Concept cars from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show- some weird, others different

The 2011 Frankfurt Motor show opened its doors on the 13th of September and since then we have seen some of the craziest concept cars that auto makers brought to the show to showcase their versions of human mobility of the future. Some of the concepts on display were not just outlandish on the outside but cars which might not make it to production any time soon. The technology that went into making these cars though, could be used in cars of today.

The majority of the lot went for the popular tree-hugging powertrains. Some of them used a hybrid system to propel themselves while others were all electric and had a stack batteries in their bellies. We take a look at some of the most daring creations from the Frankfurt motor show ranging from a Mercedes-Benz saloon concept to show cars from Audi and Vauxhall. Lets start in alphabetical order, shall we?

Audi Urban Concept:

Audi Urban Concepts

The Audi Urban Concept is more of scientific apparatus than a car. Audi engineers are using the car to explore new possibilities in automotive design and technology. More precisely, Audi is testing new powertrain systems including electric drive etc. The Urban Concept is a two seat car with seats positioned one behind the other giving the car a narrow body that is aerodynamic. Wheels stick out like those on a Formula 1 car. The suspension on the Urban Concept is also derived from motor racing as it uses pushrods in place of the usual setup.

The car is built around a carbon fibre monocoque that weighs just half a ton. A 15kW electric motor is mounted at the rear end of the car which powers the rear wheels. Lithium ion batteries store energy to power the electric motors and has a range of 50-60 km. Top speed is limited to 100 kph and accelerate from 0-60 kph in 6.3 seconds.

Citroen Tubik:

Citroen Tubik Concept MPV

French car maker Citroen was at the Frankfurt show with a new concept bus. The Citroen Tubik – a shiny MPV was the show car at the Citroen stands. The close to 5 meter long Tubik takes inspiration from a Citroen van from four decades ago. The Citroen Tubik is basically a lounge on wheels with a three-row seating, entertainment systems and some mood lighting for creating the perfect ambience.

A perfect car then to drive down to Ace Cafe on weekends with your mates. Well, not exactly. Lurking under the sculpted body is a hybrid drivertrain from PSA. The PSA 4Hybrid technology uses a diesel engine that is bolted in the front while electric motors drive the rear wheels. The van even sits lower to the ground at high speeds for improved aerodynamics. Inside, you get a giant semi-circular TV screen and high-definition surround sound.

Peugeot HX1:

Peugeot HX1 Concept MPV

Peugeot, the second brand of the PSA Peugeot-Citroen group brought an exciting new diesel-hybrid concept to the Frankfurt motor show. The Peugeot HX1 concept uses the same PSA 4Hybrid technology that uses a 2.2 litre HDI diesel engine that churns out 204 bhp coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

A 95 bhp electric motor drives the rear wheels by sapping energy from a pack of lithium-ion batteries. The Peugeot HX1 can cover a distance of 18.6 miles when running in electric mode only, while combined economy is claimed to be 88.2mpg with CO2 emissions of just 83g/km. The HX1 concept is Peugeot’s vision for a 2020 MPV and can seat six persons.

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