Concept cars......Look gorgeous....And never gat made. Why?
Discussion
So why do manufacturers produce concept cars, and then never make them? Ok, I know that in some cases, vehicle legislation would prevent it, but many of what I see look ok. And what's more, (if I had the money), I'd certainly buy. Here's 3 examples. Not Ferraris picked deliberately though.
Ferrari 612 GTO
Ferraris Xezri
Camero
Ferrari 612 GTO
Ferraris Xezri
Camero
06 model year civic.
The reason they don't build the concept exactly is that the concept doesn't need to meet legislation, buildabilty fit real people in or any other design requirement it just needs to look cool on a stand.
The ones that come through virtually unchanged where probably done because the design was Marmite and the car company needed to gauge the reaction and saleability without alienating customers if they had gone too far.
The reason they don't build the concept exactly is that the concept doesn't need to meet legislation, buildabilty fit real people in or any other design requirement it just needs to look cool on a stand.
The ones that come through virtually unchanged where probably done because the design was Marmite and the car company needed to gauge the reaction and saleability without alienating customers if they had gone too far.
The majority of concept cars couldn't be made to meet type approval requirements due to things like minimum radii of external curves; minimum bonnet-block clearance, and minimum headlight heights. Concepts also don't need things like suspension that actually works without the wheel hitting the wheel arch.
If you are unlucky enough to have ever seen a printed out paper copy of the ENTIRE ETA (European Type Approval) documents, you would see why most concept cars can never be made!
Add in the fact that most concept cars don't have a valid business case to support them (cx-75 anyone....) and there fate is sealed!
Then there you get into the strange and wonderful world of manufacturing where a car can be a no-go simply due to having too wide a track (for example) to fit into the manufacturers existing assy line etc!
Add in the fact that most concept cars don't have a valid business case to support them (cx-75 anyone....) and there fate is sealed!
Then there you get into the strange and wonderful world of manufacturing where a car can be a no-go simply due to having too wide a track (for example) to fit into the manufacturers existing assy line etc!
I've never understood this myself either. I've been told it's so we can see what they're capable of, but I can't see the point in that if they aren't actually going to let us buy it. It kind of reminds me of watching the F1 on TV an someone suddenly turns in a lap a second faster than all their other laps and the comment from DC, MB or whoever is something to the effect of "their boss is going to be asking when they were driving that fast throughout". It's the same with car manufacturers - no point showing us what you're capable of if you're not going to keep it up and actually let us buy it. It's just frustrating.
robinessex said:
The 3 I depicted don't look as if they'd have any obvious issues.
eh? take a closer look, all would fail on sight lines! For example, check the height of the side glasshouse against the height of the doors! Only a 3.6 midget would be able to get in, and they then wouldn't be able to see out!I will never understand why BMW never built this supercar. Even by today's standards it looks great.
To answer the OP-apart from a lack of legislative adherance and punitive costs involved with changing them, I would put it down to a board of directors who share little or no enthusiasm for their subject matter. The focus is on the bottom line. Limited run, often complex cars keep the small cabal of enthusiasts happy, but they are often loss making projects. See the Porsche Carrera GT.
To answer the OP-apart from a lack of legislative adherance and punitive costs involved with changing them, I would put it down to a board of directors who share little or no enthusiasm for their subject matter. The focus is on the bottom line. Limited run, often complex cars keep the small cabal of enthusiasts happy, but they are often loss making projects. See the Porsche Carrera GT.
robinessex said:
So why do manufacturers produce concept cars, and then never make them? Ok, I know that in some cases, vehicle legislation would prevent it, but many of what I see look ok. And what's more, (if I had the money), I'd certainly buy. Here's 3 examples. Not Ferraris picked deliberately though.
Ferrari 612 GTO
That is achingly pretty. Can see real aspects of the F12 in that though.Ferrari 612 GTO
The Ford Vertek concept car was a very chopped up Volvo XC70 underneath & was made of expanding foam & clay with a layer of paint on top (as per most concept cars)
Asking the local Ford dealer for a new battery for a 2015 car in 2012 caused much amusement, especially after showing him pictures of it in bits trying to get to the battery
Asking the local Ford dealer for a new battery for a 2015 car in 2012 caused much amusement, especially after showing him pictures of it in bits trying to get to the battery
mattshiz said:
daveco said:
I will never understand why BMW never built this supercar. Even by today's standards it looks great.
Probably because it looks hideous. Mind you, that never stopped them making every other car in their range.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff