Concept car

Last updated

1938 Buick Y-Job, often considered to be the first concept car 1939 ... Harley Earl and "The Y Job".jpg
1938 Buick Y-Job, often considered to be the first concept car
2020 Toyota concept car showcased in Japan

A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle or show vehicle) is a car made to showcase new styling or new technology. Concept cars are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not be produced.

Contents

General Motors designer Harley Earl is generally credited with inventing the concept car, and did much to popularize it through its traveling Motorama shows of the 1950s.[ not verified in body ]

Concept cars never go into production directly. In modern times, all would have to undergo many changes before the design is finalized for the sake of practicality, safety, regulatory compliance, and cost. A "production-intent" prototype, as opposed to a concept vehicle, serves this purpose. [1]

Design

Concept cars are often radical in engine or design. Some use non-traditional, exotic, or expensive materials, ranging from paper to carbon fiber to refined alloys. Others have unique layouts, such as gullwing doors, three or five (or more) wheels, or special abilities not usually found on cars. Because of these often impractical or unprofitable leanings, many concept cars never get past scale models or even drawings. Other more traditional concepts can be developed into fully drivable (operational) vehicles with a working drivetrain and accessories. The state of most concept cars lies somewhere in between and does not represent the final product. A very small proportion of concept cars are functional to any useful extent, and some cannot move safely at speeds above 10 miles per hour (16 km/h). [2]

Inoperative "mock-ups" are usually made of wax, clay, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or a combination thereof.[ citation needed ]

If drivable, the drivetrain is often borrowed from a production vehicle from the same company or may have defects and imperfections in design. They can also be quite refined, [3] such as General Motors' Cadillac Sixteen concept. [4]


Notable concept cars

ModelNotes
Alfa Romeo BAT cars1950s aerodynamic studies by Bertone.
Aston Martin Atom Designed in 1939 by Claude Hill. Fully functional and still in road-worthy condition, it was adopted by Aston Martin owner David Brown into a racing car that won outright at the 1948 Spa 24 Hours and became the basis for the DB1.
Auburn Cabin SpeedsterConsidered the first concept car, [5] it was built in 1929 and used for publicity, touring the car show circuit until it was destroyed in a fire at a Los Angeles exhibit that also consumed about 320 other cars on display. [6]
Autobianchi A112 Runabout Late 1960s Bertone (Marcello Gandini) designed sportscar.[ citation needed ]
Autonova Fam  [ de ]Early monovolume concept (mid 1960s) by Fritz Bob Busch  [ de ], Michael Conrad, and Pio Manzù.
BMW GINA A fabric-skinned shape-shifting sports car. This platform (aside from the body material and changing shape) was adopted in 2012 for the BMW i3 and BMW i8 Electric Vehicles.
Buick Y-Job Designed in the late 1930s by the famous General Motors designer Harley Earl. Considered by most to be the first concept car. [7] Inspired many other Buick vehicles, including the Buick Blackhawk Concept.
General Motors Le Sabre Built by Harley Earl in 1951, it helped introduce 12-volt electrics and the aluminum 215 ci V8 to GM. This nameplate was transferred over to be a production vehicle.
Cadillac Cyclone Built in 1959, it is one of Harley Earl's last designs. Its futuristic styling was heavily influenced by 1950s aviation and rocketry.
Cadillac Debutante Reputedly the most luxurious car ever built at the time of its construction, the Cadillac Debutante was fitted with a leopard skin interior and 24 karat gold instrument panel and fittings.
Chevrolet Corvette Mako Shark Previewed elements of the second (1963–1967) and third (1968–1982) generations of the production Corvette.
Cornell Safety Car Project by Cornell University Aeronautical Laboratory and Liberty Mutual insurance company (mid 1950s).[ citation needed ]
Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT 1962 mid-engined experimental prototype that featured design elements of the third generation (1968–1982) of the production Corvette.
Dodge Tomahawk A 2003 V10-powered four-wheel motorcycle-like design that drew attention for its audacity, and the debunked claim that it could hypothetically reach speeds of 300 to 420 mph (480 to 680 km/h).[ citation needed ]
Ferrari Modulo Designed by Paolo Martin of the Italian carrozzeria Pininfarina, unveiled at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show.[ citation needed ]
Ford 021C Styling exercise (not intended for production) by Marc Newson and J Mays first shown at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show.
Ford Gyron Futuristic two-wheeled gyrocar designed by Syd Mead and McKinley Thompson first shown in 1961 at the Detroit Motor Show.
Ford Nucleon A nuclear-powered car (scale model only).
Ford Probe A series of four designs between 1979 and 1983 of which the Probe III was eventually developed into the Ford Sierra.
Ford SYNus First shown in 2005. This design was developed to explore the creation of an ultra-safe roadgoing environment.
General Motors Firebird A series of gas turbine–powered cars. Pontiac adopted this nameplate based on the Chevrolet Camaro. The nameplate was retired in 2002, along with the Chevrolet Camaro, which was revived in 2010.
Holden Efijy Based around the Holden FJ, named the United States concept car of the year for 2007. [8]
Hummer HX A Hummer branded off-road compact SUV vehicle that is smaller-sized and lower-priced than the H2 and H3.
Lancia Megagamma The prototype for the modern MPV (minivan). [9] [10]
Lancia Stratos Zero Marcello Gandini designed sportscar presented at the 1970 Turin Auto Show.
Mercedes-Benz C111 A series of experimental automobiles produced in the 1960s and 1970s. The company was experimenting with new engine technologies, including Wankel engines.
Mercedes-Benz F700 Its PRE-SCAN road-scanning suspension enables a perfectly smooth ride, even on rough or bumpy terrains (developed later into Magic Body Control). This design will lead to the development of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Mercedes-Benz B-Class, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
MIT Car The Massachusetts Institute of Technology concept car with Frank Gehry. [11]
Phantom Corsair A 1930s concept car, developed by Rust Heinz.
Plymouth XNR Open roadster with asymmetric features by Virgil Exner.
Pontiac Bonneville Special Pontiac's first 2-seater sports car that debuted at the 1954 Motorama. This nameplate carried over to a Pontiac sports car of the 1950s.
Pontiac Club de Mer Pontiac's all stainless steel sports car that debuted at the 1956 Motorama.
Porsche 989 Porsche's first 4-door car, a predecessor of the Porsche Panamera.
Volvo VESC Used as testbed in the development of safety features incorporated into the Volvo 240 series cars, used by the NHTSA as a basis for later safety standards, including self-retracting three-point seatbelts, crumple zones, head restraints, rollover protection, and shock-absorbing zero-damage bumpers. [12] [13]
Volkswagen Concept One The retro-futurist design by J Mays and Freeman Thomas first shown in 1994 is a rare example of a concept car that was later produced.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American International Auto Show</span> Annual auto show in Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit Auto Show, formerly known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan. Hosted at Huntington Place since 1965, it is among the largest auto shows in North America, and is widely regarded as one of the automotive industry's most important events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche Boxster (986)</span> First generation of the Porsche Boxster sports car

The Porsche 986 is the internal designation for the first generation Boxster, a mid-engine two-seater roadster built by German automobile manufacturer Porsche. Introduced in late 1996, the Boxster, based on the 1993 Boxster Concept, was Porsche's first road vehicle to be originally designed as a roadster since the 550 Spyder. The Boxster's name is derived from the word "boxer", referring to the vehicle's flat or "boxer" engine, and the name "speedster", first seen on the 356. Powered by a 2.5-litre flat six-cylinder engine, the base model was upgraded to a 2.7-litre engine in the year 2000 and a new Boxster S variant was introduced with a 3.2-litre engine. In 2003, styling and engine output was upgraded on both variants. The 986 was succeeded by the 987 which retained the Boxster roadster and added the Cayman fixed-roof coupé body style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitsubishi Outlander</span> Compact crossover SUV

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors since 2001. It was originally known as the Mitsubishi Airtrek when it was introduced in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York International Auto Show</span> Annual US auto show

The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show that is held in Manhattan, New York City in late March or early April. It is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. It usually opens on or just before Easter weekend and closes on the first Sunday after Easter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geneva International Motor Show</span> Annual Swiss auto show

The Geneva International Motor Show was an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Motor Show Germany</span> Annual German motor show

The International Motor Show Germany or International Mobility Show Germany, in German known as the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, is one of the world's largest mobility trade fairs. It consists of two separate fairs, that subdivided in 1991. While the IAA Mobility displays passenger vehicles, motorcycles and bikes, the IAA Transportation specializes in commercial vehicles. Before the separation, the show was held solely at the Messe Frankfurt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LA Auto Show</span> Annual US auto show

The Los Angeles Auto Show, also known as the LA Auto Show, is an auto show held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is open to the public for ten days, filling 760,000 square feet (71,000 m2) of exhibit space. Since 2006 the event is held in November or December.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lexus LF</span> Concept Car Series

The Lexus LF line is a series of concept cars built by Lexus, the luxury vehicle division of Toyota Motor Corporation. The "LF" designation refers to Lexus Future. The LF Series vehicles features coupes/convertibles, including: the LF-A, the LF-A Roadster, LF-LC, LF-CC, and the LF-C; sedans: the LF-S, LF-Sh, and LF-Gh; crossover SUVs: the LF-X and LF-Xh; and hatchbacks: the LF-Ch. The first concept vehicle of the LF Series, the LF-X, appeared in 2003. The LF Series utilizes L-finesse, a design philosophy named for "Leading Edge" and "finesse", which debuted on the LF Series concepts and later extended to all new production Lexus vehicles. New vehicle technologies on the LF Series include advanced instrumentation, multiple driver-selected vehicle configurations, hybrid and experimental powertrains, and unconventional driver interface designs. The vehicles also feature new design cues which derive from the L-finesse design language of "Intriguing Elegance" (純), "Incisive Simplicity" (妙), and "Seamless Anticipation" (予). Several of the LF concept vehicles have appeared close to their production counterparts, while the design cues of other LF concepts appeared on more distinctly different production vehicles.

Hybrid vehicle drivetrains transmit power to the driving wheels for hybrid vehicles. A hybrid vehicle has multiple forms of motive power, and can come in many configurations. For example, a hybrid may receive its energy by burning gasoline, but switch between an electric motor and a combustion engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lohner–Porsche</span> Motor vehicle

Lohner–Porsche is a term encompassing several electric vehicles designed by Ferdinand Porsche and manufactured at Lohner-Werke in the early 1900s. They include the first hybrid electric vehicle and the first commercial hub motor car. The hybrid "Mixed" or "Mixte" racecars are powered by a gasoline engine which drives four electric motors, one in each wheel hub. The battery-powered "Touring" or "Chaise" commercial cars utilize only two front-wheel hub motors.

Voltec, formerly known as E-Flex, is a General Motors powertrain released in November 2010. The Voltec architecture is primarily a plug-in capable, battery-dominant electric vehicle with additional fossil fuel powered series and parallel hybrid capabilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auto Shanghai</span> Chinese biennial automobile show

Auto Shanghai, officially known as the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, is a biennial international automobile show that alternates with the Beijing Auto Show as China's yearly international automotive exhibition. First held in 1985, Auto Shanghai is the nation's oldest auto exhibition, and is considered as an important major international auto show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadillac ELR</span> Motor vehicle

The Cadillac ELR is a two-door, four-passenger luxury plug-in hybrid compact coupé manufactured and marketed by Cadillac for model years (MY) 2014 and 2016 – with a hiatus for MY 2015. Using a retuned version of the Chevrolet Volt's Voltec EREV drivetrain, the ELR's lithium-ion battery pack delivered an all-electric range of 37–39 miles (60–63 km) and a top speed of 106 mph (171 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheel hub motor</span> Electric motor in the middle of a wheel

A wheel hub motor, hub motor, or in-wheel motor is a motor that is incorporated into the hub of the wheel. Wheel-hub motors are commonly found on electric bicycles. Electric hub motors were well-received in early electric cars, but have not been commercially successful in modern production cars because they negatively affect vehicle handling due to higher dynamic wheel load and their placement makes them prone to damage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 (991)</span> Motor vehicle

The Porsche 991 is the seventh generation of the Porsche 911 sports car, which was unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show on 15 September as the replacement for the 997. The 991 was an entirely new platform, only the third since the original 911 launched in 1963. Production of the 991 generation ended on December 20, 2019, with 233,540 units produced.

Simon Cox is a British car designer known for the Isuzu Vehicross, Cadillac Cien, Cadillac Converj, and the Opel Speedster.

Rimac Automobili is a Croatian automotive manufacturer headquartered in Sveta Nedelja, Croatia, that develops and produces electric sports cars. Its sister company, Rimac Technology also produces drivetrains and battery systems for automotive businesses.

James C. Shyr (石志傑/杰) is a Chinese-American automotive designer widely known for his design contributions to the first and second generation Buick LaCrosse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge Tomahawk</span> Concept vehicle

The Dodge Tomahawk was a non-street legal vehicle introduced in 2004 by Dodge at the North American International Auto Show, initially as a one-off concept, and then later that year as a limited production vehicle when DaimlerChrysler announced they would sell hand-built reproductions on order. The Tomahawk attracted significant press and industry attention for its striking design, its outsize-displacement, 10-cylinder car engine, and its four close-coupled wheels, which give it a motorcycle-like appearance. Experts disagreed on whether it is a true motorcycle. The retro-Art Deco design's central visual element is the 500-horsepower (370 kW), 8.3-litre (510 cu in) V10 SRT10 engine from the Dodge Viper sports car. The Tomahawk's two front and two rear wheels are sprung independently, which would allow it to lean into corners and countersteer like a motorcycle.

John Manoogian II is an industrial designer, adjunct faculty member, automotive industry expert and automobile designer — widely known for his nearly 33-year career with General Motors, where he designed for the company's Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn, Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac divisions.

References

  1. ↑ Chrysler "Jolts" PHEV Race; PHEV Ads; V2Green Acquired Archived December 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , September 24, 2008, CalCars (California Cars Initiative)
  2. ↑ "What is a Concept Car? – Kelley Blue Book". Kbb.com. October 4, 2021.
  3. ↑ Vicky (November 25, 2022). "What is a Concept Car? Understanding Its Concept and Purpose – APW". AutoProtoWay. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ Cadillac Sixteen Archived November 26, 2005, at the Wayback Machine , by Nick Hull, Detroit Auto Show 2003 Highlights, Car Design News, Inc.
  5. ↑ Smith, Karl (November 24, 2017). "CCotW: Auburn Cabin Speedster (1929)". Car Design News. Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  6. ↑ Lamm, Michael (May 17, 2015). "Sensation and Tragedy: The Auburn Cabin Speedster Story". The Old Motor. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  7. ↑ Wilkinson, Stephan (2005), Man And Machine: The Best of Stephan Wilkinson, Rowman & Littlefield, p. 83, ISBN   978-1-59921-679-9 , retrieved August 2, 2016
  8. ↑ "Bold Holden wins top US award". News Limited. June 22, 2007. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2007.
  9. ↑ Tumminelli, Paolo (2004). Car Design. teNeues. p. 66. ISBN   978-3-8238-4561-4.
  10. ↑ "30 Years of ItalDesign". Jack Yan & Associates. 1998. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  11. ↑ Concept Car Archived March 4, 2020, at the Wayback Machine w/ GM & Frank O. Gehry
  12. ↑ Lasse Swärd (April 24, 2012). "Ett säkert kort från Hisingen" [A safe bet from Hisingen]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Volvo questions need for safety vehicles..." New Scientist. Vol. 58, no. 842. April 19, 1973. p. 160.

Works cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.