Insane Hot-Hatches That Never Made Production

The world would have been a much better place if they had.

Hot hatches are a special kind of vehicle, historically representing an entry to the world of performance cars in a manner that’s affordable, fun, and with enough power to exploit, but not enough to get you into trouble. While some hot hatches, though not many, follow those traits, modern equivalents are pricey things offering the performance of decade old supercars. However, some hot hatches have been relegated to the history books, having never reached production despite their crazy ambitions. We’ve selected 10 hot hatches that were never fated to be.

Citroen Visa by Lotus

We start this list off with a golden oldie. Back in 1981, French automaker, Citroen, decided they wanted to take on the World Rally Championship. Rivals, Renault, had the Renault 5 Turbo which was decimating almost everything, so the task ahead was tough. Citroen teamed up with Lotus to create the Visa by Lotus, which was essentially the body of a hatchback from the Frenchmen, loaded atop the chassis of a Lotus Esprit. It generated 210 horsepower from a 2.2 liter engine, mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

Sadly, testing proved that the Visa by Lotus wasn’t sturdy enough for competition, and the debut of the Audi Quattro ensured that the Visa By Lotus never made production. It’s rumored that two were made, one located at the Citroen museum, and the other residing somewhere unknown.

Renault Clio RS16 Concept

To celebrate 40 years of Renault’s Renault Sport (RS) division, the brand released a tantalizing 2016 concept that many had hoped would reach production. Sadly, it never did, but the Clio RS16 was based on the brand’s smallest hot hatch, the Clio RS, and equipped with the running gear from the senior Megane RS hot hatch that dominated the Nurburgring on many occasions. To that end, a 2.0-liter turbo 4 cylinder generated 271 horsepower, channeled to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox.

That last bit was absolute gold, as the standard Clio RS was and still is only available with a twin-clutch automatic. It weighed around 2600 pounds, and rumors suggested it would be the quickest front-drive car around the ‘Ring. But it was just a concept, never destined for anything more.

VW Golf R400

There is still hope in some circles that the Golf R400 might reach production eventually, despite Dieselgate effectively canning development on the hyper-hatch. Based on the all-wheel drive Golf R, the R400 turned the wick up on the EA888 engine to develop 400 hp from its 2.0-liter capacity. It was said to be reliable too, and when paired with the DSG dual-clutch auto ‘box and AWD, the R400 was set to reshape the hot-hatch game forever. But 2015 wasn’t a good year for Volkswagen, and funds had to be redirected towards crisis management after Dieselgate, halting development on the road-going R400. Still, we silently hope for its resurrection.

Volvo C30 Polestar Concept

At a time when Volvo was known for safety more than anything else, the C30 was the first model to inject some real style into the brand. Polestar, before they were bought out by Volvo and went electric, handled development of Volvo’s racing exploits, and decided to turn the C30 into something maniacal to celebrate victory in the 2009 Swedish Touring Car Championship. The 2.5-liter turbo 5 cylinder was tuned to develop 456 hp, mated to a Haldex all-wheel drive system, and a six-speed manual gearbox.

0-62 mph was achieved in 4.2 seconds and a pair of Quiafe differentials were employed to help aid agility. Nothing this manic ever reached production though, with only the Rebel Blue paintwork reaching showroom floors

Renault TwinRun

Renault’s latest generation Twingo is a compact hatchback sharing a platform with the Smart ForTwo and ForFour, including the rear-mounted engine (in Smarts we no longer get here). Renault saw fit to imbibe the Twingo with the spirit of the R5 Turbo and Clio V6, dropping in a 3.5-liter V6 between the rear wheels that developed 320 hp. It naturally drove the rear wheels, and thanks to fiberglass body panels, the TwinRun concept would’ve been immensely fast. It likely would’ve been dangerous on the road, too, and as such it was limited to the realm of concepts.

Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro

Audi may be somewhat losing its touch when it comes to performance lately, but that doesn’t mean it can’t create an insane concept or two. The A1 Clubsport Quattro took the compact A1, and equipped it with all-wheel drive and Audi’s award winning 2.5-liter turbo 5-pot. It generated a mammoth 500 hp, enabling a 0-62 mph sprint of 3.7 seconds, and 0-124 mph sprint of 10.9s. All this was managed with a 6-speed manual gearbox – but sadly it never reached the production line, and remained a Worthersee special.

Peugeot 308 R HYbrid

The 308 is Peugeot's Golf rivaling hatch with a 308 GTI already fighting the hot hatch battle in Europe. But the 308 R HYbrid of 2016 upped the ante significantly. Equipped with all-wheel drive, the 308 R HYbrid utilized a 1.6-liter turbo engine developing 268 hp, mated to two 114-hp electric motors on the rear axle to develop a total maximum output of 494 hp. An automatic 6-speed handled shift work, enabling a four second 0-62 mph time, whilst the hybrid drivetrain enabled a theoretical 94 mpg.

Renault ZOE e-Sport Concept

Electric cars are seemingly the future of mobility, but what’s a car without a performance version to have some fun with? Renault decided to showcase what electricity could do, taking the drivetrain from its Formula E racer and dropping into a bespoke version of the ZOE e-Sport Concept. It was by no means production ready, with virtually no sound deadening or refinement, but the 460 hp output, paired with the 3,200 lbs weight, ensured 0-62 mph took 3.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 130 mph in under 10 seconds. The ZOE e-Sport sure proves the future is exciting – if anything like this ever reaches production.

Opel Astra OPC EXTREME

Throughout the rest of the world, Opel’s Astra has rivalled the VW Golf for generations, with the OPC version providing a hardcore alternative to the all-rounder GTI. In 2014, an even more hardcore model was proposed. Dubbed the Astra OPC EXTREME, the 3-door coupe hatchback boosted power outputs from its 2.0-liter turbo motor to 300 hp, while reducing weight with carbon-fiber body panels and wheels. Six point racing harnesses, racing seats, and a roll-cage were included too. The OPC EXTREME was once touted for production pending public reception, but GM eventually offloaded the brand to Peugeot, ending that possibility with it.

VW Golf W650

The Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 650 Concept reads like a cat across a keyboard, but the 2007 concept was the definition of insanity when it debuted. Based on the Golf 5 GTI, the show car was equipped with a 641-hp 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12, mounted behind the front seats and delivering power to the rear axle. A six-speed automatic gearbox handled all the power, ensuring 0-62 mph in just 3.7 seconds before topping out north of 200 mph. The insane concept was lower, wider, and meaner than any standard GTI, but was developed purely as a show car for the annual Worthersee show.

Hatchbacks That Should Never Have Been Turned Into Sedans

A few body style transformations turned out great. Others not so much.

Automakers always look at ways to modify platforms or even certain body styles in order to save costs and expand sales. Business is business, plain and simple. Sometimes this works out brilliantly. One example that immediately comes to mind is the original BMW X6.

BMW simply started with the X5’s platform, redesigned the body, went to its massive parts bin for various components and there you go… a best-seller that changed the crossover segment forever and forced competitors to respond.

But it doesn’t always work as well as that. Take these following hatchbacks that were also sold in various global markets sedans to satisfy the appetites of American and Chinese buyers.

Ironically, those same sedans are losing ground to crossovers, which are really just raised hatchbacks. We picked out six sedans/hatchbacks that, in our opinion, are probably best off as hatchbacks, one of which is yet to debut as a sedan but is widely rumored to do so soon. Do you prefer these as hatchbacks or sedans? Let us know in the comments.

Audi A3

The Audi A3 may be the one main exception on this list where the sedan version of the popular hatchback looks really good. Problem is, it loses the convenience of being, well, a hatchback. Currently in its third generation, the A3 became a sedan for the first time in 2013. This was done mainly to lure younger American buyers into showrooms who wanted a step up from their Volkswagen Golf hatchback.

As a sedan is viewed as something more “grown up,” especially by someone just beginning to climb the corporate ladder, Audi created the A3 sedan. To give you an idea just how well the A3 sedan has done in the US, you can only buy the A3 hatchback as the Sportback e-tron. Heck, the S3 and RS 3 are also sedan-only.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

While the first and second generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class were way too dorky to be sold in the US (do a Google search and you’ll understand), it wasn’t until the third generation model debuted for 2013 that it could consider a US market attempt. In short, it looks great, but that still wasn’t good enough for Mercedes. Instead, the German automaker created the CLA-Class. Built on the same platform as the A-Class, the two share pretty much the same components and interiors.

The CLA is a funky-looking three-box sedan that, well, looks better as a hatchback. It was also Mercedes’ first front-wheel-drive sedan, and it originally carried a starting price of just under $30k. Just like the Audi A3 sedan, Mercedes wanted to specifically target young up and comers and bring them into the Mercedes family early. The CLA has sold well enough to warrant a second generation, due to arrive sometime next year as a 2020 model. Oh yeah, the just unveiled next-generation A-Class will also be coming to the US soon - as a sedan.

Mazda2

Americans are most familiar with the previous generation Mazda2, although its origins date back to 1996, before its US arrival. The third generation Mazda2 hit the US market for 2008 but was discontinued after the 2014 model year. Sold only as a five-door hatchback, other markets received a traditional sedan version that, while didn’t look anywhere near as awkward as the Mercedes CLA, still didn’t make much sense.

Why? Because owners lost the hatchback’s additional cargo space and overall better versatility. Despite that, the Mazda2 sedan sold decently in China, but was dropped after only nine months in Australia. But what if you, as a proud American, wanted a subcompact sedan with sporty looks and a fun to drive attitude? Well, look no further than the Ford Fiesta (see below).

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta dates back to 1976 and was originally sold in Europe. It quickly became a smashing success. The first-gen Fiesta three-door hatchback was sold for three years in the US beginning in 1976, but was later replaced by the Escort and Pinto. When it returned to America in early 2010, Ford billed it as an answer to thirsty SUVs and trucks. Times have certainly changed. The Fiesta will soon be dead in America and trucks like the always popular F-150, reborn Ranger, and a range of SUVs and crossovers now rule the day.

But America’s brief time again with the Fiesta also saw a sedan version. Considering the Fiesta and Mazda2 were close cousins, the Fiesta sedan was for those who wanted a tiny sedan because for whatever reason a hatchback was unacceptable. The sedan was also sold in China, parts of South America, and even Russia. While it didn’t look terrible, the Fiesta sedan made little sense compared to the hatchback for a variety of reasons, perhaps the best one being the Fiesta ST was hatchback only.

Volkswagen Polo

You can’t even buy the Volkswagen Polo in the US. Never could. It’s probably for the best because VW, at least up until fairly recently, couldn’t figure out how to make its Golf popular in America at the level it was in Europe. Again, Americans have never been hatchback lovers. It wasn’t until the Polo’s fourth generation when a dedicated four-door sedan body style arrived. Like the Mazda2 and Fiesta, it honestly made little sense, convenience wise. Cargo space was down and its general design proportions just didn’t look quite right compared to the hatch.

The Polo sedan survived to be part of the fifth generation lineup, specifically targeting buyers in India, where it was called the Vento, as well as Russia. It must not have sold particularly well because when the sixth-gen Polo debuted in 2017 it was, once again, a hatchback only.

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (Coming Soon?)

The BMW 2 Series is one of our favorite BMW models currently sold in the US. Available here only as a coupe and convertible, other markets, specifically Europe, received an MPV version dubbed the 2 Series Active Tourer. But the 2 Series can trace its roots back to the first generation 1 Series, itself sold as a coupe, convertible, and hatchback. Today, the 1 Series, which isn’t available in the US, comes as a three- or five-door hatchback and a four-door sedan. Why the sedan? Because China.

However, because Audi and Mercedes have achieved success in the US with the A3 and CLA, respectively, it’s widely rumored BMW will launch the 2 Series Gran Coupe in the coming years.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe is expected to be built on the same platform that’ll underpin the next 2 Series MPVs, meaning it’ll be FWD-based. However, all-wheel drive is expected to be offered for the hot M Performance version. Expected arrival date: not before 2020.

Hatchbacks That Should Never Have Been Turned Into Sedans

A few body style transformations turned out great. Others not so much.

Automakers always look at ways to modify platforms or even certain body styles in order to save costs and expand sales. Business is business, plain and simple. Sometimes this works out brilliantly. One example that immediately comes to mind is the original BMW X6.

BMW simply started with the X5’s platform, redesigned the body, went to its massive parts bin for various components and there you go… a best-seller that changed the crossover segment forever and forced competitors to respond.

But it doesn’t always work as well as that. Take these following hatchbacks that were also sold in various global markets sedans to satisfy the appetites of American and Chinese buyers.

Ironically, those same sedans are losing ground to crossovers, which are really just raised hatchbacks. We picked out six sedans/hatchbacks that, in our opinion, are probably best off as hatchbacks, one of which is yet to debut as a sedan but is widely rumored to do so soon. Do you prefer these as hatchbacks or sedans? Let us know in the comments.

Audi A3

The Audi A3 may be the one main exception on this list where the sedan version of the popular hatchback looks really good. Problem is, it loses the convenience of being, well, a hatchback. Currently in its third generation, the A3 became a sedan for the first time in 2013. This was done mainly to lure younger American buyers into showrooms who wanted a step up from their Volkswagen Golf hatchback.

As a sedan is viewed as something more “grown up,” especially by someone just beginning to climb the corporate ladder, Audi created the A3 sedan. To give you an idea just how well the A3 sedan has done in the US, you can only buy the A3 hatchback as the Sportback e-tron. Heck, the S3 and RS 3 are also sedan-only.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

While the first and second generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class were way too dorky to be sold in the US (do a Google search and you’ll understand), it wasn’t until the third generation model debuted for 2013 that it could consider a US market attempt. In short, it looks great, but that still wasn’t good enough for Mercedes. Instead, the German automaker created the CLA-Class. Built on the same platform as the A-Class, the two share pretty much the same components and interiors.

The CLA is a funky-looking three-box sedan that, well, looks better as a hatchback. It was also Mercedes’ first front-wheel-drive sedan, and it originally carried a starting price of just under $30k. Just like the Audi A3 sedan, Mercedes wanted to specifically target young up and comers and bring them into the Mercedes family early. The CLA has sold well enough to warrant a second generation, due to arrive sometime next year as a 2020 model. Oh yeah, the just unveiled next-generation A-Class will also be coming to the US soon - as a sedan.

Mazda2

Americans are most familiar with the previous generation Mazda2, although its origins date back to 1996, before its US arrival. The third generation Mazda2 hit the US market for 2008 but was discontinued after the 2014 model year. Sold only as a five-door hatchback, other markets received a traditional sedan version that, while didn’t look anywhere near as awkward as the Mercedes CLA, still didn’t make much sense.

Why? Because owners lost the hatchback’s additional cargo space and overall better versatility. Despite that, the Mazda2 sedan sold decently in China, but was dropped after only nine months in Australia. But what if you, as a proud American, wanted a subcompact sedan with sporty looks and a fun to drive attitude? Well, look no further than the Ford Fiesta (see below).

Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta dates back to 1976 and was originally sold in Europe. It quickly became a smashing success. The first-gen Fiesta three-door hatchback was sold for three years in the US beginning in 1976, but was later replaced by the Escort and Pinto. When it returned to America in early 2010, Ford billed it as an answer to thirsty SUVs and trucks. Times have certainly changed. The Fiesta will soon be dead in America and trucks like the always popular F-150, reborn Ranger, and a range of SUVs and crossovers now rule the day.

But America’s brief time again with the Fiesta also saw a sedan version. Considering the Fiesta and Mazda2 were close cousins, the Fiesta sedan was for those who wanted a tiny sedan because for whatever reason a hatchback was unacceptable. The sedan was also sold in China, parts of South America, and even Russia. While it didn’t look terrible, the Fiesta sedan made little sense compared to the hatchback for a variety of reasons, perhaps the best one being the Fiesta ST was hatchback only.

Volkswagen Polo

You can’t even buy the Volkswagen Polo in the US. Never could. It’s probably for the best because VW, at least up until fairly recently, couldn’t figure out how to make its Golf popular in America at the level it was in Europe. Again, Americans have never been hatchback lovers. It wasn’t until the Polo’s fourth generation when a dedicated four-door sedan body style arrived. Like the Mazda2 and Fiesta, it honestly made little sense, convenience wise. Cargo space was down and its general design proportions just didn’t look quite right compared to the hatch.

The Polo sedan survived to be part of the fifth generation lineup, specifically targeting buyers in India, where it was called the Vento, as well as Russia. It must not have sold particularly well because when the sixth-gen Polo debuted in 2017 it was, once again, a hatchback only.

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (Coming Soon?)

The BMW 2 Series is one of our favorite BMW models currently sold in the US. Available here only as a coupe and convertible, other markets, specifically Europe, received an MPV version dubbed the 2 Series Active Tourer. But the 2 Series can trace its roots back to the first generation 1 Series, itself sold as a coupe, convertible, and hatchback. Today, the 1 Series, which isn’t available in the US, comes as a three- or five-door hatchback and a four-door sedan. Why the sedan? Because China.

However, because Audi and Mercedes have achieved success in the US with the A3 and CLA, respectively, it’s widely rumored BMW will launch the 2 Series Gran Coupe in the coming years.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe is expected to be built on the same platform that’ll underpin the next 2 Series MPVs, meaning it’ll be FWD-based. However, all-wheel drive is expected to be offered for the hot M Performance version. Expected arrival date: not before 2020.

Insane Hot-Hatches That Never Made Production

The world would have been a much better place if they had.

Hot hatches are a special kind of vehicle, historically representing an entry to the world of performance cars in a manner that’s affordable, fun, and with enough power to exploit, but not enough to get you into trouble. While some hot hatches, though not many, follow those traits, modern equivalents are pricey things offering the performance of decade old supercars. However, some hot hatches have been relegated to the history books, having never reached production despite their crazy ambitions. We’ve selected 10 hot hatches that were never fated to be.

Citroen Visa by Lotus

We start this list off with a golden oldie. Back in 1981, French automaker, Citroen, decided they wanted to take on the World Rally Championship. Rivals, Renault, had the Renault 5 Turbo which was decimating almost everything, so the task ahead was tough. Citroen teamed up with Lotus to create the Visa by Lotus, which was essentially the body of a hatchback from the Frenchmen, loaded atop the chassis of a Lotus Esprit. It generated 210 horsepower from a 2.2 liter engine, mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

Sadly, testing proved that the Visa by Lotus wasn’t sturdy enough for competition, and the debut of the Audi Quattro ensured that the Visa By Lotus never made production. It’s rumored that two were made, one located at the Citroen museum, and the other residing somewhere unknown.

Renault Clio RS16 Concept

To celebrate 40 years of Renault’s Renault Sport (RS) division, the brand released a tantalizing 2016 concept that many had hoped would reach production. Sadly, it never did, but the Clio RS16 was based on the brand’s smallest hot hatch, the Clio RS, and equipped with the running gear from the senior Megane RS hot hatch that dominated the Nurburgring on many occasions. To that end, a 2.0-liter turbo 4 cylinder generated 271 horsepower, channeled to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox.

That last bit was absolute gold, as the standard Clio RS was and still is only available with a twin-clutch automatic. It weighed around 2600 pounds, and rumors suggested it would be the quickest front-drive car around the ‘Ring. But it was just a concept, never destined for anything more.

VW Golf R400

There is still hope in some circles that the Golf R400 might reach production eventually, despite Dieselgate effectively canning development on the hyper-hatch. Based on the all-wheel drive Golf R, the R400 turned the wick up on the EA888 engine to develop 400 hp from its 2.0-liter capacity. It was said to be reliable too, and when paired with the DSG dual-clutch auto ‘box and AWD, the R400 was set to reshape the hot-hatch game forever. But 2015 wasn’t a good year for Volkswagen, and funds had to be redirected towards crisis management after Dieselgate, halting development on the road-going R400. Still, we silently hope for its resurrection.

Volvo C30 Polestar Concept

At a time when Volvo was known for safety more than anything else, the C30 was the first model to inject some real style into the brand. Polestar, before they were bought out by Volvo and went electric, handled development of Volvo’s racing exploits, and decided to turn the C30 into something maniacal to celebrate victory in the 2009 Swedish Touring Car Championship. The 2.5-liter turbo 5 cylinder was tuned to develop 456 hp, mated to a Haldex all-wheel drive system, and a six-speed manual gearbox.

0-62 mph was achieved in 4.2 seconds and a pair of Quiafe differentials were employed to help aid agility. Nothing this manic ever reached production though, with only the Rebel Blue paintwork reaching showroom floors

Renault TwinRun

Renault’s latest generation Twingo is a compact hatchback sharing a platform with the Smart ForTwo and ForFour, including the rear-mounted engine (in Smarts we no longer get here). Renault saw fit to imbibe the Twingo with the spirit of the R5 Turbo and Clio V6, dropping in a 3.5-liter V6 between the rear wheels that developed 320 hp. It naturally drove the rear wheels, and thanks to fiberglass body panels, the TwinRun concept would’ve been immensely fast. It likely would’ve been dangerous on the road, too, and as such it was limited to the realm of concepts.

Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro

Audi may be somewhat losing its touch when it comes to performance lately, but that doesn’t mean it can’t create an insane concept or two. The A1 Clubsport Quattro took the compact A1, and equipped it with all-wheel drive and Audi’s award winning 2.5-liter turbo 5-pot. It generated a mammoth 500 hp, enabling a 0-62 mph sprint of 3.7 seconds, and 0-124 mph sprint of 10.9s. All this was managed with a 6-speed manual gearbox – but sadly it never reached the production line, and remained a Worthersee special.

Peugeot 308 R HYbrid

The 308 is Peugeot's Golf rivaling hatch with a 308 GTI already fighting the hot hatch battle in Europe. But the 308 R HYbrid of 2016 upped the ante significantly. Equipped with all-wheel drive, the 308 R HYbrid utilized a 1.6-liter turbo engine developing 268 hp, mated to two 114-hp electric motors on the rear axle to develop a total maximum output of 494 hp. An automatic 6-speed handled shift work, enabling a four second 0-62 mph time, whilst the hybrid drivetrain enabled a theoretical 94 mpg.

Renault ZOE e-Sport Concept

Electric cars are seemingly the future of mobility, but what’s a car without a performance version to have some fun with? Renault decided to showcase what electricity could do, taking the drivetrain from its Formula E racer and dropping into a bespoke version of the ZOE e-Sport Concept. It was by no means production ready, with virtually no sound deadening or refinement, but the 460 hp output, paired with the 3,200 lbs weight, ensured 0-62 mph took 3.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 130 mph in under 10 seconds. The ZOE e-Sport sure proves the future is exciting – if anything like this ever reaches production.

Opel Astra OPC EXTREME

Throughout the rest of the world, Opel’s Astra has rivalled the VW Golf for generations, with the OPC version providing a hardcore alternative to the all-rounder GTI. In 2014, an even more hardcore model was proposed. Dubbed the Astra OPC EXTREME, the 3-door coupe hatchback boosted power outputs from its 2.0-liter turbo motor to 300 hp, while reducing weight with carbon-fiber body panels and wheels. Six point racing harnesses, racing seats, and a roll-cage were included too. The OPC EXTREME was once touted for production pending public reception, but GM eventually offloaded the brand to Peugeot, ending that possibility with it.

VW Golf W650

The Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 650 Concept reads like a cat across a keyboard, but the 2007 concept was the definition of insanity when it debuted. Based on the Golf 5 GTI, the show car was equipped with a 641-hp 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12, mounted behind the front seats and delivering power to the rear axle. A six-speed automatic gearbox handled all the power, ensuring 0-62 mph in just 3.7 seconds before topping out north of 200 mph. The insane concept was lower, wider, and meaner than any standard GTI, but was developed purely as a show car for the annual Worthersee show.

Awesome Concepts That Never Made It To Production

The world would be a better place if these had made it onto the road.

For motor manufacturers, concept cars can mean a great deal, or they can mean nothing at all. Often, they’re a way of gauging public interest before committing to production. But all too often, they’re ‘celebratory’ models, or indications of future design intent. In some cases, some manufacturers seemingly build concepts merely to disappoint us by never actually producing anything vaguely reminiscent. So with that said, here are ten concept cars we thought should’ve reached production, but never did, and likely never will.

1. 2006 Lamborghini Miura Concept

The Lamborghini Miura is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful supercars ever. In 2006, Lamborghini celebrated the 40th anniversary of the original Miura concept with the gorgeous green concept you see here, penned by then chief of design, Walter de Silva. Technical details were kept a secret, but there was never even a hope of it reaching production. Then CEO of Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann said, “The Miura was a celebration of our history, but Lamborghini is about the future. Retro design is not what we are here for. So we won’t do the Miura.”

2. 2010 Audi Quattro Concept

What better way for Audi to capitalize on its rich heritage in motorsport, and particularly in the World Rally Championship, than to build a modern version of the infamous Quattro rally car? Well in 2010 Audi teased us with just that. To celebrate 30 years of quattro all-wheel drive, Audi unveiled the sleek two-door Quattro Concept in Paris. It was based on a shortened RS5 platform, weighed in at a measly 2,866 pounds, and kept to the Ur Quattro’s ethos by packing the same 2.5-liter unit from the RS3, but dialed up to 403 horsepower. It would’ve been an exceptional celebration of Audi’s AWD-prowess, but it never reached production.

3. 2009 Bugatti 16C Galibier

After the Bugatti nameplate was revived by Volkswagen, resulting in the rulebook-rewriting Veyron, everybody wondered “what next?” for Bugatti. The 16C Galibier was a hint at what could’ve been. It was characterized by a central rib that ran the length of the body – a throwback to the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic – and was met with great interest when it debuted in Frankfurt in 2009. Powered by an 8.0-liter twin-supercharged W16 engine – derived from but not the same as the unit in the Veyron – it produced in excess of 1000 hp, and could manage a top speed of more than 235 mph.

4. 2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge

When the now Cadillac president, Johan de Nysschen, was at the helm of Infiniti, he envisioned a rival to the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. In 2014, Infiniti revealed the Q50 Eau Rouge concept. The super-sedan was named after the sweeping left-hander at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium and was much more than just a static design concept. No, the Q50 Eau Rouge packed the Nissan GT-R’s 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 under the hood, developing 560 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. It was mated to an all-wheel drive system – though not the same one as the GT-R – and looked to be the M3’s worst nightmare.

5. 2008 BMW M1 Homage Concept

BMW has a rich history, filled with great racers and segment-defining street cars. But amongst generations of series models, the original BMW M1 supercar is still a holy machine amongst enthusiasts. In 2008, BMW honored the original with a truly fitting concept – commemorating 30 years since the release of the original. It too was a rear-mid engined supercar, penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro who designed the original, and it wore a similarly striking orange color and the dual BMW logos on the rear. But BMW never intended on taking it to production – it was merely to honor a hero of the past.

6. 2014 Hyundai PassoCorto

We’re still getting to grips with the idea of Hyundai as a performance brand – its new Veloster N giving us a first look at its ability to produce a proper hot-hatch. But back in 2014, Hyundai showed strong intent when it released the PassoCorto concept. The striking sports car was a compact 2-seater – its name translating literally as ‘short wheelbase' – that was the product of a design competition hosted in partnership with Hyundai and the Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin. The PassoCorto proposed using a mid-mounted 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 to drive the rear wheels of what could’ve been an Alfa Romeo 4C-fighter.

7. 2014 Mini Superleggera Vision Concept

In 2014 at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the open top collaboration between Mini and Touring Superleggera – called the Mini Superleggera – was revealed. It melded contemporary design elements with traditional Mini ‘Britishness’ in a striking package that would’ve been incredible in production guise. The Mini Superleggera had an eye on the future though, as it was powered by an electric motor. It never made it to production – but just imagine what Mini could’ve become if it had made it.

8. 2010 Jaguar C-X75

Remember the Jaguar XJ220 hypercar of the 1990s? Few do, but when it was around it actually set the record for the world’s fastest car – a record only beaten by the McLaren F1. In 2010 Jaguar sought to reinvent the XJ220, but suitable for the future. An archaic combustion engine would be out of the question, so the all-electric C-X75 was born. Its four electric motors produced 778 hp, and the batteries were to be charged on the go by two diesel-fed micro-gas turbines. There were plans to produce the C-X75, albeit as a hybrid with a turbo-gasoline motor, but they never materialized due to the ongoing global economic crisis getting in the way.

9. 2013 Nissan IDx

Nismo Small cars are fun – add in rear wheel drive and retro styling, and you’ve got a winning formula. In 2013, Nissan unveiled twin IDx concept cars to the world – styled to be reminiscent of the old Datsun SSS. The IDx Nismo was the one that caught everybody’s attention though – with a racy livery, boxy flared styling, and the promise of a compact, lightweight rival to the Toyota 86, with a boosted 1.6-liter engine at its heart. The attention garnered by the IDx Nismo concept was massive – and Nissan constantly flirted with the idea of production, refusing to rule it out. But we’re now 5 years down the line and it still hasn’t materialized.

10. 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R

Another BMW Hommage concept, but one deserving of a place on this list; built to commemorate the original 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile,’ the 3.0 CSL Hommage R debuted at the 2015 edition of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. It was built with a lightweight racing inspired interior, and was powered by an inline six-cylinder engine complete with an eBoost hybrid system. It utilized liberal amounts of aluminum and carbon fiber, but like the M1 Homage and the 2002 Hommage, it was a celebration of the past, not an indication of the future.