Author:FutureCar Staff
The 1938 Buick Y-Job holds a unique place in automotive history as the first concept car. Despite its questionable name, it showed off innovative features such as electric windows, flush door handles, and hidden headlamps. The Y-Job also introduced the iconic waterfall grille design still used on Buicks today.
Renowned automotive designer Harley J. Earle has been promoting the Y-Job concept for many years. Earl liked to be different and chose the letter ‘Y’ for the car’s name, distinguishing it from other concepts that usually used the letter ‘X’. Although the Y-Job was never something you could buy, the concept his car idea caught on and became a way for automakers to gauge public interest at car shows.
Concept cars have had various fates throughout history. Some became bestsellers, while others were forgotten or considered terrible. For example, the Porsche 911 started life as a concept car in his 1961 and went into production from 1964 to great success. Meanwhile, the Packard Twelve, introduced as a concept car in 1999, failed to revive the brand due to its unattractive design reminiscent of the 1941 Packard Clipper.
The Los Angeles Auto Show has been a hub for concept cars for years. But recent shows were more subdued, with several manufacturers absent. Flashy, attention-grabbing concept cars were nowhere to be seen, and companies like Mullen, Canoo, and Edison Future seemed to disappear.
Despite this, Honda and Kia remained strong players in the concept car field. Honda has announced the return of the Prelude, a hybrid electric two-door coupe last produced in 2001. Honda confirmed that it is a consumer car, but did not provide specific details. Kia showcased his EV3 and EV4 concepts, a crossover and sedan respectively, featuring minimalist and futuristic designs. Kia Motors plans to manufacture these vehicles using sustainable materials and aims to launch them in 2024.
The chances of success for the new Prelude and Kia Motors concept are uncertain, but manufacturers remain optimistic. While many concept cars fail to make it into mass production, there are also many success stories. The 1989 Dodge Viper RT/10 sparked a performance car craze, and the 1994 Volkswagen His One concept became the beloved New Beetle. Elements of the 1981 Ford Probe III also migrated to the Ford Taurus.
Concept cars with unusual designs can divide opinions. While some embrace these as the future of automotive aesthetics, others find them unappealing. At the end of the day, the true judgment on a concept car comes from actually experiencing it and seeing how people react to it.
James Raia, a syndicated auto columnist and founder of theweeklydriver.com, has been covering the auto industry since 2004. His website offers free newsletters and podcasts for car enthusiasts. For inquiries, please contact James. [email protected].