[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/concept-cars-disappointing-reality\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/concept-cars-disappointing-reality\/","headline":"Concept cars and their disappointing reality","name":"Concept cars and their disappointing reality","description":"Virtually nothing is off limits when car designers are let loose on devising a new concept car. \u2018The wilder, the better\u2019 is often the most commonly played tactic and the most extreme concepts are naturally going to stir up more online buzz and anticipation. In some cases, the concept is nothing more than a showpiece, never intended to touch public tarmac. But what about concepts for actual production models? How can yet another humdrum hatchback set tongues-a-wagging without any crazy […]","datePublished":"2016-07-28","dateModified":"2016-08-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/feature-17.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/feature-17.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/concept-cars-disappointing-reality\/","about":["Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":668,"keywords":["chevrolet volt","Chrysler PT Cruiser","concept cars","Mazda MX-5","Model X","Pontiac Trans Sport","Renault Wind"],"articleBody":"Virtually nothing is off limits when car designers are let loose on devising a new concept car. \u2018The wilder, the better\u2019 is often the most commonly played tactic and the most extreme concepts are naturally going to stir up more online buzz and anticipation.In some cases, the concept is nothing more than a showpiece, never intended to touch public tarmac. But what about concepts for actual production models? How can yet another humdrum hatchback set tongues-a-wagging without any crazy ideas to stir up some excitement?Here, we look at concept cars that promised so much but delivered so little…Pontiac Trans SportLong before Tesla\u2019s Model X was busting out gullwing doors, there was this minivan concept. It used those upward opening doors to offer access to the three rows of seats, and in addition to a futuristic wraparound windscreen, there was some new tech like a TV-like display console that was really exciting for 1986.By the time the Trans Sport hit the market, the super cool doors had gone and safety regulations meant A-pillars had to be introduced, spelling an end to the curved windscreen. It is commonly referred to as \u201cthe dustbuster\u201d due to its resemblance to a certain popular hand-vac; others just call it the greatest letdown in automotive history.Chevrolet VoltStruggling Chevrolet had pulled out of the UK and European markets before the first generation Volt could see out its natural lifecycle, so it\u2019d be unfair to say that this plug-in hybrid could\u2019ve saved Chevy.On a technical front, the Volt that made it to showrooms was a success in some ways. It could drive for up to 40 miles on electric power alone, which made it something of an eco-champion.But look at the difference from motor show to motorway. The concept shares the low, flat roofline of the iconic Camaro, while the final product is about as exciting as an accountant\u2019s Astra.Renault WindWhat was going through the minds of Renault\u2019s naming department when they dubbed their two-seater roadster \u2018Wind\u2019? Maybe they were trying to emphasise the \u2018wind in your hair\u2019 sensation of driving with the roof down but for everyone else, it made them think of flatulence, to put it politely. Wind\u2019s transition from concept to production was just as unfortunate as its nameplate.In pre-production shots from 2004, Wind looked like Renault had put the Mazda MX-5 through a Japanese-to-French Google Translator. Raked-back embedded headlights sprawled up the extended front-end, it had a rounded nose, and an MR-2-esque bonnet vent beneath an upright windscreen.The car\u2019s \u2018lipstick\u2019 shape continued throughout the rest of the car\u2019s length with the shoulder line feeding into the rear lights. Things took a markedly less cool turn by the time you actually saw the back but overall, Wind had the potential to blow the competition away.What actually made it to market in 2010 was definitely not cool and the car now resembled a triangle – a very uncomfortable isosceles triangle – thanks to a sloping rear third that seemed to serve neither form nor function.Gone were the piercing headlights, replaced by dorky bulbous efforts. The bonnet looked much shorter and the front windscreen had been angled to flow with this new trajectory.Fortunately, Wind only lasted three years before it was culled by recession-hit Renault.Chrysler PT CruiserOne of the most spectacular car fails of recent times, the PT Cruiser went from the slick Beetle-inspired Pronto Cruizer Concept to little more than a glorified hearse and a regular fixture in \u2018ugliest cars ever\u2019 lists.As with Renault\u2019s Wind, the rear is the biggest let down. The concept\u2019s curved roofline is bulked out and continues almost to the end of the car with seemingly enough space to accommodate a six-foot coffin.Fans says the ghastly PT Cruiser is an acquired taste but as it is also one of the most unreliable cars on the road, even their patience and fondness must be tested regularly."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Concept cars and their disappointing reality","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/concept-cars-disappointing-reality\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]