• 1 of 11

    If I could have any job, it’d be working in the concept car division of a major auto company. While all the other drones are wasting their lives making sedans and SUVs, these guys get to just go bananas on some of the most insane vehicles the world has ever seen. Who cares if they’re insanely expensive? They’re not going to sell them anyways. Here’s ten of the best ever created.

    BMW Mille Miglia

    In 1940, the BMW 328 touring coupe won the legendary Mille Miglia road race in Italy. In 2006, the engineers at the German car company decided to bring the coupe’s design into the next century with this astonishing ride. Designed in the old-school way with clay and plaster models but manufactured with cutting-edge carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, this is a very unusual vehicle, down to the method of entry – the whole roof lifts off and you climb in through the back.

  • 2 of 11

    Maserati Birdcage 75th

    Built to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Maserati, this incredibly stylish vehicle takes the Maserati MC12’s chassis and transforms it into a sleek, futuristic design that is organic and fluid. With a 700HP racing engine, this baby can pick up some serious speed. The driver is encapsulated in a teardrop-shaped compartment that is transparent to give an amazing view of the mechanical elements of the vehicle.

  • 3 of 11

    Maybach Exelero

    Built for tire manufacturer Fulda, the Maybach Exelero is a one-of-a-kind vehicle that takes the Maybach brand to a new dimension. Maybachs have long been the high-end ride of choice for rappers and the idle rich, and this is sort of the Platonic ideal of the line. Boasting a twin turbo V12 engine and a top speed of 218 miles an hour, this car drives as good as it looks. Which is really, really good.

  • 4 of 11

    Cadillac Cien

    Many of the best concept cars are created to mark a special date in company history, and the Cien is no exception. Created to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary, the Cien was a gorgeous two-seat supercar with a V12 engine that works with GM’s Displacement On Demand technology, allowing it to run on just six cylinders to maximize fuel economy. A carbon fiber composite chassis with anodized aluminum accents gives the Cien a sleek, aggressive look.

  • 5 of 11

    Lexus 2054

    Usually, the impetus to create a concept car comes from inside the company. But every rule has an exception. When Steven Spielberg was starting pre-production on Minority Report, he approached Lexus and asked them to think ahead half a century to what people would be driving in 2054. The end result was this incredible concept car, boasting a crashproof structure and biometric security system. It also featured in The Island.

  • 6 of 11

    BMW GINA

    Another incredible creation from the German automaker, the GINA represents a totally new evolution in car design. The exterior of the vehicle is constructed from a translucent man-made fabric skin, kept taut by a system of aluminum wires and carbon struts connected to hydraulic motors. This lets the car change shape to maximize aerodynamic performance. Watching this thing in action is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. It’s almost like the GINA is alive.

  • 7 of 11

    Lincoln Futura

    Let’s step back in time a bit to spotlight one of the most notorious concept cars of all time. The Lincoln Futura was over the top even by 50s standards, with enormous tailfins and a unique double-bubble windshield. The car cost a quarter of a million dollars in 1955 money and was built entirely by hand in Italy. Needless to say, it wasn’t put into production, but in 1967 it was modified by custom car master George Barris into the Batmobile for the Batman TV show.

  • 8 of 11

    Holden Efijy

    It’s not just good old American know-how that makes for awesome concept cars. The Holden Efijy hails from Australia. Its chassis is based on the classic Holden FJ but modified extremely heavily. In addition to its classic looks, it features an innovative air suspension system that raises the car when it’s in motion and lowers it when it’s stopped to protect the undercarriage. It’s a fascinating design that combines old-school glitz with the most modern technology.

  • 9 of 11

    Citroen GT

    Developed in cooperation with video game studio Polyphony Digital (creators of the Gran Turismo series), the GT was one of the most forward-thinking concepts of all time, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell with zero emissions and a full electric drive train. The rear end of this care is awesomely futuristic, with aggressive angles and an organic appearance. In a huge blow to supercar lovers, Citroen abandoned plans to produce six of these babies for retail sale in 2010.

  • 10 of 11

    Alfa Romeo Pandion

    Released at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show to celebrate Alfa Romeo’s centennial, the Pandion is an absolutely incredible sportscar in every aspect. A top speed of 199 miles per hour, zero to sixty in under four seconds – under the hood, this baby has everything you’d ever need. But the real draw is the numerous unique design choices, such as body doors that pivot vertically from the rear of the chassis, long, organic side windows, and illuminated seats that use cutting-edge fabric light bulbs to shine from within.

  • 11 of 11
    Next: What's the Right Car for Your Job?