22:
795:
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.
127:
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).
153:
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
251:
Considered the first concept car, 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.
431:
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).
379:
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.
71:
Concept cars typically do not go into production directly. In modern times, all would have to undergo many changes before the design is finalized for the sake of practicality,
958:
940:
1195:
288:
115:, or special abilities not usually found on cars. Because of these often impractical or unprofitable leanings, many concept cars never get past
271:
650:
A series of experimental automobiles produced in the 1960s and 1970s. The company was experimenting with new engine technologies, including
312:
A fabric-skinned shape-shifting sports car. This platform (aside from the body material and changing shape) was adopted in 2012 for the
369:
Built in 1959, it is one of Harley Earl's last designs. Its futuristic styling was heavily influenced by 1950s aviation and rocketry.
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Its PRE-SCAN road-scanning suspension enables a perfectly smooth ride, even on rough or bumpy terrains (developed later into
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831:
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First shown in 2005. This design was developed to explore the creation of an ultra-safe roadgoing environment.
142:
from the same company or may have defects and imperfections in design. They can also be quite refined, such as
123:. Other more traditional concepts can be developed into fully drivable (operational) vehicles with a working
1220:
846:
355:
Built by Harley Earl in 1951, it helped introduce 12-volt electrics and the aluminum 215 ci V8 to GM. This
64:
is generally credited with inventing the concept car, and did much to popularize it through its traveling
237:
229:
155:
96:
521:
A series of four designs between 1979 and 1983 of which the Probe III was eventually developed into the
407:
Project by
Cornell University Aeronautical Laboratory and Liberty Mutual insurance company (mid 1950s).
723:
225:
143:
257:
384:
540:
49:) is a car made to showcase new styling or new technology. Concept cars are often exhibited at
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139:
135:" are usually made of wax, clay, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or a combination thereof.
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95:. Some use non-traditional, exotic, or expensive materials, ranging from paper to
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814:
first shown in 1994 is a rare example of a concept car that was later produced.
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to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not be
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1962 mid-engined experimental prototype that featured design elements of the
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1196:"The Sports Car, The Laptop And The Science Behind The Golden Proportion"
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220:. Fully functional and still in road-worthy condition, it was adopted by
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61:
26:
1123:
947:, by Nick Hull, Detroit Auto Show 2003 Highlights, Car Design News, Inc.
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761:
732:
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72:
337:. Considered by most to be the first concept car. Inspired many other
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462:
356:
167:
80:
50:
914:"What is a Concept Car? Understanding Its Concept and Purpose – APW"
989:
856:
765:
736:
668:). This design will lead to the development of the next-generation
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307:
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333:
Designed in the late 1930s by the famous
General Motors designer
132:
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594:
472:
317:
313:
338:
112:
100:
583:, named the United States concept car of the year for 2007.
174:
series that debuted in 1966 on the ABC Television
Network.
1180:. Vol. 58, no. 842. April 19, 1973. p. 160.
884:, September 24, 2008, CalCars (California Cars Initiative)
636:
Marcello
Gandini designed sportscar presented at the 1970
990:"Sensation and Tragedy: The Auburn Cabin Speedster Story"
604:
vehicle that is smaller-sized and lower-priced than the
83:, as opposed to a concept vehicle, serves this purpose.
1209:"The Psychology Of Luxury Car Buyers: 7 Considerations"
875:
Chrysler "Jolts" PHEV Race; PHEV Ads; V2Green
Acquired
138:
If drivable, the drivetrain is often borrowed from a
467:Styling exercise (not intended for production) by
359:was transferred over to be a production vehicle.
1249:
166:" from 1954 received a new lease on life as the
1017:Man And Machine: The Best of Stephan Wilkinson
704:A 1930s concept car, developed by Rust Heinz.
29:, often considered to be the first concept car
1175:"Volvo questions need for safety vehicles..."
91:Concept cars are often radical in engine or
1142:
895:"What is a Concept Car? – Kelley Blue Book"
489:Futuristic two-wheeled gyrocar designed by
16:Car designed to showcase prototype features
1194:Kosner, Anthony Wing (February 22, 2013).
1076:
781:'s first 4-door car, a predecessor of the
714:Open roadster with asymmetric features by
511:A nuclear-powered car (scale model only).
1206:
1070:
1013:
1020:, Rowman & Littlefield, p. 83,
397:generations of the production Corvette.
20:
1136:
1095:
180:
1250:
1207:Manoukian, Julia (November 27, 2019).
1193:
959:"CCotW: Auburn Cabin Speedster (1929)"
956:
911:
692:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1221:"The greatest ever Porsche art cars"
1147:[A safe bet from Hisingen].
987:
565:was retired in 2002, along with the
13:
622:The prototype for the modern MPV (
79:, and cost. A "production-intent"
14:
1269:
1232:
1105:. Jack Yan & Associates. 1998
957:Smith, Karl (November 24, 2017).
1167:
1145:"Ett säkert kort från Hisingen"
1117:
1054:. June 22, 2007. Archived from
1048:"Bold Holden wins top US award"
1187:
1143:Lasse Swärd (April 24, 2012).
1040:
1007:
988:Lamm, Michael (May 17, 2015).
981:
950:
931:
905:
887:
868:
832:List of Dodge concept vehicles
694:concept car with Frank Gehry.
232:that won outright at the 1948
1:
862:
806:The retro-futurist design by
569:, which was revived in 2010.
385:Chevrolet Corvette Mako Shark
236:and became the basis for the
202:1950s aerodynamic studies by
1151:(in Swedish). Archived from
847:Product lifecycle management
421:of the production Corvette.
419:third generation (1968–1982)
7:
1014:Wilkinson, Stephan (2005),
912:Vicky (November 25, 2022).
820:
497:first shown in 1961 at the
156:North Hollywood, California
10:
1274:
1133:w/ GM & Frank O. Gehry
1077:Tumminelli, Paolo (2004).
943:November 26, 2005, at the
880:December 19, 2008, at the
724:Pontiac Bonneville Special
413:Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT
389:Previewed elements of the
111:, three or five (or more)
764:that debuted at the 1956
747:sports car of the 1950s.
735:that debuted at the 1954
258:Autobianchi A112 Runabout
158:, shop of car customizer
86:
1103:"30 Years of ItalDesign"
475:first shown at the 1999
341:vehicles, including the
162:, Ford Motor Company's "
60:General Motors designer
1081:. teNeues. p. 66.
760:'s all stainless steel
541:General Motors Firebird
453:, unveiled at the 1970
351:General Motors Le Sabre
287:concept (mid 1960s) by
1129:March 4, 2020, at the
802:Volkswagen Concept One
298:, Michael Conrad, and
266:) designed sportscar.
30:
1155:on September 24, 2015
678:Mercedes-Benz C-Class
674:Mercedes-Benz B-Class
670:Mercedes-Benz A-Class
103:. Others have unique
77:regulatory compliance
24:
1227:. November 16, 2022.
262:Late 1960s Bertone (
216:Designed in 1939 by
181:Notable concept cars
119:or even drawings in
68:shows of the 1950s.
753:Pontiac Club de Mer
632:Lancia Stratos Zero
901:. October 4, 2021.
842:Production vehicle
837:Pre-production car
743:carried over to a
731:'s first 2-seater
666:Magic Body Control
660:Mercedes-Benz F700
646:Mercedes-Benz C111
499:Detroit Motor Show
403:Cornell Safety Car
391:second (1963–1967)
375:Cadillac Debutante
140:production vehicle
31:
1088:978-3-8238-4561-4
1027:978-1-59921-679-9
818:
817:
579:Based around the
495:McKinley Thompson
455:Geneva Motor Show
395:third (1968–1982)
321:Electric Vehicles
212:Aston Martin Atom
37:(also known as a
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1074:
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1067:
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1063:
1058:on June 26, 2007
1044:
1038:
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1034:
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1005:
1004:
1002:
1000:
985:
979:
978:
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969:on June 30, 2018
965:. Archived from
954:
948:
938:Cadillac Sixteen
935:
929:
928:
926:
924:
909:
903:
902:
891:
885:
872:
852:Proof-of-concept
783:Porsche Panamera
618:Lancia Megagamma
567:Chevrolet Camaro
559:Chevrolet Camaro
477:Tokyo Motor Show
365:Cadillac Cyclone
297:
280:
264:Marcello Gandini
185:
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148:Cadillac Sixteen
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1131:Wayback Machine
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963:Car Design News
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951:
945:Wayback Machine
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882:Wayback Machine
873:
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700:Phantom Corsair
638:Turin Auto Show
549:–powered cars.
446:of the Italian
343:Buick Blackhawk
291:
289:Fritz Bob Busch
274:
248:Cabin Speedster
183:
177:
121:computer design
89:
39:concept vehicle
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1233:External links
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1149:Dagens Nyheter
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164:Lincoln Futura
144:General Motors
109:gullwing doors
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160:George Barris
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131:Inoperative "
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1258:Concept cars
1239:Concept cars
1224:
1212:
1199:
1177:
1169:
1157:. Retrieved
1153:the original
1148:
1138:
1119:
1107:. Retrieved
1097:
1078:
1072:
1060:. Retrieved
1056:the original
1052:News Limited
1042:
1031:, retrieved
1016:
1009:
997:. Retrieved
993:
983:
971:. Retrieved
967:the original
962:
952:
933:
921:. Retrieved
918:AutoProtoWay
917:
907:
898:
889:
870:
716:Virgil Exner
710:Plymouth XNR
575:Holden Efijy
545:A series of
507:Ford Nucleon
444:Paolo Martin
442:Designed by
272:Autonova Fam
234:Spa 24 Hours
222:Aston Martin
176:
171:
152:
137:
130:
117:scale models
97:carbon fiber
90:
70:
59:
46:
43:show vehicle
42:
38:
34:
32:
18:
1188:Works cited
1124:Concept Car
827:Concept art
774:Porsche 989
602:compact SUV
547:gas turbine
523:Ford Sierra
469:Marc Newson
451:Pininfarina
448:carrozzeria
335:Harley Earl
329:Buick Y-Job
292: [
275: [
226:David Brown
218:Claude Hill
99:to refined
62:Harley Earl
51:motor shows
35:concept car
27:Buick Y-Job
1159:August 10,
1109:January 3,
1079:Car Design
863:References
791:Volvo VESC
762:sports car
733:sports car
531:Ford SYNus
517:Ford Probe
485:Ford Gyron
285:monovolume
230:racing car
125:drivetrain
107:, such as
1213:Limelight
1033:August 2,
741:nameplate
589:Hummer HX
581:Holden FJ
563:nameplate
555:nameplate
463:Ford 021C
357:nameplate
345:Concept.
300:Pio Manzù
168:Batmobile
150:concept.
81:prototype
47:prototype
1252:Category
1127:Archived
1062:July 15,
999:June 29,
973:June 29,
941:Archived
878:Archived
857:Show car
821:See also
766:Motorama
737:Motorama
599:off-road
597:branded
491:Syd Mead
308:BMW GINA
133:mock-ups
66:Motorama
55:produced
1225:Porsche
923:May 15,
899:Kbb.com
779:Porsche
758:Pontiac
745:Pontiac
739:. This
729:Pontiac
686:MIT Car
624:minivan
551:Pontiac
228:into a
204:Bertone
170:in the
105:layouts
1200:Forbes
1085:
1024:
808:J Mays
676:, and
595:Hummer
561:. The
473:J Mays
318:BMW i8
314:BMW i3
283:Early
246:Auburn
224:owner
191:Notes
172:Batman
113:wheels
101:alloys
93:design
87:Design
73:safety
339:Buick
296:]
279:]
188:Model
25:1938
1161:2015
1111:2008
1083:ISBN
1064:2007
1035:2016
1022:ISBN
1001:2018
975:2018
925:2023
810:and
690:The
608:and
493:and
471:and
393:and
316:and
199:cars
1241:at
626:).
238:DB1
57:.
45:or
1254::
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1211:.
1198:.
1050:.
992:.
961:.
916:.
897:.
785:.
768:.
718:.
680:.
672:,
654:.
640:.
612:.
610:H3
606:H2
593:A
525:.
501:.
479:.
457:.
323:.
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294:de
277:de
240:.
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1202:.
1163:.
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1091:.
1066:.
1003:.
977:.
927:.
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