Top 10 Best - Concepts to Production

From time to time, we'd come across fabulous concept cars in motorshows, swerving curves and swooping lines, neon lit interiors and translucent body panels. Manufacturers always create unthinkable concepts in motor shows, creating hypes and showing off what they could be capable of. Whether its a step of expressing their dominance, or worrying their share prices might fall off the charts, concepts are an important way of communicating to your future customers, an important method of 'testing the waters', seeing response form show comers, to get the 'nod' for your go ahead with new design language or directions forthcoming. Thou most concepts are very much out of this world, there has been a few instances where manufacturers seem to suddenly wake up with extra steroid dose in their pants, and decides to put into production their wonderful concepts, in full form. The Audi TT shown above, is the original concept previewed in 1995, showing body panel designs never before seen, seamless gaps between bumper and bonnet that sets a precedence for an eye opening design theme that soon caught the world by storm, and Audi manufactured it exactly like how it was, 3 years later.

The rules are simple here, the production car has to resemble the concepts as close as possible without ruining the design with some spoilt proportions or cheapened it with production feasible cost cutting reasons. Or simply produce something that looks better than the original concept. However we should also omit 'so-called-concepts' that are evidently production viable show cars, that manufacturers term it as 'concept', the likes of BMW M3, M5 will not be featured. In short, heart over head creates this list.

CONCEPTS (Left) PRODUCTION (Right)

Alfa Romeo Brera Concept 2002 to Alfa Romeo Brera 2005

Designed by Giugiaro, Alfa went ahead with the production using the same underpinnings of the Alfa 159, altering the original proportions slightly, nonetheless still no less a looker parked beside any Ferrari. Should the glorious V6 be coupled with a transaxle rear mounted transmission with RWD, this would've been Alfa's revival, sadly, economics rule.



Audi Lemans Quattro Concept 2003 to Audi R8 2007

Typical of Audi, the Lemans Quattro Concept was both out-of-this-world and unimaginably production viable, staying with their go-ahead-form, Audi went ahead producing the R8, tug in the wonderful 4.2 ltr V8 from the RS4, and created one of the best Porsche 911 buster and went in ranks with supercar manufacturers.



Chevrolet Camaro Concept 2006 to Chevrolet Camaro 2008

The Camaro has long been one of America's most iconic musclecar, thou it was known before hand that GM would put the Camaro Concept into production, its worth noting that nothing much was altered from the concept, thus the best looking modern reincarnation of American musclecar was born.



Fiat Trepiuno Concept 2004 to Fiat 500 2008

The Fiat Cinquecento (meaning 500) was one of Italian's most loved mini cars, same as the Camaro, there's no credit here for outright bravery putting this concept into production, but the tight staying to its concept form is thus given recognition. Its worth noting as well that the Fiat 500 signifies Italy's car industry returning to form (of which actually there's only 1 true Italian manufacturer)



Ford Verve 2007 to Ford Fiesta 2008

Amidst Ford's financial worries and slumping sales, the Verve concept, from Ford's European arm churned up this very un-Ford-like concept, and Ford went ahead putting its entirety into production - not as a premium small car, but the Ford Fiesta, one of Ford's most affordable car, and staying almost 99% to its original DNA, its thus given recognition considering Ford's not very healthy financial disposition.



Kia Soul Concept 2006 to Kia Soul 2008

KIA, is position below Hyundai within their own corporate priorities, but that doesn't mean this econobox manufacturer would give in to its rather embarrassing status, showing off Korean originality, the Soul was a fun/chic good looking supermini with 4x4-like proportions, and with the production version keeping every lines and profile of the concept, KIA deserves this recognition very much.



Mazda RX-8 Concept 2001 to Mazda RX-8 2003

The successor to the RX-7, from a wild wild concept of 2 door coupe + small suicide doors easing access, (the only true 4 door coupe in this world) Mazda went ahead perfecting the designs of the suicide door, dealt with structural rigidity issues and went ahead with this highly successful sportscar that's even better looking than its original concept. Kudos.



Nissan GTR Concept 2001 to Nissan GTR 2008

Yes, there has been other concepts after this shown here, and the GTR is no doubt something Nissan wouldn't give up even if it bankrupts them, well bankrupt is the last thing to be associated with Nissan nowadays, with their returning to form, and the immensely capable R35 GTR dropping spectacles all around the world with its unbelievable performance and its function over form looks, it deserves a special place here.



Toyota FJ Cruiser Concept 2003 to Toyota FJ Cruiser 2007

A Toyota Hummer some might say, an impossible venture others might go, but putting ahead production of a concept meant for a segment where Toyota had never been in, with stylings reminiscent more of a MARS rover, the almost 100% adaptation of its design defitnitely suits this Top 10 Best title more than any cars here.



Volkswagen Iroc Concept 2006 to Volkswagen Scirocco 2008

The least look-alike Concept to Production here, but VW remains the best, removes the uneccessary loud, chrome vulgar stylings of the Iroc Concept (the paint too, luminous green is not one of the paint options for the Scirocco), remaining the wide, taunting stance and produced something that does the same thing as a VW GTi; and when everyone thought the good looking part would definitely translate to a higher price, VW sells it at the same price as the GTi; that's courage.


Image Source: NetCarShow