Concept cars were once a gimmick used at car shows to show off the models and accessories that we could expect in the distant future from popular car manufacturers. These days, the idea of a concept car is less of a gimmick and more of a way to show off what the manufacturer already has in mind for future products. While they are a great way to generate hype about future accessories that may or may not be available, they are also a great marketing tool that can help automobile makers gain interest from potential customers.

How to Get Started with the Concept of a Concept Car

The process to create a concept car begins with a set of drawings. These drawings may start out as roughly done sketches that will eventually progress into highly detailed blueprints, which can be created using a computer program.

The next step is to create a model of the car using industrial plasticine, also known as modeling clay. The car can be molded into shape, hardened, painted and designed so that it looks like a fully functional vehicle. However, it doesn’t have to be functional at this point.

The Cost to Create a Concept Car

Scale model concept cars can cost less than $100,000 to produce, and a full-sized clay concept car will run between $100,000 and $300,000. Most of the money goes to the developers who spend weeks or months on the project. Help from computer programs and equipment such as computer numeric control can help the car manufacturer save time and money as it takes less time to complete the model. Most non-working concept car models are good enough for use at auto shows and for publicity shots.

The Factors You Need to Create a Concept Car

Production and concept cars will have very different features and designs that will make them stand out so that car enthusiasts will take notice. While there will not two created the same, there are some features that you will find on many of the most anticipated concept cars in the industry.

Tinted Glass

Whether it gives the car a look of obscurity or the designer just thinks it looks super cool, there are very few concept cars out there these days that don’t feature dark tinted windows. But there is an extra advantage to this dark and mysterious feature. The tinted windows can hide the fact that your concept car doesn’t have any interior if you have only completed the exterior look of the vehicle.

Light it Up with LEDs

LED lights will give your concept car a futuristic look and they are also a highly functional part of the vehicle. These lights will give your vehicle a bold and daring look, and they can be added practically anywhere to light up your concept car and give it an advantage of on the car show floor.

Futuristic Doors

When you think of cars from the future, you don’t imagine that they have standard doors like those we have today. That is why most concept cars will feature futuristic doors that open in several ways from pressing a button to scissor-style doors that open upward. No matter what type of doors you choose, be sure that they open a fun and modernized way.

An Outrageous Paint Job

Typically, when any car goes into production, it will feature basic colors such as red, black or blue. You rarely seen these colors on a concept car because these special designs are supposed to be unlike anything ordinary you see on the showroom floor. Concept cars are known for having unusual paint jobs in bold, extravagant colors such as electric blue and neon orange. There is no limit on your creativity when it comes to choosing a color scheme for your concept car.

Don’t Put Too Much Thought into Seating 

While it is obvious that your concept car will need seats if it is going to function properly, you don’t have to put too much thought into how those seats will work. Most concept cars have small interiors and seats that leave very little space for a comfortable ride. The focus should always be on the exterior design of your car, the interior can be decided up on later.

Concept cars that have some of the most unusual and outlandish features are the ones that will get the most attention from auto show attendees. Keep that in mind while you are working on the blueprints for your concept car and remember that the sky is the limit when it comes to how creative you can be with your project.