Can someone explain to me why these incredible concept cars never really get built, even in small batches as a limited edition?
1. Cost vs Reward.
2. Regulations.
1) Many concept cars are non-functional or only partially functional. Making them fully functional and production ready, even at prototype levels would be extremely costly.
2) Many features in concept cars are not evaluated against FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) and other standards, they are not crash tested, they may not meet EPA regulations.
There are a lot of other reasons, but they all basically boil down to cost vs reward.
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There is also the backwards case, where many modern "concept cars" are actually just pre-production teasers with fancy cosmetics.
Disclaimer: I work for GM, but not on concept cars, sadly =(
https://www.carkeys.co.uk/news/do-you-have-to-crash-test-sup...
Yes, usually at least once. Part of the reason supercars are so expensive is that the engineering costs are only amortized over a small number of vehicles. The crash test can be considered part of that cost.
The actual incremental cost to produce a supercar is a fraction of the price tag.
In addition to official government crash tests, non-governmental groups such as IIHS also crash test mass market vehicles, but they actually have to purchase the vehicles they test - hoping to make money by selling back the information they collect. It's pretty much never cost effective for IIHS to buy supercars for crash testing.
At least where I'm from, most regulations don't apply retroactively. You can still drive around in an old V12 with short tailpipes but a new one wouldn't be allowed.
You can drive a moped at 15 yo, limited to 50cc engine and 45 km/h. The latter is often circumvented by boring the exhaust and it makes them super loud (and illegal). Lots of parents in rural areas and faraway suburbs buy their kids mopeds at 15 so they don't have to be driven around.
I mean, supercars are rare enough and usually not that loud unless you push them (I guess this could be a way to stay within regulations), but some of those bikes can drown out other noise even when accelerating normally from a stop.
I guess it would be difficult, legally speaking, to issue fines directly from such cameras. But the registration plates could be flagged for inspection, and fines issued if they are found to have a non-road-legal exhaust fitted.
Loud exhausts on bikes basically a natural reaction to the improved sound deadening and deeper seating position over time. Vehicle changes have caused a reduction in situational awareness for what's going on beside you and bikers toss on loud exhausts because they notice a correlation between a window thumping exhaust not and not getting merged on top of. While I prefer a quiet exhaust (because stupid people think loud = driving too fast) I wholly understand why motorcyclists want people to know if they are in their blind spots.
Your big brother camera idea sounds like a great way to screw over everyone who's muffler rusts off and has to drive it like that for a week (who vastly outnumber people with loud exhausts in terms of vehicle miles). They like the noise even less than you do (they have to spend more time with it) and piling on doesn't help that. Vehicle noise isn't really a big enough problem to warrant more government involvement than already exists.
The best way to avoid listening to loud exhausts in residential neighborhoods is to not have unnecessary stops/speed bumps to "control traffic speed" (or whatever other justification the HOA cooks up). They just make people accelerate between them.
That's what bikers tell people so that those people stop calling them names. Doesn't mean it's true. The real reason bikes or cars or trucks are modified to have loud exhausts is because the driver wants to draw more attention to themselves for purely cosmetic reasons. If safety was a priority, they would leave the exhaust stock and just not ride in blind spots, not weave in and out of traffic, keep to the speed limit, and generally drive in a predictable fashion.
>has to drive it like that for a week (who vastly outnumber people with loud exhausts)
This is also not true. How would the amount of rusted cars without a muffler for one week outnumber the people who drive like that permanently? The people who either drive without a muffler or who have a modified muffler? For the entire life of the car?
The best way to avoid listening to loud exhausts is for insecure assholes to stop modifying their muffler.
Don't get me wrong: the majority of motorcycle riders are responsible, respectful road users who ride quiet machines.
But a small minority seem to want to create as much noise and distress to others as possible. It's not about safety ("loud pipes save lives" has been thoroughly dis-proven by statistics), it's about appearing aggressive and macho, and perhaps compensating for the rider's own personal problems.
As for a car who's "muffler rusted off"? Should not be driven until it's fixed, period.
It's a significant problem here in London: Supercars (and regular cars and motorbikes that have been modified to have noisy exhausts) make up a tiny minority of vehicles on the road, but it only takes one to produce incredible noise levels that carry for many blocks and penetrate almost any soundproofing/double glazing.
It's completely unfair to subject so many people in such a dense city to these noises just for the thrills of one driver/rider. Stick to the track if you must drive such a noisy vehicle!
Politicians probably think of it as an annoyance to be shrugged off, but it does genuine economic harm. It damages property values near busy roads, and it makes our public spaces and parks unpleasant. Even in the middle of huge green areas like Hyde Park, you can still hear them roaring down park lane etc.
From Jaguar's website:
Every F‑TYPE is fitted with an Active Sports Exhaust
that creates a race‑car inspired crescendo.
The exhaust system reacts to throttle position, speed
and engine revs by opening active valves. When open,
these valves allow exhaust gases to take a more direct,
less restrictive route through the rear silencer
producing a much richer, more exhilarating sound. Where
fitted, the Switchable Active Exhaust, allows you to
manually open the exhaust valves so you can enjoy
F‑TYPE’s stirring soundtrack at all engine speeds. This
feature is optional on F‑TYPE and standard on all other
models.Maybe lower than you think... several Ford products over the last few years have done things like run sound tubes to the cabin or use the radio to simulate engine noise. I think it's kind of silly myself, but whatever.
> cars are designed for stupid wankers
Or at least people with different interests. Just because you think your own interests make sense doesn't mean other people have to agree or share the same interests that you do.
> Every F‑TYPE is fitted with an Active Sports Exhaust that creates a race‑car inspired crescendo.
> The exhaust system reacts to throttle position, speed and engine revs by opening active valves. When open, these valves allow exhaust gases to take a more direct, less restrictive route through the rear silencer producing a much richer, more exhilarating sound. Where fitted, the Switchable Active Exhaust, allows you to manually open the exhaust valves so you can enjoy F‑TYPE’s stirring soundtrack at all engine speeds. This feature is optional on F‑TYPE and standard on all other models.
Legality of use on public roads varies...
Disclaimer: I work with acoustics simulation software and am currently involved with simulating these kind of tests.
Lots of them use parts out of junked cars, but also "crate engines" are a thing, you can just buy a powertrain from any number of suppliers (for instance, GM: http://www.chevrolet.com/performance/crate-engines ).
And then there are specialist machine shops that build linkages and such to go between whatever components, at whatever length.
I imagine safety regulations and cost are the big blocker for small scale manufacturing.
If electric becomes a viable alternative to remans and crate engines the OEMs will just offer a "crate engine" electric drive-train that bolts where an LS or SBC would go and the stuff needed to make it plug and play.
You don't need a custom vehicle, just an S10 with a blown motor.