The role of demonstration, concept and competition cars

This chapter discusses the role of demonstration, concept, and competition cars. The introduction of vehicle innovations from competition cars following experience gained on the race track or rally circuit is well known in production models, as witnessed by the extension of carbon fiber technology to sports and luxury cars. Although not unique, and it is probable that other companies were seriously assessing aluminum-based lightweight structures at the same time, the BL Technology ECV 3 was a significant development program exploring the feasibility of ultra-fuel-efficient vehicles. The concept of a clad substructure was not new and was similar to the base unit used on the Rover 2000 between 1963 and 1975. Apart from the experience the Rover Company had gained with aluminum, steel was considered too heavy to achieve the objectives outlined above. The general perception of concept cars is perhaps that they are notional figments of stylists' imagination and have no real purpose beyond attracting the attention of the public to the manufacturer concerned. The exceptional conditions under which competition cars operate provide an excellent testing ground for newer materials where performance is critical and cost is largely irrelevant. The invention of the automobile gave birth to a new type of sporting activity: The motor racing. The F1 car of today makes use of composite materials across an extensive range of components. Viewed from the outside, every part on display is formed from a composite material with the exception of the wheels, tires, and braking system components.