LA Auto Show: Concept Cars

The Los Angeles Auto Show, which runs from December 1-10, kicks off the auto show season in grand style, and nothing says “wow” like that perennial favorite, the concept car. From the classic 1938 Harley Earl-designed Buick “Y” Job to Acura’s 2007 future-luxe Advanced Sedan Concept, the major automotive manufactures have been producing concepts that not only raise public consciousness about a brand, but also gives a generation of future car designers something to dream about during math class. At this year’s show, Honda, Acura, Ford, Mazda, Volkswagen and Hyundai all debuted new concepts, and like Los Angeles, the “City of Glitz”, all seven models really shine

“Concept vehicles give us the chance to stretch our design ability and take more risk and experiment with new design aesthetics to determine what will resonate with customers and the press,” says Joel Piaskowski, chief designer, Hyundai California Design Center. “It’s a great and not so expensive way to create more brand awareness while “testing the waters” to see what could be relevant in the future.”

Yahoo! Autos Editor-At-Large, Jon Alain Guzik, takes a look at these concepts for the future.

Honda Step Box

Looking like something you’d see on the streets of the Roppongi District of Tokyo, the Honda Step Box concept is a mini-van any lover of small, oddly shaped vehicles can get behind. Honda has been using the word “step” in car names since the 1970’s — “step” describing any boxy, utility-oriented vehicle.

Designed as an expression of Honda’s packaging prowess, the Step Box features a mid-engine design and a fully maximized and quickly adaptable interior. Envisioned as an urban vehicle, the Step Box uses maximum interior space while minimizing exterior size — Oh, it’s really cute too.