2025 to be exact. The 5th Annual LA Auto Show Design Challenge is the birthplace of many futuristic looking car drawings and fancy technology names such as “Electro Mechanic Brake System” and “Omnidirectional Wheels”. All the entries in this challenge have been designed with one theme in mind, what will motorsports look like in the year 2025? Entries cover a wide range of competitive driving (all with an emphasize on “green” driving), from F1 style tarmac races to automotive triathalon styled events that cover land, sea, and air. The amount of thought that went into each of these cars is mind boggling; each car has its own unique theme and the designers have laid out plans for how it will work. For example, the GM Chaparral Volt uses gravity, wind, and sunlight to generate its own movement power; the Audi R25 can be charged while moving through wireless electricity zones.

One important thing that this contest is suggesting is a radical change in high level motorsports that involves strict fuel limitations. While current teams in Formula One and ALMS have already been bound by a number of rules about fueling, the concept racing leagues that the contestants have came up with are primarily based around going fast in the most efficient way possible. While Formula One (and other events) cars have had tighter and tighter restrictions over the years, they have somehow been getting even faster! Forcing manufacturers to come up with cars that are ultra efficient could make the sport much more interesting.

The R25 is the latest concept car from Audi and has been designed for the 2025 ALMS race. Its boasts efficient aerodynamics as well as a superior “on the go” charging system that will help it beat out its opponents. Audi has kept their mantra of “form is function” in mind when designing this car; not one uncecessary thing was engineered into this car. Not only does a myriad of sensors relay information to the driver, cameras also can broadcast a live feed to spectators, allowing them to see the race from the R25’s perspective.

Franco Corral created the Honda concept car with a historical land, air, and sea race in mind. In 1908, a group of men attempted to make a 22,000 mile trip around the globe using cars, boats, and planes. Too bad they didn’t have the Honda “Great Race 2025″ with them – the car has three forms to ensure that it can travel over any form of terrain, as well as a throng of instruments that can actually predict the upcoming terrain and adjust accordingly.

BMW’s entry is a throwback design to the salt flat racers from back in the day. Using items that are seemingly trash, it crafts a super lightweight racer that sits on gel-nylon wheels wrapped in airless tires that can be reused. The propulsion system may be the most radical of them all; besides the hydrogen power, it also has a tank of goldfish to help out!

There are a total of nine cars and you can check out some of the other cars at the LA Auto Show website.