Concept car
{{Short description|Car designed to showcase prototype features}}
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File:1939 ... Harley Earl and "The Y Job".jpg, often considered to be the first concept car]]
File:Toyota concept car - Odaiba - 2020 1 7.webm 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.
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.{{citation needed (lead)|date=September 2024}}
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.[http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/1005.html Chrysler "Jolts" PHEV Race; PHEV Ads; V2Green Acquired] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219063144/http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/1005.html |date=December 19, 2008 }}, September 24, 2008, CalCars (California Cars Initiative)
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 {{convert|10|mph|km/h}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.kbb.com/what-is/concept-car/|title=What is a Concept Car? – Kelley Blue Book|website=Kbb.com|date=October 4, 2021 }}
Inoperative "mock-ups" are usually made of wax, clay, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or a combination thereof.{{cn|date=September 2024}}
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,{{Cite web |last=Vicky |date=2022-11-25 |title=What is a Concept Car? Understanding Its Concept and Purpose – APW |url=https://autoprotoway.com/what-is-a-concept-car/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=AutoProtoWay |language=en-US}} such as General Motors' Cadillac Sixteen concept.[http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/detroit/highlights/h06-cadillac-sixteen.html Cadillac Sixteen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126041042/http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/detroit/highlights/h06-cadillac-sixteen.html |date=November 26, 2005 }}, by Nick Hull, Detroit Auto Show 2003 Highlights, Car Design News, Inc.
Notable concept cars
{{expand section|what is the standard for notability here|date=November 2024}}
See also
- Concept art
- List of Alfa Romeo concept cars
- List of Audi concept cars
- List of BMW concept vehicles
- List of Citroën concept cars
- List of Dodge concept vehicles
- List of Lamborghini concept vehicles
- List of Lancia concept cars
- Pre-production car
- Production vehicle
- Product lifecycle management
- Proof-of-concept
- Show car
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Works cited
- {{cite news |last1=Kosner |first1=Anthony Wing |title=The Sports Car, The Laptop And The Science Behind The Golden Proportion |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2013/02/22/the-sports-car-the-laptop-and-the-science-behind-the-golden-proportion/ |work=Forbes |date=22 February 2013 }}
- {{cite web |last1=Manoukian |first1=Julia |title=The Psychology Of Luxury Car Buyers: 7 Considerations |url=https://www.limelightplatform.com/blog/psychology-luxury-car-buyers-considerations |work=Limelight |date=November 27, 2019 }}
- {{cite web |title=The greatest ever Porsche art cars |url=https://www.porsche.com/stories/design/the-greatest-ever-porsche-art-cars |work=Porsche |date=November 16, 2022 }}
External links
{{Commons category|Concept automobiles}}
- {{HowStuffWorks|concept-cars|Concept cars}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Articles containing video clips