Inspired partly by the Stanley Kubrick movie “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Ford Motor’s Airstream concept (pictured left, with senior design executive J Mays), developed with the iconic American trailer maker, is meant to show a possible direction the U.S. automaker could take crossover vehicles, a growing part of the U.S. auto market.

The Ford vehicle combined the attributes of an old camper and the Hal 9000 computer quite nicely, according to automotive Web site autoblog. 

Concept vehicles are popular at events like the Detroit auto show, offering automakers a chance to gauge public reaction to potential future designs or features.

Honda’s Acura brand showed the Advanced Sports Car Concept (pictured right, courtesy of Car and Driver Web site), which Road and Track called a successor to the NSX sports car. GM showed off its Chevrolet Volt electric car as well as its Holden Efijy concept that Car and Driver called “Australia’s coolest hot rod.” Mazda’s Ryuga concept, with its gullwing doors, was garnering ooh and ahhs, but alas Car and Driver said the car is not likely to be made ever.

(PHOTO: Reuters)