6 Bad Concept Cars That Became Great

Concept cars generally have better styling than their production counterparts. This is due to designers having more freedom when creating a concept, and not needing to account for safety regulations or the costs associated with mass production, resulting in much more striking designs. Concept cars don’t need to be practical; they just need to generate buzz and hint at what could be in an automaker’s future. Sometimes, concept cars closely preview a production model, other times, they’re wild for the sake of it. Typically, production versions are much more toned down compared to their concepts and can often fail to capture the same excitement once their designs become more realistic.

However, there are rare instances when greater design freedom works against designers, resulting in concept cars that don’t hit the mark. Fortunately, some designs improve significantly by the time they reach production. Here are six examples of production cars whose final looks surpassed the original concepts.

Nissan GT-R concept (2001) to Nissan GT-R (2007)

The Nissan GT-R Concept was showcased in 2001, a design study to demonstrate what the GT-R would look like in the 21st century. Unlike previous generations, the R35 GT-R would not be based on a Skyline sedan, but instead be a bespoke standalone model, a halo car for the brand. The overall body shape of the 2001 GT-R is far sleeker than the production version. Meanwhile, the headlights are very long on the concept, starting midway at the hood and integrating into the air vents on the bumper. This results in an odd fascia for the concept, something that was thankfully fixed for the production version. Most notably, the 2001 concept is missing a Skyline hallmark: a spoiler. The 2001 concept resembles the Infiniti G35 much more than a GT-R, a definite problem when creating a special halo car.

Bugatti 18/4 Veyron (1999) to Bugatti Veyron (2005)

The Bugatti Veyron was the hypercar of the early 2000s and managed to break every existing speed record. The 8.0L quad-turbo W16 engine makes an astonishing 987 hp, taking the Veyron to a top speed of 408 km/h. The concept for the Veyron was not quite as impressive.

Showcased in 1999, the Veyron 18/4 featured a naturally aspirated 6.3L W18 engine, a massive engine made by combining three inline six engines in a W shape. Power output was just 547 hp, not an impressive figure when considering the Lamborghini Murcielago came out in 2001 and produced 572 hp from a naturally aspirated V12. The front-end styling of the 18/4 was also slightly different, with the grille placed higher up on the hood. It didn’t have the most attractive design. This was fixed with the production Veyron, and the horseshoe grille was moved down to the splitter, making the overall look far more elegant.

Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA (2000) to Mercedes-Benz SLK (2004)

The Mercedes Vision SLA was shown off in 2000 and was a compact roadster based on the front-wheel-drive Mercedes A-Class. The SLA and second-generation SLK weren’t really related, with one exception: styling. The similarities between the Vision SLA and the second-gen SLK are clear, from the overall shape to the front end design; it’s obvious how one car influenced the other. The F1-inspired hood protrudes wildly on the Vision SLA, and paired with the three small headlights on each side and massive hood vents, it results in a very strange-looking roadster.

These design elements were better adapted to the production SLK; the F1 hood still makes an appearance, but is far less pronounced. Meanwhile, the headlights were changed for a far more traditional look. Luckily, the massive hood vents remained strictly in concept form, as they were far too ugly and likely impractical to ever put in production. It's hard to call the second-generation SLK a pretty car, but at least it's not the monstrosity that is the Vision SLA.

Aston Martin Lagonda SUV (2009) to Aston Martin DBX (2020)

When Aston Martin showcased the DBX concept in 2015, it was more like a lifted Vantage than an SUV. The brand showcased a more traditional SUV design in 2009, which brought back the classic Aston Martin nameplate, Lagonda. This concept looks horrendous; it's truly difficult to find any angle where this car looks good. The grille is awkwardly large, while the greenhouse is too small and is placed too high on the body, making the SUV appear extremely bulky. However, the rear end is where the car truly becomes a travesty; it looks as if the rear end of a Bentley Continental was copied and pasted onto a van. These design elements, in combination with the small rear lights and small rear window, make a truly ugly car. Luckily, Aston Martin’s first production SUV actually looks beautiful, integrating the design elements from Aston’s grand tourers onto an SUV seamlessly.

Alfa Romeo Kamal (2003) to Alfa Romeo Stelvio (2016)

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is one of the better-looking luxury SUVs currently on sale. Despite the design being 10 years old, it holds up really well. That can’t be said about the Alfa Romeo Kamal, the brand’s take on an SUV long before the Stelvio ever made production. It's a good thing that the Kamal never met a public road; the design failed to capture Alfa Romeo’s classy performance look. It lacks the combination of sharp, aggressive angles and swooping lines that make Alfa Romeos look so seamlessly elegant. Instead, the Kamal is bubbly, and the roofline is visually too tall, which makes the Kamal look like a hatchback. The Stelvio does a much better job adapting signature Alfa Romeo design elements onto an SUV. Its much larger headlights and aggressive front grille give the Stelvio a look deserving of its Alfa Romeo badge.

Ford Bronco Concept (2004) to Ford Bronco (2021)

Ford reintroduced the Bronco name in 2021 after production of the fifth-generation model ended in 1996. This has proven to be one of the best decisions Ford made in recent years, seeing that the sixth-generation model has been so successful. The combination of cool retro design and rugged off-road capability made it an instant success.

Long before its 2021 reintroduction, Ford unveiled a Bronco concept in 2004 that didn’t quite nail the design like its production counterpart. Much like the current Bronco on sale, the 2004 concept was heavily inspired by the 1960s model with its round headlights, boxy shape, and grille-integrated badges. However, the 2004 concept looked a little too retro-futuristic to look good. Its fully aluminium design and bulkier elements, such as the square wheel arches, make this take on the Bronco an obvious product of its time. It's less sleek than the original Bronco, which is especially emphasised by the body-coloured front and rear bumpers. This is something the 2021 Bronco executed really well; it's clear where the design inspiration came from, and by incorporating more classic elements, the design holds up much better overall.