A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not be mass-produced. 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.
1938 Buick Y-Job, often considered the first concept car
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]
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, 3 or 5 (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 in computer design. 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, some cannot move safely at speeds above 10 miles per hour (16 km/h).[2]
After a concept car's useful life is over, the cars are usually destroyed. Some survive, however, either in a company's museum or hidden away in storage. One unused but operational concept car that languished for years in the North Hollywood, California, shop of car customizer George Barris, Ford Motor Company's "Lincoln Futura" from 1954, received a new lease on life as the Batmobile in the Batman series that debuted in 1966 on the ABC Television Network.
Considered the first concept car,[4] 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.[5]
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 i8Electric Vehicles.
Designed in the late 1930s by the famous General Motors designer Harley Earl. Considered by most to be the first concept car.[6] Inspired many other Buick vehicles, including the Buick Blackhawk Concept.
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.
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.
One of the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle concept cars. This vehicle was launched with limited availability in certain states in early 2011, with availability in all of the United States, as well as parts of Europe by the end of 2012. The production car is the successor to the failed GM EV-1, originally leased through Saturn dealerships.
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).
A series of experimental automobiles produced in the 1960s and 1970s. The company was experimenting with new engine technologies, including Wankel engines.
The first in a series of 'experimental models', the 1EX was built by Rolls-Royce in 1919 on a 40/50 h.p. chassis to test and develop their cars. Individual EX models were produced for over 40 years ending with the 45EX in 1958.The Ghost name Rolls-Royce Ghost was adopted in 2011 as a production vehicle. 1EX was also used for the concept version of this Rolls-Royce vehicle.[11]
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]
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Concept automobiles.
^Chrysler "Jolts" PHEV Race; PHEV Ads; V2Green Acquired December 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, September 24, 2008, CalCars (California Cars Initiative)
^"What is a Concept Car? - Kelley Blue Book". Kbb.com.
^Cadillac Sixteen November 26, 2005, at the Wayback Machine, by Nick Hull, Detroit Auto Show 2003 Highlights, Car Design News, Inc.
^Smith, Karl (November 24, 2017). . Car Design News. Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
^Lamm, Michael (May 17, 2015). "Sensation and Tragedy: The Auburn Cabin Speedster Story". The Old Motor. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
^Wilkinson, Stephan (2005), Man And Machine: The Best of Stephan Wilkinson, Rowman & Littlefield, p. 83, ISBN978-1-59921-679-9, retrieved August 2, 2016
^"Bold Holden wins top US award". News Limited. June 22, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2007.
- The index of concept cars is dedicated to the showcars and concept automobiles
February 11, 2023
concept, concept, also, known, concept, vehicle, show, vehicle, prototype, made, showcase, styling, technology, they, often, exhibited, motor, shows, gauge, customer, reaction, radical, designs, which, mass, produced, general, motors, designer, harley, earl, g. A concept car also known as a concept vehicle show vehicle or prototype is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not be mass produced 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 1938 Buick Y Job often considered the first concept car 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 Contents 1 Design 2 Notable concept cars 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDesign EditConcept 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 3 or 5 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 in computer design 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 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 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 citation needed such as General Motors Cadillac Sixteen concept 3 After a concept car s useful life is over the cars are usually destroyed Some survive however either in a company s museum or hidden away in storage One unused but operational concept car that languished for years in the North Hollywood California shop of car customizer George Barris Ford Motor Company s Lincoln Futura from 1954 received a new lease on life as the Batmobile in the Batman series that debuted in 1966 on the ABC Television Network Notable concept cars EditModel NotesAlfa Romeo BAT cars 1950s 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 Speedster Considered the first concept car 4 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 5 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 6 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 Chevrolet Volt One of the first plug in hybrid electric vehicle concept cars This vehicle was launched with limited availability in certain states in early 2011 with availability in all of the United States as well as parts of Europe by the end of 2012 The production car is the successor to the failed GM EV 1 originally leased through Saturn dealerships 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 Ferrari Modulo Designed by Paolo Martin of the Italian carrozzeria Pininfarina unveiled at the 1970 Geneva 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 7 Lancia Megagamma The prototype for the modern MPV minivan 8 9 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 allows you to not feel any bumps and humps on the road 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 10 Phantom Corsair A 1930s concept car developed by Rust Heinz 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 Rolls Royce 1EX The first in a series of experimental models the 1EX was built by Rolls Royce in 1919 on a 40 50 h p chassis to test and develop their cars Individual EX models were produced for over 40 years ending with the 45EX in 1958 The Ghost name Rolls Royce Ghost was adopted in 2011 as a production vehicle 1EX was also used for the concept version of this Rolls Royce vehicle 11 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 See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Concept automobiles Auto show Car design Concept art Pre production car Production vehicle Product lifecycle management Proof of concept Prototype Serial production Show carReferences Edit Chrysler Jolts PHEV Race PHEV Ads V2Green Acquired Archived December 19 2008 at the Wayback Machine September 24 2008 CalCars California Cars Initiative What is a Concept Car Kelley Blue Book Kbb com Cadillac Sixteen Archived November 26 2005 at the Wayback Machine by Nick Hull Detroit Auto Show 2003 Highlights Car Design News Inc 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 Lamm Michael May 17 2015 Sensation and Tragedy The Auburn Cabin Speedster Story The Old Motor Retrieved June 29 2018 Wilkinson Stephan 2005 Man And Machine The Best of Stephan Wilkinson Rowman amp Littlefield p 83 ISBN 978 1 59921 679 9 retrieved August 2 2016 Bold Holden wins top US award News Limited June 22 2007 Retrieved July 15 2007 Tumminelli Paolo 2004 Car Design teNeues p 66 ISBN 3 8238 4561 6 30 Years of ItalDesign Jack Yan amp Associates 1998 Retrieved January 3 2008 Concept Car w GM amp Frank O Gehry Mosher David July 10 2004 Australian International Motor Show Rolls Royce Speech Maybach Archived from the original on December 5 2004 Retrieved May 21 2011 Lasse Sward April 24 2012 Ett sakert kort fran Hisingen A safe bet from Hisingen Dagens Nyheter in Swedish Retrieved August 10 2015 Volvo questions need for safety vehicles New Scientist Vol 58 no 842 April 19 1973 p 160 External links Edit Look up concept car in Wiktionary the free dictionary Concept cars at HowStuffWorks Old Concept Cars Concept Cars amp Car Design Information Information on over 250 concept cars Comparison of concept car and production version Concept Cars Index Car Concepts Concept Car Concept Cars at www allcarindex com The index of concept cars is dedicated to the showcars and concept automobiles Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Concept car amp oldid 1129037034, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
