Four of the best concept cars we've actually driven

Did I mention that it was really hot? With no aircon, I was forced to keep opening the electric canopy to prevent passing out, which, unbeknownst to me, removed exactly one “start” from the tiny battery every time I did it. And I had to remember to blip the throttle every 10 to 15 seconds to clear the engine’s throat. 

It was a complete hoot to drive. It had no traction. Massive shove and ridiculously short gearing easily overcame the tractive efforts of the barrel-like rear tyres and in case you needed a hand to brake the rear end loose (you really didn’t) there was a hydraulic handbrake. Vastly amusing. Easily the best concept car I’ve driven. 

My knuckles are white around the Batmobile steering wheel, to hide a slight trembling in the fingers that’s been there ever since I laid eyes on Citroen’s wildest, most improbable concept. Five metres long but less than a metre high, this one-off, fully-functioning show car is at first glance, stunning, in the next, a monstrosity. And the engineer who has just handed me the keys can only suggest a value in the “many millions”. 

Acceleration was brutal and relentless, yet strangely muffled – the turbos dulled the noise, and the transmission slurred up a gear on each meeting with the red-line. It disguised its speed until each corner exploded across the windscreen. So I’d mash the astounding carbon-ceramics – tested at 2g, they said. The engineers had dialled in understeer for the occasion, to protect us from ourselves. I was cool with that.