If you’re on this website, chances are you know what a concept car is. For those of you who don’t, you’ve definitely seen one before. Regardless of whether it was on the internet or in person, it’s hard to miss the futuristic, spectacular look of a concept car.
To the Average Joe, a concept car may look like some sort of space ship, almost like something you would have seen in a Sci-Fi film. But don’t be mistaken, these concept cars by affordable car brands are very much real.
What is a Concept Car?
The best way to define a concept car is a machine that was first created in the designers wildest dreams. These cars combined new styling as well as state of the art technology to create one magnificent show piece.
Concept cars offer enthusiasts a nice change of pace. Built with non-traditional materials and unique layouts, these cars leave nothing to the imagination. Unfortunately, concepts will never go directly into production as many changes need to made in order to be practical.
The List
Check out 5 gorgeous concept cars by affordable car brands, in no particular order, that you’re guaranteed to love.
GT4 Stinger
Starting off with Kia’s most aggressive concept ever, the GT4 Stinger has more than earned its right to be on this list. This concept was put on this earth to do one thing, and one thing only: impress.
A 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline direct injection four-cylinder engine pumps out 315 horsepower with ease. This power is directed to the ground by a six-speed manual transmission which drives the 20” rear wheels.
The Kia signature grille rests mere inches from the ground in the front, surrounded by a white glow from vertical LED headlamps. The back end is clean and simple, sloping down into a rounded back with two tips barely emerging from the bumper.
The Inside Story
On the inside, beautiful black leather seats with orange stitching seat the driver, and passenger, right in the action – comfortably. Chrome encases the seats and center console, adding some flavour to the dash.
Aside from that, the interior is relatively simple- but that is what I would expect from this car. With the exterior having such a simple design, I would not expect anything too crazy on the inside. It serves both functional and practical purposes.
As far as I’m concerned, however, the touches of red can go. I’d prefer to see the red replaced with the same sharp orange the exterior is painted and white lighting instead.
The List
Check out 5 gorgeous concept cars by affordable car brands, in no particular order, that you’re guaranteed to love.
Toyota FT-1
FT stands for “Future Toyota”, and I really hope to see more cars like this from them in the future. This car is beautiful. Although it was released two years ago, I still felt like it deserved a spot on this list.
The FT-1 is an aggressive looking, track-focused sports car, designed with a unique fusion of both emotional and rational factor. The purpose of this concept was to symbolize the more exciting products to come out of Toyota in the future in which consumers have a stronger connection with the driving experience.
I don’t have an emotional connection with this car, but at the same time, I haven’t driven it. So if you’re reading this Toyota…
Designed With You in Mind
The FT-1 design was heavily influenced by some of their most beloved, long standing, and traditional sports cars, such as the 2000GT, Celica, Supra, MR2 and the FR-S. Put all those cars together, and the FT-1 is what you’ll get.
By appearance, the FT-1 looks like you’d lose sight of it in the blink of an eye. Sharp body lines and cuts make the FT-1 look aggressive from all angles. Unfortunately, Toyota did not release any performance specs on this vehicle, so for now we’ll all have to imagine how mean it truly is.
The List
Check out 5 gorgeous concept cars by affordable car brands, in no particular order, that you’re guaranteed to love.
Subaru BRZ tS
The Subaru BRZ is a nice looking car, don’t get me wrong. But for someone who’s looking for a car that is quick, even at stock, it let me down. Throw a turbo into it and now we’re talking my language. Unfortunately, the Subaru BRZ tS still doesn’t satisfy that need for me. However, we’re talking about gorgeous concept cars here, and you cannot deny that the BRZ tS is anything but that.
Revamped with greater flexibility, better control, and improved stability, the BRZ tS provides the driver with a bit more pleasure than the previous models. Although it still lacks more power, STI-tuned dampers, coil springs, and draw stiffeners have been added to give the driver nothing but satisfaction.
A Touch of STI
The BRZ tS received a huge carbon fiber wing on the back that can be adjusted as desired, along with the classic STI front, rear and side under spoilers to better control airflow and add to that aggressive look this machine has. Oh yeah, did we mention it’s been outfitted with 18-inch STi wheels?
The List
Check out 5 gorgeous concept cars by affordable car brands, in no particular order, that you’re guaranteed to love.
Mazda Vision Coupe
What could easily be mistaken for as a Tesla, the Mazda Vision Coupe is downright gorgeous. Its sleek, streamline, seamless design is one that I could endlessly stare at. It’s simple, clean, and ready to rip apart any road ahead of it.
Mazda hasn’t revealed any specs yet, but as soon as they do I suggest you give it a quick read. This car has me speechless… just look at it!
The List
Check out 5 gorgeous concept cars by affordable car brands, in no particular order, that you’re guaranteed to love.
Volkswagen Golf R400
Don’t get me wrong, the Golf R is a sleek, quick hatch that I would be more than happy to call my own. Perhaps I’m just biased towards this car because I’ve been dreaming of the day I can afford to turn a Golf R into a daily, however, after taking a look at the Golf R400, I’m no longer interested in any other car highlighted on this page.
Take your Golf R, flare the wheel arches and throw an extra 100 hp and 50 ft lb of torque into it and you’ve got yourself a Golf R400. This nice little addition of power makes the R 400 a whole second faster than its sibling, making it able to reach 62mph in just 3.9 seconds. Like its predecessor, this concept weighs in at 1,420kg.
How’s She Look?
As much as Volkswagen likes to claim that the appearance has been substantially altered compared to the Golf R, they look fairly similar.
The body is 20mm wider on each side, with flared wheel arches that give it the appearance of it being stanced. The front bumper has received a new makeover to help account for the increased cooling needs of the R 400’s powerhouse of an engine.
The interior is quite simple, striking almost an identical appearance to that of the GTI or the Golf R. The R 400’s racing seats, along with the wheel and stick-shift, are beautifully stitched in a lemon yellow to match the horizontal stripe across the grille.
The List
Check out 5 gorgeous concept cars by affordable car brands, in no particular order, that you’re guaranteed to love.
My Top Pick
Let’s pretend that these cars have been mass-produced and are available in today’s market.
My disappointment in regards to the minimal performance upgrades on the BRZ tS compared to the BRZ is enough to steer me away from this concept. Moving on, the lack of specs released on the FT-1 has simply disqualified it from the running (who would buy a car without specs?).
That leaves us with only three cars left to choose from. Although absolutely beautiful, I’ll have to pass on the Mazda Vision Coupe as well. Mazdas have a reputation to rust.
That leaves us two: the GT4 Stinger and the Golf R400. As hard as this choice was to make, I’m going to have to make the GT4 Stinger my second choice.
It all comes back to my bias towards the Golf R400. I’ve owned Volkswagens all of my life, and they’ve always treated me well, ultimately leaving me with no reason to switch manufacturers. My MK7 GTI has provided me with countless unique driving experiences, and I’m confident the Golf R400 would be able to do the same.
5 Concepts to Remember
So there you have it! Five absolutely gorgeous concept cars by affordable car brands. Hopefully one day these concepts will receive the necessary changes to move from an idea into a reality.
Here’s to hoping production begins soon! 😉
