6 Taurus 

A Russian-made adventure bike, Taurus, is known for its extreme portability. It is designed to be lightweight and “collapsible” so that users can fit them inside their cars. Moreover, this bike’s “balloon tires” can also help it float in water. 

The Taurus adventure bike is certainly the next big thing to come out of Russia. Despite its appearance, however, it is hardly an ordinary off-road bike.

This go-anywhere tactical bike is designed to be “collapsible” so that riders can fold it up and fit it in the backs of their cars. For this, the bike offers a quick-release feature in its front fork and has deflatable tires.

The bike is intended to be lightweight, about 89 kilograms (196 pounds), so that it can be lifted off the ground with relative ease. Also, this vehicle has also been fitted with “balloon tires” that help it float.

However, this vehicle has a rather low top speed of about 35 kph (22 mph), which may seem like a disadvantage. Nevertheless, priced at just about $1,700, this bike could certainly be an adventurer’s dream possession. (1, 2)

7 Aquastrada Delta

Unveiled in 1995, the Aquastrada Delta was the latest innovation in amphibious vehicles of the time. While in water, it tightly seals away its wheels close to the hull and floats like a boat. It could also be operated with the same steering wheel, brakes, and accelerator pedal in water and on land, making it convenient to drive.

Commercially produced amphibious cars have existed since at least the 1960s. But it was only in 1995 that this technology witnessed a pinnacle moment. That year, the Aquastrada Delta made its first demonstration at the International Marine Trades Exhibit and Convention.

At the time, the Aquastrada was said to be the world’s first practical amphibious car. Unlike most such cars, engineers had first designed its fiberglass hull and then found a way to tightly seal away its tires while in water.

Since the car also used the same steering wheel, brake, and accelerator pedal for land and water transit, it was rather convenient to operate. It was also noted for its speed, topping at about 100 mph on land and more than 40 mph in water.

Today, this technology has likely come a long way from where it began. But due to its ingenuity, the Aquastrada Delta continues to hold an important position in the history of amphibious vehicles. (1, 2)

8 The Choice Bus 

The Choice Bus is a cross between a prison bus and a school bus, designed to discourage students from dropping out of school. Inside the bus, students can watch video testimonials from prisoners and experience the hardships of prison inside a prison cell replica. It was created by a non-profit organization that aims to increase high school graduation rates.

The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2007. It aims to improve high school graduation rates in the US and has come up with some innovative strategies to achieve this. Of these, the Choice Bus is probably the most well-known.

The Choice Bus consists of a fleet of three buses that are unusually designed. They are a cross between a prison bus and a school bus, intended to discourage school students from dropping out.

The buses typically travel around the country to various school districts and showcase the possible consequences of dropping out. Inside the bus, students are given a chance to experience the hardships of prison in a specially designed prison cell replica. They are also shown a video quiz about the differences between college graduates and dropouts, along with testimonials from real-life prisoners.

Since its conception, more than 2 million students have visited the Choice Bus. (1, 2)

9 Renault Twizy 

Renault’s Twizy is one of the most popular electric vehicles in Europe. Although it looks like a car, it is actually a quadricycle that is just 2.3 meters (about 8 feet) long and 1.2 meters (4 feet) wide. In some models, the vehicle also ditches its backseat to make room for a cargo compartment that can hold 180 liters and 75 kilograms (165 pounds) of load.

The Renault Twizy is one of the most popular electric vehicles in Europe. However, despite its car-like appearance, it is officially classified as a quadricycle.

This vehicle is rather small, at just about 2.3 meters (8 feet) in length and 1.2 meters (4 feet) in width. The interior can seat only two people and the doors do not come as a standard part of the vehicle. Moreover, buyers also need to hire the vehicle’s batteries on a separate lease.

But despite this, the Twizy also has some intriguing features. For instance, it can zip up to 30 mph in just 4.4 seconds, which is impressive for a vehicle of its kind. Some models also come with a cargo compartment that can carry up to 180 liters and 75 kilograms (165 pounds) of load.

But more importantly, this vehicle offers an economical mode of transportation that its buyers seem to appreciate. (1, 2)

10 Mercedes-Benz VRC 

The 1995 Mercedes-Benz VRC was an ambitious concept car that allowed users to have four cars packed into one. While its front section remained fixed, drivers could change the back end or “superstructure” to turn the car into a sedan, a station wagon, a convertible, or even a pickup. This way, drivers could buy a single car and still drive different types of cars when needed. 

Some concept cars, no matter how ingenious, often never progress beyond an idea. The 1995 Mercedes-Benz “Vario Research Car,” or VRC, is one such vehicle.

If an automobile enthusiast wanted to own a station wagon, a sedan, a pickup truck, and a convertible all at once, it may prove expensive to do so. To accommodate this, Mercedes-Benz came up with a four-in-one car that could be any of these when needed.

The car essentially came with two parts, the front section and the “superstructure” at the back. The front section remained fixed while the superstructure was designed to be removable. With one car, buyers would gain possession of three extra superstructures that let them change the style of its body.

However, it is likely that the company intended for its buyers to visit an authorized mechanic to switch out the superstructures. Nevertheless, the idea has a lot of potentials that has yet to be thoroughly explored. (source)