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The Smart brand has led a troubled existence, and this is where it all started. The problem with concept cars is that they tend to show what could be possible if risks were taken – risks with interior and exterior styling, packaging, and new technology. But the frustration is that they always get watered down, and by the time they reach the showroom, they're just a shadow of their former selves. Except that for every rule, there are exceptions, and in the case of the concept car, the MCC Smart is one of them. The project began in 1990, when the Swiss company SMH, behind the Swatch watch, teamed up with Volkswagen to develop a microcar that would revolutionize city transport. But by 1993, Volkswagen had got cold feet and pulled out of the project, leaving SMH to continue alone. Without the money to develop the car, SMH teamed up with Daimler-Benz, which took a stake in the new venture called Micro Compact Car, or MCC. The first fruits of this collaboration were unveiled in March 1993: the MCC Eco-Sprinter and Eco-Speedster. 1993 MCC Smart Eco-Speedster Although the first major European motor show of 1993 (the Geneva salon) was taking place when the two cars were unveiled, they weren't displayed at the event. This was somewhat a shame because they represented quite a revolution in personal urban transport; at just 2500mm in length, a Mini was a huge 600mm longer. And while the MCC cars were strict two-seaters, that didn't matter because most urban commuters traveled solo anyway. The targa-topped Eco-Speedster was a petrol-powered two-seater, while the Eco-Sprinter was an electric version which was also slightly narrower (at 1400mm). Whereas the petrol car was rear-wheel drive, the electric one was front-wheel drive. Both the Eco-Sprinter and Eco-Speedster featured rear-mounted engines, but at the time of the unveiling, MCC was very coy about exactly what the motive power was in either of the vehicles. 1993 MCC Smart Eco-Sprinter Although the mechanical side of the cars was pretty unusual, it was the body structures which was the big news. Building a car that was so small but would also live up to the mandatory crashworthiness tests of the time was quite a challenge, yet Mercedes claimed that the MCC duo would meet these targets and exceed them. The secret was in the underbody structure, which incorporated a sandwich construction. The engine would be pushed downwards and out of the way of any car occupants if the car was involved in a collision. In the case of the electric Smart, this center cell also provided a safe location for the batteries. Being the baby of the Mercedes range, the Smart was always a premium small car; there would be much larger cars available for less money. But MCC also argued that those cars also wouldn't be so beautifully engineered. The cabin of the Eco-Sprinter featured leather trim and plenty of brushed aluminum, while the fascia was rather plain; the Eco-Speedster's cabin looked as though its brightly colored fittings had been picked from a Fisher-Price catalog. Working on the basis that most people commuting within cities do so alone, the passenger seat of the Smart was positioned 300mm behind the driver. Although this produced something of an odd-shaped load bay (which was also extremely small), it did mean that the two occupants weren't vying for the same shoulder space; a simple but very effective solution. Because of the three-layer sandwich construction of the Smart's floorplan, the driving position was much higher than normal for such a small car, which would cause problems later with the cars being noted for being unstable. But once these problems were ironed out, the Smart made one of the trendiest – and most expensive – microcars around when it reached the market in 1998. Features: Debut: 1993 Engine: Rear-mounted, 3-cylinder Transmission: Sequential manual/auto, rear-wheel drive Top speed: 87mph Source: https://www.below-the-radar.com/mcc-smart-eco-speedster-eco-sprinter/

The small, electric urban vehicle was developed by Espace Sbarro students and presented to the Geneva Motor Show 1993 at the same time as the Isatis and Onyx. We are far from the 1987 Monster G! The hull is formed from polyester, the seats and interior are molded directly with the fund and not reported. No doors or side windows and just a windscreen as protection. Curiously there are no lights either—the minimalist car par excellence. Source: http://sbarro.phcalvet.fr/voitures/urbi/urbigb.html

According to the dictionary, the Isatis is a blue fox living in the Arctic regions. According to Sbarro, Isatis is a nasty coupé that's familiar with the fox. The car shown here is students' work at the school design Sbarro for the year of study 1992-1993. Chevrolet Corvette comes to mind with its long hood and aggressive style. Unfortunately, this is only a model not rolling, despite a superb BMW V12 engine. The Isatis offers some new ideas, like all counters located in the center of the steering wheel. The lights are placed on the mirrors, as the current Mercedes. The names of students who designed and built the Isatis are registered under the hood. It includes Lazareth, which has created his own company making great quads, motorcycles, and mini pick-up V8! Only an exercise, the Isatis is a superb car, made for dreaming. The goal is reached, but there will always be a little disappointed watching this great show-car. Features Engine: V12 BMW Configuration: front Displacement: 5379 cc (85 mm x 79 mm) Power: 326 BHP @ 5800 rpm Torque: 40.8 mkg @ 4500rpm Transmission: rear-wheel drive Source: http://sbarro.phcalvet.fr/voitures/Isatis/isatisgb.html Images: Sbarro; Dingo

The Renault Racoon was an aquatic-capable concept car unveiled in 1992. It received a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, a manual transmission, and an all-wheel-drive system. To get into the Racoon, the driver had to open the car's front, as it had no traditional doors. The Racoon could be raised upwards for increased ground clearance, achieved with a levered effect. The car also featured radical features such as rain diffusing glass, remote-controlled entry, computer control, satellite navigation, and cameras instead of rearview mirrors. While many of these technologies have become normal on vehicles today, most of this technology was still in its infancy at the time of the Raccoon's unveiling. Racoon made its first public appearance in 1992 in a film intended to demonstrate Renault's technological expertise in the field of computer-generated imagery. The concept car itself is an all-terrain, go-anywhere vehicle, which bristles with ideas and technologies. This concept car is also amphibious with a top speed of 5 knots in water. Its philosophy is one of taking its occupants right to the very heart of their environment. The extra-high and extendable ground clearance, oversized green wheels, long arms, and bulging head give the vehicle a decidedly unusual appearance. With forms that are round and flowing, Racoon has three distinct sides to its character. First, a hybrid, helicopter-like look with a high glass cockpit underlines its observation and discovery functions. Second, Racoon seats its occupants almost horizontally like a sports car. And third, it flexes its mechanical muscles unashamedly like a powerful construction vehicle. Features Cabin accessed by remote-controlled pivoting glass canopies Three seats laid out in triangular configuration with seat-mounted safety harnesses Rear and lateral camera for rearview vision (with infrared assistance for night use) Keyboardless PC, hands-free telephone, and satellite communication system Chemically treated glass, featuring ultrasound system which disintegrates water molecules on contact Racoon splits into two, easily separating into its high-tensile steel chassis on the one hand and its all-steel bodywork on the other 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine coupled with 6-speed gearbox and three torque-transfer differentials offer peerless traction on muddy terrain and an off-road top speed of over 155kph Two hydro jets driven by the engine provide propulsion in water Computer-generated image film won first prize at Imagina festival in 1992 Source: conceptcar.co.uk Images: Renault; Thierry des Ouches; shorey.net

The Porsche Boxster prototype was first introduced at the 1993 Detroit Auto Show. Based on the enthusiastic public response, Porsche immediately set to work on the real roadster. The Porsche Boxster was first introduced in late 1996 in Europe and on January 4th, 1997, at the LA Auto Show. It was an immediate hit. Source: www.cyberdesignconcepts.com Images: Porsche AG.

The words that defined the essence of the future concept "retro car in hot rod style" were firstborn in the Chrysler design center in California in 1990. First presented as a concept at the 1993 Detroit Auto Show, the Plymouth Prowler was put into production from 1997 to 2002, when it was discontinued. In the same year, the future "serial hot rod" was made in the form of a 1: 4 scale model and approved by Chrysler President Bob Lutz, who, by the way, is a hot rodder himself. The idea of ​​embodying the image of the old American legend was, of course, also based on a pragmatic calculation: the number of hot rod fans in America totals several million people, and the industry's annual turnover serving their needs exceeds more than $ 10 billion. A year later, the "retro-genus" was named Prowler, which is best translated as "creeping." Panther images on the leather upholstery complete this look. In 1992, work began on the embodiment of the concept car, which is planned to be exhibited at the Detroit Auto Show in 1993. The result exceeds expectations: crazy purple shapes (purple will become Prowler's signature color for several years), spinning on the podium in the beams of spotlights to the sound of rock and roll, gather admiring crowds. Bob Lutz requires his engineers and designers to determine within 90 days how realistic it is to introduce the concept into production. At the other extreme, Chrysler dealers begin to probe the market with enthusiasm. The engineers made the first prototype: the carrier frame, the wheel suspension arms, and almost the entire body are aluminum. Since then, the car has continuously participated in various exhibitions, shows, and even test runs on American highways and mountain tracks. Already in 1996, prototypes became available to some automotive publications for the first test drives. In 1997, Chrysler began producing the first series of cars, but in a relatively small edition. However, a year later, the car undergoes significant changes: at the auto show in Los Angeles, the Prowler is already making its debut with an aluminum 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 253 hp. The previous engine had "only" 214 horsepower. An important detail: the car exhibited at the show is painted yellow, which should further emphasize the old "hot rod" spirit. Soon, red and black bodies appear, in 1999 for the first time - silver, and then - two-tone: blacktop, red bottom. However, having acquired two-color, the car has already lost the Plymouth brand. Nevertheless, the image of Prowler continues to excite designers seriously - evidence of this is the Chrysler Howler concept: practically the same shapes, So the "creeping" is replaced by the "yelling." Source: "American Beauty" (DMITRY POPOV) - "Autopilot" magazine number 07 for 2000 Images: Chrysler; www.kimballstock.com; shorey.net

The 1993 Opel Tigra Roadster was part of the Opel Studien (Design Study) presentation at the 1993 IAA in Frankfurt. Three cars were presented in Frankfurt, the Tigra, the Tigra Roadster, and the Scamp (all based on the Corsa platform). Source: carstyling.ru Images: GM

The Opel Scamp Concept is a pick-up based on the Corsa B platform. The 1993 Opel Scamp (Vauxhall Traka) was part of the Opel Studien (Design Study) presentation at the 1993 IAA in Frankfurt. Three cars were presented the Tigra, the Tigra Roadster, and the Scamp (all based on the Corsa platform). Source: www.allcorsa.co.uk Images: GM; www.autopareri.com

One of three Oldsmobile concepts for ’89, the Aerotech III was a thinly disguised version of the upcoming 1990 Cutlass Supreme sedan. Notice the lower cladding, which already previewed the 1992 Cutlass Supreme exterior freshening. Power came from a 230 horsepower supercharged Quad 4 engine. The interior featured leather-trimmed seating consisting of four reclining bucket seats and also featured digital instrumentation and head-up display. The full-length console featured four cupholders and a cooler in the rear. Source: encyclopedia.classicoldsmobile.com Images: ConceptCarCentral

Presented at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show, the 1993 Nissan AQ-X has several small and large errors that add up to something of a disaster. But we will learn from this. Being charitable, it's a packaging car. The rear compartment has stupendous legroom. The doors open wide for easy ingress and, when you need to, egress. Up close, the vehicle is finished to a professional standard. At 10 meters, you begin to wonder whether the person who had sketched the car had sketched many cars before this. Perhaps the lumpy, non-homogenous forms of a car that combines elements incorrectly. Proportionally one sees the front part (forward of the B-pillar) as being from a small, tall vehicle. The center section has a van-like or MPV-like quality. The rear of the C-pillar is part of what might be an awkward saloon version of a B-class car. The front view works acceptably. The side views show the MPV-meets saloon wrongness. It looks very much like the roof's highest point is behind the B-pillar (though it might not be). The rearview is bland but acceptable. In a three-quarter view, notice how the lamp outline bumps over the wing-to-bonnet part. The roof is too flat in that view, yet amorphous curves characterize the car, apart from the sharp cut on the lower doors. Source: https://driventowrite.com/2016/12/30/1993-nissan-aq-x-concept-car-profile/ Images: Nissan

The 1993 Mitsubishi Mum 500 was a microcar that was debuted at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show. Not much else is published about this rare, little find. Comment below if anything else is known. Image: microcar.org

This all-terrain toy embodies the experimental model "Link" (in Russian - lynx). According to the company's terminology, this is a car for recreation, entertainment, and nature trips. Without a top, fashionable comfort systems, and even a windshield (replaced by two transparent shields), it has just two anatomical seats and a roll bar. According to the creators, the driver and passenger should better feel the surrounding nature (smell, noise, wind) - like riders on a motorcycle. You can also drive the Lynx around the city: the front-wheel-drive is turned off, and only the rear ones remain leading. It was equipped with a 650cc 65 hp engine. What is missing in it: turbocharging, injection, and five (mushroom-sized mushrooms) valves per cylinder. The Lynx looks tightly packed, and although it is not the largest of our Oka in size, it weighs a lot - 750 kg. The cockpit of the car is unusually designed - as if in a light aircraft. I pressed a button - an inclinometer in a block with an altimeter moved out of the dashboard between the wind deflectors, a very useful thing when "climbing Mount Fuji." It turns out that two "heads" on the console levers: the front one shifts gears in a five-speed box, and the rear one disables the front-wheel drive. And through two wind deflectors, this "Lynx" looks forward into the future, ready to overcome any ascents and heights. Source: L. SHUGUROV "Look into the magic ball" - "Behind the wheel," May 1994 Images: www.allcarindex.com

The Mitsubishi HSR (Highly Sophisticated-transport Research) is a range of concept cars exhibited by Mitsubishi Motors through the late 1980s and 1990s. Six distinct iterations of the vehicle were released biannually to coincide with the Tokyo Motor Show, with each model after the original identified by a Roman numeral suffixed to the name. A 180 hp modulated displacement version of the 1.6 L V6 powered the fourth prototype, a 4WD sports car featuring an all-wheel anti-lock braking system. The experimental Mitsubishi-HSR has been at trade shows over the past seven years. During this time, it has changed its appearance and content for the fourth time. At last, HSR IV - a computerized control system ... of the car for the driver. She memorizes the nature and speed of each vehicle operation and, if necessary, corrects them. Signals for such correction are given by laser radars that control distance, fatigue sensors that monitor the frequency of a blinking of the eyes, and other devices. Depending on the road conditions and the driver's driving style, the HSR IV finds the most advantageous wheel alignment by itself. Like HSR I, it has four active wheels - that is, four-wheel drive and all-wheel steering. But something else is even more surprising for us: the first, the HSR I with four active wheels, was demonstrated by the company in 1987, and now the serial Mitsubishi Galant is equipped with such a device. We admire the "intelligence" of the HSR IV concept car and its radars, but they are already on the serial Mitsubishi-Debonair since 1992. And maybe, following the HSR IV, models will soon appear on the conveyor, too, without levers and pedals, controlled only by buttons on the steering wheel? Source: L. SHUGUROV "Look into the magic ball" - "Behind the wheel," May 1994 Images: Mario Buonocunto Concept Cars Page; minkara.carview.co.jp; JOHN LLOYD Collection

Presented at the 30th Tokyo Motor Show, an amphibious prototype based on the 2nd generation Pajero which was explicitly designed for use by rescue services. The concept made an appearance in the 1999 Jackie Chan movie “Gorgeous.” The FieldGuard is based on Pajero nodes. It is a four-wheel-drive, two-seater vehicle for rescue teams in disaster areas for nature conservation services. The shape of the lower part of the body is such that hydrodynamic resistance when driving through water or swamps is minimal. Large 18-inch wheels and small overhangs allow you to move confidently over rough terrain. Add a winch, ten gears in the transmission, and the ability to increase the ground clearance by 80-100mm. In terms of size (and weight), "Feld-Guard" is close to our UA3-3151, but the engine with the same working volume (2.5 liters) is more powerful (105 hp) than that of the Russian jeep. Source: L. SHUGUROV "Look into the magic ball" - "Behind the wheel," May 1994 Images: Mitsubishi; JOHN LLOYD Collection

The Mitsubishi ESR (Ecological Science Research) is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) concept exhibited by Mitsubishi Motors at the 30th Tokyo Motor Show in 1993. It was designed to demonstrate its technological developments in alternative energy and used a 70 kW AC induction motor to drive the front wheels. Twenty-eight alkaline batteries under the passenger compartment and a rear-mounted 1.5 L gasoline engine powered an onboard electrical generator system. It also recycled its kinetic energy and absorbed solar power through roof-mounted cells. The car was estimated to have a range of 620 miles on hybrid power at a constant 25 miles per hour, or 310 miles using only the batteries. A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver could automatically switch the vehicle from hybrid to battery-only operation when entering urban areas. Mitsubishi claimed a maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour, thanks in part to a drag coefficient of 0.25. Source: Wikipedia Images: Mario Buonocunto; www.shorey.net; Alden Jewell Collection

Two running prototypes (Hybrid engine and petrol version) were developed and built by I.DE.A Institute on Mercedes' styling. "Rethinking the car" was the motto adopted by Mercedes-Benz when it presented its Vision A 93 concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show 1993. A compact, front-wheel drive vehicle, Vision A 93 was a completely new departure for the brand. And Mercedes made no bones about the fact that such a concept could well end up as part of its future model range. The reaction was instantaneous. Was this supposed to be a Mercedes? It was left to the show-goers to decide. Their verdict was very favorable in the event, with 80 percent approving of a small Mercedes along the lines of Vision A 93. The concept car then drew more praise when it went on the show with a few minor changes at the 1994 Geneva Motor Show under the new name "Studie A." For the American magazine "Motor Week," it was "Best Concept Car 1994". By this time, the matter had been settled, and the Board of Management had given the go-ahead for production. The A-Class arrived on the market in 1998 and, despite initial problems, became a huge success story for the company. In 2004 a second generation, the W 169, took to the road. Source: www.idea.institute.it; www.conceptcars.it Images: DaimlerChrysler; www.idea.institute.it

In 1993, it was time for something new for Mercedes-Benz, and the coupe concept it showed at the Geneva Motor Show turned out to be just the perfect answer. The “four-headlamps” design went on to become both iconic and very controversial. Still, back at the Geneva show, the public’s response was overwhelmingly positive, and that’s part of what pushed this new design approach into production. The first series model to use this new visual theme came in 1995 in the form of the E-Class sedan, but the 1993 coupe concept had a double mission – it wasn’t just the headlamps but also the silhouette of the car itself. The company wanted to know if the idea of a four-seat coupe would appeal to the public. We all know the answer now since only one look at the concept has Mercedes-Benz CLK screaming from all sides, launched two years later than the E-Class in 1997. The concept came with an unrealistic glass roof that was continued almost seamlessly into the tailgate, but it did have a fully functional interior and powertrain. The four individual seats were wrapped in high-quality leather and luxurious microfibre fleece, while the dash received wood insertions, all for a very sophisticated and elegant driving environment. A special feature was the front seats, which offered great lateral support, even at shoulder level, thanks to their winged design. As for the powertrain, the coupe concept was fully driveable and came with a five-liter eight-cylinder engine good for 320 hp and 470 Nm. It was a preview of the engine that would ultimately equip the production model CLK 500. Source: https://mercedesblog.com/new-face-mercedes-benz-coupe-concept/ Images: DaimlerChrysler AG

Following the historical SL gull-wing door, which Mercedes built from 1954 to 1957, Karmann designed a gull-wing door based on the 300 SC Sport Coupe. The doors can be automatically opened via an infrared control. It remained a one-off. Source: Karmann

Mazda collaborated with the London Royal College of Art in 1993 to sponsor a design project to create a futuristic taxi concept where space would restrict vehicle size. Although it was not an official Mazda concept and not displayed at an automobile show, Mazda assisted by building the prototype. The design was a narrow-track pod-shaped mini-car that was undoubtedly futuristic. There was space for a driver and one passenger. Source: Mazda Motor Corporation

In the Mazda HR-X 2, the designers sought a new (somewhat alarming) way of expressing Japanese culture in the automobile. The HR-X 2 is an evolution of the HR-X with a hydrogen rotary-engined prototype exhibited at the 1991 Tokyo Motorshow. The entire body was recyclable. The first bagless vacuum cleaner invented by James Dyson, the Dyson G-Force won the International Design Fair prize in Japan. The Japanese were so im­pressed by the pink and lavender machine, it became a status symbol in homes and sold for $2,000 each. Source: Mazda Motor Corporation; www.conceptcars.it Images: www.conceptcars.it