Tesla-inspired automotive designs that show why this company is at the peak of modern innovation: Part 3

Tesla is a forerunner in the electric automotive industry, especially when it comes to innovation and invention. Their designs are groundbreaking, as well as consistent breakers of conventions in the automotive industry! And, these electric vehicles are a huge source of inspiration for designers all over the world. The result is unique and breathtaking Tesla-inspired automotive concepts that honestly seem like the real deal. And, we’ve curated some of the best of the lot for you! Dive in, and get ready to have your minds blown!

The Model B forms a bridge between conventional bicycles and road vehicles, with a design that, like cars, is designed to be safer, more efficient, and less energy-intensive. The Model B’s sleek frame comes with forward, side-facing, and rear proximity and LiDAR sensors that scan the surroundings to create a protective bubble around the rider, alerting them of any obstacle. Each wheel comes with its own dedicated motor, forming the Model B’s dual-drive system. Spokes on the wheels are replaced by shock-absorbers, helping keep your ride smooth.

Rover missions to Mars have uncovered the secrets of the red planet, and to scout the moon’s jagged terrain, a designer envisions the Moonracer. An exploration vehicle that looks so much inspired by the Tesla Cybertruck with its sharp lines and the signature front and rear design. Of course to tread the toughest unknown terrain and hostile environment in case we humans dig for signs of life on still unexplored planets and their moons. The tires on the NASA exploration vehicle by product design student Robin Mazánek are going to be the most vital, as they need to be ready for any adventure. Tweel airless tires developed by Michelin are going to be the ideal choice as they never get punctured or burst as the hub of the tire is connected to the rim via flexible polyurethane spokes that also double as shock absorbers for a smooth ride.

Origami is more than just an intriguing form of art, it’s a scientific methodology that forms shapes of the most aesthetic nature while being structurally strong. That was the inspiration for transportation design student Jaeheon Lee from the Chung Ang University, South Korea to create the Tesla Origami concept car that breaks the barriers of automotive design as far as form and function are concerned. Adapting the elements of Tesla’s Cybertruck frame, SpaceX’s Mars colonizing dreams, and NASA’s Mars rover – the concept design is straight out of a sci-fi future. Retaining the cardinal points for the overall structural design of the vehicle, Lee envisions it to be a renewable energy-powered car – again having origami-inspired solar panels on the rear that expand to harness the sun’s energy when the vehicle is parked.

This bug-like rover that looks like the big daddy of the compact Mars rovers that we have seen over the years is, in fact, a waste disposal vehicle for the harsh terrain of the red planet. Called the D25 Modular Rover, the design comes to the courtesy of Joshua Cotter, who has reimagined the shape and function of a vehicle to make it look like its tailormade for the jarred landscape and severe weather conditions of Mars. The three-part vehicle is made of the modular platform chassis that’s electrically driven, has a cabin crew module, and the main waste disposal module. While the first and second are a given surety on the vehicle, the waste disposal module can be swapped with other customizable modules depending on the need.

The brainchild of two transportation designers, Drake Nolte and Jack Donald Morris, this conceptual bike design imagines a decade down the line, the state of personal commuting amidst dense California traffic in the year 2030. Taking the best from both worlds; the two-wheelers and cars – the concept dubbed ‘Tesla Model C’ is a rare combination of road safety, driving comfort, compact size, and driving dynamics! The duo put a lot of thought into designing the bike concept with a driver sitting position adopted from the four-wheelers. The steering column of the revolutionary ride extends out horizontally like that of an F1 car in handlebar-like form for superior grip at all times.

The Tesla Squad envisioned by Fabian Breës is a logical assumption of a racing division that is made possible by the battery evolution of the company giving rise to hypercars that battle it out on technologically advanced circuits. Yes, a future where the charging batteries will be laid down the pit lane and certain parts of the track – just like the DRS zones in F1 racing. This will give the drivers the option to juice up their hypercar’s battery while fighting for position on the track – bringing in a new level of strategic decision-making to the live race. The cars have lithium-ion batteries rigged to the floor that get charged wirelessly from the induction charging hardware installed underneath the asphalt. Keeping in tune with the future of racing, the airless tires are 3D printed – filled with a porous material to provide cushion from the extreme pressure on the tire walls at high speeds.

The Pandemax Concept by Radek Štěpán is unconventional, to say the least. It has a distinct Star Wars-inspired aesthetic and those all-terrain tires and that high ground clearance really implies the car could easily work on the roughest of alien terrain. Designed to be a sort of explorer vehicle or manned rover, the Pandemax comes with two seats that are at the absolute front of the vehicle, with a panoramic windshield that lets the explorers get a full view of the terrain and landscape ahead of them. Sure, there are a few questions that come to mind too, especially regarding driver safety and also the center-of-gravity, given that the drivers are sitting outside the car’s wheelbase. However, it’s a neat aesthetic exploration of an interplanetary vehicle if you ask us.

 If you always wanted a camper trailer for your Tesla, specially built for the purpose, your wish is granted! Glendale, California-based Polydrops has been designing trailers for the last four years, and now they’ve come up with a P17A camper that your EV’s going to love. The trailer’s angular design is well-suited for your Tesla Cybertruck, and it is not just about the sharp looks! P17A trailer comes with floor integrated batteries capable of storing 12kWh of electricity when needed. Much attention has been given to the temperature variation inside the cabin to keep energy requirements down to the minimum. That’s achieved with the true foam-core structure providing insulation of 8.7″ EPS – thereby shunning out the need to use a 5000 BTU air conditioner in summers or an electric heater in chilling winter.

Based on the much-anticipated Tesla Roadster v2.0, this electric superbike goes as fast as it looks. But unlike the incoming Tesla Roadster with its curvy body, the Tesla sports bike has sharper lines akin to a Nighthawk stealth fighter. This conceptual e-beast has twin hub-mounted electric motors, air suspension, massive brakes, and a lower center of gravity. It’s not about how fast the Tesla Sports Bike can go, but how long you can hold on for dear life as you activate its Ludicrous Mode!

Spinner 44 might oscillate somewhere between Blade Runner’s flying car and a Tesla Model X, both cars of tomorrow in their own right. Operable as a ground-based or airborne vehicle, Spinner 44 appears as a two-seater with an additional back compartment in the trunk. Spinner 44’s dual front wheels are given a proper smoothing, which stretches over the whole car, giving an overall slick, leatherback look. The shape of Spinner 44 resembles the great black wasp, with the front wheels being the wasp’s mandibles and the angular, licked rear, the wasp’s stinger. Lunarpunk looks, like its mirror glaze finish and jet black coating, slide over the whole vehicle, for incognito night drives, into the chiaroscuro backdrop of the Blade Runner‘s City of Angels.

For more such innovative Tesla-inspired concepts, check out Part 1 and 2 of this post!

Dodge Demon and more iconic cars get reinvented with these powerful and transformative makeovers!

Yanko Design’s favorite iconic cars and their equally mesmerizing conceptual renders are here to give you drool-worthy creations! Automotive lovers, trust me, this is one post you do not want to miss!

Dodge Demon is the result of the most passionate motorheads at Dodge, giving it the 840bhp (at 770lb of torque) muscle power that makes even the 707bhp Dodge Hellcat look ordinary. The four-wheeler is packed with power, has an intimidating look to go with it, and yes, Dodge fans absolutely love it. If the Demon wasn’t smokin’ hot enough, automotive concept artist Al Yasid gives it a significant facelift with his tuner kit that literally lends the muscle car a god-like stance! He reimagines the car in white silver body and yellow hue for the front bumper – much like the 68 Porsche 908. The choice of yellow comes from the designer’s current bent towards this color from the palette that he likes the most. With tweaking to the front align with over fenders – who would not fall in love with this muscle car! 

The star of the Back to the Future series is going to shine again, without a doubt. To fuel our imagination and prep us all for the 2021 DeLorean DMC-12, designer Ángel Guerra has awe-inspired automotive design with his version of the DeLorean 2021. He summed up the motivation for this concept in his words – “This is a thank you to an icon and a movie that marked my childhood. This is, too, a new DeLorean for my son’s generation.” As his tribute to the iconic design, Ángel has mustered up this super dope DeLorean for the 40th anniversary of the brand that captured the imagination of an entire generation. The gull-winged car has a lot of character – making it look nothing shy of a supercar of the current generation. Nothing is overdone and every little edge or curve seems well-thought-out. Perhaps, it comes from his culmination of childhood dreams and the subconscious desire to own a DeLorean one day. In fact, his automotive design journey was triggered by the dream-like cars of the 80s and the designs of the following decades.





Maserati and the racing DNA of the luxury carmaker go all the way back to the 1950s in the Grand Prix era. 2020 saw the Italian automaker introduce the halo supercar MC20 and to spice things up designer Salvatoreandrea Piccirillo has come with an electric Gran Turismo supercar concept, he likes to call Maserati Neptune. The designer penned this concept render in collaboration with FCA Group as a part of his training course at IED Transportation Design. The concept borrows the driving position from the 250F Formula One racer and the negative space down the bottom middle is something that’s unique. Maserati Neptune is powered by the Formula E racecar platform with the battery positioned behind the front wheels. The Gran Turismo car has a splitter located at the front and a big diffuser on the rear, giving it a very speed demon-like character. Salvatoreandrea has designed the concept keeping the driving pleasure, sportiness, and comfort in mind – and that’s evident from what we see here.

The Lancia Cargo Stratos, as the concept is called, builds on the Stratos Zero’s wedge design, albeit with a lowered nose to help increase downforce. The concept sports a more streamlined design, embracing curves as well as straight, edgy lines to create something that looks like a wind-tunnel test brought to life. The car’s sides come with continuous metal paneling, hinting at the obvious lack of traditional doors. To enter and exit the vehicle, the windshield opens outwards, revealing the fighter-jet-style 1+1 seater cockpit beneath… just like in the original Stratos Zero. Two headlights sit flush on the car’s surface, right ahead of the fenders, and come fitted with LEDs. The car’s rear comes with linear taillights too, giving off a very cyberpunk vibe.

While it’s not an iconic car design yet, rest assured, the first car made by Apple is sure to gather a cult following by the Apple hardcore fanbase. Adopting Apple’s sharp design aesthetics, the car by Ali Cam looks like a mouse shaped like a car at first glance, but then you realize it’s actually a minimal car concept. Loaded with advanced driving systems Ali envisions the blueprint far in the distant future – the year 2076 to be precise. The choice of year apparently is the 100the anniversary of Apple ever since it was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. On the inside, the Apple Car is more like a luxury lounge with infotainment displays all around (even on the doors), gesture controlled-entertainment systems, and the holographic display traverses the riders into a completely different reality.

For the Viper Basilisk concept, Guillaume took inspiration from the 2nd generation Viper GTS from 1996 and the 3rd generation Viper. Apparently, the design is indicative of the half reptile and half rooster character that’s pretty apparent in the whole thought process behind the concept car. 2nd generation lends the sensual feeling while the 3rd generation has that definitive precision element in the design execution. So, in its design DNA, this Viper Basilisk concept is a ‘Sensual Precision’ of unique design fusion that compares to none. The designer defines it as a precise theme encapsulating the car while the sensual reflections on the bodyside give it that contrasting appeal.

The new breed of supercars might not be that pointy in their looks but still, they have that angular character – the likes of Lamborghini Veneno. Merging the past with the current future of automotive design, artist Ash Thorp and automotive CGI artist colorsponge have joined forces to create a unique concept EV that balances out the best of both worlds. They call it Evinetta, and it’s inspired by the 1970’s Ferrari Berlinetta concept car designed by Pininfarina. The stunning race car is envisioned to be driven by the Tesla Model S powertrain and an active ride suspension. Other bits of the car are adapted from the Porsche RSR – the interior in particular.

In 1970, things were looking up for the company, as design legend Marcello Gandini (head designer at Bertone) unveiled Lancia’s most iconic car… the hyper-sleek Lancia Stratos Zero, an automobile that is considered futuristic even by today’s standards. The Stratos Zero, as iconic and ground-breaking as it was (and the fact that it appeared in Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker video), didn’t give Lancia the thrust it needed to take off. It soon slipped back into its lull, only for Fiat to later announce that Lancia would stop selling cars outside Italy post-2014. Designed by automotive designer and enthusiast, Guilherme Araujo, the Lancia L Concept pays homage to the Stratos Zero on its Golden Jubilee Anniversary. The Lancia L boasts of a similar sleek style, with a wedge-shaped hood. However, it sports air-intakes under the wedge design, allowing the car to both be aesthetically accurate as well as aerodynamic.

Meet the Audi GT concept from UK-based Jordan Gendler… designed to be the modern, Gen-Z soul-child of the TT Quattro and the Rosemeyer concept, the conceptual Audi GT revives a classic, with a makeover fit for the modern age. The Audi GT comes with the same, curve-embracing design that we saw in the TT Quattro, albeit with more sharp, discerning, slim headlamps and taillights, almost echoing the spirit of the year 2020 as opposed to the unabashedly wide-eyed optimism one saw in the 2000s. The silhouette of the GT showcases a great deal of similarity in some regard, embracing similar 3D surfacing to give it a rounded appeal. It even embraces the straight line on the sides stretching from fender to fender, seen on the TT Quattro, reminding us of its heritage.

Boredom and dissatisfaction are two of the biggest drivers for innovation and creativity. Maybe you don’t like something, maybe you have free time on your hands, so you sit and fix stuff and make them better in your own vision. That’s sort of why we’re looking at this absolutely vicious Pagani-on-steroids Batmobile that Encho Enchev designed because he felt the current Batmobile wasn’t intense enough. Designed with edgy body-work, piercing looks, and the classic black design with yellow accents, the Batmobile GT 2020 feels like it could strike fear into the hearts of the toughest criminals (or at least get them to consider an honest living even for a split second). If the edgy, Batarang-on-wheels bodywork doesn’t do it, the pop-out machine guns near the rear wheels should spook even armed bandits… and when justice is restored, the Dark Knight can flee the scene at breakneck speeds, thanks to those three pretty illegal looking afterburners on the rear.

This Apple Car showcases a futuristic automotive revolution that makes the Tesla Cybertruck look old-school!

Apple car has been the hot topic for motorheads and tech enthusiasts alike for quite some time now. Now the ideation finally seems to be heading towards fruition as Apple has officially announced plans to collaborate with Hyundai-Kia to manufacture Apple electric vehicles. The deal is almost final as Apple plans to manufacture the car at the Kia assembly plant in West Point, Georgia. Presumably, the self-driving EV will be called Apple Car and slated for a 2024 production initiation. After years of speculation and pop-up rumors, this is some substantial news for Apple fanatics who want the ecosystem of Apple products to extend to the automotive realms.

The direct competitor for the Apple Car is obviously going to be Tesla who’s got a strong foothold in the self-driving electric car market. According to some sources, the Apple Car will not have any driver’s seat or even driving controls which could be a bummer for motorheads who love the feel of controlling their machine. What the Apple Car will look like is anybody’s guess but to give a close idea of what it may be like, Ali Cam’s Apple Car 2076 is a good reference point to take home some inspiration. Adopting Apple’s sharp design aesthetics, the car looks like a mouse shaped like a car at first glance, but then you realize it’s actually a minimal car concept. Loaded with advanced driving systems Ali envisions the blueprint far in the distant future – the year 2076 to be precise. The choice of year apparently is the 100the anniversary of Apple ever since it was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.

On the inside, the Apple Car is more like a luxury lounge with infotainment displays all around (even on the doors), gesture controlled-entertainment systems, and the holographic display traverses the riders into a completely different reality. You would not expect the car to have a driver seat in the year 2076 which coincides with the vision for the Apple Car just announced. So, the Cupertino giant can take some healthy inspiration from Ali’s design. Access to the cabin is via touch ID sensors and presumably, Apple ID is going to be used here. The gull-winged doors give the car a very futuristic appeal, ready to take its passengers for a smooth ride actuated by the magnetic levitation technology. Yes, the one you see on maglev trains.

Although the final Apple Car will be electric powered and the maglev dream is a bit far-fetched for now, this concept by Ali Cam that could rival the edgy Tesla Cybertruck design refreshes things up in anticipation of the Apple Car that’s slated to come sometime in 2024 or 2025. And of course, the real one is going to have wheels, so you can muster up the design with wheels on this one. Things are seeming exciting already, aren’t they?

Designer: Ali Cam

This Chevrolet ATV with a opening windshield was designed for a post apocalyptic world!

Very rarely do you come across a concept car that you actually wished was real, taking command of the steering wheel and take it for a spin! Chevrolet Abyssal Mk2 designed by Giordano Vittorini is one such futuristic four-wheeler that sparks your imagination purely attributing to its well sought-out design for real-world scenarios. The Abyssal borrows some of those beastly elements from the Russian military MRAP with the apparent influences of a ZiL “Karatel” (rare armored vehicle used by Russian security forces) and the futuristic touches of the very edgy Tesla Cybertruck. Mars rover like influences can also not be denied.

To be frank the concept looks tailor-made for a sci-fi flick wherein the world-saving hero needs a four-wheeler like this one to stay clear of the infamous villain. Alright, snapping back to reality! The Chevrolet Abyssal Mk2 gives versatile mobility on tough terrain the ultimate priority with the propulsion system honed by a setup of four electric motors feeding four independent suspension wheels separately. The tires have eight rubber segments for superior control and traction if need be. Since the designer envisions this rugged 4×4 off-roader as a reconnaissance vehicle, it has to be bulletproof and with puncture-proof tires.

To carry all the vital stuff, the vehicle has plenty of space courtesy of the cargo bed. The interior also seems to be quite futuristic with a minimalistic dashboard housing the center console with all the touch-sensitive control buttons and display to have all the important vehicle and other environmental statistics ready. The entry-point of the Abyssal Mk2 is a bit cheeky though – the driver and the pillion enter from the front, as the whole windshield lifts up and the front bumpers slide forward to give to a hidden stepping platform. That is purely due to the very flat aesthetics for a more balanced movement at high speeds.

Designer: Giordano Vittorini