NAIAS PHOTOS: Michelin Challenge Design Shows Off The Best in Futuristic City Cars

We're reporting live from the <a title="Inhabitat: North American International Auto Show" href="http://inhabitat.com/index.php?s=North+American+International+Auto+Show" target="_blank">2012 North American International Auto Show</a> this week, where we found a fine collection of futuristic urban city cars at the <a title="NAIAS: Michelin Challenge Design" href="http://www.naias.com/the-2012-show/focus-on-design/michelin-challenge-design.aspx" target="_blank">Michelin Challenge Design</a> booth. The Michelin Challenge Design for this year's show asked designers and automakers to submit their best vision of a sustainable urban future. The top three cars in the competition were displayed at the Michelin showcase in the concourse throughout the show: They are the Renault Zoe ZE Concept, the Honda P-NUT, and the Tata eMO electric mini cars. We absolutely love the attention to detail on these vehicles, particularly the Renault. Check out all the fine design details in our gallery.

The Michelin Man showed his support for these cool mini city cars.

Michelin's Challenge Design asked entrants to create solution for an urban future in the year 2046, when drivers needed to conserve space and energy. The top picks, the Renault Zoe, Honda P-NUT, and Tata eMO, were displayed at the Michelin booth in Cobo Hall.

The Tata eMO is the first full car designed in India.

We love the wide rear window on the Tata that help improve visibility and interior light for the slightly cramped space.

See how the windows come all the way up to meet the windshield at a point in the front of the driver, a unique design.

Honda's smooth single side doors are long to allow both driver and rear-seat passengers to get in and out of one single opening on each side of the car.

The attention to detail on all three cars at the Michelin booth was outstanding. Check out these headlight details on the Honda P-NUT.

The Honda is designed for flexibility, offering up multiple drivetrains and flexible interior space. The idea with this design challenge was to envision what consumers would need to live efficient lives in an urban future in the year 2046.

The Honda P-NUT seats three, with the driver up front and center in front of two passengers in the back.

The Renault Zoe ZE Concept uses a 95-horsepower motor and a lithium ion battery to create a total vehicle range of 100 miles.

The car features multiple hexagonal honeycomb details, even comprising the headlights and what looks like a solar array on the roof.