Question of the Night: What concept car that didn't reach production might have changed [automotive] history?

"boxrocket" (boxrocket)
10/01/2015 at 22:16 • Filed to: question of the Night, qotn, concept cars, concepts

I love concept cars. More of them could/should reach production closer to their concept form. There’s a bunch that immediately come to mind when discussing the topic: Jaguar C-X75, Ford GT90 and Bronco concept (and so many other Ford/Mercury concepts), Lincoln Continental Concept (2002), a bunch of caddies, Chrysler ME Four-Twelve, Dodge Copperhead, Plymouth Pronto Spider, etc.

Could the Pronto Spider have saved Plymouth? Would Plymouth have gotten a new Barracuda (as a Dodge Challenger) because of the Pronto Spider and a revised Prowler with a V8? Would the Continental Concept have reversed Lincoln’s fortunes in the early 2000s and put Lincoln where Cadillac is today? Would the Oldsmobile Profile concept launched soon after the première heralded the age of the crossover sooner and put Oldsmobile back on the map - especially in China , where if it weren’t for Buick’s popularity, Buick would have been axed - and kept gm from the bailout, or at least less-needed assistance? Would the Ford GT90 have put European supercars makers on such a notice that the “hyper-cars” (P1, One:1, Regera, 918, LalalalaFerrari, Venom GT) we have today would have been the supercars of yesteryear?

Oppos: your mission tonight is to determine one concept vehicle that, had it made production as close on the concept as reasonably possible, would have been a significant upset to the industry, and perhaps history itself?

I’m going for the Tucker Torpedo concept.

Yes, the front and a few details would have had to be changed to be practical, but the various innovations and intended standard offerings- many of which made it to the Tucker ‘48 -would have arguably allowed Tucker greater mindshare and sales, presuming the conspiracy theories are wholly false.

DISCUSSION (25)

bob and john > boxrocket
10/01/2015 at 22:21

the GINA

Kinja'd!!!

TheHondaBro > bob and john
10/01/2015 at 22:25

Any car that can wink at you gets my vote.

ranwhenparked > boxrocket
10/01/2015 at 22:28

Kinja'd!!!

The Rover R30, developed by Rover Group in the late ‘90s when it was still owned by BMW.

It was to have been built on a an all-new, highly modular platform that would have spawned replacements for both the aging Rover 25 supermini and the Honda-based Rover 45 small family car.

Had this entered production, it would have given Rover a totally new, modern, and fairly competitive product range at the turn of the millennium. Even if BMW had sold the company anyway, it would have left them in a much more viable position in the market place and made them a more attractive business partner for a big Chinese automaker.

With the R30, there would have been a good chance of the whole company surviving, instead of going bust in 2005.

BMW actually did offer to sell the R30 program along with MG Rover Group in 2000, but Phoenix Venture Holdings opted not to spend the cash, believing they could develop an all-new design of their own, from scratch, for less. We can see how well that decision worked out.

facw > bob and john
10/01/2015 at 22:33

The Lincoln is a good choice, they really could have used a distinctive flagship that wasn’t just a warmed over panther platform. Maybe if they had had one, they wouldn’t be near death today (or maybe it would have been just another Chrysler 300):

Kinja'd!!!

Could also argue for the mid-engined Corvette or Mustang Mach 2, could have taken American sports car design in a very different direction:

Kinja'd!!!

bob and john > facw
10/01/2015 at 22:37

you might have anted that to be in reply to the pain post, not mine :D

Birddog > boxrocket
10/01/2015 at 22:40

Kinja'd!!!

The Dodge M4S, or PPG Pace Car or The Wraith car. Whatever you want to call it.

It was built for and paid for by PPG but would have made a killer 80s Halo Car for ChryCo.

facw > bob and john
10/01/2015 at 22:41

yep. Oh well, close enough...

boxrocket > Birddog
10/01/2015 at 22:45

I see some Dodge Daytona in there, but that certainly looks cool.

Sn210 > boxrocket
10/01/2015 at 22:53

Kinja'd!!!

I know VW is evil and all right now, but what if they had built the Nardo?

 > boxrocket
10/01/2015 at 22:54

Ford Taurus Synergy. 1 liter diesel that got 80 mpg.

Kinja'd!!!

Birddog > boxrocket
10/01/2015 at 22:58

There’s a great write up at Allpar (where else?) about it with one of the guys that helped build it.

http://www.allpar.com/racing/joe-pap…

marshknute > boxrocket
10/01/2015 at 23:00

Kinja'd!!!

Acura NSX. A Porsche 918 Spyder for 1/8th the price.

The BMW i8 is cool and all, but it’s more sports car than supercar. It’s a fantastic proof of concept, and I love it for proving that you can have a 3-cylinder supercar, but its performance is more on par with an M3 than a Huracan.

The NSX, meanwhile, promised to bridge the gap between the i8 and 918. It could still do all the clever EV stuff, but all the while keeping pace with Huracan’s and 650S’s. And all for Audi R8 V10 money.

Yes, I know Acura is theoretically bringing this car into production, but realistically speaking, autonomous cars will probably hit the roads well before the NSX is anywhere close to production ready.

TheHondaBro > boxrocket
10/01/2015 at 23:01

I still say the Plymouth Pronto Spyder would have saved Plymouth, if not GM.

Kinja'd!!!