Mazda's resurrected RX-7, Holden's resurrected Torana, Hyundai's Porsche electric rival, and other concept cars that should be real
Holden teased us with the Torana TT36 concept at the 2004 Sydney Motor Show.
We recently took a look at some concept cars that never got a chance to see the showroom floor. What about the reverse? Concepts that are so good they deserve to go into production?
There are many examples of cars that started out as amazing concepts and were so well received that they either acquitted the designer or forced management to rethink to turn the concept into production as quickly as possible.
Recent examples of this include the Hyundai 45 (which will hit showrooms soon as the Ioniq 5), the Honda e (which was too pretty to ignore), and the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS (which recently launched without the "Vision"). .
But what about those that, for some reason, look great as a concept, but never go beyond this stage. So, we've compiled a list of concept cars that we think deserve more than just a one off creation.
These are not just concepts that we liked on their own, these are models that we think can (or still can) play an important role for every brand.
Holden Torana TT36
The TT36 Torana concept was the smallest and shortest of all VE-based projects.
In Holden's glory days in the early 2000s, the brand seemed to make the right choice by launching a series of iconic Commodores and even resurrecting the Monaro. Then at the 2004 Sydney Motor Show, the company teased the return of another famous nameplate by showing off the Torana TT36 concept.
This mid-size sedan was to sit below the then-popular Commodore to appeal to those who wanted a more compact car, and with its rear-wheel drive platform, it could be a cut-price competitor to the model's units. BMW 3 series.
While the concept had a twin-turbocharged V6, any production Torana would need a range of four-cylinder and six-cylinder engine options to be competitive.
Would it save Holden? Probably not, but it would have been a better mid-size offering than the forgotten Epica and Malibu models that were offered instead.
Nissan IDx
Nissan was unable to find a partner to share the development and production costs of the IDx to bring it to life.
People of a certain age will have fond memories when you mention the Datsun 1600. And it looks like some of those people worked at Nissan ten years ago because the IDx concept paid homage to the Datto.
The IDx seemed to be the right car at the right time, a compact rear-wheel-drive sports coupe capable of competing with the then-new Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ. It was a period when Japanese car companies were looking to bring some excitement back into their lineups, so the creation of the IDx Freeflow and the subsequent IDx Nismo made sense.
Unfortunately, unlike the Toyota/Subaru joint venture, Nissan was unable to find a partner to share the development and production costs of the IDx to bring it to life. It's a shame, because in an era where affordable performance is sought after by customers but increasingly hard to come by, a Datsun-inspired IDx would be a great addition to the brand's sub-370Z lineup.
Mazda RX Vision
Mazda may not have given up on making the RX-Vision a reality.
Hope is eternal... at least for RX-7 devotees. Mazda has teased the possibility of a rotary sports car resurrection too many times to mention it, but the closest the company has come to realizing the RX-Vision concept.
Unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, the RX-Vision was the car that RX-7 fans have been waiting for: a true front-engined two-door sports car with a rotary engine. And early on, Mazda executives were optimistic about the concept's launch, initially in 2020 to celebrate the brand's centenary.
Apparently, this did not happen, as the company's financial resources were directed to the development of Skyactiv-X spark ignition engines and larger models. But not all is lost; Mazda is reportedly still working on making rotary engines more fuel efficient, though perhaps as a range boost for electric vehicles.
Another reason to be hopeful is a recent leak from the Japanese patent office showing a sports car rear structure very similar to the RX-Vision, suggesting that Mazda may not have given up on bringing the RX-Vision to series production. Don't lose hope, RX-7 fans.
Hyundai RM20e
Hyundai plans to develop an electric mid-range sports car.
The idea of a mid-engined sports car from Hyundai that could compete with the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman and Alpine A110 might seem far-fetched, except for the fact that the company has explicitly stated that it would like to develop such a car. What's more, they want to make it electric (or at least hybrid).
When the South Korean giant announced its investment in Rimac, Croatian EV supercar specialists said one of the main reasons was to accelerate its plans to "develop an electric version of Hyundai Motor's N brand midsize sports car."
It seemed to come true when Hyundai showed off the latest in its "Racing Midship" series of concepts, the RM20e. This followed previous RM concepts which had the engine in the middle but replaced the engine with electric motors. With 596kW and 960Nm, it definitely had the performance to compete with cars like Porsche and co.
Unfortunately, recent comments from Hyundai management suggest that they have changed their minds about building a dedicated N electric sports car to compete with more prestigious rivals. Instead, we'll likely get an N-version of the upcoming Ioniq 5, which should have similar performance to the 430kW Kia EV6 GT.
Volkswagen ID Buggy
Volkswagen has reportedly hired e.Go to create a unique chassis and bodywork for the production ID buggy.
The German giant is making a major transition to EVs with the ID.3 and ID.4, but is adamant that EVs should be fun. That's why the ID Buzz concept is turning into a production reality in the form of the revived Kombi.
Encouraged by this success, the company pushed the boundaries even further with the introduction of the 2019 ID Buggy concept. It was a modern interpretation of iconic 1960s beach buggies, notably the VW Beetle-based Meyers Manx, with electric motors replacing the four-cylinder engine.
Volkswagen reportedly hired a third party company, e.Go, to create a unique chassis and bodywork for the series-produced ID Buggy, but the company ran into financial problems. It's unclear if Volkswagen is looking for another third-party company to help turn the Buggy into a production reality, but for a company that wants to showcase just how fun electric cars can be, it would be great if they could find someone to do so.
Essence of Being
The Genesis Essentia was unveiled at the 2018 New York Auto Show.
Rising luxury brand Hyundai unveiled the Genesis X concept earlier this year, strongly hinting that a production version of this electric grand tourer will arrive in the next few years.
While it would make a great addition to the Genesis lineup, providing a halo model that would stand above a lineup of otherwise sensible sedans and SUVs, there's another concept that arguably fits the hero car's shape better.
The Genesis Essentia was unveiled at the 2018 New York Auto Show and it was as stunning back then as it is now. Unlike the GT-style X Concept, the Essentia is a pure sports car, albeit with an electric motor rather than a combustion engine.
Sleek lines and a rear-facing cabin gave it a sharper, more purposeful look than the brand's latest concept. If Genesis is serious about competing with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and the company. As a serious luxury player, Essentia seems like an important addition to us.
