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BusinessToday takes a peek at what tomorrow's businessman could have in his garage

Suavely Italian
Like the 350 GTS and the Miura Roadster before it, the Lamborghini ‘Concept S’ is a unique car, an extreme and spectacular expression of the Lamborghini brand. Created at the Centro Stile Lamborghini in Sant’Agata Bolognese by Luc Donckerwolke, head of Lamborghini Design, the Concept S is his extreme interpretation of an open car.

Using the Gallardo as a basis, Donckerwolke drew inspiration from the classic single-seater racing cars of the past to create this latest design study. The classic single-seaters did not have a traditional windscreen, but utilised the so-called saute-vent (a sudden change in the wind) in order to direct air over the head of the driver, and so does the Concept S. These devices divide the cabin into two distinct compartments, giving the car an aggressive and futuristic look .

Future tense
If you have seen Minority Report, you will recognise this one. When it was time to conceptualise automotive transportation for the futuristic setting of 2054, Spielberg turned to Lexus as a potential partner. "I've been driving a Lexus SUV," Spielberg says. "And I thought Lexus might be interested in going into a speculative future to see what the transportation systems and cars would look like on our highways in 50 years. The result of that exploration is something that elevates and transforms driving into an environmental experience." Lexus provided design and luxury cues for the cars, and gave conceptual artist Harald Belker the lowdown on advanced interior technology. "That sophisticated, forward thinking for cars is really a hallmark of Lexus," says Belker.

Bold styling
The Ford Reflex proves that small cars can be bold and innovative. The sporty concept is expected to be an auto show star, reflecting a growing and important ‘small is big’ trend in America. Reflex is a technological showcase with its advanced diesel-electric hybrid engine – delivering up to 65 miles per gallon – solar panels, flexible interior made from synthetic and regenerated materials, and such advanced safety features as inflatable safety belts in the rear. The concept underscores Ford's intent to offer bolddesigns regardless of vehicle size.

Back to the future
When enthusiasts of automotive styling from all over the world were invited to design the Peugeot of their dreams for the near future, a Portuguese designer, André Costa, won the competition with his project, the Moovie, an agile and environmentally-friendly city car. The Moovie was built under the supervision of the Peugeot Style Centre, according to criteria normally used for the construction of vehicles intended for a Motor Show. In the absence of three-dimensional drawings, it was necessary to give proportions to this project, for the exterior and interior, that conformed to the general idea mooted by André Costa.

Digitisation of the vehicle as a whole and its component parts made it possible to obtain a precise 3D image of the Moovie. This phase was essential, making it possible to determine the car’s reference data – length, width and height, as well as its architecture. Using this data, a 1/5 scale reference model was produced, giving body to this virtual reality.

Like a hurricane
When the Jeep Hurricane blew onto the 2005 North American International Auto Show stage, it raised the bar for the Jeep brand. “Jeep Hurricane is simply the most manoeuvrable, most capable and most powerful 4x4 ever built,” said Trevor Creed, senior vice president – Chrysler Group Design. “It pays homage to the extreme enthusiasts’ Jeep vehicles in form and off-road capability, but is a unique interpretation of Jeep design. Simply stated, it is the extreme example for the Jeep brand.”

Unlimited spirit
The essence of Mazda’s zoom-zoom spirit is providing customers with stylish, insightful, spirited products capable of enriching their lives in exciting ways. Mazda’s Kabura is a design concept that ventures beyond the compact sports coupe norm to explore several fresh ideas that could appear in future production models.

To deliver the true ‘Soul of a Sportscar’, Kabura incorporates the front-engine, rear-drive layout universally admired by driving enthusiasts. Replacing the typical 2+2 layout is a clever 3+1 arrangement which establishes a new interior concept giving greater passenger comfort versus a traditional coupe without increasing weight or size. Obliging spur-of-the-moment adventures and shopping sprees, all passenger seats fold flat to accommodate an active life.