10 best concept cars of 2011

A concept car is a vehicle made to showcase new styling and/or new technology.

Concept cars are often showcased at motor shows to gauge customer reactions to new designs.

These cars may or may not get produced commerically, although some of them do hit the roads.

Humor Feast recently came up with a list of 10 best concept cars of 2011.

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1. Audi e-tron

This rear-drive electric concept bowed in Detroit wearing slinky metal.

The orange e-tron was on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

With an aluminum space-frame chassis pulled off the R8 sports car production line, Audi chopped 2 inches out of the wheelbase and cut down the roof just  about that much too.

Throw in reduced front and rear overhangs, a lot of concept car detailing like wraparound LED lights, omit any rear-window or side mirrors (replaced by video  cameras), and the result is a car that looks like an R8, but has a chunkier, block-of-granite presence the R8 can't match.

It is heard that Audi is aiming to have something like the e-tron in showrooms around the end of 2012 with a price tag nearing $200,000.

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2. Citroen Survolt

Shown in Paris, the Survolt has twin electric motors generating 300 horsepower.

It's capable of 0 to 62 mph in less than five seconds and a top speed of 162 mph, according to Citroen.

The company also claims max range of 124 miles -- but at slightly lower speeds.

Citroen Survolt Concept has a sleek body design with a horizontal head lamps that are inspired by high-performance sports coupe with exerting magnetic attraction and signature LED lights.

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3. Deltawing Concept

Created by Ben Bowlby (former Lola design chief, former Ganassi Racing tech director), the DeltaWing was one of several proposed 2012 IndyCar chassis.

The shape generates downforce without wings or spoilers and is supposed to be immune to turbulence in close quarters.

This concept car was Unveiled at Chicago.

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4. GMC Granite concept

GM first took the wraps off of its GMC Granite concept vehicle -- the 'professional grade' version of the Chevy Orlando at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, but gave no indication of whether the vehicle would see a production version in the future.

The Granite is GMC's take on the already revealed Chevy Orlando concept, a new crossover-based utility vehicle.

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5. The Jaguar C-X75

It's reminiscent of the old XJ220 (1992 94), but this stunning Paris show car's primary propulsion is provided by electrons rather than combustion events.

Like the Chevy Volt, the C-X75 augments its batteries with a range-extending power source.

Unlike the Volt, that source is two gas turbines. Top speed is a claimed 205 mph.

Project C-X75 was conceived to celebrate 75 years of Jaguar.

It is claimed to be one of the fastest, low-emission vehicles in the world.

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6. Lancia Stratos

This Lancia Stratos prototype debuted not at an auto show, but on an Italian test track.

Faithful in appearance to Bertone's 1972 homologation special, the revival Stratos sports a V-8 derived from the Ferrari F430 Scuderia's.

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7. Peugeot SR1 Concept

Through the Peugeot SR1 Concept, the Marque reveals the stylistic design trends for its future models.

The concept car embodies the new world of Peugeot, reflected by the new Lion badge which adorns its body.

The use of HYbrid4 technology allows the Peugeot SR1 to offer an engineering specification in keeping with its styling: 230 kW (313 bhp) with emissions of  only 119 g/km of CO2 (0 in electric mode), 4 wheel drive and steering.

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8. Pininfarina Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta

Constructed to celebrate Pininfarina's 80th anniversary and as a tribute to Alfa Romeo's centennial, this choice roadster concept made its debut at Geneva.

The car is equipped with a longitudinally mounted turbocharged 1750 cc four cylinder engine, a powerplant that evokes memories of the 1750 Veloce from 1968.

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9. Porsche 918 Spyder

The Porsche 918 Spyder, the first plug-in hybrid car from Porsche, is a mid-engined concept sports car.

It was first shown at the 80th edition of the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010.

The 3.4 litre V8 engine (500 hp/370 kW) is a development of the engine used in the RS Spyder Le Mans Prototype racing car.

This is supplemented by three electric motors delivering an additional 218 horsepower.

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10.Renault Dezir

DeZir is the first project to be led by Laurens van den Acker.

The car is a two-seater coup which is both sculptural in spirit yet perfectly harmonious. DeZir's shape features prominent wheel arches that accommodate 21-inch wheels.

The DeZir's styling points the way for future Renault design.

It has scissors doors -- one rear-hinged, one front.

The car is adorned with pimp-daddy quilted white-leather interior.