Posted Jan 02 2022 09:00:00 AM
We highlight some models that look like they just walked off a car stand.
The pressures of marketing, financing, and safety and the environment ensure that a typical car rarely hits the road without a host of changes. The production version will almost certainly be a penetrating shade of its former self, much to the chagrin of the car’s designer. However, our list of 15 cars reveals that it’s possible to live the concept car dream.
1. Audi TT
The original Audi TT was revealed at the 1998 Paris Motor Show and went from a 1994 concept car to a production reality with only minor modifications, including small windows behind the doors. A year later, at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, Audi added a convertible model, which looked remarkably similar to the 1995 TT Roadster concept. Of course, the TT’s most notable change was the installation of a rear spoiler, which was fitted in after a number of high-speed crashes the speed.
2. Toyota C-HR
It’s not quite as bold as the 2014 and 2015 C-HR concept cars, but you can’t accuse Toyota of playing it safe. The C-HR — or Coupé High-Rider — manages to stand out in a market dominated by dull and largely uninspiring crossovers, especially if you opt for the Nebula Blue metallic paint. Sister publication, Autocar UK, said of the C-HR, “While not a leader in its class, the C-HR appears to be a giant product of the global auto industry emerging from its seat on the fringes of the European market up.”
3. Lexus LC 500
It’s amazing to think that Lexus LC’s stunning design stems from the 2012 LF-LC concept. Nearly a decade later, the LC Coupé and LC Convertible are some of the most attractive new cars you can buy. Launched at Lexus’ Calty Design Studio in California, the LC 500 went on sale in India early last year. V8-powered show-stopping design: what’s not to like?
4. BMW i8
Its dihedral doors won’t look out of place on a car showroom; It even gets an electric release instead of the traditional knob. The BMW i8 story began with the 2009 Vision EfficientDynamics concept, which featured a three-cylinder turbo diesel engine and a pair of electric motors. This paved the way for a petrol-electric hybrid, before the production version arrived in 2014.
Many years later, the i8 still looks like the future. Production ended in 2020, with no direct replacement and more than 20,000 models produced.
5. Audi R8
The production Audi R8 could trace its roots back to the 2003 Le Mans quattro concept car. In the concept, the aluminum space-frame supercar drew power from a 610-hp twin-turbo V10, but the 2007 production version had to do so with 4.2 liter V8 engine in the middle. A year later, I got a great 5.2-liter V10 from the Lamborghini Gallardo to propel the R8 into the big supercar league.
6. Isuzu Vehicross
Looks like Isuzu Doesicross just walked off the stand of a Ridley Scott car or movie show. Produced in relatively small numbers for the Japanese and American markets, it’s a rare sight on the roads. Do you still want this defender?
7. Polestar 2
For such a simple and uncluttered design, the Polestar 2 has a high level of road presence. Maybe it’s the taillight design, the largely unknown Polestar badge, or the 20-inch forged alloy wheels. It began life in 2016 as Concept 40.2, Volvo’s vision of a small saloon. Today, the Volvo badge and the T5 twin engine have been replaced by a 78 kWh lithium-ion battery.
8. Honda e
Looking at it in the context of the 2017 Honda Urban EV Concept, it’s not hard to feel a bit of a change due to the production version. Gone are the front and rear LED-backlit Honda logos, monocoque steering wheel and rear-hinged doors. However, there’s a lot to love about the Honda e, including the retro-futuristic design, the shiny interior and the set of screens along the top of the dashboard. Try to find a more visually appealing EV for less money.
9. Citroen C4 Cactus
The Citroen C4 Cactus still looks like the result of a designer having a lot of fun with the mood board. Otherwise, how would you explain the Airbump panels on doors and fenders? The idea failed to catch on, and Citroen removed the panels when it gave them a facelift while toning down the individual styling. Like many older Citroen models, the C4 Cactus was full of quirks and special touches. For some, this car gave off its charm. For others, they were too annoying to ignore.
10. Nissan GT-R
There are certainly hints of the 2001 GT-R Concept in the production version, but the Nissan GT-R owes more to the 2005 Proto. Time can reduce the car’s visual impact, especially one that’s been on sale for more than a decade, but its drawbacks. The similarity between the GT-R and the Proto earns it a place on our list.
11. BMW 6 Series
Great design should differ in opinion, which means the BMW 6 Series is…a great design. You might not agree, but there’s something big, bold, and beautiful about the BMW 6 Series (E63 / 64 generation) sold between 2003 and 2011. It owes a lot to the 1999 BMW Z9 Gran Turismo concept, albeit without the crazy gull doors. The Series 6 is a brave buy, but it’s interesting to look at.
12. Renault Avanti
Judging from the Renault era – see also Vel Satis, Wind and Mk2 Mégane – the Avantime was a crazy MPV-coupé. The fact that nobody wanted an MPV-coupé at Renault was lost, which is why it bombed in a big way, but we’re happy to make it. Unveiled as the CoupéSpace at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, the production version included four seats and a pair of very heavy-duty doors. Only minor changes were made to the concept to get it ready for production. Rhino probably wishes she hadn’t bothered.
13. Skoda Yeti
The Yeti was revealed as a concept at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, and is a reminder of the time when Skoda made iconic cars. Roomster, Felicia Fun and Fabia vRS Diesel are just three examples.
The Yeti leads the lot, although it took Skoda a full four years to turn the concept into a reality. It was perfect timing, as the Yeti capitalized on the growing demand for compact crossovers. The Face Enhanced Yeti is less distinctive. Unlike many of the cars in this story, the Yeti is amazingly practical; In most versions, you could remove the rear seats and turn it into a spacious truck, but it was the same length as a Volkswagen Golf.
14. Kia Soul
Speaking at the launch of the Kia Soul concept in 2005, chief designer Tom Kearns said: “We wanted to inject some life, breathe life into this car – give it soul, if you like, and the word ‘soul’ is a homonym for the home city of Kia Motors headquarters, Seoul, South Korea.” The production version arrived in 2005.
15. Range Rover Evoque
The Evoque looks very similar to the LRX Concept unveiled at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, but there are two important differences. First, the Concept wore Land Rover badges; The production version is a Range Rover. Second, the concept was built with electricity in mind, something absent from the original Evoque. But these conceptual looks — combined with the glamor of the RR badge — undoubtedly helped the model achieve massive success: Nearly 8,00,000 models were changed over the course of eight years.
A car’s stunning exterior at its prime often results in unfashionable aging in its finish, but the Evoque has stood the test of time. So, when Land Rover came to design the Mk2 version, it just gave a nice update to the winning theme.
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