The Most Surprising Prototypes In History
Car companies are constantly looking for models that surprise the market and meet the diverse needs of customers. They also try to open new market lines and be pioneers in a specific sector.
Others, however, are just samples of the creativity of companies’ engineering and design teams. For all this, the first step is to develop prototypes that show the viability of the project. Here we show you some of the most surprising.
Audi rosemeyer
The Rosemeyer Project was developed in the Audi company during the year 2000. It is one of the most impressive concept cars that have been developed so far. This sporty model was named as a tribute to one of its pilots, Bernd Rosemeyer.
The design was based on the Auto Union racing models, with a brushed aluminum body without any paint trim. In addition, it incorporated a large front grill and very bulky wheel arches.
As for its mechanics, it had an immense engine with 16 cylinders in W and a capacity of 8.0 liters. These power levels have only been found again in such renowned models as the Bugatti Veyron.
The Audi Rosemeyer reached a maximum power of 630 hp without supercharging and with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Alfa Romeo Carabo
This project of the Italian company dates back to 1968. Alfa Romeo is a company famous for its many prototypes, among which this Carabo stands out. Its design was Wedge type , with a very low profile, a very sharp front and a short rear.
The headlights were hidden under the surface of the hood. The doors opened in the shape of gull wings and had a very wide surface, especially elongated. The engine incorporated eight cylinders in V and reached 230 hp of power, and reached the rev limit at 10,000 rpm.
GT by Citroën
This model is perhaps one of the most strikingly designed prototypes in the automotive world. It was developed in 2008 in order to appear as the star vehicle of the video game Gran Turismo 5. However, the French company did not abandon the project at that point, instead taking it to the streets of Paris.
This model, which in the video game incorporated a novel hydrogen engine, actually had a V8 engine that reached 500 hp. Its completely futuristic design incorporates a front window that continues to the side windows and several cavities to improve aerodynamics.
Mazda furai
Among the prototypes presented by Mazda throughout its history, one of the most striking is the Furai. This project aimed to participate in the Le Mans championship.
Among the details that give evidence of this are the huge spoiler, the slender body of the model or the number with the 55. This same number was used by the Mazda 787B in its victory at Le Mans in 1991.
A three-rotor rotary system with a maximum power of 450 hp was incorporated into its mechanics . This power was obtained from the use of E100 ethanol as fuel, already used in some competition vehicles.
The end of this interesting Mazda Furai came when the model came out on fire from its tests, which left the vehicle completely destroyed.
Ford Interceptor
The Ford Interceptor project was carried out by the American company more than ten years ago, and was presented in Detroit in 2007. The vehicle was presented as an interpretation of what muscle cars could be in the future. Its aesthetic had four doors on the sides and several retro details.
Its dimensions were more than remarkable, with 5.12 meters in length and 1.94 meters in width. In contrast to the usual muscle car , the Ford Interceptor based its design on curved lines from front to rear.
As for the engine, it had a 5.0-liter V8 of displacement that could exceed 600 hp.
All these prototypes were developed as novel proposals for the automotive sector. However, for various reasons, they did not get to see the light of day other than for presentations or exhibitions.
Some may not have been great sales successes, but there is no doubt that it would have been interesting to have them in the market.
