| Concept cars, or cars designed according to a | | | | data from these shows. Which again as become |
| certain theme or older model, are by and | | | | a valuable asset to the car manufacturers. |
| large prototypes introduced at car and motor | | | | These car shows alone save the manufacturer |
| shows to estimate consumer response and | | | | several million dollars. Just knowing that a |
| appeal. | | | | car is not deemed acceptable or needs a few |
| | | | modifications before going to production. |
| Combining the best of modern technology with | | | | |
| the sleek lines of tried and time-tested | | | | The majority of concept cars seen at auto |
| cars from the past, concept cars are often | | | | exhibitions such as the Geneva Motor Show |
| tentative feelers put out by automobile | | | | are the dream rides of automobile fans and |
| companies to test the waters before 'diving' | | | | racing enthusiasts, but are more often than |
| into serious production. | | | | not only show models made of wax, clay, |
| | | | metal, fibreglass and plastic. In fact many |
| The automobile industry being a multi billion | | | | concept cars never even reach this phase due |
| dollar industry, car manufactures alike see | | | | to impractical design glitches and price |
| the benefit of these widely attended car | | | | factors. |
| shows. The manufactures have an opportunity | | | | |
| to gleam a great deal of valuable information | | | | An interesting example of an old, functional |
| from these shows at a relatively low cost. | | | | concept car being brought back into service |
| | | | would be the 1954 Ford Lincoln Futura, which |
| Concept cars were first introduced by | | | | after having been stored in the North |
| designer Harley Earl of General Motors in | | | | Hollywood car shop of George Barris came out |
| the 1950s. It was for the concept of a car | | | | of storage to stand up to stardom as the |
| that offered buyers state-of-the-art motor | | | | Batmobile of the 1966 Batman series on the |
| car engineering in a new design which was | | | | ABC TV Network. |
| really a version of a senior theme. This | | | | |
| gained almost instant popularity with the | | | | On the same note, current examples for |
| universal public. | | | | concept cars would be the Mercedes-Benz |
| | | | bionic car (this is said to mix the best of |
| Recognizing a winning horse when they saw | | | | nature, engineering and the ever popular |
| one, General Motors further publicized the | | | | DaimlerCrysler engine), the 2006 BMW Mille |
| concept and their car, through its traveling | | | | Miglia concept coupe (based on the earlier |
| Motorama shows of that period. Beautiful to | | | | BMW 328 Traveling coupe and the BMW Z4 M |
| behold, concept cars show off radical, | | | | coupe), the Camaro Concept sports coupe |
| futuristic designs, powerful engines and | | | | (which follows the lines of the first |
| sometimes even controversial technology. | | | | Camaros) and the Chrysler Imperial Concept |
| | | | 2006 (a direct descendent of classic Imperial |
| However, alluring as these concept cars may | | | | and Chrysler designs). |
| appear under the spotlight, many of them | | | | |
| often obtain changes before being put on the | | | | Sadly, the bulk of concept cars are destroyed |
| production line by their manufacturers, and | | | | once their use has been served. However, |
| all of them are subjected to alterations that | | | | some do escape the crusher and continue to |
| make them more suitable, and affordable, to | | | | live their lives in storage or on exhibit in |
| their target markets. | | | | automobile museums. |
| | | | |
| An from the eyes of the public these changes | | | | The information that is gathered by |
| to the car are often very drastic changes. | | | | manufacturers from these car shows is proven |
| This of course, is after the study of the | | | | to be a method of great value. |