This year, manufacturers were challenged to come up with a concept that was stylish, engaging to drive, and easy on the environment, all wrapped in a 1,000-lb. package. Automakers from Honda to Maybach rolled out their ideas of what said vehicle should look like, and while the judges crowned both Cadillac and Smart as this year’s winners, we were intrigued by the Nissan iV.

The spec sheet for the iV reads like a who’s who of concept fantasy, with building materials sourced from fast-growing ivy and spider silk, plus a propulsion and steering system that makes use of clever electromagnets. While a bio-battery stores energy for your commute, the iV also makes use of a supercapacitor to recover energy that would otherwise be lost during braking.