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The 1985 Daihatsu BCX-5 Concept was an electric commuter car prototype to be operated on a car-sharing basis activated by a credit card. It took 25 or so years for such schemes to become a reality. It was presented at the 1985 Tokyo Motor Show. Engine & performance: Type: 150Ah batteries Power: 4.7 Kw Top speed: 50 km/h Dimensions: Length: 2700 mm Width: 1300 mm Height: 1800 mm Weight: 720 kg Source: carsthatnevermadeitetc.tumblr; allcarindex Images: Daihatsu

Built on the production Cadillac Cimarron platform, this concept design featured two cockpits, exotic built-in electronics, televisions for both front and rear consoles, and a cellular telephone controlled from a fixed-hub steering wheel "hands-free" talking. When press photos were taken, Cadillac displayed the Cimarron concept alongside the 1931 Cadillac Fleetwood, from which its two-windshield design was inspired. The two unique Cadillacs shared a striking design element but demonstrated the dramatic advances of more than fifty years of innovative automotive engineering in every other aspect. The Cimarron concept had a 106.2-inch wheelbase, a 3,380-pound weight, a transverse-mounted 2.8-liter multi-port fuel-injected V6 engine, and televisions for both front and rear passengers. Among the other novelties featured in the two-cockpit Cimarron were telephones and electronic display panels telling both the front and rear passengers the engine's status and all of its functioning parts. Engine & performance: Postion: front, transversely Type: Cadillac Cimarron, V6 Capacity: 2838 cc Power: 131 hp @ 3800 rpm Drive: 4WD Dimensions: Length: 4775 mm Width: 1727 mm Height: 1194 mm Wheelbase: 2698 mm Weight: 1530 kg Source: Concept Car Central Images: Concept Car Central; Custom_Cab's photostream

This spectacular 1985 Buick Wildcat concept car incorporated a four-wheel drive and a McLaren engine based on Buick’s 3.8-liter V-6 block mounted just behind the seats. The engine has 24 valves, dual overhead camshafts, and field-programmable sequential-port fuel injection. Unlike other Buick dream cars, this one emphasized the engine. The top of the powerplant is visible through an opening in the rear deck. Besides an unusual aerodynamic design, the latter-day Wildcat features technical and design breakthroughs in joining the transparent and solid portions of the body. It has no traditional doors. As the canopy is raised, the steering wheel tilts forward to ease entry. The body structure is composite carbon fiber and glass. This car, developed in cooperation with PPG Industries, was given the coveted 1986 award for prototype projects by the International Jury of the Car Design Award Turino-Piemonte, presented at the Turin (Italy) Auto Show. Engine & performance: Position: mid-engined Type: V6, DOHC, 24-valve Bore: 96.5 mm Stroke: 86.5 mm Capacity: 3791 cc Power: 230 hp 6000 rpm Drive: RWD Top speed: 320 km/h Dimensions: Length: 4390 mm Source: www.gmphotostore.com Images: General Motors Corp.; Concept Car Central

Part of Bentley’s development program had been to create prototypes, so-called “Experimental Cars,” not very different from any motor car manufacturer’s day-to-day business. In Ian Rimmer’s book “Rolls-Royce and Bentley Experimental Cars,” descriptions of various prototypes finished to different stages of completion can be studied on almost 200 pages. However, 1985 was significant in so far as for the first time, Bentley decided to show an Experimental Car to the public to assess general reaction and opinions from prospective customers. Bentley had commissioned International Automotive Design in Worthing (GB) to build a concept to design by John Heffernan and Ken Greenley. The result was “Project 90”, a full-size styling mock-up of a two-door coupe, i.e., neither engine nor running gear were fitted. Rolls-Royce received the most favorable comments, and their exhibit was considered to give a glimpse of the future for Bentley motor cars. It was presented at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show. To a certain degree, “Project 90” has been a milestone for the 1991 introduction of the Bentley Continental R. Source: K.-J. Roßfeldt - www.rrab.com Images: Bentley Motors Ltd.

The first 480s were presented to the media in autumn 1985 but only reached buyers in 1987. In the summer of the same year, Volvo announced that it was developing a convertible version of the 480, which was a complete surprise from a company like Volvo, especially when one of their other models – the 360 – was regarded by the British to be the most boring car in the world. The company wanted the convertible to maintain the base and technical part of the 480 coupé to keep production costs down. What kind of Volvo would it be without safety? The new convertible had to be safe in case of an accident, especially a rollover. So unlike other convertibles, where the only part protruding above the body was the windscreen, the 480 Cabrio also had a frame above the rear seats. The Swede, which didn't look bad and could have been competition for the convertibles made by BMW and Volkswagen, never did make it to production – the body part supplier declared bankruptcy, and the company still had concerns about rollover safety protection... Only two 480 Cabrio prototypes have survived today, one of which is preserved at the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg. The coupé saw better success. By 1995, approximately 76,000 of the 480 coupés were made over nine years of production. This figure is nothing close to that of the Golf or the Civic that were churned out in the millions, but Volvo was not positioning the 480 for the mass consumer who was only concerned with getting from point A to point B. With the 480, Volvo was hoping to get into the pockets of yuppies. Source: The Volvo 480: One of the Strangest Models in the Swedish .... https://dyler.com/posts/141/the-volvo-480-one-of-the-strangest-models-in-the-swedish-brand-s-history Images: oldconceptcars Pictured above: 1986 Volvo 480 Turbo Cabrio Prototype Pictured above: 1986 Volvo 480 Cabrio Prototype

While the development of both the prototype and the destroyed Quattro can be considered classified information, the prototype was built under the highest possible level of secrecy. It was so unbelievably covert that it didn't even have a name – because it technically didn't exist. Roland Gumpert refers to it as the "Group S Prototype," - but it's also known under RS 002. The RS 002 was built in such a covert way that even now, Roland Gumpert speaks of it as a world leader would speak of their war strategies - and by that, I don't mean post them all over Twitter. We know that it was built away from Audi's primary design center in Ingolstadt, three were built – of which one was destroyed, one was hidden, and one was lost – and the 2.1L Turbocharged 5-Cylinder engine was tuned up to produce around 700bhp! The RS 002 gave a crowd-pleasing run at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2017, filling the surrounding environment with an exhaust note that sounded like the very embodiment of power itself manufacturing and unleashing unrestrained fury. If anything, the sight and sound of its run underscored the tragedy of its wasted potential in the face of automotive bureaucratic tyranny. Heaven only knows what it could've done had the stars aligned differently. Source: drivetribe.com article by Angelo Uccello Images: wheelsage; autoevolution

The 1986 Audi 300 Prototype was a prototype which developed into the C4 series Audi 100 of 1991. Source; carsthatnevermadeitetc.tumblr

The 1986 Audi ASC GT Cabriolet Concept, was a prototype built by ASC Inc for Audi of America, based on the B2 series Audi Coupé. The car remained a one-off. Source: carsthatnevermadeitetc.tumblr

The Zender Vision 3C is a concept car from 1987. The car was unveiled at the 1987 Geneva Motor Show. It was a further development of the Vision 2. The Vision 3C was a convertible version of the Vision 3. The car had a 5547cc V8 engine that produced 300bhp at 5200rpm. The car was 4070mm long, 1980mm wide and 1110mm high. The car could reach 270km/h and accelerated from 0-60 in 6.2 seconds. Source: https://classiccars.fandom.com/wiki/Zender_Vision_3C Images: Zender

This VW concept was presented at the Geneva Motor Show. A more ambitious attempt at a frugal city vehicle, and not dissimilar to the present VW concept three-wheeler seen in this magazine "the scooter was a future car with sporty performance and the coolest styling idea of the 1980s" gull-wing doors, as seen on the DeLorean. An idea that was not realized at the time is being revisited by Volkswagen today. The Volkswagen Scooter is a front-wheel-drive car, with its engine located in the front and a two-door coupé body. Its four-cylinder, single overhead camshaft naturally aspirated engine has two valves per cylinder and a displacement of 1 liter. It produces power and torque figures of 40 bhp (40.6 PS/29.8 kW) at 5300 rpm and 74 Nm (55 lbft/7.5 kgm) at 2700 rpm, respectively. The engine delivers its power through the wheels via a four-speed manual 'box. It weighs a quoted 635 kg at the curb. Source: https://www.carfolio.com/volkswagen-scooter-39028 Images: Concept Car Central; www.volkswagen-classic.de

The Challenge came close to being a mass-production car by Sbarro’s to date. This uncompromising wedge-shaped car, first seen in 1985, looked like a slice of Gruyere cheese and was claimed to have a Cd figure of just 0.25. The doors folded forward for entry. Initially, die Challenge was offered with a twin-turbo Mercedes V-eight engine, but later cars had Porsche engines mounted in the rear. All were capable of storming speeds — up to 180mph (290km/h) was claimed. In 1986, Sbarro exhibited a modified version at the Geneva Motor Show: the Challenge 2+2. It differs from the previous one by adding two additional seats and a dashboard change. Technically, the engine is a Porsche 930 turbo, namely a six-cylinder boxer. The car becomes a rear-wheel drive. Source: www.is-it-a-lemon.com Images: Sbarro

Hot on the heels of the MG EX-E, the Rover CCV (Coupe Concept Vehicle) made its debut at the Geneva motor show of 1986. Unlike the MG, which there was no intention of putting into production, the Rover CCV acted as a toe-in-the-water exercise to preview the styling of the Rover 800 and sound out potential buyers of the coupe version. As it was, the CCV was an extremely handsome car, and it adopted the running theme in all Austin Rover projects of the time - slim headlights that bracketed a slit-like grille. The interior was also mocked-up for his prototype and boasted solid-state instrumentation and a dashboard-mounted CD player (very novel back in 1986). The styling was credited to Roy Axe and was judged an unqualified success. Many US dealers took on Sterling franchises on the strength of the CCV - and it proves a bitter disappointment that it never actually became a production reality. The company investigated the concept seriously, but a lack of commitment to it by the management backed up by disappointing sales of the Sterling in the USA meant that it was continually put back. This concept was presented at the Turin Motor Show. Engine & performance: Type: Rover 800 Capacity: 2493 cc Power: 165 hp @ 6000 rpm Torque: 210 Nm @ 4500 rpm Dimensions: Length: 4700 mm Width: 1775 mm Height: 1500 mm Wheelbase: 2760 mm Weight: 1120 kg Source: Keith Adams, www.austin-rover.co.uk Images: Concept Car Central

When it launched in 1990, Pontiac's Trans Sport minivan-along with GM's other "dust buster" minivans-were noted for unusual styling and utilizing a space-frame structure. Unique, perhaps, but the finished product was nowhere as wild as the concept van of the same name shown four years prior. The Trans Sport concept featured a composite body with expansive panes of glass, and it eschewed the conventional sliding side door in favor of a gullwing design. Power-235 horsepower, to be precise-was supplied by a prototype all-aluminum, 2.9-liter, turbocharged V-6, which was also contemplated for the Fiero GT. Until this point, minivans were largely the homely, box-like appliances churned out by the Chrysler Corporation. Pontiac injected lots of styles and some edge into the concept and created a show car as avant-garde as it was family-friendly. The novelty of minivans, in-car computers, and steering wheels laden with a million push-button controls has faded over the past twenty years. However, the Trans Sport still is interesting to look at-especially in contrast with the bastardized version that ultimately rolled off the assembly lines. Minivans bolstered the Pontiac organization for several years. Still, the Trans Sport offered to consumers was virtually no different than the Lumina APV or the Silhouette offered across the street at Chevrolet and Oldsmobile dealers, respectively. In later years, GM tried to shed the van's mom-mobile image by adding cladding, a new Montana nameplate, and an ungainly nose. Few consumers were fooled, and the van lineup was ultimately killed in the U.S. in 2006. Engine & performance: Type: V6, turbo Capacity: 2838 cc Power: 127 hp Top speed: 170 km/h Tires: Front: 185/75 R14 Rear: 185/75 R14 Dimensions: Length: 4600 mm Width: 1600 mm Height: 1490 mm Wheelbase: 2950 mm Weight: 1400 kg Source: Orphaned Concept Cars - www.automobilemag.com; allcarindex Images: www.highperformancepontiac.com; JOHN LLOYD Collection Pictured above: The 1996 Pontiac Trans Spot Concept brought from renderings to the Detroit Auto Show. Pictured above: A production version of the Trans Sport debuted for the '90 model year. This is a '93 model, the last year for the original exterior design before a '94 facelift. While it was toned down a bit from the radical concept version, it was still a technical and design breakthrough, with its spaceframe construction and plastic body panels. It was a little too radical for the market, though, and sales picked up when it was replaced with a more conventional minivan design in 1997.

The wild-styled two-seat Proxima was characterized by its rear-wheel covers nearly separated from the rest of the body and the almost non-existent front and rear overhangs. The Proxima's power unit was a twin-turbo V6 engine outputting 600 horsepower. The four-wheel-drive system automatically activated an onboard computer sensed rear wheel spin. The tire pressure was then monitored and restored automatically. The backward-sliding glass canopy revealed a bright red scarlet interior, including a navigational system and a rear-vision monitor display connected to a rear-mounted camera. Five color displays were installed for driver and passenger use. It was presented at the 1986 Paris Motor Show. Engine & performance: Position: mid-engined Type: V6, DOHC, 24-valve Capacity: 2849 cc Power: 600 hp @ 8000 rpm Torque: 608 Nm 0-100 km/h: 4WD Dimensions: Length: 4420 mm Width: 2060 mm Height: 1140 mm Weight: 1080 kg Source: Concept Car Central; allcarindex Images: Peugeot

Inspired by the 1974 Ford Maya, is a five doors little berline with sport and aerodynamic lines that could be considered a four-seat Coupe. Oldsmobile Incas general architecture is similar to the Medusa (1980), a five doors little berline, four seats with a central engine. Nevertheless, Incas, thanks to its opening doors system (front doors with a mobile dome just like the Quaranta, and seagull wind opening rear doors) and to its strong sports image, it is an exotic car, a four seat Coupé. Anyway, it keeps the comfort of a berline; the distance between the foot-brake pedal and back seats is the same as Lancia Thema. The internal compartment is comfortable. Instead of seats, there are real armchairs. The steering wheel is inspired by an aeronautic cloche and some Japanese (Mazda) marketing research. It comes out that new generation car buyers, grown up with videogame, prefer the cloche instead of the traditional steering wheel. Cloche requires only a 90° steering corner for each side, in the right side, there are gear controls, an air-conditioner and, windscreen wiper. There are lights, direction indicators, stereo, and cruise control on the left side. The horn is on both sides. Into this car, there are many technical and stylistic solutions that we can also find in other prototypes before being created and modified, just like the Testudo dome, Tapiro's doors, Boomerang windows, and Etna glassed roof. Engine & performance: Position: mid-engined transverse Type: Oldsmobile Quad 4 Turbo, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC, turbo Capacity: 2260 cc Power: 230 hp @ 5600 rpm Torque: 339 Nm @ 4000 rpm Drive: 4WD, 4WS Dimensions: Length: 4450 mm Width: 1850 mm Height: 1250 mm Wheelbase: 2875 mm Source: www.italdesign.it; allcarindex Images: ItalDesign

The Clas, Michelotti's running prototype for 1986, was developed using components taken from the Toyota MR2. With a 1600cc engine, the Clas was a proposal for a future light sports car. The scoops integrated into the C-pillar cooled the engine, and the headlights were mounted high on the nose. The front and rear baggage compartments offered ample space for a car with such size, including a space behind the seats. The rear seats were designed for emergency use and only when someone taller than 5'6" was driving. While the interior had no extreme styling themes, the seats were upholstered in wool. The center console parts were taken from the MR2, as were the satellite switches, though the climate control and ventilator controls were taken from Lancia models. The dashboard was finished in tweed cloth and created a warm atmosphere for the occupants with wool seats. Analog instruments were placed behind the wheel. Engine & performance: Position: mid-engined Type: Toyota MR2, 4-cylinder, DOHC Capacity: 1587 cc Power: 130 hp @ 6600 rpm Torque: 149 Nm @ 5200 rpm Dimensions: Length: 4120 mm Width: 1690 mm Height: 1220 mm Wheelbase: 2550 mm Source: Concept Car Central; allcarindex Images: Concept Car Central

Presented at the 1986 Paris Motor Show, the P29 was a sports concept with a large glass area, a narrow nose, and a supercharged 4-cvlinder rear-mounted engine giving the car a 0-60 mph time of five seconds. The F29 was built to study accelerating ability, road stability, and braking power. Acceleration was improved by the use of lightweight materials for exterior construction. Dual spoilers adjusted road stability. The rear spoiler adjusted according to the grip of the rear versus front axle. The ABS ventilated disc brakes and all-wheel-drive system aided braking power. The F29 also incorporated unique styling themes, including an exposed front suspension, partially-covered tires, and a partially-glass roof. A radar on the front of the car monitored bad weather. The interior was also equipped with a navigational system, rear-view monitor, and a screen displaying adjusted tire pressure. Engine & performance: Position: mid-engined Type: 4-cylinder Capacity: 2000 cc Power: 255 hp Drive: 4WD Top speed: 240-270 km/h Dimensions: Length: 4100 mm Width: 1830 mm Height: 1300 mm Weight: 850 kg Source: Concept Car Central Images: Concept Car Central; sitematrarama.free.fr; thisisnotamethod.over-blog.fr

Using a Golf Synchro platform and mechanics, this concept represents research for a compact and aerodynamic mono volume. Beginning from the research made on New York Taxi (1975), Megagamma (1978), Capsula (1982 and Together (1984) mono volume bodywork, here the research is for a middle-class car, with 4 meters total length, that has the dimension of a series car like the Golf Synchro. The only difference is the internal height, increased by 15 cm, giving passengers more comfort just like three box berline one. Orbit research goes on with the Machimoto research, and they influence one another, keeping a common feeling in the front part where hoods are similar and bumpers identical. Engine & performance: Position: front transverse Type: Volkswagen Golf Synchro, 4-cylinder, in line Capacity: 1781 cc Power: 90 hp @ 5200 rpm Torque: 145 Nm @ 3300 rpm Drive: 4WD Dimensions: Length: 3985 mm Width: 1680 mm Height: 1430 mm Wheelbase: 2475 mm Source: www.italdesign.it Images: ItalDesign

Many have tried to meld the stability of an automobile with the open-air sensation of a motorcycle. Still, few attempted to do so like Italdesign did with the 1986 Machimoto concept. Using the 1.8-liter, 16-valve I-4 from the then-current GTI, the Machimoto was a low-slung, topless speedster with unusual rear wheel skirts that were de rigeuer on '80s show cars. However, the Machimoto's true claim to fame lurked within the cabin. Instead of traditional seating, Giugiaro called for two banks of saddle seating, allowing the driver -- along with seven passengers -- to straddle the seat as if it were a motorcycle. At the time, critics lambasted the idea of a VW-cycle hybrid, but perhaps Giugiaro had the last laugh. In 2006, Volkswagen showed the three-wheel GX3 concept and reportedly came very close to pushing the hardcore trike into production. Engine & performance: Position: front transverse Type: Volkswagen Golf GTI, 4-cylinder, in line, 16-valve, DOHC Capacity: 1781 cc Power: 139 hp @ 6100 rpm Torque: 168 Nm @ 4600 rpm Drive: FWD Dimensions: Length: 3985 mm Width: 1680 mm Height: 1630 mm Wheelbase: 2475 mm Source: www.automobilemag.com; allcarindex Images: ItalDesign

Presented at the 1986 Paris Auto Show, the Atlantic was renown for its vast use of glass and smooth lines. Months after the Atlantic was presented, Heuliez created the Stars & Stripes, a convertible version of the Atlantic, with removable doors and blue wheels, rather than the Atlantic's white wheels. Source: 1986 Heuliez Atlantic - Studios. https://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1986_heuliez_atlantic/ Images: Andre LE ROUX Site; Concept Car Central