As much as the exterior of a car is important, it’s the interior that you, the driver, are likely to see the most of – if, indeed, the cars of the future will require a driver at all.
With so much significant evolution in vehicle engineering and design at the moment, it’s no wonder that the cars of the future are more advanced and extreme than ever.
Here, then, are 10 of the most interesting concept car interiors for 2018.
10. Infiniti Q Inspiration
Revealed at the 2018 Detroit Motor Show, the Infiniti Q Inspiration Concept has a minimalist interior layout with a focus on style and quality rather than equipment. The shape of its seats and switchgear s said to be influenced by architectural features seen around Tokyo city, while the entire dashboard is touchscreen-operated.
9. Toyota GR Racing Concept
The Toyota supercar concept’s race-trimmed cockpit is the stuff of gamers’ dreams, with a steering wheel bedecked with all manner of buttons, from one that operates the windscreen washer to another that switches off the ABS and traction control for a quicker lap time. There’s no luxury in here, but there’s loads to play with!
8. Porsche Mission E-Cross Turismo
It was the car that stole the show at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, but it wasn’t just the fact that Porsche was planning an all-electric five-door hatchback that set tongues wagging. The concept car’s cabin was also a thing of beauty – its three-spoke steering wheel and touch controls all looking like a car that’s very close to production.
7. Honda Urban EV Concept
Cute on the outside and funky on the inside, the Honda Urban EV Concept draws heavily on the original 1970s Civic for its styling, inside and out. But while the retro-inspired steering wheel, fake wood and central controls in the style of an old push-button radio are nods to the past, the angular digital display that replaces the conventional dahs is far from it.
6. Renault EZ-GO
The EZ-GO is a bit different to the average concept car in that it’s designed for passengers and passengers alone… The French manufacturer’s vision of a future fully-autonomous taxi is simple and minimalist, with a built-in ramp to allow easy access. But notably, no driver…
5. Mazda Kai Concept
Widely tipped to be the replacement for the current Mazda 3, the Kai concept has a striking, modern and minimalist interior that wouldn’t look out of place in a production car. In an increasingly autonomous world, it’s geared towards the driver, with a tactile three-spoke steering wheel, hand-stitched leather dash and chrome gear surround.
4. Nissan IMx Concept
Nissan’s autonomous IMx Concept was one of the most interesting cars at the Tokyo Motor Show last Autumn, designed as a family SUV, but with 600km of autonomous driving capability. The striking interior includes a ‘driver’ area, with jetski-style handlebars where the driver can take over in areas where autonomous driving isn’t allowed.
3. Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ
The Concept EQ is, according to Mercedes, the trendsetter for its future e-Mobility model range, with a much more avantgarde styling theme than its more traditional models. It’s expanses of white plastic and blue atmospheric lighting are unique and give the all-electric SUV a distinctively individual character.
2. BMW 8-Series Concept
The best thing about the cabin of BMW’s 8-Series Concept is that it’s widely tipped to see full-scale production, with the luxury coupe destined for showrooms next summer. As well as hand-stitched Nappa leather, it features a striking deep-dish steering wheel and a racing car inspired Alcantara steering wheel cowling.
1. Volkswagen ID Vizzion
The ID Vizzion looks, to all intents and purposes, like a standard concept car except for one thing – it doesn’t have a steering wheel… That’s because Volkswagen’s vision of the future is one of completely autonomous, driverless cars. It’s fascinating, though we’d find it hard to sit in the front and not reach for the imaginary controls…
