If you believe the movie-makers, our future will have really amazing cars in store. Just imagine the upright moving vehicles on vertical streets like in “Minority Report” or the flying cars in „The Fifth Element“. But trust me, the stuff that vehicle designers are planning for the future is not any less fancy! Because of the challenges of tomorrow, like climate change, less space in rapidly growing urban centers and roadways that have reached the point of saturation, these guys are coming up with some hilarious ideas. So we want to present the coolest and craziest off-the-wall-concepts in our new series: The future of car design!

Click our slideshow to watch the amazing design concept of the Biomobile Mecha
We are going to start with a view of Toyota’s future vision which could be described as “back to nature”. With the Biomobile Mecha concept the Japanese car manufacturer resorts to the principle of biomimicry: Inspired by biological life forms, this vehicle provides dynamic driving instincts and structural adaptations to accommodate the user’s need for space. Thanks to the implementation of nanotechnology, the structure of the vehicle is able to expand and contract horizontally and vertically to serve as a compact commuter, an aerodynamic performance car and temporary dwelling. Further, it is able to adapt to its driving environment by utilizing nano-laser wheels.And as if that were not enough, this vehicle is even more than emission-free – it’s powered by pollution! It extracts harmful substances from the air and utilizes them as an energy source to restore the balance to the atmosphere. The only handicap: The Biomobile Mecha is so far just a concept that may only exist in 50 years. Let’s see if Toyota will turn this vision into reality.Images: Toyota

Karl Cardinal Lehmann, head of the Roman-Catholic Church in GermanyThe head of the Catholic church in Germany, Karl Cardinal Lehmann, Bishop of Mainz, called on his compatriots to give up their beloved cars for Lent to make a personal contribution to preventing climate change. Cardinal Karl Lehmann said in Bild newspaper that the period of 40 days before Easter in the Christian calendar "requires us to rethink our lifestyle." The Bishop continues: "Far too often, we do things that are harmful to our fellow citizens and the environment. Let us use Lent to make a personal contribution to improving our climate by having car 'fast.' Preserving creation is a duty which falls to all of us," Lehmann, the chairman of the German bishops'conference, said.25 Million Germans are members of the Catholic Church. If they listen to Lehmann this might be a starter. In times of ecumenism maybe some of the 26 Million Lutherans in the country will follow their Catholic neighbors and give up their car, too.

The resurrection of Christ, painted by El Greco