Cool Concept Cars 2012

Automotive companies generally release concept cars every year at numerous car show events. These autos are not for sale but only for display; many are futuristic and utilize outrageous design and incredible technology. Even though many may appear unrealistic; they give us a small peek into the future. Some companies even have contests where university students can submit their ideas and sketches. Building a concept vehicle is a great opportunity for a designer to really let loose and get extremely creative.

Many cars throughout automotive history were actually inspired by concept cars. For example, the General Motors Le Sabre is a concept vehicle that was also designed by Harley Earl in the nineteen fifties. It was used to introduce 12 volt electrics and an eight cylinder engine for General Motors. Concept cars are generally outrageous but some of their more usable features are generally incorporated in autos that are made available to the public.

Did you know that the Corvette was actually inspired by a concept car? The idea came from a concept auto called the Chevrolet Corvair Monza back in the 60′s. This may seem a bit crazy nowadays, but Ford actually had a concept vehicle that was based on nuclear power; the Nucleon. We all became familiar with the Pontiac Bonneville as a family car, but the name first appeared on Pontiac’s first two-seater concept showcased in 1954 called the Pontiac Bonneville Special. Mini vans are now everywhere but they used to be unheard of back in the seventies; the first mini van was also prototype back in the 70′s; it was called the Lancia Megagamma.

Currently the trend appears to be vehicles that can serve more than one purpose. This can be seen in the Bugatti Altess Concept car. What’s different about this auto is that it’s not only a tourer but also a racer; it combines the best of both worlds. It’s almost like a real-life Transformers car; just a few quick fixes and it turns from a tourer to a hot rod!

Many designers are also focusing on cars produced for the city. Many futuristic city cars are made to be super small and efficient. Citroen is showcasing its E-3Pod Antistatic concept, another three-wheel electric car created by a student designer. It seats only the driver who is situated in the third wheel and features two smaller wheels at the front. As you can see, many current cars were actually inspired by concept cars. If you want a glimpse into the future, all you need to do is attend one of the big international auto shows. Who knows, perhaps one of the cars you’ll see there might end up becoming a common sight on the roads twenty years from now