Automobili Pininfarina, a Mahindra-owned brand, has something special in store for this month’s Monterey Car Week. The automaker will be showcasing its new concept, the PURA Vision, which promises to introduce a pioneering new era of electric luxury. However, there’s a catch. Pininfarina has confirmed that some parts of the Coupe SUV will eventually make it into production. That said, let’s explore five equally nutty concept cars that didn’t quite share the same luck.
Peugeot Onyx
Image Credits: Peugeot
Peugeot created something extraordinary with the Onyx concept back in the day. It featured a full-body carbon fibre treatment and borrowed its engine from a Le Mans-winning race car. But the most intriguing part was that Peugeot made use of recycled newspapers to design the seats! Thanks to its lightweight construction, the Onyx could reach 0-96 kmph (60 mph) in just 2.9 seconds!
VW Nardò
Image Credits: VW Group
Volkswagen named this concept after the famous Italian racetrack, and it lived up to its name with impressive numbers. Designed in 2001, the concept bears an uncanny resemblance to modern supercars. It was powered by a 599PS engine from the VW group, propelling it to a top speed of 357 kmph.
Chrysler ME Four-Twelve
Image Credits: Chrysler
In 2004, Dialamer Chrysler invested heavily in the same guy who built the second-gen Dodge Viper to create something unique. The result was the ME Four-Twelve concept, a mid-engine sportscar powered by a V12 motor sourced from Mercedes. Thanks to its carbon-fibre construction, the concept boasted a top speed of nearly 400 kmph. Unfortunately, it never made it to production as it was deemed “not on-brand” for Chrysler at the time.
Bugatti Galibier
Image Credits: Bugatti
At a time when Bugatti was striving to build the world’s fastest hypercar, it was also designing something to rival the Rolls-Royce Ghost. Named the Galibier, this sedan dripped with opulence and featured only top-shelf materials in its construction. Regrettably, Wolfgang Durheimer, the then Bugatti chief, put the project on hold to focus on the Chiron.
Lamborghini Estoque
Image Credits: Lamborghini
In 2008, years before the Urus, Lamborghini came up with an intriguing four-door sports sedan called the Estoque. It featured the raging bull’s V10 motor mounted in the front. Some even argue that several design elements of the Estoque made their way onto the Urus. Sadly, during that time, the VW group faced immense pressure due to certain controversies and could only finance one project between the Estoque and the Porsche Panamera. We all know what happened next.
