Cool Concept Cars from the 2016 Canadian International AutoShow

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The most popular displays at any autoshow are those which show off the concept cars, giving us an enticing glimpse of the futuristic-looking vehicles that will take us down the road into tomorrow. While not every one of these creations will make it to the showroom, it’s interesting to see what automakers have in the pipeline.

Here are some of the top concept vehicles on display at the 2016 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, running until Feb. 21 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre:

Audi H Tron

Dynamic photo, Colour: Ascari Blue

The once promising fuel cell finds life in the H Tron, Audi’s sporty concept car that covers over 500 kilometers of road on just one tank of fuel. Better yet, its only emissions are a few drops of water. Think oil prices are low now? What happens if hydrogen-powered cars hit the market?

 

Santa Cruz Crossover Truck 

Santa Cruz Crossover Truck Concept

While Pickup trucks are huge sellers in Canada, they don’t necessarily appeal to all demos. Hyundai wants to change that with its first entry into the pickup market ­– the Santa Cruz Crossover, aimed to get millennial and women buyers into a truck.

 

Hyundai Endoro

Another entry by Hyundai, the Endoro concept is an aggressive yet sporty entry into the increasingly popular crossover market. Apparently, the designers wanted to combine the look of an SUV with that of a motorcycle.

 

Kia Niro

Kia reveals first images of all-new Niro Hybrid Utility Vehicle

This undersized SUV is the embodiment of the Korean automaker’s philosophy to produce smaller, greener, cheaper-to-run but still fun-to-drive vehicles. Kia hopes its Niro hybrid will provide an urban alternative to the Prius. Not really a concept car  (it hits showrooms later this year) but the picture was cool.

 

Buick Avenir

The Buick Avenir Concept flagship sedan makes its appearance on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Saturday, August 15, 2015 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Dan MacMedan for Buick)

It’s a luxurious car with a lot of futuristic features or – in car promo parlance – the Avenir’s “passion is sculpted into steel, glass and leather” with “unprecedented technology that anticipates your every move.” It’s making an early bid to be the rich-guy car of the future.

 

Toyota’s Urban Utility (U2)

Toyota calls its U2 concept a “fusion of utility van, truck and passenger car.” This mashup on wheels contains such features as a removable front seat, retracting roof panels, fold-down tailgate which turns into a ramp.