Concept cars elicit the most excitement from car lovers because of the possibilities that they present. Most of them incorporate new technology and radical designs that leave car enthusiasts yearning for more. The imagination of driving a new car with cutting edge technology and never seen before engineering techniques make concept cars such an exhilarating experience. And while some of these concepts are outright ridiculous, auto manufacturers have also managed to develop some cool concept cars that almost made it to the roads.
While some concept cars such as the Tesla models impress during auto shows and subsequently make it to full production, other concept cars are not so lucky. They may have unique design cues, but unfortunately, they do not get manufactured. Here are ten incredible concept supercars we wish made it to production.
10 Ford GT90
Debuting during the 1995 Detroit auto show, the Ford GT90 had been in production since 1990. The GT90 was supposed to compete with the fastest supercars like the McLaren F1, the Lamborghinis, and the Bugatti EB110.
Imagine a turbocharged V12 engine that outputs 720 horsepower and 660 pounds-feet of torque in the 1990s era. The GT90 would have caused an uproar. To add to the hype, Ford boasted that the car could accelerate from 0-60 in just 3.1 seconds and maintain a top speed of 253 mph.
9 Audi Avus
At about the same time when the Ford GT90 was birthed, engineers in Germany were toying with a supercar idea. The Audi Avus had an all-aluminum chassis and a Center of Gravity-focused design that made the futuristic supercar appear relatively low.
The vehicle debuting at the 1991 Tokyo motor show featured a new W12 engine technology estimated to produce 502 horsepower. With a 0-60 sprint speed of 3 seconds, the performance statistics were quite impressive. Unfortunately, the concept vehicle never made it to production.
8 Kia Sidewinder
The South Korean company is famous for producing odd and exceptional cars that no one has thought about before. The Sidewinder was one of these strange vehicles, but it never made it to production. Built with a sporty design, the Sidewinder was supposed to be fast, fun, and exciting.
Unfortunately, the car was never produced because most of the parts it was supposed to be built with were too advanced for the time. However, car enthusiasts still ponder what it would have felt like had the Sidewinder reached our roads.
7 Chrysler ME Four-Twelve
Picture a car built with the agility of a gazelle and the power of a buffalo. Made from the early 2000s and showcased in 2004, the Chrysler ME Four-Twelve would have taken the motor world by a storm had it been officially produced.
The concept car was fitted with a 6.0-liter V12 engine with a massive power output of 850 horsepower. This amount of power combined with an all-wheel-drive system and a 7-speed manual transmission would have resulted in the performance supercar of all time.
6 Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo
Nothing made chrome paint look cooler than this concept car, the AMG Vision Gran Turismo, a part of the competition for the Gran Turismo series, a famous racing simulator. Mercedes produced this car with luxury and class in mind, and it did not disappoint. The design was shiny and eye-catching, while the elegant curves made it feel more futuristic.
To match the beauty with performance, Mercedes installed an insane twin-turbo V8 engine. Though the vehicle had no official acceleration and top speed times, the 585 horses would have made for a swift ride.
5 Ferrari Mythos
The Ferrari Company is legendary for producing some of the best cars on the planet, thanks to Enzo Ferrari. The Ferrari Mythos showcased in an auto show in Japan in 1989 is one of those legendary productions that leave car lovers breathless.
The concept car featured a 12-cylinder engine when even the V8 engine was virtually unheard of. The power output of 390 horsepower and 261 pounds of torque cemented the car as one of the best concept cars the world had ever seen.
4 Infiniti Essence
The Infiniti Essence concept car was unveiled in the year 2009. The Infiniti Essence was supposed to usher in a new era of cutting-edge design for Infiniti. Unfortunately, that never came to pass as the production of the car was halted.
Apart from the new aesthetic design, the vehicle was also a hybrid car powered by a 3.7-liter V6 engine and an electric power source. The 434 horses produced by the fuel-powered motor was quickly supplemented by an extra 200 kW of power from the electric powertrain.
3 Ford Shelby GR-1
The mere mention of a Shelby vehicle is enough to grab the attention of every purist alive. In 2005 Ford showcased a concept vehicle with a front-engine, an aluminum body, and a V10 engine that was the awe of all spectators at the North American International auto show.
Unfortunately, the vehicle was never officially mass-produced despite having excellent features and performance statistics. The good news is that the 605 horsepower concept vehicle could soon be produced if a deal by Superformance and Ford goes through. The deal would see the mass production of the GR-1.
2 Italdesign Alfa Romeo Scighera
Italian car manufacturers have always carved a niche in the auto market with their exquisite designs, and this beautiful Alfa Romeo is proof of that. The concept was showcased at an auto show in Turin in 1997. The car features a 3.0 L twin-turbo V6 engine with 400 horsepower.
The power resulted in a quick acceleration of 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 186 mph. With an aluminum body and a partial glass roof, the Scighera combined light material and aesthetics to produce a very appealing supercar.
1 Volkswagen W12 Nardo
Yet another vehicle featuring the W12 engine, this German beast was quite impressive, but unfortunately, it did not see the light of day. The Nardo was unveiled in 2001 at the Tokyo Motor show, and it featured the new W12 engine concept. The engine was powerful, and it made the car quite fast. The vehicle was also built almost like a Ferrari following inputs from Italdesign.
The W12 Nardo had an electric powertrain with a maximum of 448 KW of power. It had a 0-60 acceleration time of 3.5 seconds. Unfortunately, the car was never produced.