Some people say that to know the future of cars we must look to the past, and they are absolutely right. Over the last half century, we have seen aggressive, aerodynamic, and extravagant models with an impeccable aesthetic. Many of these retrofuturistic cars never left the concept phase, but their designers had a more polished vision of the future that was burned into the minds of an entire generation…
It is no coincidence that many of these cars are associated with names like Bertone, Pininfarina, or Colani. Nor is it a coincidence that most of them share the famous wedge shape, or "wedge of cheese" as I called it when I was little. Their roots gained strength in the early 1970s and quickly evolved into truly extraordinary designs, further enhanced by artists of the caliber of Syd Mead. Yes, some current supercars take our breath away, but something tells me there is still much to learn from these pioneers…
Lotus Esprit S1 (1976)
After passing through the Paris and London shows, the Lotus Esprit S1 entered production in 1976. Although it didn't need any help to attract attention, the Esprit S1's popularity exploded when James Bond himself turned it into a submarine...
Lancia Stratos Zero (1970)
Undoubtedly, the Lancia Stratos Zero stands out among the best jewels of the Gruppo Bertone. In 2011 it was sold for over 760,000 euros, and it is considered one of the great masterpieces of Italian design. Do you remember Michael Jackson's movie Moonwalker? The Zero was there.
Maserati Boomerang (1972)
A creation of Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Boomerang debuted at the Turin Auto Show in 1971, and achieved a certain production profile under the Maserati Bora. It passed into private hands in 1974, resurfacing at various events from 1990 onward. Louis Vuitton used it in the advertising of its 2014 campaign.
Mercury Antser (1980)
According to its manufacturer, the Antser would be the car that would answer American transportation needs in the late '80s and beyond. Hybrid propulsion, space for four passengers (although it doesn't look like it), and integrated digital dashboard and maps indicated a serious bet on the future that never was.
Lamborghini Countach (1974)
What can we add? It is the Lamborghini of our dreams. The one that melted brains in the '80s, and that almost all of us enjoyed as a scale model toy. Its scissor doors went around the world, and many imitated them. Almost 2,000 Countaches were built, I don't have one, and I'm sad.
Pontiac Fiero (1983)
Safety problems, several recalls, and net losses per unit marked the five years of production of the Pontiac Fiero, but even so, almost 400,000 units were sold… and it looks great. A YouTuber started restoring one in 2018, and it's pure gold, you can't miss it.
Porsche Tapiro (1970)
Legend has it that the Porsche Tapiro prototype was bought by a Spanish industrialist in 1972, and detonated by activists in protest over its owner's labor policies. Other sources suggest it was a simple accident, and apparently, it still hasn't been restored…
Alfa Romeo Carabo (1968)
It all started with this car. The wedge design. The scissor doors. Inspired by ground beetles, the bright green with exact touches of orange transformed the Alfa Romeo Carabo into a unique creature, and it still demands our attention 53 years later. A marvel.
Ferrari Rainbow (1976)
The Rainbow marked Bertone's return to the Ferrari line after 15 years. There were never plans to take it to production, so the designer worked with total freedom, without the pressure of traditionalism that the Cavallino Rampante favored at the time.
Alfa Romeo Navajo (1976)
Some comments suggest that Bertone saw an episode of Battlestar Galactica and created the Navajo, but this concept predates the series by two years. Built on a 33 Stradale, the Navajo managed to eliminate much of its weight thanks to the extensive use of fiberglass.
Nissan 270X (1970)
Another 'child of the '70s', but born on the other side of the world. Despite its aggressive appearance, its mechanics were not necessarily up to par, as Nissan used its E10 Cherry as a base. However, its design did not go unnoticed, and even Matchbox added it to its Speed Kings line.
Toyota EX-7 (1970)
Another manufacturer that made a strong impression at the 1970 Tokyo Auto Show was Toyota, presenting its EX-7. In essence, Toyota tried to find out what a supercar based on the design of its Toyota 7 would look like. The official Toyota UK blog has an entire article dedicated to this striking experiment.
Ferrari Modulo (1970)
In January 1970, Ferrari had built a series of 25 '512S' cars for its certification process, and gave a chassis to Pininfarina. The result? A dream from the year 2050 that we can't stop admiring. Fun fact? Originally it was black.
Ferrari 250 P5 Pininfarina (1968)
Although there were Ferrari purists who protested the supposed abandonment of traditional design lines, the 250 P5 Pininfarina only anticipated the future of the brand, with its gullwing doors and the engine covered with a glass panel.
BMW M2 Colani Concept (1981)
A variant of the BMW M1, designed exclusively by Luigi Colani for Le Mans racer Jean Rondeau. In reality, the car was nothing more than a proposal, adopting a more "liquid and fluid" profile, distancing itself from the wedge format. It debuted at the 1981 Paris Motor Show.
Mazda Le Mans Prototype (1983)
Once again, Colani fully embraced his liquid vision, creating the Mazda Le Mans Prototype. The plan was to equip it with a Wankel engine capable of developing between 960 and 1,400 horsepower. The theoretical top speed was 380 kilometers per hour… but everything suggests it never touched the asphalt.
Ferrari Testa d’Oro (1989)
And one day, Colani made a Ferrari. His variant Ferrari Testa d’Oro is a real beast, with 700 horsepower and a top speed of 351 kilometers per hour, a record set by driver Mike Strasburg in 1992. In 2015, there was speculation about a sale for over 1.7 million dollars.
Vauxhall SRV (1970)
With the aim of optimizing its profile and image, Vauxhall created the SRV in 1970, obtaining in the process a very interesting research platform. The car was inspired by the vehicles that dominated Le Mans at that time, but it could comfortably transport four adults.
Mercedes-Benz C111-III (1977)
The third version of the C111 saw the light in 1977, but instead of exploring possibilities for sports cars, Mercedes-Benz's plan was just one: to break speed records. And it certainly did, claiming nine.
Ford Probe I (1979)
The first of a broad collaboration between Ford and Ghia, marked by a deep oil crisis and the search for more efficient designs. Built on a Mustang chassis, Ford even stated that the Probe I had an economy close to 17 kilometers per liter of fuel.
Peugeot Quasar (1984)
The first concept car from the French company, the Peugeot Quasar made an appearance at the 1984 Paris Motor Show. Its interior (which included a CRT monitor in the dashboard) covered in deep red leather stood out immediately against the white exterior.
Mitsubishi MP-90X (1985)
Unfortunately, there isn't a great deal of information about the Mitsubishi MP-90X beyond its appearances at the Tokyo Motor Show that year and the 1986 Geneva Motor Show. Touch controls and CRT screens dominated the interior, along with a steering wheel worthy of science fiction.
Chevrolet Express (1987)
In addition to exploring aerodynamic designs, the Chevrolet Express also allowed the company to advance its experiments with the AGT-5 turbine. On the other hand, the prototype adopted several technological solutions to replace classic elements, such as using cameras and monitors instead of mirrors.
Pontiac Pursuit (1987)
Two doors, four seats, advanced electronic steering, ABS brakes, a 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower. The only exception in the Pontiac Pursuit's technological cocktail was its transmission, manual and five-speed. It appeared in a movie—do you remember which one...?
DMC DeLorean (1981)
Of course. If the DeLorean didn't make it onto this list, I would end up pursued by the authorities. In general terms, it is a car plagued with problems that delivers a rather harsh driving experience… but none of that matters. The DeLorean will always be "the future" on four wheels.
