This year provided an eclectic mix of production and concept cars from motor shows all the world.
While some examples were nothing more than manufacturer chest-beating exercises that won't see production, others previewed future technologies that will be given the green light.
Here are our favourite weird and wonderful cars from 2014. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Biofore concept
Making its debut at the Geneva motor show back in March, the Biofore concept is a technological showcase made from renewable materials. Students at the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki in Finland built the Biofore from biocomposite and thermoformable wood.
Carlsson S-class
The striking Carlsson take on the Mercedes S-class features a 700bhp twin-turbocharged V12 powertrain. The exterior is coated in £10,000 worth of gold leaf, with 1000 sheets applied in a process that took 200 hours.
Citroën C4 Cactus Aventure concept
The Geneva motor show gave Citroën the opportunity to explore customisation with the C4 Cactus Aventure. The concept has a raised ride height, larger suspension travel and chunky off-road tyres.
Edag Genesis
Inspired by the shell of a tortoise, this concept car demonstrated a one-piece car body production technique that could be built in a single process, thus ensuring huge savings in manufacturing costs.
LandWind X7
Launched at the Guangzhou motor show last month, the LandWind X7 caused a stir for its striking resemblance to the Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover was clearly not happy with the situation, as they confirmed to us they will be filing a complaint to Chinese officials regarding the standalone Chinese manufacturer.
Quant e-Sportlimousine
The e-Sportlimousine features new advanced battery storage technology that, according to Quant, performs five times better than current lithium ion batteries. The e-Sportlimousine is truly gargantuan; measuring 5.35m long, its four motors kick out 912bhp, according to its maker.
Roding Roadster R1
This German two-seat sports car has an appetising recipe: 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine, 950kg kerb weight, 316bhp and 295lb ft of torque. Lashings of carbonfibre complete the styling, which almost has a mini-Nissan GT-R look about it.
Brilliance V5
At £10,500, this reasonably priced Chinese SUV underwent revisions in order to try to keep buyers interested over its next life cycle. Customers get the choice of a 120bhp 1.6-litre engine or the 136bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine.
CH Auto Event
Revealed at the Beijing motor show in April, this was CH Auto's take on an all-electric sports car. Thanks to a 400bhp/479lb ft electric powertrain, it will crack 0-62mph in five seconds and top out at a limited 124mph. The firm says a full charge takes six hours.
JAC SC-9
Another star of the Beijing motor show, the SC-9 featured a unique 2+2+2 seating configuration with the seats in the middle row able to pivot. It even showcased such technology as a "gesture motion interactive system". It enables users to wave a hand to tune the radio station, for example. JAC is working on a production version with similar styling cues for 2017.
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