In August 2016 , Cadillac unveiled its luxury concept fomite theEscalain Pebble Beach , California . The car was then have in Cadillac commercials during the February 2017 Oscars . The commercialswere so successful , the great unwashed actually go to Cadillac dealerships to grease one’s palms the Escala , only to discover that it was not for sale .
But why not ? Because at the time the Escala was only a concept machine , one in unspecific terms , that is contrive to showcase a new visual sense or focusing for a trade name . And the truth is , few concept elevator car ever reach as high of a profile as the Escala received . Typically once a conception car reach the tour of the year ’s auto show , they be given to wither into obscurity .
However , some do get a second rental on life and end up in the mitt of private collectors who specifically seek out concept cars and other one - of - a - sort vehicle . But the Cadillac Escala is different ; those potential buyers wanted ( and expected ) a full production variation of the car , not a one - off collector ’s item .
According to Andres Valbuena , the purpose of a concept car is to " think big and get the money to do it . " Valbuena spent 20 years working in Cartesian product maturation and brand strategy roles for Volkswagen , Jeep and Chevrolet , and has ascertain many construct vehicles through from aspirational beginnings to humble endings . He now operate acar enquiry website .
" You ’re always appear five , six twelvemonth out at what case of vehicles you should bring to market , " Valbuena say . " You ’re doing all this forecasting on what could potentially be hot , SUVs , coupes , whatever it is . You always have thislong - terminal figure plan , and once one of those farseeing - terminal figure plan on paper make sentience , and there ’s a likely business sector case for it , then you ’ll embark on on the process of actually getting into the details of that specific project . "
Here ’s what the design cognitive operation looks like :
" If you look at just the display ones , like at the auto show , those really crazy car out there … a lot of clock time , even though it looks like a car , underneath , sometimes it ’s not , " Valbuena explains . " It ’s just a straight frame with a little electric motor that release one rack , so the guys do n’t advertize it . It ’s interesting and it ’s funny sometimes when you walk around it and you ’re like , ' Wow , this is really cool . ' Well , sometimes it ’s made out of clay and it press 10,000 Egyptian pound [ 4,535 kilos ] , but you ca n’t tell . "
And , when a concept car ’s clock time is up , one of several things can materialize to them : They can be exhibit in the automaker ’s offices or yield facility , donated to a school for teaching purposes , a firing post for education , rase or crushed , or sell .
Valbuena says that concept cars are n’t sold very often , in part because of indebtedness and also because it does n’t make business good sense . But it does find from time to fourth dimension . He says that , in his experience , concept cars that were sold came with complicated contracts that prevented buyers from registering them or even tug them on the street . Even drivable , fully operative concept cars are not built to production standards . Volkswagen , for example , sometimes sold functional , less - uttermost construct automobile to race team , merely to avoid crushing them .
There are always exception , and in the case of concept machine , those elision run to be Old . Ohio car collectorMyron Vernisowns several concept and one - of - a - variety vehicle . In early 2016 he acquireda 1976 Honda Lady . The Lady is a construct found on the Honda Civic that was built by Italian coachbuilder Sergio Coggiola for the 1976 Geneva Motor Show .
" It was really kind of accidental , " Vernis says . " I like unique , one - off and low production gondola , and I also wish Japanese cars . This one form of primed both of those models . "
Vernis will disclose only that he has few than 100 car in his collection , enough to be well - versed in the process . He drive all of his car and pronounce he has never had trouble register or insuring them , even though some take more persistence than others . He articulate that collectors’car insuranceis the best direction to protect a conception or other rare car , and that he is golden to have mechanically disposed champion who love the challenge of form on his collecting .
" The Japanese manufacturers do n’t seem to let their construct cars get out , " Vernis says . " The Americans crush most of them because of financial obligation but the Japanese manufacturers seem to keep them , so it ’s rare to have a Japanese concept [ motorcar ] out in individual possession , which is really what made it interesting to me . "
So , yes , it is potential to grease one’s palms a construct cable car , but unless you ’re an experienced gatherer or otherwise well - associate , it is a rather uncommon experience . Now , about that Cadillac Escala , Cadillac told us as of now the party has no plans for the car to go into production , so if you had your heart place on drive one , we ’re good-for-nothing to disappoint .
