GT6 | Plymouth XNR Ghia Roadster 1960 | Mid-Field Raceway Reverse race | PS3

Over five decades ago, Virgil Exner, who led the golden years of Chrysler in the 1950s and 1960s, created something that revolutionized car design; so impressive was it that, as recently as 2011, it ended up receiving the prestigious "Gran Turismo Award" at the 61st Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance. His Plymouth XNR Ghia Roadster, which inherited his name in abbreviated form, was actually built by Carrozzeria Ghia, a company that he had close ties with.

Plymouth represented the entry-level brand for Chrysler, but that didn't stop Exner from pouring all sorts of high performance into his creation, even incorporating technology that trickled down from the company's involvement in NASCAR. The concept was made to set the table for future sports cars, and one that would take on popular products by Chrysler's rivals, notably the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Thunderbird. In order to succeed, the car had to be striking. And, by far, the most striking feature was its asymmetric styling. From the air intake in the car's nose to the flow from the headrest to the rear, it's Exner's interpretation of the aerodynamic styling that characterized '50s racing. The cockpit's right side is covered with a tonneau cover which makes it appear to be a single- seater at first glance, but there actually is a seat hiding under the cover, making it a fully-fledged 2-seat sports car.

The prominent fins on the sides of the body were actually a shared design feature from the Valiant, the car on which it was based. And although its overly avant-garde styling ultimately proved too much for the market, thus prohibiting the car from making it to mass production, the XNR did manage to make major shockwaves in the car design realm at the time.