“Coolest” is subjective, but these five concepts stand out for distinctive design, new ways of interacting with a car, or a clear glimpse of where a manufacturer wants to go. Revealed at events during 2023, they are visions and show cars—not production models you can buy. The selection is curated, not a complete ranking of every concept shown that year.
Peugeot Inception Concept: a cockpit built around new driving gestures
Peugeot announced the Inception Concept for a world premiere at CES 2023, presenting it as a vision for future electric vehicles. Its central idea is not just a new exterior style: Peugeot says the concept rethinks interior space and driving gestures through a new generation of its i-Cockpit. Stellantis similarly described a cockpit intended to reshape the driving experience.
That makes Inception one of the more compelling concepts for anyone interested in how an EV’s cabin might feel different, rather than simply how it might look. Peugeot framed the concept around “BEV-by-design” electric platforms and a broader rethink of the automotive experience; those are statements of intent, not specifications for a model already on sale.
Peugeot’s official Inception announcement and Stellantis’ CES 2023 presentation describe the concept’s aims.
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BMW Vision Neue Klasse: a design direction with a production plan behind it
Presented in September 2023, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse is a sporty-sedan design concept for what the company says its core-brand vehicles could look like next. BMW connects the Neue Klasse direction to electrification, digitalisation and circularity, making the concept notable both as a styling statement and as a preview of broader priorities.
BMW also attached a specific future plan to the wider Neue Klasse programme. The company said the initial production mix would include a sports activity vehicle and a saloon in today’s 3 Series segment, with at least six Neue Klasse models due to begin production across its network in the first 24 months. That is BMW’s stated rollout plan; it does not mean the Vision Neue Klasse concept itself became a production car.
BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse called the concept “the beginning of a new era” in its design. See the official Vision Neue Klasse announcement and BMW Group’s overview of the Neue Klasse direction.
Rank #2
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BMW i Vision Dee: the windscreen as a digital interface
BMW’s i Vision Dee, introduced as a futuristic mid-size saloon, puts digital interaction at the centre of its concept. “Dee” stands for “Digital Emotional Experience,” and BMW describes an extended head-up display that spans the windscreen. The striking idea is that information and interaction could occupy a much larger part of the driver’s forward view, rather than being confined to a conventional dashboard display.
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BMW’s i Vision Dee overview explains the concept and its windscreen display.
Rank #3
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Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class: a close-to-production preview with claimed figures
Unveiled at IAA 2023, the Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class was presented as a close-to-production preview of a future entry-level vehicle family and a precursor to the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA). Compared with more open-ended show cars, that stated relationship to a future family gives the concept a clearer role as a signpost for the brand’s planned direction.
Mercedes-Benz’s current official concept page lists a range of more than 750 km and energy consumption of 12 kWh/100 km. These are manufacturer-published concept figures; the page does not establish independent or real-world testing of this concept, so they should not be read as verified driving results.
Explore the Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class page for the company’s description and figures.
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Toyota FT-Se: an electric sports-car vision
Toyota displayed the FT-Se at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, held from 26 October to 5 November 2023. The battery-electric sports-car concept appeared alongside the FT-3e, a next-generation battery-electric SUV-type concept. FT-Se stands out for its focus on driving dynamics: Toyota says low-height, high-energy-density batteries, component downsizing and weight reduction underpin its goals for cornering, handling and braking.
Those points explain Toyota’s design rationale; they are not reported test results. The company described the FT-Se as a vision of a battery-electric sports car intended to excite the driver and foster a long-term bond, rather than announcing a production vehicle with these specifications.
See Toyota’s FT-Se announcement and its Japan Mobility Show 2023 preview.
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How these concepts differ
| Concept | What makes it distinctive | Technology or design emphasis | Stated production relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peugeot Inception | Rethought cabin and driving gestures | New-generation i-Cockpit and electric-platform design intent | Vision for future Peugeot electric vehicles; no production timing stated in the cited material |
| BMW Vision Neue Klasse | Sporty-sedan design direction | Electrification, digitalisation and circularity | BMW separately outlined a future Neue Klasse model rollout; the concept itself is not identified as a production model |
| BMW i Vision Dee | Digital interaction and an extended windscreen display | Convergence of hardware and software | No production timing stated in the cited material |
| Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class | Close-to-production preview of a future entry-level family | MMA architecture and manufacturer-published range and consumption figures | Described as a precursor to the MMA family |
| Toyota FT-Se | Electric sports-car proportions and driving-dynamics focus | Battery height and density, downsizing and weight reduction as design rationale | Presented as a vision; no production timing stated in the cited material |
Other 2023 concepts worth a look
IAA Mobility’s official 2023 highlights also included several distinct show cars: the Audi activesphere concept, described as an electric crossover concept suggesting a future five-metre format; Opel Experimental, presented as a vision of Opel’s future; and CUPRA DarkRebel, a show car exploring design and performance ideas with technologies from video-game development. The event preview establishes their show context, but does not provide independently assessed performance results.
IAA Mobility’s 2023 concept-car highlights covers these additional candidates.
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