Rush Hour In the 21st and a Half Century

City streets are getting more clogged and smog-choked than ever. To keep up with urban style mavens and fight back against future gridlock, car makers have recently released some ambitious concepts for city driving. We caught up with Jalopnik editor Ray Wert to take a look at some of the designs that may shape the traffic jams of the next century. After the jump, check out photos and specs for some of the latest urban concept cars.

Audi Snook: If you've ever caught yourself lusting after George Jetson's ride rather than his lovely, luscious cartoon daughter Judy, then Audi's futuristic Snook is the concept car for you. This "personal mobiility vehicle" is "auto-stabilized" and rides on a "sphere wheel" that allows for "agile" urban maneuvers. The German space pod won the Michelin Challenge Design Award 2008 at the Detroit Autoshow 2008 and makes Segway riders look more foolish than ever.


City Transport Cell (CTC): Designed by Volkswagen for the year 2020, the CTC is made for CITY commuting. The emissions-free concept car has a small frame, and puzzle-piece construction that allows for maneuverability, adjustable interiors, and easy "one-click" repairs.

Toyota Hi-CT: This concept car from Toyota looks like a cross between a truck cab and a golf cart. The car has plug-in hybrid technology and a surfboard deck in back for the West Coast cityfolk.


Smart Car: The Smart was designed for affordability and easy parking. The tiny car just became available in the US this year: as Smart Car America raves, it "finally passes our U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests." I knew this French girl who said she got hit by one of these things while riding a bike. She swears the Smart got more messed up than she did.

Scion Sports Coupe: Toyota's entry-level Scion brand is known for unique designs. This "concept coupe" sports a "multi-functioning rear cargo" section that, according to Jalopnik, looks like "poop." Toyota undoubtedly prefers the language from its press release, which boasts that it combines "entertainment, digital technology, and versatility into one sinister looking package."

Scion Hako: Ray Wert summed this one up pretty nicely: "Another fugly Scion concept"

Toyota Urban Cruiser: This scaled-down SUV is marketed to cosmopolitan commuters, but Wert says it's really "an urban vehicle in name alone."






Cadillac CTS Coupe: Jalopnik likes this "beautiful" concept sedan with "sketchy" specifics. Bottom line, sometimes nothing beats a caddy for city cruising.