twin electric motors, on the other hand, could find their way into production. The Subaru Hybrid Tourer made its North American debut at the Detroit Auto Show, but was first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last fall.

Volkswagen New Compact Coupe (NCC) Hybrid Concept Car

Volkswagen New Compact Coupe
With its New Compact Coupe, Volkswagen finally gets into the hybrid game. Until now, the German automaker has largely placed its bets on clean diesel as the fuel of the future. The New Compact Coupe is capable of up to 45 mpg, thanks to an efficient 1.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a powerful electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. The combined output should be close to 177 horsepower. The car has an electric-only mode or it can be powered by the gas engine and electric motor together. While the car is coasting in hybrid mode, the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission disengages from the engine for added efficiency. Volkswagen didn’t say when it will start offering a hybrid system.