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  • 1995 Volvo ECB Concept

    The 1995 Volvo ECB stands for "Environmental Concept Bus". It's housed in the Volvo Museum in Göteborg, Sweden.

  • 1995 Land Rover City Cab Concept

    The science-fiction film Judge Dredd was released in 1995 based on the comic book 2000 AD. Danny Cannon directed the movie, and Sylvester Stallone played the starring role. The story takes place in 2139, where Mega Cities are full of crime and riots, forcing the state to employ Street Judges to save some time from taking all of those outlaws to the busy courts. The film received mostly negative reviews, although it managed to earn more than its budget. Despite the underwhelming critical response, the movie is remembered for its extraordinary vehicles designed by Land Rover. According to the brief, the taxi cabs operating in Mega-City One (New York of the future) should look futuristic and also be able to safely transport up to six passengers through this hostile environment – like a fortress on wheels. Original sketches were created by David Woodhouse, who at the time was Senior Designer at Land Rover. This talented automotive designer would later build a notable career at Ford, leading to his most recent role as Lincoln's Design Director. Based on his design, up to 20 people from Rover worked with him to finalize the project in less than three months under the guidance of Head of Design Gorden Sked. To make the car driveable, Land Rover needed a suitable chassis with the right dimensions, so it chose the 101 Forward Control (1972–1978) – a spartan vehicle with cab-over design developed for the British Army and fitted with a 3.5-liter V8 engine producing 87kW of power and 230Nm of torque. As you can imagine, the City Cab looked like proper science fiction back in 1995. Its aggressive stance was emphasized by the cab-over design, unusual off-road proportions, and great use of two-tone graphics. Simple prismatic surfaces of the bodywork were used to reflect the lighting on the set. The front section was taller than the rest of the car, with a long front overhang and a short wheelbase. Custom covers on the steel rims extended the width of each wheel by 254mm, improving the proportions and the sci-fi look. The front end was inspired by baseball, skiing, and hockey masks. They featured a very narrow windscreen that made the vehicle look even more significant, a sculpted roof, and the signature asymmetrical headlights with three circular elements on its right-hand side. The rear end adopted a more technical look, looking like a futuristic fire truck with large angular blocks, side exhaust pipes, small circular tail-lights, and (non-functional) cables and pipes. The main prototype was painted in black and yellow livery, with black and white taxi graphics on the doors and City Cab lettering towards the rear end. It even had stickers with instructions on how to use it, made for the citizens of Mega-City One, while in several vehicles, the paint was made to look like it was permanently dirty. Moving on to the interior, passengers are seated lower than the driver and feel extra protected in the middle part of the vehicle. One scissor door and a smaller gullwing door on each side allowed easy access to the individual bucket seats inside the cabin through the dedicated side steps. Land Rover built 31 full-size models for the movie, driving around slowly in the dark and wet roads of the dystopian future. Below the fiberglass bodies constructed by the Futura and Wood & Picket companies, there were platforms of 101 Forward Control trucks bought back from the army. All of the vehicles were driveable. However, only one of the prototypes was equipped with a complete six-seater cabin and functional doors, as the others would not be needed for any close-up shots. Two of the City Cabs were registered so that they could be driven on UK roads and make it to the film's premiere. Modifications included new mirrors, safety glass for the windscreen, and larger headlights. After the film, the cars sat in parking lots for a long time. Land Rover decided to keep the best one, and some of the remaining was sold to private hands. The City Cab is another example of what you get if you allow the designers to put their dreams on paper without the countless restrictions associated with production cars. It is pure fantasy, emotion, and craziness, making it the best vehicle design for a comic book adaptation – even better than its mediocre movie. Source: https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/design-review-judge-dredd-and-the-land-rover-city-cab-1995/

  • 1995 Asia Neo Mattina

    The 1995 Asia Neo Mattina concept was a cross between an SUV and an MPV which was presented at the Seoul Motor Show and never seen again. Source: https://carsthatnevermadeitetc.tumblr.com/post/167673685309/asia-neo-mattina-concept-1995-a-cross-between-an

  • 1995 Dodge Viper GTS-R Race Car Prototype

    Built in 1995, chassis #CM-03 was not an actual GTS-R. This car was an engineering mule used to develop the Viper GTS and then utilized by the Viper GTS-R program as a prototype for the race car. CM-03 was used for numerous developmental tests proving grounds until the first GTS-R chassis was completed in summer 1995. From this point, its location/existence is unknown. Soure: wheelsage.org

  • 1995 Alfa Romeo Zender Progetto Cinque

    The 1995 Alfa Romeo Zender Progetto Cinque was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It was a proposal for a Spider based on the Alfa Romeo 75 using a 3.0 V6 engine. Source: https://carsthatnevermadeitetc.tumblr.com/post/132875734928/alfa-romeo-zender-progetto-cinque-1995-a

  • 1995 Volkswagen Noah

    The VW Noah Concept starts with a six-seat, one-box body with an unusually long 118-inch wheelbase. This is the perfect family-sized craft. Passenger seats cantilever from aluminum spars along the body sides; in a collision from the side, the seat moved inward with the body side panel, protecting the occupant. It has a front-wheel-drive turbo garbage thrust, while the "sandwich" floor leaves space for cold fusion cells. The Concept can hover at a safe speed of 80mph, making it the ideal family van. The vehicle's floor consists of recycled, splinter-proof wood. The center aisle of this easy-to-clean floor has front-to-back rubber moldings attached as an anti-slip surface. Instead of conventional storage compartments, there are six removable leather pouches in which items for the journey can be stored. Along with its voice and fingerprint-operated locks, the VW Concept came equipped with a state-of-the-art EYE-TRACT lock. This lock is the ultimate in craft protection. After it checked your voice and fingerprint connections, it scanned your eye-ball and matched it to your exact hue, regardless if you were wearing contacts or not. Perhaps a forerunner of the concept microbus? Source: www.ltv-vwc.org.uk Images: Volkswagen AG.

  • 1995 Toyota Prius Concept

    The Prius, introduced at this show as the earth-friendly next-generation sedan that would bring comfort and happiness to people, gave visitors a glimpse of tomorrow's car. The Toyota Prius is such a familiar sight on the roads these days that it's easily forgotten just how revolutionary the notion of a mass-produced hybrid car was only two decades ago. Yet Toyota changed the face of the motoring landscape with the hybrid-powered Prius, which debuted in concept form at the 31st Tokyo Motor Show on October 27, 1995. The Prius concept is a fantastic example of how concepts can foreshadow forthcoming production models. Even though the exterior design evolved in the two years between the 1995 concept and 1997 production reveal, the 'Toyota Hybrid System' (THS) technology in the Prius concept car was developed to underpin the production version and has gone down history as bringing hybrid motoring to the masses. The 1995 Prius concept was the result of 18 months of hard work by Toyota engineers and designers. In early 1994, they identified the need to develop and build a kinder car for the environment and Earth's resources while retaining the benefits of a modern car. By 1994, the project team had designed a hybrid concept car and coined the name 'Prius .' They then had around a year to bring it to fruition in time for the Tokyo Motor Show in 1995. Approval for the development of the hybrid vehicle, codenamed '890T', was given at the end of June 1995, leaving only four months to get the concept ready for its public debut. The early THS system in the Prius concept used a capacitor to store its electrical energy rather than the battery pack that eventually became part of the production model's system and continues as the main component in Toyota's current Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Interestingly, Toyota has developed capacitor-based hybrid systems, most notably in the TS030 and TS040 Hybrid endurance race cars, which use supercapacitors to store energy. By the time the Prius concept was shown to the public, Toyota had already made significant advances in hybrid vehicle development. It was so confident that it could deliver an affordable, mass-produced car that, in December 1995, Toyota president Hiroshi Okuda established a launch date of December 1997 for the production version in Japan. In the subsequent two years, the final design was selected from a proposal submitted by Irwin Lui at Toyota's CALTY Design Research studio in California. The full-hybrid THS system was developed and formally unveiled in March 1997. As promised, the Prius concept became a production reality in December 1997 and became the world's best-selling hybrid car. Source: Andrew Biddle - blog.toyota.co.uk Images: Toyota Motor Corporation. 1995 Toyota Prius Concept 1997 Toyota Prius

  • 1995 Toyota MR-J

    In response to a new wave of roadsters from MG, Fiat, and BMW, Toyota unveiled its MRJ prototype at the 1995 Tokyo show. Designed by Toyota's Brussels design office, it was the company's first-ever open mid-engine car. The roof was a so-called "aero cabin" hardtop, which retracted electronically at the flick of a button. A major focal point of the Toyota exhibit in 1996 was the MRJ concept vehicle. The prototype was on revue to gauge public reaction to the sports car's compact exterior styling. Featuring a retractable hardtop roof, the MRJ used a mid-engine, DOHC 20-valve 1.8-liter 4-cylinder with variable valve timing and 170 horses. The instrument panel consisted of LCD monitors and an analog tachometer. One LCD monitor alternated between displaying the speedometer and a cluster of gauges. The other monitor could be switched between the navigation mode and the audio/air-conditioner mode. You could arrange the MRJ seats to suit a range of needs. The rear seats folded down or pushed up and away to reveal an unexpectedly large luggage space. And the standard 2+2 configuration allowed for 4-passengers. Source: www.is-it-a-lemon.com; www.chicagoautoshow.com Images: www.shorey.net

  • 1995 Toyota Moguls

    As part of its "Forest of Toyota" project for conserving and growing forests, Toyota exhibited the Moguls, an experimental vehicle specifically designed to help tree planting and forest management. By displaying this vehicle, Toyota demonstrated its proactive efforts to conserve the environment. For those who want to go more off-road than off-road vehicles can take them, the Toyota Moguls is a concept car designed for forestry workers. Each wheel can be extended independently, stretching out into gullies or retracting when going over humps. The vehicle, which requires no special training to drive, can therefore remain level on bumpy terrain and travel on forest trails that would defeat conventional four-wheel drives. Source: www.toyota-global.com; NYTimes.com (ANDREW POLLACK, November 5, 1995) Images: www.shorey.net

  • 1995 Toyota FLV

    The FLV (Future Luxury Vehicle) was a concept vehicle built by Toyota. It was first shown at the October 1995 Tokyo Motor Show as a Toyota vehicle and then at the January 1996 North American International Auto Show as a Lexus vehicle. The exterior design was by Toyota USA's Calty Design Research. The FLV was designed to be luxurious and practical for an active lifestyle by having an extensive cargo compartment access by a rear hatch. The side windows are shaped like ordinary sedan windows, but the roofline is closer to a wagon. Toyota called the shape a "mono form oval silhouette." The seat height was chosen so that the passenger's legs could swing out onto the ground without having to shift their body up (as in a normal sedan) or down (as in an SUV). An electronic center console in the dash housed accessories such as a navigation display, air conditioning controls, the entertainment system, and email (connected to a cell phone network). The 2005 Toyota FT-SX concept vehicle fulfilled a similar purpose. Source: Bill Tuckey - The Age via www.darwinmovers.com.au; wiki Images: Toyota

  • 1995 Suzuki UT-1

    The 1995 Suzuki UT-1 stands for Utility Transport Type 1. The little one-liter car is proportioned like the tractor part of a big rig: short wheelbase, upright, and short cab in front of a stumpy multi-use platform at the rear. Like a big rig, you could tow an articulated trailer from that rear deck, which Suzuki showed at the Tokyo Auto Show, but there was so much more to this weirdly logical little modular workhorse. The front end's styling was big rig-inspired, too, with a tall, vertical grille and stacked light units. There was also a full rear hatchback module that included rear seating to make a full four-passenger hatchback. The cab's rear had a "detachable rear canopy," so you could talk to the people in the back seat when in hatchback mode. You could place a cargo box on the rear deck for storage if you just wanted a two-passenger weekend getaway car with plenty of luggage room. The interior was also a marvel of sleek, no-bullshit design. Look at this clean, easy-to-manufacture dashboard/instrument panel design and ask yourself why this isn't done more often. The little one-liter engine was designed to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or gasoline, which just adds to the intense practicality of it all. Source: https://jalopnik.com/suzukis-1995-ut-1-concept-makes-cold-modular-rationali-1831348262 Images: www.autopuzzles.com; JOHN LLOYD Collection

  • 1995 Suzuki UR-1

    This mini Suzuki concept was presented at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show. Similar to the UR-1, the Suzuki UT-1 concept was also presented at the Tokyo Motor Show. Source: carstyling.ru

  • 1995 Subaru Streega

    The 1995 Subaru Streega would soon become the future Forester. The Streega-study covers an entirely new concept. While other SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) so far known in the market are all based on off-road vehicles, Subaru Streega is technically based on a limousine (4wd Impreza). Subaru's concept car Streega provides a wide range of applications in occupation, recreation, and sports. Therefore Subaru calls it a "Multi-Sport Vehicle" (MSV). It featured a new combination of the traction control system, the 4wd, and the ABS and named it Vehicle Dynamic Control. It enables the same level of control during cornering, acceleration, and braking and during normal driving. Source: cartsyling.ru Images: www.Subaru-Impreza.de

  • 1995 Subaru Elcapa

    Billed as a city car with a hybrid system, the designers of the Elcapa seemed to be going out of their way to punish would-be buyers. Graceful as a hippo in a tutu, the Elcapa's distended dimensions were intended to provide plentiful storage. Dunked in a two-tone paint scheme, though, the final shape offered minimal charm. Source: Simon Hacker/MSN Cars Images: Subaru; www.subaru-impreza.de

  • 1995 Subaru Alpha-Exiga

    The 1995 Subaru α-Exiga, was a concept for a sizeable wedge-profile crossover-type sports wagon. It had 3-row seating and was powered by the SVX’s 3.0 liter 24 valve flat-6 engine. Presented at the 31st Tokyo Motor Show, there were hints that it previewed a production model. However, the series production Exiga didn’t arrive until 2008 and was a smaller, conservatively styled estate powered by a 2.0 flat-4. Source: https://carsthatnevermadeitetc.tumblr.com/post/638918395449016320/subaru-%CE%B1-exiga-1995-a-concept-for-a-large

  • 1995 SsangYong Panther Solo III

    Panther Westwind was a British car manufacturer, building luxury cars in a limited number. The first car was the J72, a reproduction of the legendary Jaguar SS 100. The other models made by Panther were also retro-style cars. The Panther Solo III concept was developed by SsangYong, a South Korean car company, which bought Panther in the 1980s. Thanks to the aerodynamic style and lightweight, it is harmonious with performance and economy, and the air spoiler and air cooler add luxuriousness to Solo III. It is equipped with the DOHC engine with a maximum output of 220hp and 5,500rpm, displacement of 3,199 cc, top speed 254km/h, and instantaneous acceleration of 100 kmh in 5.7 seconds. Solo III was designed by EMS (Energy Management System) method in horseshoe type and equipped with FRP body, aluminum honeycomb, tempered glass, shatterproof and unfreezing special windscreen, and rear wing design that does not obstruct the rear view for maximum safety. Engine & performance: Type: 6-cylinder, DOHC Capacity: 3199 cc Power: 220 hp @ 5500 rpm Torque: 310 Nm @ 3750 rpm Drive: RWD Top speed: 254 km/h Dimensions: Length: 4334 mm Width: 1790 mm Height: 1180 mm Weigth: 1340 kg Source: www.history-of-cars.com; allcarindex.com Images: SsangYong

  • 1995 SsangYong CRS

    The 1995 SsangYong CRS Concept was another of the unique prototypes displayed at the ‘95 Seoul Motor show. The CRS may have been a follow-up to the Panther Kallista, which was made in limited numbers after SsangYong took over Panther Westwinds. It remained a one-off. Source: https://carsthatnevermadeitetc.tumblr.com/post/145117592607/ssangyong-crs-concept-1995-yet-another-of-the

  • 1995 SsangYong CCR-1

    The 1995 SsangYong CCR-1 Concept was presented at the Seoul Motor Show. It was a prototyped, mid-engined, electric saloon with massive gull-wing doors. Source: https://carsthatnevermadeitetc.tumblr.com/post/145115638327/ssangyong-ccr-1-concept-1995-also-presented-at

  • 1995 Sbarro Alcador

    In 1995 Sbarro unveiled one of their first Ferrari conversions called the Alcador. It was built upon a Ferrari Testarossa chassis and featured a radical body by Franco Sbarro. Like many of Sbarro’s cars, the Alcador was fully functional. Essentially the car was an open-air roadster with no front windscreen. Twin roll hoops were situated on either side of the body and presumably offered roll-over protection. The front and rear headlights are heavily recessed. The doors have deep cutouts reminiscent of the strakes from the Testarossa. The deepest surface in the door is clear Plexiglas. The third car featured more running lights and a rear diffuser. The first Alcador painted silver and paved the way for two more conversions. Chassis #2 was a red car that was offered on eBay in 2004. Features: Built in: Switzerland Production: 3 Engine: Mid, Longitudinal, V12 Power: 298.29999 kw / 400 bhp bhp/weight: 307.69 bhp per tonne Curb weight: 1300 kg / 2866.5 lbs Source: supercars.net Images: Espera Sbarro; autodiva.fr

  • 1995 Renault Next

    On 18 June 1995, Renault introduced NEXT, a completely revolutionary concept car: a hybrid model equipped with two electric motors integrated within the rear wheels of the vehicle AND an internal combustion engine - all controlled by a single electronic computer. When pullling away and at speeds up to 40kph Next automatically uses electric power, before switching to the engine which also serves to recharge the batteries. It could reach a top speed of 165kph. NEXT was the creation of the “Exploratory Vehicles Unit”, which was run at the time by Rémi Deconinck. This groundbreaking concept car has the following specifications: - The conventional engine is a 750cc three-cylinder unit hooked up to an easily-robotised cylinder gearbox. Although it is on the small side compared to other cars in its segment, the power can be temporarily backed up by the electric motors. - The rear suspension is powered by the motor-wheels, which are similar to those used in some high-speed trains – on a much smaller scale, of course! They are powered by batteries weighing about 150kg housed underneath the floor plan. The “controller”, NEXT’s electronic brain, manages whether the engine or the motors are used, and may call on both simultaneously in the event of high acceleration. Without the driver noticing, the controller distributes power appropriately between the two axles, switching between alternate, sequential and simultaneous operation of the various drive options. This method of operation is aimed at reducing fuel consumption, to just 3.4l/100km, and at making driving more enjoyable. Rémi Deconinck recalls: As the design process went ahead, the full potential of this particular drivetrain was revealed. The car could be driven for about 20 kilometres using only electric power. The thermal combustion engine could be started via the clutch, so no ignition was needed. A turbo effect kicked in for a few kilometres allowing a maximum speed of 165kph to be reached. Fuel consumption was very competitive thanks to the small petrol engine, and ABS and ESP were controlled by the rear motor-wheels. Despite the two power units, the vehicle weighed only 875kg. This was mainly because of the choice of materials. Parts of the chassis were made of aluminium and a carbon-fibre shell was produced with the help of French aeronautics company Aérospatiale. For the bodywork, also made of carbon fibre, the designers called on Horacio Pagani, a sports car expert who designed the famous Zonda. The various components were delivered on time and assembly went ahead as planned, enabling the team to complete the project in 365 days. We did it! Source: group.renault.com Images: Renault

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