Images: California dreamin' for concept cars

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  • Maybach's California Gourmet Tourer

    Maybach's California Gourmet Tourer

    For the Design Los Angeles automobile designers conference, taking place in conjunction with the Greater LA Auto Show, studio designers hit the drawing boards to conjure up a vehicle for an "LA adventure" to reflect activities for which Southern California is renowned.

    Maybach's entry, the California Gourmet Tourer, features refrigeration, espresso machine, microwave, wine rack, food preparation area, recycler and foldout tables--along with GPS software to do the chauffering while passengers ride and dine.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • GMC Pad

    GMC Pad

    The GMC Pad--"an urban loft with mobility," in the company's pitch to the design judges--features a diesel-electric hybrid system that powers the wheels for getting around and the onboard systems for just hanging out.

    It may look like a Frankensteinian combination of an inchworm and a garden shed, but on Thursday the judges awarded it first place.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Honda's Running Bus

    Honda's Running Bus

    One of Honda's entries in the Design Challenge, the Running Bus, offers a different take on hybrid energy--inspired by California's fitness culture, it packs 10 stationary runners inside the bus for power.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Hyundai Greenspeed Gator

    Hyundai Greenspeed Gator

    The Greenspeed Gator from Hyundai was inspired by drag racers of the 1960s and the fuel cell innovations of the 21st century. Under the hood are hydrogen storage tanks, and the rear wheels house electric motors.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Kia Sidewinder

    Kia Sidewinder

    Environmental consciousness hits the raceways in the Kia Sidewinder design. Kia's entry in the design challenge incorporates a compressed natural gas turbine, which feeds electricity to high-torque in-wheel electric motors.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Mercedes Mojave Runner

    Mercedes Mojave Runner

    A gasoline-electric hybrid from Mercedes, the Mojave Runner features night vision, sandstorm radar and GPS sensors. It also comes with smart tires--they automatically change tread depth to match the road (or off-road) conditions.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Smart Rescue Vehicle

    Smart Rescue Vehicle

    No Southern California-inspired design contest would be complete without something for the beach. A work of the imagination inspired by the lifeguard life, the Smart Rescue Vehicle does double duty as a dune buggy and jet boat.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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A design contest at the Greater LA Auto Show brings out the best--or is it the weirdest?--in vehicular imagination.

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Maybach's California Gourmet Tourer

For the Design Los Angeles automobile designers conference, taking place in conjunction with the Greater LA Auto Show, studio designers hit the drawing boards to conjure up a vehicle for an "LA adventure" to reflect activities for which Southern California is renowned.

Maybach's entry, the California Gourmet Tourer, features refrigeration, espresso machine, microwave, wine rack, food preparation area, recycler and foldout tables--along with GPS software to do the chauffering while passengers ride and dine.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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