Why Can't Car Manufacturers Turn Concept Into Production?

"Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?" (o51r15)
03/06/2014 at 11:56 • Filed to: Concept Cars

Something I've always wondered: why can't an automaker take what they've shown as a concept, and turn it into production?

I guess it just doesn't make sense to me why they would spend all there time and resources designing and developing a concept car, when all it's going to look like when they release it is what the previous model looked like with different headlights. I used the concept for the Ford Bronco above because this one is kind of special to me. If this came out, I would wait in a line after pre-ordering if I had to. I love it. It's rugged, simple, and pleasing to the eye and I can fix the grill with a simple swap (although, it's not that bad to me). However, if Ford ever releases another Bronco, it will most likely look nothing like this. It'll probably end up looking like a F-150 with a bed cap and shortened. It probably won't look bad, just not what the concept has put into our heads and made us expect or hope for.

Now here's something that angers me a little bit more than going from a Concept Car to a Production Car. The concept that never makes it to production. It almost feels as if the automaker would look you dead in the eye and, without emotion, tell you "This is what you want. And we could make it. In fact we did make it. But you can't have it. No one can.". I don't think anyone would be able to change my mind on that fact that my favorite car that has ever existed is the A/C Shelby Cobra 427. All years. All models. They're all amazing to me. And then they teased me with the Shelby concept above. A concept that will never come to fruition and will never have more than the above example to show that they could definitely build this car and make so many people happy about it. And then just kind of sweep it under the rug and piss all of us off. It's almost like a kick to the balls except with the fact that that pain goes away. Eventually.

Now, I understand that there are concepts that will never make it to production. For example, the above. But that's not something that they even built a prototype to show off at Geneva or Detroit to then say either "No." or turn it into a Camry of beigeyness. It's just a drawing that someone came up with to say "Hey, I wonder if this will ever be possible." and then it goes into the drawing bin until one day when something like this will be possible.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't understand why the next generation of the Subaru WRX won't look like the amazing concept that was shown off. Or why automakers feel the need to design and develop something that they'll never put into production. It just angers me.

DISCUSSION (32)

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 11:58

Because then they would be giving us what we want.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > E30Joe drives a Subaru
03/06/2014 at 12:00

But shouldn't that be an automakers goal? Give us people what we want because we pay for what we want!

crowmolly > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:01

It's not actually developed.

A lot of the parts are one-offs that just don't scale to full production or just don't make sense in everyday use.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:02

Because $$$.

Trying to engineer a concept to meet all the various regulations that a modern car is required to meet, while at the same time keeping it true to it's conceptual image is often a mutually exclusive proposition.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > crowmolly
03/06/2014 at 12:03

So then why develop those parts? Why not use existing parts? I know that would probably turn some cars into "parts bin" cars but at least we'd have something that works and is what we wanted.

Casper > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:04

Those concept vehicles don't have to work. They are the work of artists, artists are very basic creatures. They then are handed to engineers and designers who have to actually make all the parts and production specialists who have to figure out how to produce them en masse. Then the lawyers swoop in, eat everyones souls, swallow the first round production model, and shit out something a lot more ugly, but less likely to get them sued.

Oh and somewhere in the process the government shows up to piss all over the design with idiotic regulations. So there's that too.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/06/2014 at 12:04

But that's my question. Why waste the money on something that will eventually not become production? Why tease us?

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:06

That's how it should be, yes. But that's not how it is unfortunately. Automakers don't give enthusiasts what they want. They give the commoners what they want.

Damn serfs ruining it for everyone.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:07

Because it makes people talk about and think about the brand.

Concept cars exist to attract attention. When people see a wild, crazy concept, the is hope they will then ask themselves, "Well if [company name] can think of this concept car, what will they be able to do with their regular ones?"

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Casper
03/06/2014 at 12:07

That makes sense. But it just makes me so mad that they're willing to spend so much money on something that looks so awesome, and then give us a piece of shit.

crowmolly > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:08

Probably to look cool and draw interest to their booth.

Same thing happens at car shows. There's some old Merc with not a single spec on the paint or visible wires and hoses under the hood. Thing looks immaculate but is pretty ridiculous to drive around and try to maintain.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > E30Joe drives a Subaru
03/06/2014 at 12:08

I guess that makes sense. There are a lot more generic consumers that enthusiastic consumers.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:09

Imagine if everyone was a "track day bro?"

Utopia.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/06/2014 at 12:10

So, the (assuming) hundreds of thousands or even millions they spend on time and resources to create a concept car is all for brand advertisement? Shouldn't the car being driven down the street be advertisement enough?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:10

Why did da Vinci sketch out loads of contraptions, paint pictures, and sculpt statues?

Because he could and it showed what he was capable of.

Concepts serve the same purpose in life, they show ideas and styles that the designers are capable of. Some things will actually make it into production others simply exist because they can.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > E30Joe drives a Subaru
03/06/2014 at 12:12

We'd have much safer roads due to the fact that people would most likely understand how to drive instead of just drive. We'd probably have higher speed limits or none at all. Probably have less accidents and less fatal accidents due to people understand how vehicles work.

Utopia indeed.

GhostZ > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:12

It's still cheaper to spend a few million making 1 prototype and then find out that people hate it than a few billion on a car that IS hated when you didn't test their reactions to it before rolling it off the assembly line.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:13

Not when the company wants to call attention to its new vehicles.

Concepts are usually always presented before or concurrent with the release of new/updated models.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:13

Door dings? What are those.

My new car got two fresh dings within a week, and I park as far away from people as possible.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
03/06/2014 at 12:15

But my question is this: If they can exist, why don't they? Why show us what you can do and then turn it into a bland piece of shit? I think concepts are not so much what they can do, but what they managed to do but can't replicate. That's why when you see a concept that's so crazy with insane lines, it makes you excited. Then you see the production model and all those lines are gone. It's just flat. Has regular headlights/taillights instead of what you expected to see due to the concept. It's upsetting to me.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:17

Sometimes a concept is released just to gauge the consumer interest.

If they find that only a handfull of off-roader/fanboi's want the Bronco, it wouldn't be a good investment to produce and sell it. (despite the fact that it sucks when things like those 2 fords don't get built)

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > GhostZ
03/06/2014 at 12:17

Instead of spending the millions on the prototype, why not release design sketches to get the audience vote? I wouldn't think it would take nearly as long to create a drawing than a prototype and if people don't like the drawing, don't build the prototype. You just saved time, money, and yourself from a humiliating prototype that is just going to sit in a basement forever.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:18

It garners them attention, from the press and the public. That's the main idea behind concept cars at least.

It is also somewhat to see how the public reacts to new styling ideas before they hit production. If they get no attention whatsoever, or a negative reaction, they might consider changing them.

Also, on the scale of car companies, I'd bet it costs 5/8ths of bugger all to make a one-off concept car. Compared to the rest of their costs at least.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:18

Sometimes they make it to production. Here are just a couple I can think of off the top of my head. These are both concept cars that were revealed at autoshows. Both made it to production with very few changes.

Kinja'd!!!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
03/06/2014 at 12:18

I guess that makes sense then.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > E30Joe drives a Subaru
03/06/2014 at 12:19

That's why I love my truck. 2000 Dakota. I don't want door dings, but I'm not gonna be pissed when they're there.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/06/2014 at 12:21

Wouldn't a design sketch or render serve the same purpose then? Wouldn't they be able to get the same type of positive/negative feedback they desire with that?

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > feather-throttle-not-hair
03/06/2014 at 12:24

But that's my point. Sometimes we get what we've expected. Mostly we don't. Most of the time we get a bland "knock off" of the concept.

GhostZ > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:31

Sketches do a lot less than a full-scale model. I think it's actually very, very hard to put a 2D drawing into 3D prototype alone, so asking people's opinions based on a 2D drawing could go very bad.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 12:32

Nope, they put these out at the autoshows, which even a lot of non-auto enthusiasts go to.

People legitimately looking for the next car without the hassle of a salesperson (despite the added hassle of obnoxious kids sitting in a car for 40 minutes at a time and climbing all over everything). So it draws in all sorts of people, only us car enthusiasts look at sketches/renderings.

AMC/Renauledge > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
03/06/2014 at 13:16

Why don't cartoons come to life? Why doesn't war function like it does in video games? Why aren't relationships like what you see in the movies? Why do artists sculpt things that have no practical value?

Concept cars are artistic . They are designed to showcase the design, craftsmanship, and technological inspirations for the next generation of vehicles. They are designed to push the envelope, to awe and amaze. They are designed to show where a company or brand are headed, and what the current crop of talent is thinking.

They are also designed to offer onlookers an opportunity to gauge reaction and respond to potential customers' desires. Focus groups and sketches are one and two-dimensional. Concept cars are three-dimensional and allow much freer thinking because that thinking doesn't have pressure on it to commit to what is feasible on all levels right now. And it is only when free thinking happens, when limits are pushed, that innovation eventually occurs.

Some see production with minimal changes. Others don't. It all depends on how desirable a particular piece of design is, how adaptable it is to serial production, and whether there is a demand for it once the adaptations are taken into account.

Sometimes a company introduces a concept they fully intend to produce, and other unforeseen factors hinder their ability to bring it into production years down the line when the vehicle is ready to produce. Factors like fluctuating fuel prices, government regulations, material costs, the health of the company, mergers or acquisitions, the acquisition or loss of design/engineering talent, changes in management, etc affect this process.

The mere fact that you expect every concept car to go into production shows just how spoiled we are in this day and age by the fact that, since the '90s, so many concept cars have seen production with relatively few changes.

If all we ever saw from the manufacturers were fully costed production ready parts bin vehicles, auto shows would be a lot more boring.

Iam > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
02/06/2018 at 19:05

Hey Osiris. I know I’m late on this post but i feel you. Its very frustrating and very stupid honestly. Plus this idea that artist are simple aka basic creatures is very offensive and uneducated. Because if that was the case car brands and manufacturers wouldn’t be looking to artist for the e next idea that their tiny limited stem minds can come up with. The repeating issue is that todays so called stem groups some.of.which are advanced others not which i say are the majority, many consistently think themselves as super advanced and superior and every fucking moment or every god damn year they get disproven on their limitations over and over again. LIKE HOW ELON MUSKS DISPROVED THEIR LIMITATIONS ON AN ELECTRIC CAR. They’re actually stupid. Einstein mentioned you cannot solve a problem with the same thinking that got you there putting it into context you can’t create an awesome concept car with the same limited thinking that engineers and manufacturers have today it’s stupid and it amazes me how as humans with the potential we have, many especially STEM have every excuse as to why we must limit ourselves instead of being creative. When Ford created his car they told him impossible and it was Engineers of that time who swore to God they were the most advanced things out there yet Henry ford still created the next best thing. His engine. This concept is timeless.

If you see this Osiris hit me up on instagram @iampedroporro

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