Chevrolet clearly has nothing new to present at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. So they’re bringing two concepts everybody has already seen!

It doesn’t matter though, because both of them are quite interesting and it’s the first time they are showing them live in Europe. First we have the Miray concept, a sports roadster unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show, and then the Colorado Rally pickup, first revealed at the Buenos Aires Auto Show.

Both the Chevrolet Miray and the Colorado Rally Concept, which will celebrate their European premiere in Frankfurt, embody these design principles and take current trends in their respective segment a step into the future. Whereas the powerful Colorado Rally Concept previews the next generation of this midsize pickup truck, the futuristic-looking Chevrolet Miray merges a jet-inspired exterior with an advanced hybrid powertrain technology.

Apart form these two, Chevrolet will also be showing their current lineup of produciton cars. The new Cruze Hatchback could be interesting, and the latest Corvettes which look the same as before, but are much faster.

Here’s more details on both these fancy concepts:

Chevrolet Miray: Strengthening the bond between car and driver

First unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show in March this year, the Chevrolet Miray concept offers a fresh interpretation of some typical Chevrolet design cues while paying tribute to Chevrolet’s sports car heritage. The Miray is propelled by two front-mounted, battery-powered 15-kW electric motors for quick acceleration and zero emissions in urban driving.

“‘Miray’ is Korean for ‘future.’ The concept strengthens the bond between car and driver and takes a fresh look at what a sports cars of the future might be,” explains Brannon. “Many of the components used in its drivetrain are an extension of our systems. The Miray demonstrates the potential for rescaling and extending today’s propulsion technologies.”

Being small and open like the 1963 Monza SS, and light and purposeful like the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder, the Miray has an aerodynamic fuselage reminiscent of modern jet fighters. Its dual-port grille is flanked by LED headlamps with new signature daytime running lamps. The front and rear fenders evoke Chevrolet Corvettes of the past and express the concept’s sports car spirit. Carbon fibre spoilers at the corners help control down force and airflow. From above, the cabin has a unique diamond shape.

The wedged body side is made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP) and carbon fibre. An angled character line, with ambient lighting underneath, creates a sweeping line of light when the car is in motion, bringing a warm glow to the sculptured body. Le Mans racer-style scissor doors underscore the Miray’s racy looks.

At the rear, the tail lamps which have been placed under the ducktail surface are a nod to Chevrolet’s twin element execution. The Miray sports 20-inch front wheels and 21-inch rear wheels made of aluminium carbon-fibre composite. The strong turbine theme evokes movement, even when the Miray is stationary.

A radically stylish interior

The interior of the Miray features a melange of brushed aluminium, natural leather, white fabric and liquid metal surfaces for an overall effect of sculptural velocity. Its passenger compartment is surrounded by a carbon-fibre shell, which gives it a lightweight yet rigid structure. The wrap-around twin cockpit has drawn inspiration from the iconic Chevrolet Corvette: It is driver-focused while fully engaging the passenger in the driving experience.

Designers took a unique approach to displaying information, using back projection on the instrument panel. Information in front of the driver has been prioritised into three zones, which eliminates unnecessary visual clutter and allows the driver to focus on the thrill of driving.

The centre touch screen flows down to an aluminium support, which evokes a fighter jet’s nose with the landing gear down. The exterior surface flows down into the interior to meet the reinforced console, connecting the front and rear of the car.

Ambient lighting, which starts from the upper instrument panel and flows into the seat back area, adds a sense of luxury. Seat cushions and headrests are connected by the lightweight carbon-fibre shell and mounted on a single aluminium rail. The headrest area follows the exterior form, integrating with an air scarf for open-air driving.

An interesting detail is the centrally located start button. When it is pressed, the column-mounted retractable meter cluster rises like the canopy of a single-seat aircraft and “interactive projection” appears on the white surface.

Retractable rearview cameras, which replace traditional rearview mirrors, extend from the side glass electrically. In city driving, the forward-facing camera operates in conjunction with GPS to overlay navigation information with real-time video.

Flexible propulsion system matches Miray’s futuristic looks

The Miray’s “mid-electric” propulsion system, located primarily behind and beneath the driver, has been engineered to maximise performance and fuel efficiency. Its two front-mounted 15-kW electric motors are powered by a 1.6 kWh lithium-ion battery that is charged through regenerative braking energy. The system can be switched from front-wheel to rear-wheel drive.

A 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-charged engine mounted behind the cockpit combines with the electric motors for performance driving. It provides spirited torque, while seamlessly integrating electrification technology that sets a new standard in the compact roadster segment.

A dual-clutch transmission obviates the need for a torque converter, thereby enabling a reduction of the engine’s size. Shifts are quick and firm, with the shift pattern having been tuned for improved top speed in performance mode. A start-stop system operates in conjunction with the Miray’s dual-clutch transmission.