Ten more desirable MPV concepts

Until a few years ago, the world of MPVs was a dreary one. But as the likes of Ford's C-Max, Vauxhall's Meriva and Citroen's C4 Picasso demonstrate, manufacturers have cottoned on to the fact that they don't have to look rubbish. You can have practical and posey. Flash and carry.

This, dear internet, is a wonderful thing. It makes our roads prettier and parents cooler. And, by the looks of the last few months' worth of MPV concepts, the roster will grow.

To show our support for garnishing this dreary niche with pretty outlines, we've selected ten of the best funky MPV concepts.

Facebookers - hit like on your favourites. Now click forth. Then watch the boys build their own rag-top Espace. 

State-owned Chang'an Auto debuted the be-gullwing'd, electric-powered Voss concept at this year's Shanghai Auto show. Looks good and, according to insiders, may spawn a real-life car.

First spotted at New Delhi's Auto Expo last year, it's an oldy but goody. Suzuki wouldn't say what underpinned it, but they did tell us it looks like the company's impending 2012 India-only model.

Its face is straight from Cars, it deploys many doors with futuristic appeal, it doubles as a commercial vehicle and it's powered by electricity. We first saw it at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and concluded that it's madder than a bum full of Smarties.

Heaping character onto its Scenic segment, the R-Space, which we first saw at this year's Geneva motor show, debuts a fresh design language penned by new chief scribe, Laurens van den Acker. Powered by a similarly conceptual 109bhp 900cc turbo three-cylinder engine.

This is comparatively ancient - the Blue Oval/Airstream caravan tie-up was first shown in 2007 at the Detroit show. The vodka-bar interior was inspired by the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, it's powered by a hydrogen fuel cell drive system and there's a 360-degree TV screen.

OK, so the outside of Buick's 2009 design study is comparatively subdued, but its innards definitely trumpet the Business moniker. There are large leather chairs. They spin round. As does the pull-out woodette table. Very exec'.

Apparently, this fine-looking six-seat people mover, which debuted in late 2009, will replace the FR-V. We're still waiting, Honda...

Look! A concept car that doesn't look like an Audi! The baleful Kia was first shown at this year's Detroit show and has a 2.0-litre GDI turbo engine, and they're capable of 285bhp. Fun. The passenger side door's a gullwing, too. Like.

Featured on this very website just a few days ago, the sleektacular HX1 rescues the people carrier wholesale from Very Boring Design. Please build it, Peugeot. Pretty please.

During this year's Geneva motorshow, VW's design chief Klaus Bischoff looked at his new Bulli concept, turned to Top Gear's reporter and asked, ‘Well, at the moment is there an MPV that you would actually WANT to buy?' Well, no. No there isn't. Well played, Mr Bischoff.