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Concept cars

Dodge Copperhead

A concept car is a car prototype made to showcase a concept, new styling, technology and more. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced.

General Motors designer Harley Earl is generally credited with inventing the concept, or show, car, and definitely did much to popularize it through its traveling Motorama shows of the 1950s.

Concept cars rarely go into production directly; most undergo at least some changes before the design is finalized for the sake of practicality and cost. Concept cars are often radical in design. Some use non-traditional, exotic, or expensive materials, ranging from paper to carbon fiber to exotic alloys. Others have unique layouts, such as gullwing doors, 3 or 6 (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 vehicles with a working drivetrain and accessories. The state of most concept cars lies somewhere in between and usually does not represent the final product.

If drivable, the drivetrain is often borrowed from another production vehicle from the same company, or may have defects and imperfections in design. They can also be quite refined, such as General Motors' Cadillac Sixteen Concept [1].

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

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.

Some concept cars

1938 Buick Y-Job

Audi Avus Quattro.
The Audi TT began life as a concept car.
Buick "Y" Job" - designed in the late 1930s by the famous General Motors designer Harley Earl. Picture. This is considered by most to be the first concept car.
1956 General Motors Firebird - a gas turbine-powered four-seater with a plastic "bubble top" roof. Three versions.
Buick LeSabre - picture.
Bugatti Rinspeed EB110 Cyan - a Bugatti EB110 tuned by the Swiss company Rinspeed.
BMW Z9 Concept - Many people consider the BMW 6-Series the production version of this coupé concept[2].
Cadillac Sixteen [3] [4].
Castagna Imperial Landaulet.
Chrysler Airflite.
Chevrolet Mako Shark.
Chrysler Norseman - a car designed by Ghia of Italy, was lost when the SS Andrea Doria sunk in 1956.
Dodge Copperhead - a small roadster designed to be a "poor man's Viper". It is one of the most well known concepts of all time.
Dodge Kahuna - a minivan/SUV crossover built mainly for the average surfer..
Dodge Sidewinder - a pickup truck unveiled at the SEMA convention in 1997
Eliica - an 8-wheeled electric car.
Ford GT90 - previously a spiritual successor to the Ford GT40, only one GT90 was produced.
Ford MA concept car - a two-seater with a body made out of bamboo.
General Motors Ultralite.
General Motors Hy-wire.
Opel Frogster - a 2002 car capable of transforming into 3 different body styles with a built-in PDA.
TATA Aria - A superb sports utility Vehicle designed by TATA Motors,India.
TATA Indiva - Another big Multi-utility Vehicle designed by TATA Motors,India.
Toyota Sportivo Coupe - The Sportivo Coupe is a concept car that demonstrates new styling, interior dynamics, and a high technology approach to road safety. It was designed with help from [[Australia}Australian]] teenagers. - Pictures at "http://www.mybarina.com/gallery/Toyota-Sportivo-Coupe".
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Concept Car with Frank Gehry [5].
The upcoming Volkswagen Eos was originally a concept vehicle known as the Volkswagen Concept C.
Volkswagen 1 L car Volkswagen fuel saver concept with 235 MPG(US)
Volkswagen New Beetle Ragster - The possible new design for future New Beetles.
Volkswagen GX3 - A three-wheeled roaster.
Volvo YCC - the first car designed entirely by a team of women.

See also

• Auto show

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