Students have designed the Lexus pods of the future

This one’s a colour-shifting weather pod, designed to allow Gen Z to “rediscover seasonal changes in urban areas”. The roof controls the level of daylight pouring into the cabin for better efficiency and an “immersive seasonal experience”. The idea is for the occupants to pay attention to "everyday moments", assuming said occupants aren’t using the delightful opportunity to check their phones.

Clearly not taking inspiration from his playwright namesake – otherwise this concept has taken on a very, very dark undertone – the Crucible is a "hydrogen escape vehicle". Where it's escaping from hasn’t been mentioned, but the idea does feature a shape-shifting interior able to meet different uses.

Not a modern-day version of ED-209, but one inspired by Japanese culture and nature. It’s a battery-electric pod designed like an insect and able to operate as personal transport or as a means of doom-scrolling through Instagram “on a grand scale”. Will also bow. Something ED-209 could also do…

Interestingly, this tech-filled future pod wants to be an antidote to “a future overloaded with tech”. It’s a hydrogen vertical take-off and landing pod – flying pod, basically – said to be a piece of jewellery in the sky, “like a cloud’s earring”. Could even dock onto the side of buildings which feels like the ultimate commuter experience to us.

It’s a shapeshifter. Sure, there’s lots of talk about ‘connection’ and ‘self-expression’ and ‘social media’, but this pod is able to change shape to adapt to narrow roads, for example. Handy if there’s an SUV coming the other way.

The idea here is to link up personal mobility into some kind of mass transport set-up. The pods can link up to one another, which certainly beats rush hour on the underground. Because future luxury means not having your face crammed against an armpit on a 30-degree train carriage.