whatever.
More de-styling @ Honda

My previous feeling stands. When will automakers stop jacking around with concept cars? Stop teasing me and wasting my time and interest with things that will NEVER get built!

"Automakers prove their design skills by creating concept cars that will never go into production. Then they prove their management skills by producing cars that are less attractive than corrective underpants."

Scott Adams was right...

@Dan:

X2!

Honda makes decent (if low performance cars), but they are so boring. The new CRX concept looks good though.

Anyone that doesn't like the styling of this concept is plain crazy! This car is smokin'! The design is so well executed this thing would sell like crazy if they produce it for the market. My only recent issue with Honda is their pricing. The new 2 door Accord EX with a V-6 will likely cost over $30,000. That begins to touch awfully close to the Acura TL. Why the heck would I opt for an Accord if a TL is within reach???

Hmm... since when did Honda hire Hot Wheels designers?

@ Dan

The reasons they make concept cars are to test concepts, future products, technologies, and explore/expand/create new markets.

I would hate for auto makers to put untested technology and products in their full production models.

It takes years to go from concept car to full production model. They have to evaluate the market, design and test the car for various federal and state regulations, etc.

And the most expensive part is to phase out old factories or make new factors to produce them. Which in turn requires compliance with various federal and state regulations. And in the case of new factories, environmental impact statements need to drawn out, etc.

Contracts need to be made to secure the raw materials and technologies in order to produce the car.

And this is only some of the work that goes into to producing a car. They release concept cars to show you that they are actually doing something. Be grateful that you may be witnessing the first stages of what your future car may be.

@Thrawn:

Modern concept cars are usually testbeds for new technologies and styling cues for future models. Automakers use them to test the reaction of the press and audience.

Your post was very accurate on the difficulties that automakers have from converting the styling cues of a concept to actual production vehicles. (not to mention if the vehicle is planned for a worldwide market, the different regulations certain regions have that mandate design standards i.e. Europe's pedestrian laws or US frontal protection versus Euro offset frontal protection, etc)

Finally, most automakes contract out the building of concept vehicles to speciality shops. This minimizes the tooling for the automaker to produce essentially a non-commercially viable vehicle and allows time for the automaker to gear up for production once a concept is given the green light.