Love/Hate Relationship with Concept Cars

Concept cars are awesome. Automakers get to showcase thelatest and greatest features, while at the same time innovating the nextgeneration of vehicle specifications. As cool as concept cars are though, the versionthat eventually makes it to production is usually a watered down shell of whatcould have been the greatest thing ever. An epic concept with a revolutionarycar navigation system that integrates with your smartphone turns into a base production model  that you feel lucky they included a car CD playerin. Lame.

 

Lamorghini Spiga concept

 Still, even getting to set eyes on some of these is worthit. Just look at this Lambo Spiga concept. Its wheels look like a revolverchamber. The world is a cooler place because this exists, even if no one willget to drive it. Hopefully they will take feedback from what people like aboutthese cars, and incorporate it into later production models. Even if theydon’t, making concepts allows automakers free reign to design new crazyfeatures and innovate the most cutting edge technology for automobiles today.

 Even better,occasionally a company will sell a concept car so at least a tiny handful oflucky people get to drive it around. This was the case with the FerrariAvendator J we wrote about the other day. They only sold the one unit they made–to the tune of 2.8 million dollars – but someone gets to take it home and putit in their garage. Same with FAB Design’s take on the McLaren MP4-12C Terso ondisplay at Geneva this year – they’re making and selling five units, so ahandful of people can create an extra-exclusive cool kids club of vehicles thatstorm troopers drive.

These are not the concepts you're looking for.

 All in all, even with the frustration of knowing they won’tmake it to production, concepts are an interesting and necessary fixture in theauto industry to push the limits and discover new technologies. Even if we don’tget the chance to drive these ourselves, at least we can admire them and hopethe features we fall in love with will make it to production someday. How doyou feel about concept cars?

Lamborghini's Speedbike on Four Wheels

For the most hardcore, car-loving honeymooners, what couldbe better than the new Lamborghini Avendator J roadster? Sure, buying her a newCar CD Player or Car Navigation Systemwould be nice, but the way to thrill a real car lover is throwing that out thewindow (if this car had any) and getting this speedbike on four wheels instead.

 

Think of it now: you, her, nestled into carbon-fiber wovenseats jetting 300kmh down the road, hearing the roar of that 700hp engine overthe howling wind rushing by you. The experience sounds incredible, but as withmost great things, a few scarifies must be made.  The first that comes to mind is the fact thatwith no windshield or windows to speak of, that howling wind (and everythingliving/flying in it) will be intimately associated with your face.

That is, unless, you invest in some awesome full facehelmets with two way communicators. You can make the helmets match the car! Thenyou can comment and laugh at all the people staring wide-eyed at the work of machine-speed-artyou’ve blessed upon their consciousness. The best part is, with those full facehelmets you two can have your own private laugh fest while all the rest of theworld sees is your best stoic Stig impressions.

 Investing in helmets that have good ventilation will be keyto both of your comfort, however, as there will be no climate control in thisbeast. As the car as no roof or windshield to speak of, the outside weatherwill be directly associated with how much enjoyment you will get from drivingthe car. Sweltering, miserable heat with huge clouds of insects? Might want topass. Glorious fall day with lots of sun and a cool breeze? Best. Day. Ever.

If those obstacles don’t deter you, and you have a few milliondollars to spare to impress your sweetheart, there’s only one more roadblock toparking this in your garage. While the Avendator J is not a concept car and isfor sale, after the Geneva Motor Show this year, they will not be making anymore units. Not even for the Lamorghini Museum (so zipping in MissionImpossible style isn’t an option). So your one and only chance is to try andbuy it off the guy who already paid 2.1 million euros for it (at the currentexchange rate for the day, that will run you about 2.76 million dollars). Asyou can imagine, the chances of that happening are pretty slim. Oh well, atleast we can all enjoy these amazing photos and know that someone, somewhere, isliving the dream of driving this through the Tuscan countryside.

Back Up into Your Back Up Battery

One of the worst things is when your phone runs out of power while you’re in the middle of something really important, like posting a witty remark on your friends Facebook profile. Just imagine how much worse it would be if your car did the same thing during an even more vital activity, such as listening to your favorite song on your cd radio. At least with phones you have the option to buy those bulky power packs that extend your battery’s life. Only if cars had something similar… oh wait, it looks like it they may be on the way! Feel free to now play that song as loud as you can on your cd radio.

Those crazy engineers at Swiss Think Tank Rindspeed have conjured up The Dock+Go. This device would hook up to the back, and look like an extension of your vehicle. The biggest difference would be the third axle and extra set of wheels. The Dock+Go would increase your driving range with either an extra gas tank or set of batteries. Rindspeed has also dreamt up the idea of putting an oven, or a complete tool box in different models of the Dock+Go.

Currently they have modeled the Dock+Go to fit on the back of a Smart Car. Most people would say, “if someone wanted a bigger gas tank and more storage, then why not just buy a normal size car instead of a Smart Car and The Dock+Go?” Most people would say this because they are right.

As of now the Dock+Go is just an idea. Rindspeed does not actually produce any of the incredible things they think up… so lazy.