Skip advert
Advertisement

Concept to reality

We celebrate those occasions when a great concept car becomes a great road car, pushing the boundaries of design and technology in the process…

If you want to know what our cars will look like and what technology they’ll use in the future, checking out the latest concept cars is a good place to start. 

Concept cars provide a glimpse into what car makers believe the future of car design and technology will hold. Sometimes these predictions look to the distant future and have little direct relationship to models that will actually be built, but sometimes they’re grounded much more solidly in production reality. Concepts that actually preview the form of an imminent production model are usually far more interesting, especially when a great concept car leads directly to a great road car in fairly short order.  

Advertisement - Article continues below

Our ‘Concept to reality’ series looks at the relationship between some of the best production-focused concept cars that went on to become great production models. Transferring the design of a concept car onto a road car without its essence being lost amidst all the safety regulations, practical necessities and cost counting is a huge challenge, but designers and engineers behind the models we look at here have risen to it. 

Our Concept to reality candidates might not be the best cars ever made, but their manufacturers realised the original design concepts in production form with a skill that deserves respect. From sports cars to SUVs, these are the production cars that have remained truest to their concept car forerunners and been all the better for it.

Use the menu below to see all the cars in the Concept to reality series...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Genesis X Dog is a paw-sitively luxurious concept car for canines
Genesis GV70 X Dog concept
News

New Genesis X Dog is a paw-sitively luxurious concept car for canines

It’s modelled on a GV70 and comes with a suite of accessories to make your four-legged friend more comfortable
9 May 2024
New Skoda Vision Gran Turismo is the 1,071bhp hypercar nobody expected
Skoda Vision Gran Turismo - front
News

New Skoda Vision Gran Turismo is the 1,071bhp hypercar nobody expected

It’s destined for the Gran Turismo video game series but a Skoda hypercar is still a turn up for the books
25 Apr 2024
Hyundai Mobion concept looks like the ideal city car thanks to wild four-wheel steering
Hyundai Mobion concept
News

Hyundai Mobion concept looks like the ideal city car thanks to wild four-wheel steering

Hyundai’s Mobion can do a 360-degree turn and even drive completely sideways
12 Jan 2024
New 2024 Mercedes EQ saloon spotted on the road
Mercedes EQ saloon (camouflaged) - front cornering
News

New 2024 Mercedes EQ saloon spotted on the road

Fresh spy pictures give us our best look yet at new Mercedes EV
16 Aug 2023

Most Popular

Mercedes says ‘no thank you’ to EQ: EV brand to be axed
Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 - EQS badge
News

Mercedes says ‘no thank you’ to EQ: EV brand to be axed

Mercedes will roll back EQ branding for its electric cars as the first generation of EV models reaches the end of its lifecycle.
15 May 2024
UK faces “epidemic” of young uninsured drivers
Car crash
News

UK faces “epidemic” of young uninsured drivers

The number of young people convicted of driving without insurance has tripled since 2021, due to sky-rocketing premiums
17 May 2024
Car Deal of the Day: SEAT Leon is an ideal family hatchback for £165 a month
SEAT Leon TSI EVO - front tracking
News

Car Deal of the Day: SEAT Leon is an ideal family hatchback for £165 a month

Excellent interior quality and efficiency make the SEAT Leon our Deal of the Day for 17 May
17 May 2024