The expandable Hyundai STARIA Camper Concept could recharge itself without plugging in using the built-in solar panel on the off-grid electric vehicle. Built into the roof, the panel can collect energy from the sun and produce electricity to help run a small refrigerator, a portable shower, and the temperature system to keep the cabin cool. 

Through this, the driving range of the off-grid electric camper could be extended by adding extra energy to the battery. In good conditions, the battery can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 20 minutes, which can help power up the appliances as well as make driving the van stay longer. The camper concept is a new addition to the STARIA lineup of the manufacturer, a sibling of its multi-purpose vehicle.

all images courtesy of Hyundai

Smart glass in the rear of expandable off-grid electric camper

The design of the off-grid electric camper concept STARIA starts with the people carrier, which has a smooth, rounded shape that looks more like a spaceship than a traditional van. It helps the vehicle move easily through the air, which saves energy and reduces wind noise. Above the vehicle, the power-operated pop-up roof can expand. When the vehicle is parked, the roof can rise at the push of a button, and it creates more headroom inside and makes the space feel brighter, more open, and wider.

Inside, the STARIA Camper Concept could look like a small living room. At the front, there are two large captain’s chairs, which can turn around by themselves using electric controls. Once they are turned, the front and back of the cabin connect into one shared space where people can sit, talk, or relax together. At the back, the seats can fold flat with the push of a button, turning the cabin into a sleeping area for two people. To improve privacy, Hyundai adds smart glass in the rear windows, so it can change from clear to dark using a touchscreen, helping block sunlight, reduce heat, and lower noise from outside. So far, the off-grid electric camper is still a concept, and viewers can see its prototype at the 2026 CMT trade fair in Stuttgart, which runs between January 17th and 25th.

there’s a pull-out shelter from the roof

the pop-up roof extended upwards

a portable shower is embedded into the vehicle

a small dining table can be set up from the rear

built into the roof, the panel can collect energy from the sun

the seats can fold and transform into a bed

project info:

name: STARIA Camper Concept

manufacturer: Hyundai | @hyundai

The post expandable electric camper concept recharges itself without plugging in appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Designers and manufacturers present upgraded vehicles that explore future mobility, updated classic forms, and mixed-use materials in our Top 10 Cars of 2025. Take Alef Aeronautics’ Model A, which is a flying car that moves on roads and rises vertically. The body keeps the form of a road car and hides the lift system inside the shell, as the idea is a single vehicle for both driving and flying. Other makers explore narrow or compact forms, with a modified Fiat Panda becomes a 50-centimeter-wide electric car with one central seat, or a three-wheel Velocar uses birch plywood, bicycle parts, and simple tools so users can repair or rebuild it in a small workshop. 

Children’s mobility also enters the field, as seen in Toyota’s Kids Mobi running on autonomous system. It drives around one child and without any adult supervision on board. Some designers and brands update classic vehicles as seen in our Top 10 Cars of 2025. Sean Wotherspoon, for example, rebuilds a Porsche and a Land Rover with new surfaces, new fabrics, and revised layouts. With Twisted Automotive, the team reworks old Beetles with off-road parts. There’s also Mercedes-Benz and its Art Deco-inspired Vision Iconic concept  car, bearing a glass instrument panel with lighting animation, continuing our list’s design studies in the automotive industry.

DRIVABLE FLYING CAR BY ALEF AERONAUTICS TAKES FLIGHT

image courtesy of Alef Aeronautics

Alef Aeronautics debuts the flight of its flying car, Alef Model A, in a public exhibition. The event focused on the design and operation of the drivable vehicle that can lift off the ground, which included a test flight recorded on February 19, 2025. In the video, the car moves on a road and then rises vertically. It also flies over another vehicle, and this is the team’s way to display the proof of a working flying car with vertical takeoff and landing. The Model A has the outer form of a road car so it can park in normal parking spaces and travel on public streets. The body houses the lift system inside the structure, and the design doesn’t use exposed propellers. The interior includes a gimbaled cabin that stays level in the air, while the elevon system manages vertical and forward movement.

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MOTOFOCKER VELOCAR COMBINES BICYCLE AND CAR IN ONE

image by Lefties Photo

Motofocker Velocar is a three-wheel vehicle made by designer Máté Fock, whose style sits between a bicycle and a small car. The chassis is made from birch plywood that resists water and heat, and many of its parts come from normal bicycle components. Some others are from semi-finished industrial products. These materials can help the user repair the vehicle and recycle the parts easily and even allow them to build the vehicle with ready hand tools in a small workshop. The Velocar, which forms part of our top 10 cars of 2025, uses both human power and an electric system and moves like a bicycle. The design offers a stable seating position, space for luggage, and weather cover.

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WORLD’S NARROWEST FIAT PANDA DRIVES AROUND

image courtesy of tutti pazzi per marazzi

Modded 1993 Fiat Panda becomes dubbed the world’s narrowest of its kind, still drivable as a fully functional electric car. The maker, Andrea Marazzi, builds the vehicle by hand using reused parts from the original model and makes his version only 50 centimeters wide. He keeps the roof, the doors, and many visual elements from the first car, but the body, frame, and inside structure are redesigned. The driver sits in the center, and the car uses a small steering wheel. A single headlight is placed on the front for night use, and the rear of the vehicle has a pointed form similar to a boat’s front section. The exterior, then, resembles a slice of pizza for how narrow and compact it is.

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ELECTRIC BUBBLE CAR FOR KIDS RUNS WITHOUT ADULTS ON BOARD

image © designboom

Toyota introduces  Kids Mobi as an electric pod-type vehicle made for children. The car manufacturer showed the prototype at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, telling the viewers they saw it as a vehicle that could move a child without an adult inside. In fact, the vehicle has a round pod shape, which is kid-friendly, and the door opens upward so an adult can help the child enter. Inside, there is one seat with soft material, and the space is large enough for one child to sit with a seat belt. The front has LED eyes that move to interact with the kids before they step in. The Kids Mobi uses an autonomous driving system with sensors and cameras. It is the AI system that controls direction, speed, and route of the vehicle, driving the child on its own and without any adult supervision.

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SEAN WOTHERSPOON REVAMPS PORSCHE AND LAND ROVER

image © Hagop Kalaidjian

Sean Wotherspoon takes a Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7RS and a 1958 Land Rover and reimagines their surfaces, colors, and interiors. For the former, the designer repainted every panel and replaced every surface inside the car, wrapping the cabin with vintage Levi’s denim, corduroy, and flannel fabrics sourced from garments dating back to the 1960s. For the latter, the designer kept the original panels and chassis, and the team added a rebuilt engine, a new gearbox, new wheels, a simple digital system with CarPlay, and new rear seats with speakers. Sean Wotherspoon also added an updated layout to the body, giving both car models his signature color blocks.

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REFLECTIVE SUPERCAR PERALTA S FEATURES MIRROR-POLISHED BODY

image courtesy of GFG Style

Peralta S is a one-off supercar designed by GFG Style. First shown in Mexico in March 2025, the vehicle’s design takes inspiration from the Maserati Boomerang. Its main feature is its mirror-polished aluminum body, with the entire exterior frame being made from handmade aluminum panels. Because of this, the surface reflects the surroundings. Only a few parts use other materials: the front spoiler, rear diffuser, and side sills are made from carbon fiber to reduce weight and improve airflow. The vehicle uses a dome system for entry, with the top section lifts upward as one piece so the driver can step inside. The side windows also open upward on their own hinges, and from above, the vehicle has a teardrop layout. The lights are hidden under the front and rear sections, and when the car starts, the rear lights create a shadow-light effect, and the rear spoiler rises for function.

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TWISTED T-BUG IS A MODIFIED BEETLE FOR OFF-ROAD TERRAINS

image courtesy of Twisted Automotive

Twisted Automotive presents T-Bug, a modified version of the classic Beetle, made for off-road use on desert ground, sand dunes, and uneven terrain. Each model begins as an air-cooled Beetle from the 1960s to 1980s, and the design team removes all parts and works from the bare structure. They seal and strengthen the chassis so the vehicle can handle modern roads. Then, they install long-travel suspension and large off-road tires to increase ground contact on different surfaces. The team keeps the original Beetle shape, but the bodywork, evident here in our top 10 cars of 2025 list, is restored and repainted inside and outside in the color chosen by the owner. The engine is upgraded to produce more power, but it stays under 80 horsepower so the driver can feel the terrain at a controlled speed.

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LAMBORGHINI MANIFESTO CONCEPT SIGNALS MINIMALIST FUTURE

image © Lamborghini

Lamborghini presents the Manifesto concept to mark twenty years of its in-house design studio, Centro Stile. The vehicle is a design study with no plan for production, as it is used to test ideas about the future look of the brand. The design team, led by Mitja Borkert, removes the usual sharp lines and large wings from the past models and focuses on simple shapes and clear proportions for the concept vehicle. The front of the Manifesto then includes a Y-shaped light pattern, a shape that first appeared in a 2007 Lamborghini model. The nose of the car follows a straight layout that connects to the brand’s recent vehicle, and the air channels are designed as single openings to show a clean structure. A glass canopy forms the roof and the window area, creating a continuous piece that covers the cockpit and creates a clear view of the interior. At the rear, the concept uses vertical Y-shaped brake lights.

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MERCEDES-BENZ REVEALS ART DECO-INSPIRED VISION ICONIC CAR

image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz presents the Vision Iconic, a concept car takes its main ideas from the 1938 Mercedes-Benz Typ 540K Autobahn-Kurier. The design, as seen in our top 10 cars of 2025, uses the long front section, wide wheel arches, round headlights, and roof line of the older model. For the Vision Iconic, they apply Art Deco forms to update these elements. The front grille includes lighting animation, which changes in patterns when the car is active, and inside the car, the main feature is the instrument panel called the Zeppelin. It is shaped like a floating glass bar and contains thin lines and geometric shapes based on Art Deco design. When the door opens, the panel shows an analog-style animation. A screen runs across the width of the interior, and in the center there is a clock shaped like the Mercedes-Benz star. Materials inside include silver and gold marquetry panels around the doors and rear seats.

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PAGANI DEBUTS OPEN-AIR SPEEDSTER HUAYRA CODALUNGA

image courtesy of Pagani

Pagani presents the Huayra Codalunga Speedster, an open-air version of the 2022 coupé. The project comes from the Pagani Grandi Complicazioni division and from sketches by Horacio Pagani, with its design using ideas from racing cars from the 1950s and 1960s. Inside the car, artisans shape the parts by hand: the gauges and meters come from solid metal blocks and are carved to form small pieces for the dashboard; and the steering wheel and gear knob follow older racing forms but use a carbon-fiber frame, mahogany inserts, and aluminum rivets shaped by hand. Pagani also develops a new fabric for the seats, door panels, and center console. The pattern comes from the four-exhaust symbol used in Pagani cars. Each piece has over 450,000 stitches. The body uses a new monocoque that joins frame and shell in one part. Then, the headlights sit inside the body, and the front bumper holds a splitter that moves air around and under the car. Even the side windows take forms from 1940s and 1950s race cars.

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2024 — 2023 — 2022 — 2021 — 2020 — 2019 

2018 — 2017 — 2016 — 2015 — 2014 — 2013

The post TOP 10 cars of 2025 appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Citroën presents the multipurpose ELO concept car, which doubles as a temporary camp with inflatable mattresses and a power generator. The electric automobile can become a resting place, as the two beds stored in the rear area can be inflated using the compressed air that is already part of the car system. These mattresses fill the space to create a bed for two people, allowing the passengers to lie down after a long drive. Since the rear roof can open, they can also look at the sky at night, accompanied by the glow of the side lamps that can be transformed into bedside lights. Citroën’s multipurpose ELO concept car can also serve as an outdoor home cinema using the small projector attached inside the car that lets the travelers watch a movie on a pull-out screen.

As a temporary camp, the vehicle supports play and leisure, as it includes hooks on the four doors where a large awning can attach to create a covered outdoor area. The modular seats in the cabin can be removed to be outdoor chairs, and the design team, which teams up with Decathlon, makes bags and storage solutions within the vehicle for sports equipment. There’s a built-in compressor that can inflate paddleboards, bike tires, or other accessories, and a V2L power system makes it possible to charge gadgets and plug in devices like speakers. If the passengers bring their appliances, they can also power them up with this supply, allowing them to prepare meals on the road.

all images courtesy of Citroën

Workstation inside electric vehicle for remote workers

Inside Citroën’s multipurpose ELO concept car, the design team opts for a modular and spacious cabin to make the vehicle ready for different functions. The second row has three seats of equal width, all of which can fold, and they can also be removed and used as chairs outside the vehicle as mentioned. Two hidden seats are stored under the side seats, which can be unfolded when the car needs to drive around six people. Even when all six seats are used, the car manufacturer says that the automobile can still keep some space in the back for luggage. The driver sits in the center at the front instead of the usual left or right side to give them a wide view through the large windscreen. 

The steering wheel has a spoke and a wide opening, which makes it easy to see information, and there is no normal dashboard because all digital information is projected on a transparent surface across the windscreen. Two joystick-style buttons on the wheel control the main functions on the supposed dashboard, which are both within the reach of the driver’s thumbs. Citroën’s multipurpose ELO concept car supports remote working as well because the driver’s seat rotates fully to face the back in case the driver needs to have their own workstation. Then, a foldable work table is stored under the central second-row seat, which can carry a laptop or papers, and if the passengers have forgotten their laptop, they can use the screen projection system as a platform for video calls. Even the wheel arches hold devices like phones or headphones to let users work in many places without needing a normal office.

rear view of the vehicle

Cabin Materials that can repel water and wear

Citroën also studies how to use materials that fit responsible production for the multipurpose ELO concept car. Some surfaces are made from expanded polypropylene, which is light and recyclable and is the same material used in bicycle helmets. The design team uses felt made from leftover fabrics and parts from another Citroën project, shaping the storage boxes inside. Then, the seat covers in the second row resist water and wear, so they’re easy to clean after outdoor activities. The exterior shape of the vehicle is simple and clear. 

Large windows bring more light inside, and the doors open wide and have no center pillar to allow for easier access in and out of the vehicle. The bumpers at the front and back are the same piece to reduce the number of parts. Flat areas above each wheel can hold small objects when the car is stopped. While still a concept car, Citroën says that its multipurpose vehicle ELO is a study for new mobility, which can show how one automobile can support movement, rest, play, and work at once while being compact, functional, and lifestyle centered. 

Citroën presents the multipurpose ELO concept car, which can double as a temporary camp

the roof can be slid to show the sky view

view inside the electric automobile

the front seat can fully rotate, and there are two inflatable mattresses on board

the driver’s seat is positioned in the middle

the steering wheel has joysticks that are reachable by thumbs

some of the cabin materials are resistant to water and wear

so far, the vehicle is a concept automobile

project info:

name: ELO

car manufacturer: Citroën | @citroen

The post multipurpose ELO car doubles as temporary camp with inflatable mattress and power supply appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Back in the early 1990s, Mazda built a suitcase car, a portable three-wheeled vehicle for airports that fits inside hard-shell luggage. A project coming from an internal contest called Fantasyard between 1989 and 1991, the concept automobile was built by seven of the company’s engineers from their manual transmission testing and research unit. They wanted a vehicle to move around airports faster, so the team bought a pocket bike and the largest hard-shell Samsonite suitcase, size 57 cm by 75 cm. They used parts from the pocket bike, including its 33.6 cc two-stroke engine that produces 1.7 PS. The handlebars went inside the suitcase, the rear wheels attached to the outside of the case, and the front wheel came through a removable hatch in the front.

Assembling the portable Mazda suitcase car could take around a minute. Workers turned the front wheel to an upright position through the removable section, and they inserted the rear wheels. Then, they attached the seat above the rear axle. In the end, the vehicle weighed 32 kilos while the engine pushed it to a top speed of 30 km/h, or 19 mph. The concept automobile shared traits with earlier Mazda vehicles because it had three wheels, like the Mazda-Go from 1931, which was a motor rickshaw sold in Japan. Then, there’s the low center of gravity, which was found in the previous MX-5 roadster. So far, the portable Mazda suitcase car has never made it to production.

all images courtesy of Mazda UK

Two built versions, with the US one still existing

The early 1990s marked changes at Mazda, as the company faced high demand for its MX-5 roadster. In 1991, Mazda became the first Japanese brand to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans race with a rotary-engined car, the 787B. That same year, Mazda showed a hydrogen-powered rotary concept named HR-X. The company ran Fantasyard, where teams from different departments competed to create mobility ideas, and engineers had small budgets for their projects. It is from this event that the portable Mazda suitcase car came to fruition as a concept automobile.

During its time, it received so much media attention that the company even built two versions (US and Europe). The European model appeared at the 1991 Frankfurt International Motor Show next to the 787B racer, but the original prototype got destroyed by accident months after the Fantasyard event. The US model still exists (likely owned by a collector), while the European one is missing. While the company never produced it, the portable Mazda suitcase car showcased a design direction for the company, one that focuses on small, practical mobility. 

the concept automobile could fit inside a hard-shell Samsonite suitcase

the handlebars went inside the suitcase, and the rear wheels were attached to the outside of the case

the front wheel came through a removable hatch in the front

view of the concept vehicle’s rear

project info:

name: Suitcase car

car manufacturer: Mazda | @mazda_uk

The post rediscover the mazda suitcase car, a portable three-wheeled vehicle that fits in a samsonite appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Meet the Ford Nucleon, an atomic-powered concept vehicle with a nuclear reactor that Ford Motor Company never produced. Presented to the public in 1958, the project proposed a car that would run on nuclear power instead of gasoline. It came from the car manufacturer’s Advanced Styling Studio, whose premise was to work on projects that looked 10 to 20 years into the future. The American industrial and automotive designer George W. Walker led the styling division of the atomic-powered car Ford Nucleon.

He believed that concept cars should create publicity and reportedly told the designers to develop ideas that would pique the public’s interest, even when the technology didn’t exist yet. Joining him were James R. Powers, who drew the Nucleon design, and Alex Tremulis, who headed the Advanced Styling Studio. The Nucleon project started as an exercise in packaging, with the leads asking the styling team to design a vehicle with a heavy power source mounted in the rear instead of a front-mounted gas engine. James Powers realized that placing a heavy reactor in the back meant the passenger cabin needed to move forward to balance the weight. This created the cab-forward design that defines the atomic car Ford Nucleon’s overall look.

Ford Nucleon Scale Model, 1958 | image courtesy of The Henry Ford Museum from its collections

bubble’ houses cabin, referencing fighter jet cockpits

The resulting vehicle was part of an exploration of future transportation that included flight, nuclear power, and aerodynamics. It measured 200 inches in total length with a wheelbase of 69 inches (the wheelbase is less than 6 feet on a 17-foot car). This means the vehicle had large overhangs at both ends and that the front wheels sat under the passenger cabin. The rear wheels are positioned far back to support the reactor weight. The short wheelbase would allow the car to turn in cities, but it created handling problems with the heavy rear load. Then, the passenger cabin extended beyond the front axle. This cab-forward design served two functions. First, it balanced the weight of the nuclear reactor behind the rear axle. Second, it maximized distance between occupants and the radiation source. The cabin features a cantilever roof, which allows a windshield with no pillars and a curved rear window. 

A ‘bubble’ houses the cabin, an element referencing fighter jet cockpits and appearing on other 1950s concept cars like the Lincoln Futura. Since the nuclear reactor would generate waste heat that must leave the system, James Powers placed air intakes at the front edge of the roof to channel cooling air toward the reactor at the rear. The team also added more intakes into the roof support pillars. The rear section of the atomic car Ford Nucleon holds the Power Capsule with twin tailfins that could stabilize it for high-speed travel. The fins created a V-angle that drew attention to the reactor location, and the bumpers retracted to reduce air resistance during highway driving. Ford planned to make the body panels from aluminum to reduce weight to offset the lead shielding that the reactor required. Then, the propulsion system would work as a closed-loop steam cycle.

scale model of the Nucleon, a 1958 Ford Motor Company styling conception for an atomic-powered car | image courtesy of The Henry Ford from its collections

drivers would not need to refuel the car with nuclear reactor

A small nuclear reactor using Uranium-235 fission would generate heat, and then this heat would transfer through a primary coolant loop to a steam generator. The steam generator would turn water into high-pressure steam, and the steam would drive turbines. One turbine would power the propulsion system. Another turbine would run cooling pumps and electrical generators. After passing through the turbines, the steam would cool in a condenser and return to liquid water. The system would pump this water back to the boiler to repeat the cycle. 

Ford recognized that car owners could not handle uranium fuel rods, so the company proposed a service model based on the replaceable Power Capsule. Owners would never refuel the car, and when the core depleted after 5,000 miles, the driver would visit a specialized Ford station. Technicians would remove the entire Power Capsule and install a fresh one.  The atomic car Ford Nucleon started to face problems that made production impossible. The main issue was radiation shielding weight. A fission reactor releases neutrons and gamma rays, and gamma rays need dense materials like lead or tungsten to block them.

the project would run on nuclear power instead of gasoline | image courtesy of The Henry Ford from its collections

Neutrons require hydrogen-rich materials like water or concrete to slow them down.  A reactor producing 100 to 200 horsepower would need shielding that weighs approximately 50 tons. George Walker stated the design assumed reactor bulk and shielding weight would decrease in the future, but this assumption was reportedly wrong. The physics of how radiation interacts with matter cannot change through engineering, making the 50-ton shielding around the concept vehicle immovable. The second problem of the atomic car Ford Nucleon was heat rejection. 

The concept vehicle only had air, and the roof intakes James Powers designed could not remove the waste heat the reactor would produce. The third problem was accident safety since a traffic collision that breached the containment vessel would release radioactive steam and core material. Even if the vehicle was never produced in the end, a ⅜ scale and non-functional model of it exists today at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, inside the Driving America exhibit. The museum has loaned it to other institutions, including the Atomic Museum in Las Vegas. Studio photographs from 1957 to 1958 show Ford built at least two models during development. One was plaster for studying forms. One was fiberglass for the final show model. The surviving artifact is the fiberglass version.

nuclear reactor mounted in the rear | image courtesy of The Henry Ford from its collections

project info:

name: 1959 Ford Nucleon

company: Ford Motor Company | @ford

museum: Henry Ford Museum | @thehenryford

location: 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, Michigan

The post remembering ford nucleon atomic car, a vehicle with nuclear reactor that was never produced appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Peugeot reveals the compact concept car Polygon, which lights up using the series of animated micro LED screens at the front and back of the vehicle. Sized under four meters long, the four-wheeler uses fewer parts and more recycled materials as part of the company’s future generation of car production. For this model, the frame has a geometric shape and adopts large windows to make the space expansive. The compact Polygon concept car features mini displays that project moving patterns and colors when the vehicle is not driving.

The panel on the side also has this micro LED panel to show the charging information. It is a light fest for this vehicle, and the design also replaces four standard doors with two large butterfly doors to make it easier to enter and leave the car. Inside, the cabin is wide and colored in bright red, but owners may appreciate the dashboard more, which the company has replaced with a large reflective windscreen display. Even here, the display uses the micro LED screen around the vehicle. This time, it sits behind the steering area, projecting all the driving information onto the front glass, as if it were floating, eliminating the need for a separate display.

all images courtesy of Peugeot

Peugeot recycles parts from its discarded vehicles

Still inside the compact Polygon concept car, the seats are made from 3D-printed recycled plastic, with each having only three main parts: the shell, the structure, and the foam. The foam is molded in one piece and covered with a protective layer, and the interior materials are made from recycled textiles, including old car seats from discarded Peugeot models. For the first time, the company also introduces a refreshed steering wheel called Hypersquare. 

From the title itself, it swaps the traditional round steering wheel for a square-shaped electronic control. Because of this, the signals are sent electronically, and the system changes the steering response depending on the driving speed. At low speeds, then, drivers can turn the car with small movements without moving their hands much. So far, the company announces that this technology is set to appear in Peugeot production cars starting in 2027. 

rear view of the vehicle

Modular dashboard for holders and storage

More on the interiors of the compact Polygon concept car, the design team makes the dashboard area modular, so holders can be attached to store items such as phones, headphones, or backpacks. The windscreen extends forward and downward, and the car has no central pillar to let more light inside. The large glass areas also create an open space that connects the interior and exterior visually.  The lighting system inside and outside the car can change color and pattern, and there’s a rotary dial on the dashboard that controls light settings and shows time and temperature information on a small built-in screen.

The compact Polygon concept car can also change appearance and settings to match different driving modes: Cruise, Fun, and Hyper, and each mode adjusts the lighting and screen displays. Peugeot also worked with Goodyear to create tires that can be customized with colored sidewalls and laser-engraved patterns. These tires include sensors that collect information about the road and send it to the car’s display system. Peugeot plans to bring many of these technologies, especially the Hypersquare® and Steer-by-Wire system, into production from 2027. For now, Polygon acts as a test vehicle and a design guide for the company’s next generation of compact electric cars.

the vehicle adopts large windows to make the space expansive

the tires can be customized with colored sidewalls and laser-engraved patterns

the cabin is wide and colored in bright red

the micro LED screens illuminate the vehicle

view the red-colored cabin inside

the team swaps the traditional round steering wheel for a square-shaped electronic control

the micro LED screen on the dashboard projects all the driving information onto the front glass

the company says that the seats are made from 3D-printed recycled plastic

project info:

name: Polygon

car manufacturer: Peugeot | @peugeot

The post compact polygon-shaped car lights up with animated micro LED screens at front and back appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Toyota reveals mobi during Japan Mobility Show 2025, an electric bubble car for kids that takes them anywhere on its own and without adult supervision on board. On view at the event between October 30th and November 9th, the prototype forms part of the company’s Mobility for All project, which aims to create vehicles that can transport anyone, regardless of age or ability. In this case, it’s the children with the concept vehicle’s playful colors, micro size, and LED blinking eyes at the front to make it look as if it were interacting with them firsthand.

The electric bubble car for kids is shaped like a small, spaceship-inspired pod. The adults come in when they open the door, which swings upward, and let their child step in and sit. The prototype uses AI to drive itself, and the system controls the direction, speed, and movement in the traffic. As soon as the child is strapped in, they can talk to the AI assistant called UX Friend, which gives the young driver friendly instructions on how to ‘drive’ the autonomous pod as well as talk to them throughout the ride.

Toyota’s Kids mobi car at Japan Mobility Show 2025 | image © designboom

No adults on board for electric bubble car for kids

Parents who would like to entrust their kids and their safety on the road to AI can try Toyota’s electric bubble car, mobi. As the company shows it during the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the round and closed shape of the vehicle can allow it to protect the child inside it during the ride. The seat is covered with fuzzy material to make the child feel at home, and the interiors are wide enough to accommodate them comfortably. 

While the company has yet to state the complete specs, the outer likely uses lightweight plastic or composite materials, while the sensors and cameras are placed around the electric bubble car so it can detect motion and obstacles nearby and guard the kids on the road. At the event in Japan, visitors can roam around and study the prototype of Toyota’s Kids mobi car, which they can do between October 30th and November 9th, 2025. So far, the company has yet to announce when it will conduct road or driving tests for the prototype with a kid in it.

the door swings upward | image © designboom

the seat is covered with fuzzy material to make kids feel comfortable | image © designboom

there are LED blinking eyes at the front | image © designboom

the outer shell of the electric bubble car for kids has a matte skin | image © designboom

rear view of the micro vehicle | image © designboom

mobi is part of Toyota’s Mobility for All project

the roof has ‘ears’ for a playful look

the vehicle is driven by an AI system

rear view of the vehicle

so far, the project is still a concept with a prototype

project info:

name: mobi

company: Toyota | @toyota_jp

event: Japan Mobility Show 2025 | @jama_jpn

dates: October 30th and November 9th, 2025

The post electric bubble car for kids drives them to places on its own and without adults on board appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Vintage experimental racing cars give shape to the silhouettes of the concept vehicle Mantis X99 by Sachin Sing Tensing. Drawing influences from the 1968 race car prototype named the Mantis XP, the concept car is built as a futuristic track vehicle, not made for roads but for testing ideas about shape and movement, with its expressive and pointed forms. The designer, always looking at the Mantis XP’s structure, has revamped its proportions to modernize the vintage experimental racing car and fit the new systems and rules of modern track racing. 

The project aims to reimagine the Mantis XP for the future. The designer tries to combine two elements for the concept vehicle: the mechanical look of the vintage experimental racing cars and the clean technical features of Formula 1 rides these days. The front keeps a forward-leaning stance similar to the original Mantis XP, which helps with airflow and gives space for a central air intake. The nose section is stretched and thin, guiding air over the body and into the side channels. These channels bring air to the cooling system and rear motors, and the body panels are shaped to direct air efficiently while keeping the structure simple and light.

all images courtesy of Sachin Sing Tensing

Ode to the 1968 prototype racing car, mantis XP

The cockpit of the concept vehicle Mantis X99 is made for one driver. It sits low between the front and rear wheels, with a narrow glass canopy that can open upward. The steering position is centered, like in Formula 1 cars, giving better balance and visibility. The inside design focuses on basic controls, including the steering, pedals, and a digital screen showing speed, battery, and track data. At the rear, the vehicle inspired by vintage experimental racing cars has an open section with visible mechanical parts. This part houses the power unit and suspension system. 

The rear wing extends out from two vertical supports to give stability at high speed. The exhaust outlets or cooling vents are placed between these supports. The structure is designed to handle pressure and airflow from the front to the back without adding weight. Designer Sachin Sing Tensing worked on the visual balance of the concept ride to connect the past and future. The Mantis XP from the past had a very experimental look, so this new concept keeps that energy but updates it with sharp silhouettes, straight lines, and elements taken from Formula 1 technology. The front splitter, air channels, and rear diffuser all come from racing design, making up the form of the Mantis X99.

vintage experimental racing cars give shape to the silhouettes of the concept vehicle Mantis X99

it draws influences from the 1968 race car prototype named the Mantis XP

the concept car is built as a futuristic track vehicle

view of the vehicle on track

the designer has revamped its proportions to modernize the vintage experimental racing car

the project aims to reimagine the Mantis XP for the future

the cockpit of the car is made for one driver

side profile of the vehicle

the ride sits low between the front and rear wheels, with a narrow glass canopy that can open upward

detailed view of the front

project info:

name: Mantis X99

design: Sachin Sing Tensing | @sachin_sing_t

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The modern concept Škoda 1000 MBX car comes with foldable cinema-style seats that allow users to fit their bike, gears, and luggage in the passenger seat. A modern twist from the automobile’s interior designer, David Stingl, the 2+2 seating setup in the cabin makes the space inside flexible. The front seats can merge and become a bench, so there’s nothing hindering between the driver and the front passenger, while the riders at the back can feel as if they were in a theater with the cinema-style tip-up chairs. The upgraded Škoda 1000 MBX car can then easily transform from a two-seater coupe into a cargo vehicle without adding or removing anything from the ride.

David Stingl explains that when the rear seats are folded upwards, there’s sufficient space for luggage, or even a bicycle or other sports equipment. ‘The concept car even features air suspension, allowing the ground clearance to be adjusted: low for a sporty stance or high for tackling rough paths and easier cargo loading,’ he adds. If the passengers look around, they can notice that the side panels at the door have plus and minus buttons. When pressed, the windows ascend and descend, a design element that steers away from the typical push button.

all images courtesy of Škoda

dashboard with glass-covered oval module and projection

Still inside the Škoda 1000 MBX car, the dashboard comes with a glass-covered oval module into which images are projected, courtesy of the interior designer David Stingl. The oval shape appears throughout the cabin, from the steering wheel to the headrests. It is a direct reference to the company’s original sedan, 1000 MB, which was produced briefly in the 1960s. In the upgraded one, the central console is still absent, but the chrome accents, which were alive in the original model, now come through as clean graphics highlighted by ambient lighting. The silhouettes inside the vehicle are reminiscent of the sharp lines found in brutalist architecture.

That is, in fact, an influential visual element for the design team, more visible on the exterior designed by Antti Mikael Savio. Here, the designer admits to studying several buildings and objects in that style and incorporating it whenever he can. The vehicle subtly nods at some of the features from the previous model, including the raised headlamps above the bonnet line, the character crease along the flanks halfway up the sides, and the distinctive C-pillar treatment. The rear seat, however, has no windows to make extra cargo space and give the vehicle a sportier and more compact look. Instead of a window, there’s a rearview camera replacing it. 

instead of a rear window, there’s a rearview camera replacing it

A brief design recap of the 1960s Škoda 1000 MB

Revisiting the 1960s Škoda 1000 MB, the sedan that the designers based their Škoda 1000 MBX car on, was the first Škoda car with a self-supporting body and a new aluminum engine block made by pressure casting. The two-door version, called the 1000 MBX, started production in 1966 and had frameless doors and no B-pillar, which gave the vehicle a more open look. In 1968, Škoda released another model, the 1100 MBX, with a 1,107-cc engine producing 52 horsepower. Production was small, with only a few cars built each day. In total, Škoda made 2,517 units before production ended in 1969, making the 1000 MBX and especially the 1100 MBX version rare to find.

Fast forward to today, Škoda designers Antti Mikael Savio (exterior) and David Stingl (interior) create a modern and conceptual version of the Škoda 1000 MBX car. It forms part of a series called Icons Get a Makeover, where Škoda designers reimagine classic cars from the company’s history. It is a collection of design studies that are not meant for production, and for the 1000 MBX model, the designers worked on it for about a month: Antti focused on the exterior, starting with sketches made on paper, while David worked on the digital 3D model, shaping the car’s inside first and then adding details to the overall structure. The resulting concept car has the look of a modern crossover, combining a strong structure with usable space. Antti wanted the new version to look sporty but still friendly, while David focused on keeping the car’s original meaning: a stylish, functional car for everyday life.

the 2+2 seating setup in the modern Škoda 1000 MBX car makes the space inside flexible

there are foldable cinema-style seats for the back passengers

when the back seats are folded up, users can fit their bikes and other equipment there

the dashboard comes with glass-covered oval module and projection

the upgraded vehicle has a sportier and more compact look

Antti Mikael Savio (left, exterior) and David Stingl (right, interior) designed the concept vehicle

project info:

name: 1000 MBX

company: Škoda | @skodagram

interior design and architecture: David Stingl | @davidstingl

exterior design: Antti Mikael Savio

The post foldable cinema-style seats let users fit their bike and bags in modern škoda 1000 MBX car appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Presented over the weekend in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the new Lamborghini Manifesto concept marks twenty years of the brand’s in-house design studio, Lamborghini’s Centro Stile. Unveiled by Head of Design Mitja Borkert, the car reads as both a reflection and a declaration — a distilled vision of what the future of the Italian brand might become. Gone are the aggressively cut surfaces, elaborate vents, and dramatic wings. In their place is a more minimal and sculptural confidence.

The Manifesto serves as a design study, a pure exercise rather than a prototype. It carries no production timeline, yet its significance is clear. Borkert describes it as an exploration of ‘the potential future of Lamborghini’s unique design DNA,’ and that statement feels deliberate. This concept looks inward to refine the spirit of the brand instead of exaggerating its theatrics.

the Manifesto concept celebrates 20 years of Centro Stile Lamborghini | images © Lamborghini

‘manifesto’ signals purity in form and proportion

At the front of the Lamborghini Manifesto concept, the familiar Y-shaped motif, introduced with the 2007 Reventón, appears subtly within the headlight signature. The lines meet into a confident nose that recalls a cleaner interpretation of both the Revuelto and the Aventador. Air channels are clean and singular, bringing a deliberate simplicity that highlights the concept’s proportions.

The glass canopy, a continuous bubble over the cockpit, amplifies the concept’s futuristic presence. This moment recalls the single-seat Egoista concept of 2013. Vertically-oriented, Y-shaped brake lights — seen on the Fenomeno which was unveiled during Monterey Car Week 2025 — introduce a new element to Lamborghini’s lighting language which draws the eye upward. Meanwhile, twelve vents hint at a V12 engine.

a bubbled glass canopy defines its futuristic silhouette

a volumetric study of the italian brand’s design legacy

The rear of the Lamborghini Manifesto appears dramatically widened, due to its broad diffuser — the aerodynamically-shaped rear. Open bodywork around the tires channels airflow and adds visual tension. The surface language is crisp, and relies on long, uninterrupted surfaces that glide the car’s length. In profile, a single edge traces from the front wheel arch and across the body before dissolving into the rear. 

Even with no visible seams — as the Manifesto is a concept with no doors or panels — the car reads with a clear structure. The relationship between its forms feels like a sculptural study as its volumes, profiles, and edges all reference Lamborghini’s established visual language. The hexagonal wheel motif remains to further link the concept to the lineage that began with Marcello Gandini’s Countach.

Led by Mitja Borkert, the team at Lamborghini notes that while the Manifesto is unlikely to reach production, it sets a tone that will shape what’s to come.

vertically-oriented, Y-shaped brake lights draw the eye upward

a single edge traces from the front wheel arch and dissolves into the rear

project info:

model: Manifesto

brand: Lamborghini | @lamborghini

The post lamborghini manifesto concept is a minimalist sculpture to signal the brand’s future appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.