Pre-production car
Encyclopedia
Pre-production cars are vehicle
s that allow the automaker
to find problems before a new model goes on sale to the public. Pre-production cars come after prototype
s, or development mule
s which themselves are preceded by concept car
s. Pre-production vehicles are followed by production vehicle
s in the mass production
of them for distribution through car dealership
s.
Pre-production cars are typically built in small quantities on a slave production line
, or in some cases on the real production line alongside the current model. Typically the parts used will be off the production tooling, or at least are intended to represent the final part very closely. Sometimes the components used to make a pre-production car are a mix between the prototype models and the mass production versions to come later.
Manufacturers sometimes use pre-production cars to provide the automotive press a chance to experience and create publicity
and articles about the models that are yet to appear in dealer
showrooms for public view. Some of these cars are exhibited at auto show
s. They may also be destroyed during crash test
s. Most of the rest are scrapped, as some may not meet automobile safety
regulations or emission standard
s. An example was the Dodge Tomahawk
motorcycle, that "that hundreds were projected to be built", but even the few that were sold "do not meet the legal requirements to be classified as a motorcycle by the U.S. government, or to be driven on the street". Additionally, pre-production cars may be used as the prototypes (also known as a development mule
) for test work for the next model. There are regulatory impediments for the commercialization of new types of neighborhood electric vehicles but experimental vehicles are being tested in anticipation of consumer demand and regulatory changes.
Automakers also design production prototypes to experiment and help develop new standards and regulations. Major safety improvements may be taken into account during the initial development stages of vehicles, but not removed from actual production cars even after proposed stiffer regulations are rolled back. The AMC Pacer
was designed with shortened ends, but incorporated "new impact energy absorbing ideas" to perform at higher crash speeds than the final U.S. regulations mandated for the 1975 model year production.
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
s that allow the automaker
Automaker
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
to find problems before a new model goes on sale to the public. Pre-production cars come after prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
s, or development mule
Development mule
A development mule or a test mule in the automotive industry is a vehicle equipped with experimental or prototype components for testing. Automakers evaluate aspects of vehicles before a full pre-production car is built to find problems. Mule cars are drivable, often years ahead of actual production...
s which themselves are preceded by concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
s. Pre-production vehicles are followed by production vehicle
Production vehicle
A production vehicle is one that is put into mass production, as a model produced in large numbers and offered for sale to the public. It is the vehicle you can actually go out and buy ....
s in the mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
of them for distribution through car dealership
Car dealership
A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new or used cars at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. It employs automobile salespeople to do the selling...
s.
Pre-production cars are typically built in small quantities on a slave production line
Production line
A production line is a set of sequential operations established in a factory whereby materials are put through a refining process to produce an end-product that is suitable for onward consumption; or components are assembled to make a finished article....
, or in some cases on the real production line alongside the current model. Typically the parts used will be off the production tooling, or at least are intended to represent the final part very closely. Sometimes the components used to make a pre-production car are a mix between the prototype models and the mass production versions to come later.
- "... A pre-production car is a car is like a beta version of a software program — it's used for demonstration and evaluation purposes of an all-new vehicle...."
Manufacturers sometimes use pre-production cars to provide the automotive press a chance to experience and create publicity
Publicity
Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people , goods and services, organizations of all kinds, and works of art or entertainment.From a marketing perspective, publicity is one component of promotion which is one...
and articles about the models that are yet to appear in dealer
Car dealership
A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new or used cars at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. It employs automobile salespeople to do the selling...
showrooms for public view. Some of these cars are exhibited at auto show
Auto show
An auto show, or motor show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is commonly attended by automobile manufacturers. Most auto shows occur once or twice a year...
s. They may also be destroyed during crash test
Crash test
A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in crashworthiness and crash compatibility for various modes of transportation or related systems and components.- Types :...
s. Most of the rest are scrapped, as some may not meet automobile safety
Automobile safety
Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of automobile accidents. Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of...
regulations or emission standard
Emission standard
Emission standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment. Many emissions standards focus on regulating pollutants released by automobiles and other powered vehicles but they can also regulate emissions from industry, power...
s. An example was the Dodge Tomahawk
Dodge Tomahawk
The Tomahawk was a Dodge non-street legal concept vehicle introduced at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. It had futuristic and unusual design, featuring the V10 SRT10 engine from the Dodge Viper. The vehicle has two front wheels and two rear wheels, making it...
motorcycle, that "that hundreds were projected to be built", but even the few that were sold "do not meet the legal requirements to be classified as a motorcycle by the U.S. government, or to be driven on the street". Additionally, pre-production cars may be used as the prototypes (also known as a development mule
Development mule
A development mule or a test mule in the automotive industry is a vehicle equipped with experimental or prototype components for testing. Automakers evaluate aspects of vehicles before a full pre-production car is built to find problems. Mule cars are drivable, often years ahead of actual production...
) for test work for the next model. There are regulatory impediments for the commercialization of new types of neighborhood electric vehicles but experimental vehicles are being tested in anticipation of consumer demand and regulatory changes.
Automakers also design production prototypes to experiment and help develop new standards and regulations. Major safety improvements may be taken into account during the initial development stages of vehicles, but not removed from actual production cars even after proposed stiffer regulations are rolled back. The AMC Pacer
AMC Pacer
The AMC Pacer is a two-door compact automobile produced in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980.Its initial design idea was started in 1971. The car's unusual rounded shape with massive glass area greatly contrasted with the three-box architecture with "square,...
was designed with shortened ends, but incorporated "new impact energy absorbing ideas" to perform at higher crash speeds than the final U.S. regulations mandated for the 1975 model year production.