RAPE of a concept car.

[thedutchguy]

Watching the thread posted by Johnny Apollo, I came across the cover of a magazine with a PT cruiser.
It made me think back to 1998 when I saw the Pronto cruiser at the Amsterdam car show.
I was euforic: they were going to build this?????????????


Where could I order one?
Then this came out:



How disappointed can you get?

[Bimati]

I'm with you, Dutchy.

Concept cars often promote form over function (as does the VX with blind spots from the side pillars and spare tire, but it looks good). Once the concept gets out of the design studio, it's function over form....turns gems to turds, albeit safe, practical turds.

Sometimes, form wins out over function and you end up with things like the VX, the 1963 corvette split window coupe, etc.

As you say...the VX is as close to a concept car for the road as you can get. Love it.

Bim

[transio]

Once the concept gets out of the design studio, it's function over form....turns gems to turds, albeit safe, practical turds.

I disagree. When the concept goes to production, it's primarily COST rather than function that causes the change in design. A lot of times, the function is reduced in a production car. :shrug:

Sometimes, form wins out over function and you end up with things like the VX, the 1963 corvette split window coupe, etc.

And sometimes form FOLLOWS function, and you wind up with true gems of design like the McLaren F1 and the Ariel Atom.

[WormGod]

Sad, aint it? I followed that Pronto as well back in the day, then the PT arrived and I lost all faith.

[Bimati]

Transio: Points well taken. Production costs are a major consideration. I didn't feel like writing a thesis on the topic before my morning coffee....

[nfpgasmask]

Hmmm, while the Pronto does look a little better than the production version, I still think they are both quite ugly. No offense to anyone who likes it....

The VX is an exception here I think. The VX concepts I have seen are cool, but the production version we all have actually looks better than the prototype. But then again, I guess the VX is nothing but a production concept vehicle...

Bart

[Reg Hinnant]

Yeah, Me too on these.
Sure wish Toyota would have followed up on the RSC. I think they would have a much better winner in sales than the FJ Cruiser.