Does anyone remember when pickup trucks were work vehicles? Correction – does anyone remember when trucks were just work vehicles? These days, pricey pickups with gargantuan cabs and apocalypse-themed styling are often more about image than functionality. So when the folks at American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) shared photos of a curious single-cab GMC Sierra HD looking all rough and ready, it piqued our interest

Officially, this is the AEV GMC Sierra Grande Concept and it’s headed to this year’s SEMA Show. Built by AEV, it’s basically a GMC Sierra HD AT4X AEV Edition without all the bling. There’s no trick multi-function tailgate here, and actually, there’s not even a traditional pickup bed. The cab will fit just two people comfortably, and their backsides won’t be greeted by cozy leather seats. It’s a work truck, but one that looks like it could perform just about anywhere.

To be clear, the Sierra Grande Concept isn’t a stripped-down AT4X. It started life as a stripped-down 2500 HD single-cab long-bed truck, upon which AEV added the AT4X driveline components. That includes steering knuckles, control arms, and the Multimatic DSSV dampers, among other bits. The company then installs multiple skid plates and a set of Salta XD wheels wearing beefy 40-inch off-road tires. Combined with the 1.5-inch lift from the suspension upgrades, this is a work truck that looks supremely capable off-road. And yet, one doesn’t need a step ladder to reach the cab or bed.

Speaking of which, a simple eight-foot aluminum tray bed is mounted on the back. It incorporates a vertical tire mount for the spare, and in keeping with the needs of a work truck, the pickup features an on-board air system. AEV created a custom rear bumper outfitted with a winch, while at the front, AEV’s stamped steel bumper with another winch and a prototype brush guard clear the way. Four off-road lights are mounted on the brush guard, and the final touch is an AEV snorkel that feeds air to a stock 6.6-liter Duramax diesel under the hood.

It’s worth noting that AEV states this is a concept vehicle. As such, there’s no word on whether the company will offer upfit packages to Sierra HD trucks or even sell the individual parts. Motor1.com contacted AEV seeking more information, but our message wasn’t returned prior to publication. If we receive more details we will certainly share them here.

In any case, the Sierra Grande Concept will be at SEMA in Las Vegas. The show kicks off on October 31 and runs through November 3.

Younger Motor1.com readers might not remember the popularity of street trucks in the 1990s and early 2000s. These modified pickups generally had a ground-scraping suspension, big wheels, and eye-catching custom paint schemes. Toyota is reviving this idea with the 2024 Tacoma X-Runner Concept for the 2023 SEMA Show.

Toyota already offers rugged versions of the 2024 Tacoma, like the Trailhunter and TRD Pro trims, so the R&D and design teams went the opposite direction for this year’s SEMA build. Plus, it lets the company see if there’s any consumer interest in reviving a sporty pickup.

“There were lots of street trucks in the early 2000s and they all faded, so on the one hand, this was a curiosity check to see if there is any market for street trucks at all, or if the market has entirely shifted to what we see today—tough, rugged, lifted vehicles,” Adam Rabinowitz, chief designer at Toyota’s Calty Design Research, said in the X-Runner Concept’s announcement.

Toyota gave the X-Runner Concept a suitably aggressive stance by widening the track by 3.0 inches. The team adapted the air suspension system from a Tundra to let this truck hunker down over the 21-inch carbon-fiber wheels. There’s also a set of 2.5-inch Bilstein shocks with remote reservoirs.

The X-Runner Concept receives a significant power upgrade over the stock truck by getting a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 making 421 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. For comparison, the most powerful engine available from the Tacoma in showrooms is the hybrid-assisted turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. To handle the extra muscle, Toyota fitted the rear axle from a Tundra, including an electronic-locking differential.

Most of the truck’s body is Speedway Blue. The concept features a trapezoidal front fascia with large openings and a light bar in the center. The satin black hood has a functional scoop with red accents. A rectangular side-exit exhaust comes out of the bodywork ahead of the driver’s side rear wheel. A hard tonneau cover conceals the bed. The tail gets smoked taillight lenses and a bumper with a simulated diffuser at the bottom.

The cabin receives a pair of vibrant red seats with the X-Runner emblem on the headrests. Paddle shifters are behind the steering wheel.

The original Tacoma X-Runner was available from 2005 to 2014 and offered buyers a street truck straight from the factory. It featured a lowered suspension, sporty body kit, and a hood scoop. The 4.0-liter V6 made 236 hp and hooked up to a six-speed manual driving the rear wheels, with a standard limited-slip differential. TRD even offered a supercharger available as a dealer add-on for buyers wanting to boost the engine output to 300 hp.

Back in the first decade of this century, Aston Martin was a very different company. The firm was in a worse financial situation at the time and also had a smaller model range, lacking exciting products like the Valkyrie and Valhalla. But even in 2009, Aston Martin knew it needed an SUV to improve its market results and the LUV concept was the brand’s concept effort of building a luxury V12 SUV. Long before the DBX came to life.

The car was developed in part with help from Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker provided the platform, which came from the Mercedes GL-Class. However, the architecture was modified to accommodate a naturally aspirated V12 engine from Aston Martin and that was the 5.9-liter unit also found under the hood of the DB9 and DBS at the time. The LUV (Luxury Utility Vehicle) was made to preview the future of the Lagonda marque but it never made it past the concept phase.

Believe it or not, this one-off vehicle is now for sale but there are a few notes we need to make here. First, obviously, this car has never been registered for use on public roads, which means you can’t actually drive it. In theory, it could be made road-legal but the next owner would need to pass the necessary tests, which may require changes to the specification. 

Second, even if you register it for use on public roads, you’ll need to do some repairs and maintenance. The seller says there’s a problem with the electronics and as a result, the vehicle cannot be started. It may be something as simple as a dead battery but you have to be careful as there aren’t that many parts available for one-off concepts on the market. However, it’s good to know that the vehicle was operational under its own power back in the days when it was owned by Aston Martin.

Last but not least, bear in mind this is an actual concept that was displayed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show when Lagonda celebrated its 100th anniversary. Or, put simply, you can own a piece of Aston Martin’s history and the best part is that it doesn’t cost a fortune considering it is a one-off. With six days left until the end of the auction at Collecting Cars, the LUV concept currently costs £12,750 or around $15,820 with the current exchange rates. Not bad for a V12-powered Aston Martin SUV show car, right?

Aerodynamics play a pivotal role in the automotive industry, with its importance becoming even more pronounced in the era of electric vehicles. Efficient aerodynamics are crucial for several reasons, and first and foremost, they impact a vehicle’s energy efficiency, which is paramount for EVs. Put simply, streamlined design reduces drag, allowing battery-powered cars to overcome resistance more easily and travel further on a single charge.

This leads us to the machine you see depicted here. It is Chery’s latest electric concept, which apparently has a drag coefficient of 0.168. The Aero prototype has been developed using AI simulations and Chery claims this is the most aerodynamically optimized car in the world. But that’s completely inaccurate, to say the least. We’ll get to that in a second, though.

The available details about the concept aren’t that many. The automaker from China explains it took inspiration from tuna fish for the overall design language and performed more than 2,000 different optimization cases pursuing the perfect aerodynamic lines. During tests in a wind tunnel in August this year, Chery registered a Cd of 0.168, which it claims is the best achievement in the automotive industry. The result hasn’t even been verified independently, though.

If real, this is an impressive number, that’s for sure. However, it is by far not the lowest drag coefficient the automotive industry has seen. Comparing it with other remarkable achievements in the aerodynamic department, the Volkswagen ARVW concept achieved a Cd of 0.15 back in the 1970s. The Ford Probe V concept from 1985, meanwhile, had a wind resistance of 0.137, and the Fiat Turbina from 1954 had 0.14. These are all numbers that easily beat Chery’s new concept.

The Lightyear 0, a much more modern car, had a drag coefficient of 0.175. That startup didn’t last long and only two vehicles were assembled, though. As Electrek recalls, Aptera Motors is putting the finishing touches on a solar electric three-wheeler, which is said to have a drag coefficient of between 0.13 and 0.15. These numbers aren’t official and public yet, though. 

For those uninitiated with Chery Automotive, it is a Chinese automobile manufacturer that was established in 1997. Based in Wuhu, Anhui, China, Chery initially gained recognition for producing economical and affordable compact cars designed to meet the needs of the growing Chinese middle-class population.

Over time, Chery has demonstrated a commitment to innovation, with a strong emphasis on research and development. One notable aspect of its global expansion has been its push into the electric vehicle market. The manufacturer’s international footprint has grown steadily, with partnerships and assembly plants in several countries, including Brazil, Russia, and Iran. As of today, Chery also doesn’t have the world’s most aerodynamic car.

Renault on Wednesday revealed a production-intent prototype of the next-generation Twingo hatchback, set to go on sale in 2026. The new Twingo will be all-electric, and going by this prototype’s design, will have looks inspired by the original Twingo hatch of the nineties.

This Twingo prototype’s looks are a far departure from the outgoing model, which used a corporate fascia and a unique rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The general shape is shared with the first-gen Twingo, while the fascia is a charming, modern take on the original car’s quirky, joyous headlight design. The new car even gets the offset triple vent openings on the hood, but here, they’re far more pronounced and stick out of the body, rather than sitting flush.

Renault has yet to release any specifications on the upcoming Twingo, but promises an incredible efficiency number of up to 6.2 miles per kWh. For some context, that would make it the most efficient electric vehicle on sale in the U.S., surpassing the rear-wheel drive Ioniq 6, which can only achieve 4.2 miles per kWh.

The new Twingo will slot under Renault’s new electric Renault 5 hatch and its Renault 4 compact SUV, using the same “AmpR Small” modular architecture. Design, engineering, and production will be the responsibility of Ampere, Renault Group’s small EV subdivision.

Renault says the new Twingo will carry a starting price “under €20,000,” or around $21,700 at current exchange rates. An especially enticing entry price considering most EVs on sale today are too pricey for the average buyer to afford.

That combination of attractive design, impressive efficiency, and affordability makes the fact that we’ll likely never see the new Twingo for sale in North America all the more tragic. The most we can hope for is this car inspiring automakers with dealerships on this side of the pond to take small, cheap EVs more seriously.

Kei cars, a distinctive segment of small city cars in Japan, have gained immense popularity in their homeland for their compact size, fuel efficiency, and affordability. These vehicles, known for their nimble maneuverability and economical engines with capacities not exceeding 660cc, are a common sight on Japanese roads. The popularity of kei cars is largely attributed to the country’s narrow urban streets, high population density, and stringent regulations that incentivize the use of compact vehicles. Excitingly, the introduction of the HW Electro Puzzle, a kei van concept, is accompanied by the announcement that it is most likely coming to the open roads of the United States. 

The Puzzle was unveiled in concept form during the Japan Mobility Show in October and is now showing its final production form. During a preview event held in New York, the company that created the Puzzle confirmed it aims to start deliveries of the electric van in the United States at some point in 2025. More details are expected in the coming months.

However, we already know some of the basic specifications of the electric van and a quick look at its exterior dimensions shows it is just 133.7 inches long and 58.1 inches wide. These are typical kei car dimensions, meaning it is smaller than even the smallest new cars you can buy today in the United States. The maximum load capacity is currently estimated at around 770 pounds making the little cargo carrier suitable for deliveries in congested city areas.

Details about the electric powertrain sitting under that boxy body aren’t known at the moment, though the Japanese company says the vehicle will use a lithium iron phosphate battery pack, which should be enough for a range of up to 125 miles between two charges. Three photovoltaic panels sit on the roof to extend the range but their efficiency widely depends on the weather conditions.

Interestingly, there’s a compartment on the passenger side of the body, which provides access to a first aid kit, AC power outlets, and USB ports from the outside. The charging port of the traction battery sits in a similar compartment on the driver’s side. Some of the exterior panels have dual functions and can be used in various places around the vehicle’s frame – for example, the panel under the headlights on the front fascia can be also mounted above the windshield. This measure should lower manufacturing costs.

Sometimes, concept cars are supposed to preview future production models. Other times, automakers simply like to show off. Either way, we love wild and wacky concepts – like these five from Toyota that never even made it to the show floor, much less the showroom.

Toyota is calling these five concept cars “Hidden Gems.” They were designed by the automaker’s CALTY Design Research facility in California and hidden away behind closed doors. Now Toyota is taking them out of storage for the world to see (digitally, at least).

Toyota Future High Performance Concept

In 1989, Toyota commissioned this streamlined, ultra-aerodynamic Future High Performance sports car concept. It featured fully enclosed front wheel wells and an engine that emerged from the body with the push of a button so it could be cooled while driving. Naturally, nothing this radical ever made it to production.

Toyota Unnamed EV Concept

Before the Prius was even a thought, CALTY designed this adorable all-electric hatchback with a funky two-door layout. Its unique sloped shape and flat surfaces gave it excellent aerodynamics, while ultra-thin tires reduced rolling resistance.

Toyota X86D Concept

Inspired by the Scion FR-S (now the Toyota GR86), CALTY created this all-wheel-drive, four-door shooting brake version of the then-new sports car. It even had the same flat-four-cylinder engine and a driver-focused cockpit. Unfortunately, Toyota didn’t provide any images of the cabin, and decided against a production variant.

Scion NYC Concept

Designed to be an affordable city car, the aptly named Scion NYC concept looks funky and futuristic. It has a tall greenhouse and a tiny front end with two vertical headlights sticking out from the hood. Front passengers would actually stand inside the car, leaning against back supports, while foldable seats in the rear allowed for two additional passengers.

Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser

Okay, technically we have seen this one before. Either way, it’s awesome. Inspired by the larger Lunar Cruiser that Toyota debuted earlier in 2023, the Baby Lunar Cruiser imagines an other-worldly off-roader for the year 2030. Designed for exploration missions on the moon’s surface, the Baby Lunar Cruiser has in-wheel motors and airless tires, and a joystick control inside manages steering, throttle, and braking. It even has artificial intelligence that can detect hazardous terrain before the driver can see it.

Add another concept to the list of beautiful cars Genesis will likely never produce. It’s called the (takes deep breath) Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept, or, put more simply, a gorgeous front mid-engine coupe. This mockup, shown in Barcelona during the Gran Turismo World Series World Finals previews a downloadable Vision GT concept, so while it won’t go into production you can at least drive it Gran Turismo 7. 

The concept has a curvaceous body with a dramatic, low roofline, a slippery drag coefficient of 0.34 and rides on center-lock wheels that look like a pain to clean. There’s also gullwing doors and dual exhaust tips above the engine cover.

This concept doesn’t have a powertrain, but the virtual version will have a V6 gasoline engine that revs all the way to 10,000 rpm. The six-cylinder gets a boost from tech dubbed e-SC, which is Genesis marketing jargon for an electric supercharger. While this setup is good for a little over 400 horsepower in the latest G90 sedan, it makes 870 hp and 790 pound-feet of torque in Playstation land. Add into the mix an electric motor and the hybrid powertrain delivers a combined 1,071 hp and 986 lb-ft.

Genesis says it has adopted an “anti-wedge attitude” with the concept’s styling while incorporating the signature quad light motif. There’s also a giant diffuser at the back with a vertical third brake light that takes after Formula 1 fog lights.

The two-seat cabin is minimalist, with an uncluttered posh interior with a couple of knobs and built-in screens on the center console and another pair on the steering wheel. The door cards incorporate rotary displays, and there’s a massive display as wide as the dashboard. It serves as the infotainment system since the driver’s instrument cluster has been built into the yoke-like steering wheel.

The Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept will be available in Gran Turismo 7 next month.

Honda will unveil a new, global electric vehicle at CES on January 9, and the first teaser image reveals the vehicle’s razor-sharp lines and wedge shape.

Unfortunately, Honda isn’t telling us much about the vehicle yet. We don’t even know its name. Honda Global CEO Toshihiro Mibe and Global EVP Shinji Aoyama will unveil the car during the CES presentation, where they’ll also present the automaker’s vision for a new series of global EVs.

The brightened image above provides a bit more detail than the original photo released by Honda. It allows us to see the wheel well and a glimpse of what appears to be the side mirror. The nose is remarkably sharp but leads to a flat fascia with a pointy splitter. The wheel design appears to feature overlapping spokes.

Whatever Honda calls this vehicle, it looks radically different than every other EV that we know the brand is working on. The brand’s Prologue crossover, for example, looks like it might have a combustion engine under the hood, even though it’s electric. The company also has electric SUVs coming to China with a very conventional appearance.

In 2022, Honda previewed a variety of upcoming EVs, including some sporty offerings. Given the sharp shape we can see here, it’s possible this could be a performance-oriented vehicle. So far, the automaker lacks an electric entry in this segment.

Honda intends to introduce 30 EVs globally by 2030 and an annual sales volume of two million units by that time. For perspective, Tesla delivered 1.31 million vehicles worldwide in 2022. The Japanese automaker wants all of its products in the United States to be EVs or fuel-cell vehicles by 2040.

Today, automobiles increasingly use aluminum body panels to reduce weight and improve efficiency. The lightweight material was far less common in cars in the 1970s outside of high-end performance applications. Toyota made an early effort to change this and bring the metal to more mainstream machines with its weird-looking 1977 Toyota Aluminium Body Experimental Vehicle concept at that year’s Tokyo Motor Show.

Let’s be honest, the ABEV has a bizarre exterior design. You might expect the long hood hide a big engine, but that’s not the case. The concept’s powerplant displaces a mere 547 cubic centimeters.

 

The big front end leads to a stumpy passenger compartment. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any photos of the cabin, but the doors slide rearward to open, like the rear doors you’d find on a minivan. There’s room for two people inside.

Toyota’s 1977 press release about the ABEV said the concept came “in response to social calls for the conservation of energy and natural resources.” The goal was to create a lightweight vehicle with improved fuel efficiency. “Its development was guided by the principle of a minimum of consumption for a maximum of work,” the company said.

The concept measured 140.2 inches (3,560 millimeters) long, 58.74 inches (1,492 mm) wide, and 45.51 inches (1,156 mm) tall. For comparison, the Toyota Corolla Hatchback currently available in the US is 172 inches long and 70.5 inches wide, meaning the ABEV is a seriously compact machine.

The aluminum body kept the concept’s weight down to just 992 pounds (450 kilograms). Toyota claimed the ABEV got an estimated 82 miles per gallon (35 kilometers per liter) while traveling 37 miles per hour (60 kilometers per hour). 

After Toyota displayed the ABEV at the 1977 Tokyo Motor Show, the concept appeared on the cover of the automaker’s 1978 corporate brochure, shown below.

 

Modern Toyotas make extensive use of aluminum. For example, the latest Tacoma uses the metal in its upper body and tailgate to save weight. The GR Corolla has the lightweight material for the hood and front doors. So it’s safe to say the ABEV was a successful precursor for Toyota’s future endeavors.