Concept vehicles vs production

[z1ggy]

Why is it that concept vehicles look so much cooler than what actually ends up being produced (a majority of the time)? I understand companies need to cut costs a long the way, and can't add all the bells and whistles (unless it's a top trim), but why even bothering designing something if you know theres almost no chance of that actually being made?

For example, this new Lexus concept just came out on C&D.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/lexus-lf-cc-concept-photos-and-info-news

The pictures of this car looks amazing IMO and I would love to see something like that to hit the floors. However, I feel like the real production vehicle just won't end up impressing me that much because they will dumb down the interior and maybe the stying a bit.

Reading the article a bit, it does give some justification as to why; certain styling things won't pass safety tests, etc.. But there has to be some kind of compromise? It just seems like makers just keep spitting out the same thing lately, but with maybe a different front grill, new exhaust pipe tips or some small changes like different rear tail lights, LED/Xenon lamps...Etc.

Looking at the changes in styling over 10-20 years, there is a large change, but I guess all in all I just wonder why companies spend lots of money to design a concept that will come to fruition looking much less sexy.

 

[tcG]

A large part of it is the safety regulations. They are the reason modern cars are heavier, larger, and generally bloated.

Unfortunately, it seems as though somebody has decided that the degree of safety one wants in a car can't be decided by the consumer but rather has to be mandated by the government. The result is less diversity and choice in the marketplace, and disappointment for sports car fans.

 

[JCH13]

A few reasons I can think of:

Really radical styling tends to be very polarizing and could drive some customers away.

Radical body panels with large amounts of deformation are difficult to make.

Many concept cars are just shells. No motor, no transmission, no real packaging concerns. When every subsystem is stuffed into the car, suspension is setup, etc, the form of the vehicle must change to accommodate everything.

 

[NutBucket]

It takes guts. Surprised the Evoque ended up looking as close to the concept as it does.

 

[Jeff7]

The simple reason: Things are easier to draw than they are to build.

We encounter that at work quite a bit. Ok, great, the Graphics department can draw something in Illustrator. (Or Engineering can make a 3D CAD model.)
These programs don't really care about trifling things like physics. Geometry? Sure. Keeping matter from passing through matter? Nope.

Then once the design is modified to appease the gods of physics, yes, you've got the safety aspect, marketability, fuel efficiency and aerodynamics, manufacturability, and surely a slew of other requirements to satisfy, some of which will directly oppose one another. (You want strength and low noise, but you also want to keep the weight down.)

 

[96Firebird]

It takes guts. Surprised the Evoque ended up looking as close to the concept as it does.

Likewise, I am surprised the 5th gen Camaro looks close to the concept GM unveiled in 2006...

http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/coverage/chicago/112_06cas_chevrolet_camaro_concept_photos/

 

[ProchargeMe]

How much do you really want to pay for that concept lexus? $$$$$

 

[IronWing]

The FJ Cruiser came in pretty close to the concept. The one thing that was changed that bugged me was they turned the dash mounted jesus handle into a useless round plastic trim piece.

 

[foghorn67]

Lol. If you do remember the past 10-20 years, you should remember the 90's. Where very few concept cars looked anything close to anything production.

 

[KentState]

Likewise, I am surprised the 5th gen Camaro looks close to the concept GM unveiled in 2006...

http://www.motortrend.com/auto_shows/coverage/chicago/112_06cas_chevrolet_camaro_concept_photos/

Seems that GM gets hit by the car show buzz. Everyone was all over the SSR when it was introduced in Detroit. I remember being at that show and seeing how popular it was. It was launched and everyone was pretty meh about the whole concept. Same thing with the Solstice and everyone loving the look. Gets introduced and you would have thought the public never saw it coming. I think they should run from any concept that is "liked" when first shown.

 

[Throckmorton]

Because most concept cars wouldn't end up being bought because they're ugly

 

[ProchargeMe]

Seems that GM gets hit by the car show buzz. Everyone was all over the SSR when it was introduced in Detroit. I remember being at that show and seeing how popular it was. It was launched and everyone was pretty meh about the whole concept. Same thing with the Solstice and everyone loving the look. Gets introduced and you would have thought the public never saw it coming. I think they should run from any concept that is "liked" when first shown.

I think this is mostly because the SSR was overpriced and the solstice is severely lacking balls.