Future Vehicles

"Exoskeletal frame" "Dorm-room-like setting" "Vehicle with a conscience"

We kid you not—these are some of the marketing catchphrases being thrown around to describe a smattering of freshly revealed concept vehicles from the Big Three automakers and beyond. Over the years, there have been concepts that made complete sense and deserved to head directly for the assembly line, because they successfully forced buyers to rethink their driving wants and needs. But then there have been others that were simply overly body-cladded piles that no one in their wrong mind would own.

Some are saying SUVs and pickup trucks are in a downward spiral, but judging by what has been conceived by designers for 2001, automakers recognize that there’s still life in ‘em yet. This year’s concepts pushed the envelope pretty far, so if you like what you see here, let the manufacturers know. If you don’t, you better make ‘em aware of that too, or else we’ll all have to get used to an existence involving the "unmistakable boldness of youth."

What It Is: Jeep Willys And the Concept Is…?: It "pays homage to Jeep vehicles of the past while showcasing the design and technology of the 21st century." Oh, and it was designed "with the self-expressive, free-thinker in mind." Design Details: Farewell sheetmetal, hello carbon fiber. The Willys has an injection-molded plastic body with an aluminum frame. Means nothing to you? OK, it’s lightweight and cheap to build, and the bonus is that it’s almost entirely recyclable. This Jeep has a supercharged 1.6L inline four-cylinder engine; a four-speed auto tranny; full-time four-wheel drive; a custom, independent front suspension with a short- and long-arm setup, and a solid-axle/coil-over-shock rear suspension; and massive 22-inch wheels. But we doubt those seats’ll leave a mark.

What It Is: Ford Explorer Sportsman And the Concept Is…?: "To fulfill fly anglers’ dreams of finding the calm and unspoiled waters of the perfect wilderness fishing location." Yeah, um, right. Design Details: Start with an existing vehicle (Ford Explorer); outfit it with Scott Flyfishing Rods; use as much Bloodwood as is humanly possible (Bloodwood: "A type of wood that is common near coastal open, moist forests in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, Australia."); and make it possible to put a 30-gallon live fish tank in the middle of the back compartment.

What It Is: Nissan Alpha Truck And the Concept Is…?: The Alpha Truck "pushes the envelope of current fullsize pickup-truck design, providing a platform to stimulate consumer discussion," and "The bed is not unlike a Swiss Army Knife—an essential tool for a variety of activities." Bonus quote: "The Alpha Truck Concept’s appearance may be a little startling to those who have come to view trucks as sedans with an open trunk." Design Details: The big Nissan has a 4.5L DOHC V-8 that spits out 300 horsepower and is linked to a four-speed tranny. There’s an electronic tailgate, 22.5-inch alloy wheels, a power-operated slide-out bed floor, and a toolbox integrated into the tailgate. Nissan is officially planning to put a fullsize pickup with a V-8 into production.

What It Is: Ford EX And the Concept Is…?: "It…was built to explore a unique lifestyle and cohort group." Design Details: Let’s talk body first—there’s a full rollcage, and the steering wheel and instruments are mounted within a mechanism that moves from side to side to make getting in and out easier. There’s a removable storage bin, map pockets, padded grip areas instead of door handles, and a windshield that folds down and attaches to the hood. Let’s talk power next: There’s a supercharged/intercooled 4.0L V-6 that makes 375 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, dual side-exit exhaust, a five-speed trans. What It Is: Honda Model X And the Concept Is…?: "Easy to clean, easy to live in, and it hauls a bunch of stuff." It’s poised to appeal to "young, college-age guys who need a versatile, reliable, multifunctional vehicle to carry all their stuff." You must also know, "it’s more than a pickup truck and more than an SUV. Its beauty lies in its utility, versatility, and functionality. It provides everything you need for the ultimate road trip." And we must continue: "Model X is designed to handle all of the logistical needs and provide access to new adventures." Design Details: Notice the lack of a B-pillar? Notice the center-opening "rear" doors? It’s all about convenience for loading in snowboards and other outdoorsy stuff, and for, um, "side-gate" parties. Inside is a resin that’s easy to clean, and there’s seating for four on the front and rear bench seats. Interested in mechanicals? There’s a rally-style five-speed transmission and the next-generation Honda i-VTEC four-cylinder engine.

What It Is: Isuzu GBX And the Concept Is…?: "Isuzu, the SUV specialist," wanted to "capture the original essence of the SUV," so the GBX "is designed to function as a ‘Gear box,’ an automotive backpack to transport your gear wherever you want and enable you to do whatever you want." Inspiration? The stagecoach. Naturally. Design Details: Pop the hood and there’s a 3.0L V-6 turbodiesel, which is linked to a four-speed automatic transmission and Isuzu’s familiar Torque On Demand torque-split system. Up front is an independent double-wishbone with torsion-bar suspension, while the rear has a five-link-with-coils design. The concept also has 21-inch billet-aluminum wheels, Brembo brakes, drop steps for getting to the roof rack that’s built into the external frame, and waterproof seats.

What It Is: Chevy K5 And the Concept Is…?: "The new Chevy truck K5 provides a sneak peek at the future opportunities for the two-door Chevy Tahoe," and "The K5 offers all of the versatility of a four-door Tahoe with the sporty appearance of a two-door." Design Details: Yanked were the B-pillars in place of two rear doors, and yep, that’s an open-air cargo area you see, thanks to a removable carbon-fiber top. Speaking of the cargo area, with the 60/40 rear bench down, there’s 6 feet of space; make that 3 feet with the seat in place.

What It Is: Chevy Borrego And the Concept Is…?: "The Borrego has the agility of a rally car and the influence of Baja racers. " "The vehicle’s sporty, swept-back look and athletic stance take their inspiration from international rally cars and prerunner trucks—spare, customized pickups that are part of the California scene." OK, one more, just for the heck of it: "We see it here every day, a younger buyer moving out of a sport coupe and getting into a tricked-up little truck…." Design Details: A dual-cockpit setup ("It looks like you could rattle around and not get banged up," they promise), analog gauges, a rollbar, a pickup bed, portable GPS, an air compressor, a pressurized water tank, and a Subaru turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder engine. The suspension is a combo of MacPherson struts and independent trailing arms.

What It Is: Dodge PowerBox And the Concept Is…?: "From its large, separate drop fenders based on the classic 1946 Power Wagon, to the crosshair grille, this truck is bold, powerful, and capable. We refer to it as the Dodge DNA." Want more? "It combines the brawny looks that have become synonymous with the Dodge brand with an advanced powertrain that is gentle on the environment." Design Details: A supercharged 2.7L V-6 moves the rear wheels, and a Siemens Automotive electric motor gets the front spinning. Fueled by CNG, the engine cranks out 250 horses; the electric motor brings another 70 hp to the table. Dodge points out that the two power sources aren’t coupled; rather, they’re connected through the road. The body is an injection-molded thermoplastic, which makes it lightweight. Other notables include room for eight, a wheelbase of 125 inches (that’s 1 inch more than the Durango), and a "kneel-down suspension" that drops 3 inches when the tranny is slid into Park.

What It Is: GMC Terracross And the Concept Is…?: The Terracross "creates an innovative type of SUV, designed to exceed the expectations of the most demanding customers." But, of course, "it’s not simply another SUV." No, it’s "also a pickup and a five-seat convertible—all in one highly efficient and versatile package." Design Details: It has an independent rear suspension and a MacPherson strut frontend, a 3.4L OHV V-6 that makes 185 horses and 205 lb-ft of torque, and a four-speed automatic transmission. A VersaTrak all-wheel-drive system, a swiveling front passenger seat, Goodyear rubber, and 19-inch wheels are also on tap. In keeping with the theme of this year’s concepts, the designers bailed on B-pillars in this instance too, in exchange for wide-open access to the interior.