Realistic Concepts: Now That's Radical

We're used to concept cars being classic motor show stand filler - a designer's fantasy leaping off the page to spin around on a stand for a fortnight, not so much in the metal, but the clay and sticky-back plastic. They may give clues to new design language, a propulsion system only Tony Stark could fathom, and Heath Robinson innovations that leave us content we are indeed living in the future, but in truth the 22inch rims and LED lights are diluted down for production, and that's that. Or is it?

There's a bit of a concept car revolution going on at the moment: 'real life' showroom models are actually being released looking not just similar, but identical to the concepts we fell in love with months beforehand. Yes, the gullwing doors and iPad dashboard are invariably missing, but the real nub of the issue, the styling, is preserved intact. And the trend is spreading.

The pioneer of this was the last generation Honda Civic. When it arrived on the scene in 2006 with triangular exhaust outlets, hidden rear door handles, and glittering front panel instead of same-old grille vents, it was a complete revelation. It was outstanding design, and yet looked coherent and fresh. The spoiler across the rear window and two-tiered dashboard may have been rather obvious flies in the ointment, but the car sold well, and provoked a styling  (and confidence) renaissance for Honda.

In 2011, we're now being treated to countless cars which look identical to their appraised concepts. The Range Rover Evoque grew an nothing but an extra engine vent in transition from LRX to production car, while the new Astra GTC is a mirror image of the sleek Scirocco-bating machine from the Paris Motor Show. Citroen's DS5 and the Nissan Juke still look suitably unhinged to be considered motor show refugees, and the electric Renault Twizy provides the first attempt to make one of those typical 'personal urban transport solution' crafts viable. It looks like the love child of a BMW C1 scooter and a Segway, and that's frankly fantastic.

Then there are the cars which actually improved upon their concept cousins before being sold. The Lexus LF-A and Hyundai Velostar are both proud bearers of that standard. You'd have put money on Lexus or Hyundai getting cold feet and turning down the visual volume with these gamble-heavy projects, but they've ended up with cars that fall just on the correct side of the Marmite conundrum: haters gonna hate, but more will love them.

So, what are we hoping for in 2012 that will continue this 'real life concept car' looks trend? I've got my fingers crossed for two very special automobiles, both hugely important to their parent manufacturer in establishing their brand, but also so achingly right just as they are. Jaguar's CX-16 and the Alfa Romeo 4C must make it to production unscathed. We've been teased the styling, drip-fed the specs, and ridden the rollercoaster of will they/wont they production decisions. Money where their mouth is time is fast approaching.

Both these marques have a somewhat infamous history of not delivering on promising, stylish concepts. Now it's a few months' wait before we see if defeat has been snatched from the jaws of victory one more. We don't want our pie in the sky. We want to have our pie and eat it, as it were. Roll on the new year.