Global Concepts

This review of some of the more significant vehicles from this past year's motor shows showcases trends in design and technology from the world's automakers.

Concepts highlighted here include some of the many vehicles introduced at acclaimed shows in Geneva, Seoul, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Detroit; and Chicago. One major trend from most of the venues was the distinct movement away from pure automobiles, many of the vehicles being station wagons, minivans, SUVs, or tall minicars or hybrids of one or more. When the first Seoul show was held back in 1995, Korea's personal transport was invariably sedan types. Now, the streets of Seoul, and elsewhere in the country, have more tall minis, minivans, and SUVs, with a sprinkle of sporty coupes. In Tokyo, there were plenty of concept vehicles-in fact more of them than ever before-and some significant new technologies, many in answer to the demands of an environmental and resource-conscious world. Another show car trend among the Japanese automakers was the B-pillarless body with centrally opening four doors. At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, this year's crop of concept and production vehicles included a number of fuel-cell and hybrid electric vehicles and, again, many cross-over vehicles that blur the lines among traditional car and truck segments. At the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, there was a mix of aesthetic and technological exotica that few motor shows can match. This second in a two-part series highlights some of the more interesting designs and technologies covered by the AEI editors in the past year.