If you could design the next Hollywood movie star car to rival the Back to the Future DeLorean and Steve McQueen's 1968 Mustang GT from Bullitt, what would it look like?

That's exactly the question put to designers in the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, which this year aims to find the world's next A-list automobile.

The six finalists include teams from major car manufacturers in Germany, Japan and the US.

The six designs will be judged according to the following criteria: how the vehicle reflects its brand attributes relative to the plot, how the vehicle relates to the brand or targeted audience, level of imagination, character development of the vehicle, and uniqueness of the combination of car, story and character.

The finalists:

Honda Research and Development Americas: Honda IH (Intelligent Horse)

"A futuristic action-adventure, Honda takes you hundreds of years into the future after a catastrophic event wiped out society as we know it in High Noon, featuring the Honda IH. A vehicle that serves as a companion and protector in the inhospitable and lonely environment, the Honda IH was inspired by the legend and material remains of an ancient creature called the horse and brought to life with advanced technology."

Hyundai Design North America: Hyundai Stratus Sprinter.

"Following the immortal daughter of vampire parents through the most dangerous places in the world to stop the negative effects of communism, Hyundai's Countess of Siberia features the Hyundai Stratus Sprinter multi-purpose vehicle and the DB Atlant Airship. Serving as the Countess Elena's homebase, both vehicles have a magical stealth force that renders them invisible during daylight, only to reappear after dark."

Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America: Mercedes Silver Arrow

"Using the Mercedes Silver Arrow with proportions reminiscent of the Mercedes W125 series, a Silberpfeil racecar of the late 1930s and the Uhlenhaut SLR from the 50′s, and distinguished Mercedes-Benz design traditions combined with a dominant Formula One racing legacy, Hans05 and Franz02 lead the relentless and evil 'Dr Barrier' on an action packed thrill ride through the past and future of transportation."

Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Germany: Smart 341 Parkour

"Using her Smart 341 Parkour and its three different modes: a typical drive mode, a fly mode that allows the vehicle to hover far above the streets and a climb mode that allows the vehicle to run up the walls of skyscrapers, Annie sets off on an investigation to discover the missing link for her journalistic masterpiece."

Subaru Design Tokyo Studio: Subaru Horizon

"Two-hundred years after the Earth stopped rotating, the Earth was split into two, distinctly different hemispheres, the Daysphere and the Nightsphere. Humans have been living in a highly developed civilisation in the Nightsphere, away from the sun's harmful electromagnetic waves. However, the fuel for the power generation system, a rare crystallised mineral, was running out. Known to be found only in the pole of the Daysphere, a place from which no human has ever come back alive, a team of four ventures to the other end of the world in the Ultra Subaru Horizon."

Mercedes Interior Design Studio Germany: Maybach Berline Carriage

"The newest Cinderella story, follow Cindy, a neglected stepdaughter in a dysfunctional family, through this romantic drama as she celebrates her birthday on the town. A surprise from her father, Cindy sets out in a new Maybach prototype, the Maybach Berline, and meets a mysterious and handsome stranger."

The winner will be announced at the LA Auto Show on November 17.