© Ford By Jeremy Korzeniewski , Autoblog Concept cars shine just long enough to showcase what’s possible but...
© Ford |
By Jeremy Korzeniewski, Autoblog
Concept cars shine just long enough to showcase what’s possible but not currently available in terms of design, technology and performance. When they become unfashionable, they’re generally sent to a warehouse where they gather dust with other one-offs and might-have-beens for decades on end.
We’ve explored the pantheon of forgotten concept cars and selected some of the models we would have liked to see make the transition to production. Some are simply cool, while others represent missed opportunities for automakers.
Jaguar C-X75 (2010)
© Jaguar |
Citing the aftermath of the global recession, Jaguar canceled the C-X75 project shortly after giving well-heeled enthusiasts the hope of one day owning one. It nonetheless made seven cars (including five used for stunts) that starred in the 2015 James Bond movie Spectre.
Volkswagen BlueSport (2009)
© Volkswagen |
Volkswagen claimed it needed to sell 40,000 to 50,000 examples of the roadster annually for it to make sense. After a long period of hesitation, executives called off the project in the early 2010s due to a perceived lack of demand.
Bugatti 16C Galibier (2009)
© Bugatti |
As of 2018, Bugatti is open to the idea of launching a four-door model but it hasn’t revealed what form it will take yet.
Suzuki LC (2005)
© Suzuki |
Chevrolet Nomad (2004)
© Chevrolet |
Chevrolet had approved wilder models for production, like the SSR. The Nomad looked tame in comparison and it would have let the firm continue to surf the retro wave sweeping across the automotive industry. Building it would have been cost-efficient because it would have shared mechanical parts with the Pontiac Solstice but Chevrolet couldn’t make a business case for a retro, rear-wheel drive grocery-getter.
Buick Velite (2004)
© Buick |
The Velite remained a concept – parent company General Motors’ shaky financial situation certainly didn’t help its cause – and Buick’s customer base continued to age. Buick returned to the convertible segment in 2016 when it introduced the Opel-sourced Cascada.
Buick Velite (2004) In the early 2000s, Buick’s line-up looked as stale as a week-old pint of Miller Lite. The 2004 Velite concept embodied one way the firm could add much-needed allure to its line-up. It was a convertible, a body style that had been absent from the Buick portfolio since the Reatta's demise in the early 1990s, and it looked much sharper than the retiree-friendly models the brand was building at the time.
Subaru B9 Scrambler (2003)
© Subaru |
Officially, the B9 Scrambler provided a preview of Subaru’s next design language. There is little indication decision-makers seriously considered the B9 Scrambler for mass production. Subaru resurrected the B9 nameplate in 2005 on the Tribeca SUV and it entered the compact sports car segment when it launched the BRZ in 2012.
Alfa Romeo Kamal (2003)
© Alfa Romeo |
The Kamal could have arrived in showrooms in time to grab a significant share of the then-burgeoning luxury SUV segment. While insiders suggested the concept was on its way to production, it didn’t get past the design study stage. Alfa didn’t enter the luxury SUV segment until it introduced the Stelvio in 2016.
Lincoln Continental (2002)
© Lincoln |
Lincoln began developing a rear-wheel drive flagship sedan in the late 2000s to replace the outdated, body-on-frame Town Car. Work on what could have become a born-again Continental stopped abruptly when fuel prices sky-rocketed. The nameplate nonetheless made a comeback in 2016.
Dodge Razor (2002)
© FCA |
The reports claiming the Razor would spawn a production model – hopefully one with a proper spare tire – named Scooter were wrong. As of 2018, Dodge hasn’t dared to invade Miata territory. We doubt it will.
Ford 021C (1999)
© Ford |
Never intended for production, the design study illustrated what a 21st century car could look like when stripped down to just the bare minimum. And yet, it wasn’t overly basic, outdated or grotesquely cheap. It remained stylish, in tune with the times and generally desirable. Ford missed a rare opportunity to produce what could, in 2018, be remembered as the iPhone of the automotive world.
Renault Fiftie (1996)
© Renault |
Audi Quattro Spyder (1991)
© Audi |
Chrysler Portofino (1987)
© FCA |
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