Concept cars move us between dreams and reality, aspirations and acquisitions
Some concept cars are displayed just to gauge general reaction, others as a way to fine-tune the final look and direction of a vehicle that has already been thought through and prepped for the assembly line
We all love to see the sexy stuff. The bleeding-edge vehicles that draw the crowds at any serious and important car show. But what exactly do they do besides draw crowds and stimulate dreams? And whatever they did before, do they still do it?
The term concept car is not fully defined. It can mean anything from something straight off the dreamer drawing board all the way up to relatively finished products a few steps shy of production readiness. Some concept cars are displayed just to gauge general reaction, others as a way to fine-tune the final look and direction of a car that has already been thought through and prepped for the assembly line.
Sometimes the showgoer will see a car that is midway through its development life, a more finished product that has gone through engineering for pedestrian protection and aerodynamics that can significantly change the way the final product looks. Other times you may see a product specifically designed to generate foot traffic and buzz. It is in the interests of designers to incorporate the demands of realistic production into any concept car because a concept may prove so well accepted by the public that it will go straight into production.
The Lexus LC is a sporty GT Coupe that first saw light in 2012 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It was a dynamically-styled, futuristic-looking two-door that was meant to showcase a possible design direction, and it was loved and controversial for its daring. Because of the response, Lexus did a rare second concept car, the LF-LC Concept 2 that debuted in 2015.
The Lexus LC500 made its global debut for the media in November 2016 and will be on sale as a 2017 model, and signifies a strong statement about the brand’s future direction. In this case, there will be four years from concept to rolling production vehicle.
The time between public debut and reality can be shorter, because what the public sees is further down the road and is being used to fine-tune. As the world becomes more interested in design, carmakers are making bolder steps to draw on the emotional.
German carmaker Audi has always been forward-thinking with models such as its bauhaus-inspired TT. The two-door sports car was almost more design icon than sports car, and by keeping the original design intact the company had problems later.
