It takes balls to put a concept car into production without toning it down too much. While it's good for the brand, sales don't always follow the enthusiasm. Turns out Isuzu had the biggest.
10.) Nissan GT-R
As CStyler puts it:
This is one of the few cases I can think of where the production version kicks the concepts car's ass.
Since then, the production GT-R has kicked other asses too.
Suggested By: Automatch- the Avanthusiast, Photo Credit: Nissan
9.) Porsche 918 Spyder
When I've first seen the 918 Spyder in 2010 at Geneva, there was no doubt about whether if it makes it into production or not. They needed a Carrera GT successor, and VAG had the cash to develop it.
But check out the styling! They didn't cut it back at all!
Suggested By: marshknute, Photo Credit: Porsche
8.) Citroën BX
What started out as the 1979 Bertone Volvo Tundra was quickly sold the the French after the Swedish said it's wasn't "Volvo enough." As a Citroën, it did just fine.
Suggested By: Attila Nagy, Photo Credit: Bertone and Wiki Commons
7.) Isuzu VehiCROSS
Yep, that's the same car, developed in only four years. What a shame it never came to Europe!
VX0189 had one for a decade. Lucky devil.
Suggested By: VX0189, Photo Credit: Isuzu and Wiki Commons
6.) BMW Z8
This is another thing Henrik Fisker did at the right time.
Suggested By: PSina, Photo Credit: BMW
5.) Audi R8
What started out as a Le Mans celebration evolved into a better Gallardo.
Suggested By: StewMM , Photo Credit: Wiki Commons and Audi
4.) Isuzu Impulse
Isuzu looked at the Italdesign 'Ace of Clubs', then added Lotus handling to it. The want is getting stronger with this one.
Suggested By: The Scrambler says it can be done, Photo Credit: Hugo90
3.) Toyota FJ Cruiser
Let's put regular tires on it!
Done.
I remember sitting in it at an auto show when it was a concept and thinking, can't see anything. However, I've heard it's pretty capable off road. The change from concept to production (at least the concept I saw, maybe that was pre-production, idk) wasn't huge either. That being said, no really a fan of it...and a coworker drives one so I can ponder the car's existence every morning.
Suggested By: cazzyodo, Photo Credit: Toyota
2.) Pontiac Solstice
See the mirrors? That's pretty much it.
Bob Lutz wanted to save Pontiac, but it was a goner no matter what.
Thanks Bob!
Suggested By: Pilotman , Photo Credit: Newspress
1.) Dodge Viper
The first Viper pretty much remained a concept car with a plate at the back.
Let's be real here: there just wasn't ever a concept car that forced pre-pubescent kids into puberty and grew hairs on our chests quite like the original Viper concept that made it almost entirely unscathed into production. It had no real reason to exist, other than the fact that it was pure, lethal essence of automotive badassness.
Suggested By: pauljones , Photo Credit: Chrysler and Wiki Commons
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