Great Concept Cars That Never Materialized

Some concept cars are the stuff of dreams, while others are bizarre creations that should never have been built. Of course, not all concept cars make it to production. Some are discarded or abandoned by their makers before they can win the hearts and minds of auto enthusiasts around the globe. Sadly, several terrific concept cars are cast aside every year for economic or practical reasons. Here are some of our favorites that never made it beyond private showings at auto shows.

Mazda Furai

Quite possibly one of the most beautiful concept cars to ever be shown in public, the Mazda Furai was unfortunately never intended for production, or at least not for street driving. The Furai debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The car’s name, which means “sound of the wind”, was very fitting. The Furai was powered by an all-new engine that could produce over 400 hp, and in many ways looked incredibly slick and futuristic, like a modern-day Batmobile come to life. Though it will never be built for the street or see any form of real production, it was tested for the track, with jaw-dropping results.

Hummer HX

The HX Concept was destined to save Hummers. It had recognizable Hummer traits, but looked slicker and far less clumsy than its peers. Blessed with a modular set-up, you could remove the slanted rear roof and convert the vehicle into a pickup. The interior was completely revamped, featuring beautiful aluminum, lightweight seats and four-point seatbelts. Too bad the HX came in too late, as the market for hummers had slowed down too much to justify production.

Lamborghini Estoque

The stunning Estoque was one of those concept cars that looked like it was intended to be as close to the production model as possible, though the Italian automaker claims that it was only meant as a concept. The Estoque had all the makings of a top-of-the-market sedan, including a powerful 5.2-liter V10 engine and a sophisticated exterior. When it was revealed in Geneva, in 2008, it was the talk of the automotive world, including anyone receiving automotive training in Toronto. The car would have no doubt been a huge success for Lamborghini had it actually made it to production. Unfortunately, the financial crisis forced the Italian automaker to revise its plans.

Renaud DeZir

Though it was only powered by a 150 hp electric motor, the DeZir’s sexy and eccentric exterior stole the show at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The car’s name, a pun on the word “Desire,” was appropriate, as the DeZir was an incredible concept to behold. Sadly, it never made it out of the French automaker’s factories, and remains a beautiful example of wasted potential.

Citroën GT

In a partnership between the French automaker and video game developer Polyphony Digital, the CitroënGT was originally designed and created for the video game Gran Turismo 5. Long and low, the GT appears incredibly unique, with beautiful interior and space-age interior that looks as if it’d been pulled from the future. Six versions were planned for production at one point, but the automotive world was robbed of this beauty when Citroën decided to kill any plans to make more – disappointing, no doubt, for anyone interested in automotive careers in Toronto.

Students of mechanic courses in Toronto, what is your favourite concept car that never made it?