Generally speaking, concept cars exist to showcase designs and technologies under development by automakers, that may or may not be ready for release to the general public. Often, features or styling cues pioneered in concepts will trickle down to production cars, but many concept cars never progress beyond a static display rolled out for the yearly auto show circuit. The Chevrolet Corvette Indy, which debuted at the 1986 Detroit Auto Show, somehow managed to accomplish a bit of both: While the futuristic coupe never saw production, it did become a rolling laboratory used to test both engine and suspension technology for future Corvette models. It was also surprisingly accurate in its prediction of future electronic systems, even beyond the Corvette product line.

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