The Mazda Kusabi Concept

'Kusabi' means 'a bond or connection that ties two things together,' and the concept does just this. It integrates the drive excitement of a sports car with the versatility and economy of a modern compact car.

'It's a sports car you can use for shopping,' says Tohru Furusawa of Mazda's Product Innovation Department.

The Kusabi's minimal weight, compact size and highly rigid body lend the superior handling and maneuverability that are characteristic of a sports car. It is planted on 17-inch wheels, with a substantially long wheelbase and a wide, low-to-the-ground stance for aggressive and confident road presence. The Kusabi's aluminum frame supports linear and responsive braking. Combined with a new and spirited 1.6-liter diesel engine and a six-speed automatic shift manual transmission, the concept achieves stable and predictable driving dynamics that can only be described as 'zoom zoom.'

Hyundai Blue-Will Concept

Following Hyundai's successful ascent to the top of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) report in December, the Blue-Will Plug-in Hybrid concept makes its U.S. debut at the 2010 North American International Auto.

* Blue-Will is the first-ever plug-in hybrid from Hyundai
* Four-seat sedan concept explores future design direction of compact cars
* Features panoramic glass roof with solar cells for recharging batteries
* Thermal generator converts hot exhaust gases into electricity

Blue-Will serves as a test bed of new ideas that range from roof-mounted solar cells to drive-by-wire steering, lithium polymer batteries and touch-screen controls. Blue-Will could see the road as a hybrid-only model, similar to the Toyota Prius in the future. Blue-Will promises an electric-only driving distance of up to 40 miles on a single charge and a fuel economy rating of more than 100 miles per gallon. Codenamed HND-4, the Blue-Will is the fourth in a series of highly innovative concept vehicles to come out of the Namyang Design Center.

The Acura HSC Concept

The HSC is a design study combining the ultimate in supercar performance with the interior comfort and handling ease of a daily driver. It features a lightweight body, a compact yet powerful engine and a racing-inspired interior.

The High-Performance Sports Concept features a lightweight 3.5-liter V-6 engine located midship for optimum balance and superior handling. Shifting is accomplished through a unique dial shifter located on the center console or an F-1 style paddle shifter located on the steering wheel.

The HSC features a 4-wheel double wishbone suspension with six-piston caliper Brembo disc brakes on each wheel. Five-spoke forged aluminum alloy racing wheels are shod with 245/35ZR19 tires in front and 295/30ZR20 tires in the rear.