Innovative Automobile Designs

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【Summary】The 1938 Buick Y-Job was the first concept car, showcasing features like electric windows and hidden headlamps. Concept cars allow manufacturers to test public reaction. While some concepts become successful production vehicles, others fail. Honda announced the return of the Prelude, while Kia unveiled the EV3 and EV4. These vehicles aim to be sustainable and will be manufactured with bioplastics and recycled materials. The success of these concepts remains uncertain.

FutureCar Staff Nov 26, 2023 3:14 PM PT

The 1938 Buick Y-Job holds a unique place in automotive history as the first concept car. Despite its dubious name, it showcased innovative features such as electric windows, flush door handles, and hidden headlamps. The Y-Job also introduced the iconic waterfall grille design still used by Buick today.

Harley J. Earl, the renowned automotive designer, drove the Y-Job concept for years. Earl's preference for being different led him to choose the letter "Y" for the car's name, distinguishing it from other concepts that typically used the letter "X". Although the Y-Job was never available for purchase, it popularized the concept car idea, which became a way for car manufacturers to gauge public interest at automobile shows.

Concept cars have had varying fates throughout history. Some have become best-sellers, while others have been forgotten or deemed hideous. For example, the Porsche 911 started as a concept car in 1961 and has been manufactured since 1964, enjoying great success. On the other hand, the Packard Twelve, introduced as a concept car in 1999, failed to revive the brand due to its unappealing design reminiscent of the 1941 Packard Clipper.

The Los Angeles Auto Show has been a hub for concept vehicles over the years. However, the recent show was more understated, with several manufacturers absent. Splashy, attention-grabbing concept cars were nowhere to be seen, and companies like Mullen, Canoo, and Edison Future seemed to have disappeared.

Despite this, Honda and Kia remained stalwarts in the concept car realm. Honda announced the return of the Prelude, a hybrid-electric two-door coupe that was last produced in 2001. While Honda confirmed it would be a consumer car, specific details were not provided. Kia showcased their EV3 and EV4 concepts, a crossover and a sedan respectively, both featuring minimalist and futuristic designs. Kia plans to manufacture these vehicles using sustainable materials and aims to release them in 2024.

The potential success of the new Prelude and Kia's concepts is uncertain, but their manufacturers remain optimistic. While many concept cars fail to make it to production, there have been numerous success stories. The 1989 Dodge Viper RT/10 kickstarted the performance car frenzy, and the 1994 Volkswagen Concept One became the beloved new Beetle. Elements of the 1981 Ford Probe III also transitioned into the Ford Taurus.

Concept cars, with their outlandish designs, can be polarizing. Some people embrace them as the future of automotive aesthetics, while others find them unappealing. Ultimately, the true judgment of a concept car comes from experiencing it in person and observing how people respond to it.

James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist and the founder of theweeklydriver.com, has been covering the industry since 2004. His website offers a free newsletter and podcast for car enthusiasts. For inquiries, you can contact James at [email protected].