We're reporting live from the 2012 North American International Auto Show this week, where we found a fine collection of futuristic urban city cars at the Michelin Challenge Design 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 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. The Zoe ZE provided early input into the design of the Renault Zoe EV, which is launching in Europe in 2012. The Honda P-NUT appears to be a flexible design that can be used with a traditional gas engine, hybrid, or all-electric powertrain, and was designed to be a sophisticated small car meant exclusively for the city. Tata’s eMO concept is the first vehicle fully engineered in India, according to Tata Technologies President and Global COO Warren Harris: “It is a tangible example of the capability of Tata Technologies to engineer a full vehicle.”
