Back in 1992, Chris Columbus was either the guy who directed "Home Alone" or the guy who "discovered" America. And that year, Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign released a wild concept vehicle called The Columbus (in memory of the latter CC).

The "ultra-high level status vehicle" was meant to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage to America (before that came to be seen as problematic). The minivan's swoopy, nautical style lines say Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria more than they do Dodge Caravan.

"Mini" van might be the wrong term, though that's what Italdesign called it. The vehicle was actually 6 meters (19.7') long and seated up to nine people.

The driving position is elevated for better visibility, and the engine—a 5-liter BMW V-12—was beneath the driver's position. Startlingly for the time, the driver's seat was in the center of the vehicle. (The McLaren F1, which also adopted this arrangement, wasn't released until the following year.)

Unsurprisingly, the vehicle never saw production.