The 3 Hottest Concept Cars of 2012

For me there are only two reasons to look forward to the cold winter months of January and February; the Super Bowl, and a flurry of auto shows that takes place at the beginning of every year. Automakers show up with next year's production models, as well as concept cars that we may or may not see in production a few years from now. These are the concept cars that have auto junkies hungry for more, even if they can't buy one yet.

Volkswagen E-Bugster

Imagine the iconic Beetle with a chopped top, Lithium-Ion powered electric engine and sleek lines. Add adjustable regenerative braking, 20 inch chrome rims and a lowered frame and you have Volkswagen's futuristic juice jumper. The Volkswagen E-Bugster uses a Golf E-Motion electric motor that puts out 114hp/199lb-ft of torque, but only weighs 176 pounds. The expected range of the sporty Bug is expected to be approximately 100 miles, and the coupe features an onboard charger with 3 power settings. With a special 400-volt quick charge, your batteries can be charged up to 80 percent in 30 minutes. Is it just me, or are electric vehicles looking a little more practical?

Toyota NS4 Hybrid

Toyota takes the idea of a plug-in hybrid a step further with their standout entry at the Detroit Auto Show this year, the Toyota NS4. The styling is much sexier than the Prius, and most of the technology is a step ahead as well. Toyota has used the NS4 to showcase advances in their glass production, as well as the idea of "user connectivity". Toyota has partnered with Intel, Microsoft and Salesforce to look into integrating emerging technologies and trendy devices that are already widely used into the vehicle. The Human Machine Interface as Toyota is calling it uses a futuristic touch screen to control all of the car's components, and the onboard computer is even capable of learning driver preferences. This car is the closest thing to Knight Rider's K.I.T. that I've ever seen.

Chevrolet Tru 140S

The most well received auto this season is hands down Chevrolet's Tru 140S concept. The car is based on the Chevrolet Cruze, and even has the same turbocharged 1.4-liter engine. The exotic styling made the 140S stand out, even against its exotic European competition. Chevy was late into the compact high-mileage arena, but the Tru 140S is set to make up for lost time. The car is expected to get over 40mpg highway, and is more likely than the other concepts to see real pavement in a few years.