These concepts might have been some of the coolest cars on the road, but their makers changed their minds at the last minute.
Concept cars can be a double-edged sword. Too often, manufacturers promise more than they can deliver with cars that people can get excited about at auto shows, but the end product doesn’t live up to expectations. At the same time, some cars can have a rougher concept but improve in production into great cars that often become hits. Supercars often make a splash at shows, but too often this is the only time they ever appear in public.
The most common block for them on the road is economic problems, with the global recession ending some promising cars in the late 2000s. It’s fascinating how some failed concepts help create better cars on the road. There are tons of examples, but here are eight of the best concept cars that never made it into production and how they could have been huge hits for any serious auto fanatic.
5 2006 Lamborghini Miura
Perhaps it belongs in a museum as a work of art in automotive engineering. But the 2006 Lamborghini Miura concept should have been a normal car too. Introduced for the 40th anniversary of the original Miura, this concept has been updated with a 6.5 liter V12 and a beautiful design that mixes elements of the original Miaura with a modern twist.
Via pinterest.com
Despite good enthusiasm, Lamborghini only had one in its museum in Italy instead of reviving a fantastic car for modern times.
4th VW Nardo W12
Via Supercars Net
Imagine a world without the Bugatti poison. As difficult as it is, it could have been if Volkswagen hadn’t developed the Nardo W12 first. It looked elegant and gorgeous, and featured beautiful curves that stood out from the crowd in 2002.
Via motor1.com
The tests were incredible, going over 200 mph and breaking speed records with its 6.0 liter 591 horsepower powertrain. It never got past the concept phase, but formed the basis for the Phaeton and later the Venom to make it a critical car in the company’s history.
Chrysler ME Four-Twelve
via: Motor1.com
It is noteworthy that a beautiful supercar like this never made it into full production. In the midst of the usually chaotic Diamler-Chrysler era, the ME Four-Twelve was a real beauty. It was equipped with an AMG V12 quad turbo engine developing 850 hp, which would be impressive today, let alone in 2004.
via: wikipedia.org
The fact that it weighed 2800 pounds meant great power to weight ratio and zero to 60 in 2.9 seconds. Difficulties with production costs ruined it, but this could have been the best thing that came out of an otherwise difficult period in Chrysler’s history.
3 Jaguar C-X75
Via: supercars
Dubbed “the most advanced Jaguar ever,” the C-X75 debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and promised some major developments. The C-X75 was a pioneer in hybrid cars and had four electric motors with 778 hp and two diesel-powered gas turbines.
Via: Classic Driver
The car got a boost with several prototypes being developed for the James Bond film Specter. Unfortunately, the high cost of production combined with economic problems to abandon the project before full production and those extremely rare prototypes are a shadow of what this Jaguar could have been.
TVR Cerbera speed 12
reddit.com
The best way to save your car’s title is “speed” it. It looked like TVR would keep that promise with this great entry in 1997. The 7.73L V12 promised faster speeds than the McLaren F1 and they even wanted to drive it at LeMans.
reddit.com
Although the prototype looked fine, complications arose from changes to the GT1 class regulations in the early 2000s combined with production issues. This led TVR to decide the Speed 12 wouldn’t work as a street car and ended development by robbing them of a real speed machine.
2 Saleen S5S Raptor
“Over 200 miles per hour, under 200 km,” is how Saleen described the S5S Raptor. It’s a shame that there was never a chance of matching either number. The Raptor looked like a fantastic supercar of the future and had a 5.0 liter V-8 supercharged that developed 650 horsepower at 6300 rpm and 630 lb.-ft. Torque at 4400 o’clock.
Via: Wikipedia
Those would be fantastic numbers and would help ensure that the Raptor has a stunning look that lives up to its name. Like many concept cars of the time, the economic recession has lifted them and prevented the Raptor from roaring.
Cadillac Sixteen
Via supercars.net
The idea seems completely crazy: of all things, a Cadillac with 16 cylinders. But there was the Cadillac Sixteen, which debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in 2003 and set auto magazines on fire.
Via supercars.net
Paying homage to the older V16 would be a 1000 hp monster that could even shut off some unused cylinders but could stick with a V8 or 12 horsepower. Maybe that was just too much for the early 2000s technology as the Sixteen never came to fruition but would have been spectacular.
1 Isuzu 4500R
Via: motor1.com
In 1989 the idea of an Isuzu with a 350 hp 4.2 liter V8 seemed impossible. But Isuzu was ready to try then. Unlike other cars of the time, the 4500R had a Lotus-style engine and an honestly beautiful design. It also had the electronics of a high-end sound system, color satellite navigation, video tape deck, and fax machine.
via: motor1.com
Despite great enthusiasm, it never got into production, and Isuzu himself bowed as it was from the entire passenger car era. Shame because this could have been a great game changer.
About the author
Michael Weyer
(155 articles published)
Longtime online writer on sports, celebrities, entertainment, etc. Enjoy and learn more about cars in movies and various TV shows (reality and fiction) even as I share this with others.
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