When it comes to cars – how do all cars get started?  Well, they all start out as a concept and that is exactly what the GMC Granite is.  This particular car is actually awesome looking and is definitely one car that I am checking out in more detail.  At the North American Auto Show that happened in Detroit just a few short weeks ago – the GMC Granite was the highlight of it.

Not only was this hatchback a highlight, but it was designed beautifully and with so many different features that it truly makes it feel like it was designed exactly for you.  Take the flip back seat and the flip front passenger seat – these can all be flipped down so that you have more room.

You can actually carry a full mountain-sized bike inside of it, which to me … is pretty damn awesome!

Lately, there seems to have been a lot of back and forth and back and forth regarding the Chevrolet Spark.  GM had not decided whether or not the Chevrolet Spark was going to be released in the states or not but finally, this beautiful little car is going to be coming to North America – Mexico and Canada are obviously included too.

In the past, General Motors talked about just releasing the Chevrolet Spark to India and calling it a day but after a lot of debate and a lot of surveying, they have finally come up with the answer of releasing the Chevrolet Spark to the states.

To me – this is a personal win, as I have been waiting for this car to be released forever!

When it comes to concept cars, we all know who is in the lead for making some of the best concepts in the world and that is the French automakers, Peugeot.  This particular automaker has been around for quite some time now and constantly, they are surprising me with the latest and greatest concept that they have come up with.

Unlike other SR1 concepts that this particular brand was coming up with, the brand new Peugeot SR1 New concept is honestly beautiful and not hallmarked by the quirky little love it or hate it styling that Peugeot usually goes for.

This car is practical and certainly something that anyone would want to invest in – which is rare in all its forms.

We have Renault to thank for the Dacia Duster. Specifically, the automaker’s subsidiary, located in Romania, is responsible for this neat looking production vehicle, which is classified as a smaller kind of all terrain vehicle which will be launched in the markets for Europe as a whole, as well as Turkey and Maghreb.

The concept for this vehicle was only recently unveiled at Geneva’s 2009 motor show. The Duster is actually meant to respond to the unfulfilled need for an off road vehicle that is both affordable and economical.

I have to admit, I do not really have any use for an off road vehicle — although the economical and affordable bits I am quite fond of — but something about the overall look of the Dacia Duster makes me quite sad that it will not be launched on the United States market.

No, the title there does not denote a question. This vehicle, a Swiss made concept, is actually known as the Rinspeed UC?, complete with question mark. Bad grammar, but certainly an eye catcher.

Maybe they did that on purpose. “UC” itself is actually an acronym meant to stand for “Urban Commuter,” and there seems to be no need for the extra punctuation. Then again, “UC” can also stand for an actual question: “You see?” Why yes, we do see.

We see a lot of sharp angles and a very futuristic type of design as well.

And the rumor is that the vehicle may have an option for a rail car loading system … so that, evidently, the car can kind of just hop on the train tracks and avoid traffic jams and gridlock?

In a car that looks more Mazarati than Mazda, the automaker has really and truly outdone themselves.

I do not get all antsy in the pantsy over vehicles all that often, but goodness gracious (sorry, dudes, it is sort of a PG blog, you know?), the Mazda Furai concept is so … effin hot, it makes me want to do and say things that … well, that I cannot even begin to mention in a PG blog.

But just stare at this picture for a minute, or five, or ten, and I bet you will figure out what I mean.

It is just so low slung and sexy, you can almost hear it purring like a jungle cat in heat right through the picture, you know what I mean?

As many of you may know, Audi has been slowly dropping hints about the upcoming Audi A1, a secret vehicle that is not set to be officially unveiled until March of 2010, at the motor show in Geneva. It is being touted as the next really big Audi, though, and it is slated to fill up the void which exists right below the Audi A3 in the manufacturer’s lineup. The same Mini division we just saw fills the category now, so Audi is understandably eager to get up against their competitors at BMW.

Will the Audi A1 be able to do that? Since the automaker is keeping the A1 close to the vest, it is hard to tell, but insiders seem to think it will do the job and then some.

The Mini division of BMW is a huge favorite, in spite of the diminutive size of many of the vehicles in the division. Recently, the Mini branch unveiled the new Beachcomber concept, which will be publicly revealed early in 2010, in Detroit at the NAIAS.

The Beachcomber gets its inspiration from way back in the 1960s, specifically from a feisty little number known as the Mini Moke. The Beachcomber is a four seater with both a hard top and a soft top, both of which can be removed; the doors can be removed as well. The vehicle is less than four meters in length and it will actually preview the upcoming Mini SUV, which will also debut in 2010.

Just this past June, Aston Martin revealed a teaser image of the new Cygnet concept. Now, the automaker has finally released official pictures of the concept. It is a luxury commuter concept which is actually based around the rather tiny Toyota iQ.

Aston Martin plans for the Cygnet to be offered as a sort of “tender” when a buyer purchases one of the automaker’s “real” vehicles. Aston Martin describes the Cygnet as representing a more environmentally friendly solution.

As you can see, the concept car is small — it would almost have to be, since it is based on the iQ — but the design elements are perfectly in sync with the luxury of the brand. The grille is characteristic, as are the fender vents and the hood. The interior echoes Aston Martin’s luxury qualities as well.

We all know that Audi is an automaker that we can not only trust but one that we have grown to love … now, Audi is actually partnering with Quattro and I have to say that this is a fantastic combination.  The brand new Audi Metroproject Quattro Concept is actually a concept car that is in the works right now and it is definitely a car that I am looking forward to.

The Audi Metroproject Quattro Concept will reportedly only be available with about one gearbox, but it is a seven speed S-Tronic automatic transmission.  This car is going to be by far one of the best in the world … and I speak from experience!

So if you are in the market for an Audi minicar … this concept car is certainly going to turn your wheels!