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BY DAN JEDLICKA

Auto Reporter

Some of them you can't buy. Others you can't afford.

But concept vehicles that provide a peek at the future, and very costly exotic sports cars, are the most alluring vehicles at big auto exhibits such as the 2004 Chicago Auto Show.

Concept vehicles first appeared in the early 1950s to help draw people to an automaker's display and to discover from crowd reaction what futuristic features would be well received if put on production cars.

There always have been exotic sports cars from a few lofty, specialty automakers such as Ferrari. But exotic models from a wider range of car producers have been showing up only during the last decade or so.

Such cars show an automaker is capable of making technically advanced cars that have extreme performance, with the implication that its standard models are pretty darn

These are the concept and exotic production vehicles at this year's show, along with a few very interesting upcoming production cars.

Concept vehicles

Chevrolet Nomad: The original 1953-55 Chevrolet Corvette body still turns heads, so no wonder this station wagon/sport-utility version of that car is ultra-slick. The Nomad name was put on a sporty 1955-57 production Chevy wagon, which was handicapped because it had only two doors. The concept Nomad is built on the Pontiac Solstice front-engine/rear-drive chassis and is a hatchback with a small rear seat.

Chrysler ME Four-Twelve: This rakish mid-engine creation was secretly done by DaimlerChrysler to show it can build an auto that competes with the world's top exotic sports cars. It has an 850- horsepower V-12 engine with four turbochargers ("Four-Twelve") and a mid-engine ("ME") design.

Dodge Sling Shot: This one is based on DaimlerChrysler's Smart roadster sold overseas. It has a rear-mounted, three-cylinder 100- horsepower engine but provides lively performance because it weighs only 1,704 pounds. Dodge will closely watch show visitors' reaction because it wouldn't be all that costly to make this car.

Ford Bronco: This boxy, upright Bronco sport-utility concept is reminiscent of the old Ford Bronco. It's a no-frills vehicle, with a raw sheetmetal shape, exposed door hinges and just a speedometer and compass. Power is from a turbocharged 128-horsepower diesel engine -- with nitrous-oxide injection for sudden bursts of rapid acceleration.

Honda SUT: For years, Honda said it would never build a pickup truck. But here one is -- at least in concept form. Based on Honda's mid-size Pilot sport-utility vehicle, the SUT has a crew cab pickup body with four carlike doors and might arrive as a 2005 production model. Its integrated cab and bed is an industry first.

Hyundai HCD-8: It uses the Hyundai Tiburon's sports car chassis and hints at the styling direction of future Tiburons. It has a very aggressive front end and a steeply raked hatch. There's an adjustable air suspension and a supercharged 2.7-liter V-6 hooked to a six- speed manual transmission.

Hummer H3T: This tough-looking pickup truck is smaller than the production Hummer H1 and H2 and is aimed at younger motorists. It's meant to be a lot more affordable and fuel-efficient than larger Hummers, while maintaining the "gesture, stance and attitude" of the bigger ones.

Jeep Rescue: This tough customer is designed for search-and- rescue missions, which means it'd be a hit with macho types who'd want it for street driving. It has strong hydroformed frame rails, huge 37-inch run-flat tires and a rugged turbocharged diesel engine. An interior mobile command center has a satellite phone, VHF radio, digital video recorder and undercarriage video monitor.

Lincoln Mark X: It's Lincoln's first convertible with a power- folding two-piece glass roof, which vanishes into the rear deck and is reminiscent of 1950s auto show concept cars with see-through roofs. Under the early-1960s retro body is the platform of the two- seat Ford Thunderbird.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Concept-E: This gasoline-electric hybrid has all-wheel drive and swoopy styling. Its designer was told to stop copying Americans and make a "Japanese brand" -- some of which are really far out. The Concept-E shows the new direction for the upcoming Eclipse sport car and illustrates Mitsubishi's hybrid capabilities.

Saturn Curve: Saturn is trying to shake up its economy-car image with this coupe, which has gentle bends and sharp creases that work well together. Highlights include fiberglass body panels found on regular Saturns and a huge, sail-like clamshell hood. Power is from a supercharged 230-horsepower engine.

Toyota FTX: This big pickup truck hints at the automaker's revamped 2006 Tundra pickup. It was designed at Toyota's Calty center in California and uses cues from the automaker's big, rugged luxurious Land Cruiser luxury sport-utility vehicle.

Volkswagen concept T: This combination sports car and tough off- roader is reminiscent of Volkswagen-powered dune buggies that were popular in the 1960s. The flip-up "gullwing" doors give the concept T an exotic-car feature.

Exotic sports cars

Aston Martin DB9: The approximately $168,000 convertible version of the $155,000 DB9 coupe shares the coupe's bonded aluminum chassis and 450-horsepower V-12 engine.

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti: Ferrari celebrates 50 years of American sales with this gorgeous creation. It resembles the famous one-of-a- kind 1950s Ferrari 375 MM built for famous actress Ingrid Bergman and has a 540-horsepower V-12 engine. It's a luxurious boat and has four seats, despite its racy appearance. Cost? Probably around $250,000.

Lamborghini Gallardo and Murcielago: Is the new Gallardo a cheap Lamborghini? Not really, although the $165,900 Gallardo costs much less than the two-year-old $283,600 Lamborghini Murcielago. The Gallardo has a 500-horsepower V-10 engine, while the Murcielago has a 572-horsepower V-12. The Gallardo and Murcielago both have flamboyant styling, and the Gallardo has luggage space for four custom bullhide bags.

Porsche Carrera GT: Got $440,000 in loose -- or carefully secured - - change? Then you're a candidate for the new 205-mph Carrera GT. This low, sleek, light roadster has a stylish interior and a V-10 engine with 605 horsepower. It features cutting-edge auto technologies, such as composite fiber materials developed mainly for aerospace applications. Production reportedly is sold out through May 2005.

New sporty cars

2005 Chevrolet Corvette: This all-new 2005 Corvette has a more European design with a tighter body and a horsepower increase from 350 to 400. It's the first Corvette since 1962 without flip-up headlight covers. It'll do about 180 mph but won't have an exotic- car price.

2005 Chrysler Crossfire convertible: This convertible version of the Crossfire coupe should help increase sales of the car. The soft- top version has rigid construction and is powered by the coupe's 215- horsepower V-6.

2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible: A convertible finally arrives to keep up interest in the PT Cruiser line. The convertible will come in 150-horsepower Standard and Touring versions, with an available turbocharged 180-horsepower engine for the Touring. The GT version is scheduled to have a 220-horsepower engine. Prices reportedly start at $19,995.

2005 Ford Mustang: The Mustang has outlasted the archrival Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, and the long-awaited larger new version arrives this summer on a shortened version of the Jaguar S-Type platform. It looks much like the slick 1967 Mustang and has new engines: a 202-horsepower V-6 and 300-horsepower V-8.

2005 Maserati Quattroporte: Some think the big $80,000 car looks better than the Maserati coupe and convertible sports cars. Maybe so - - it's the first Maserati styled by Ferrari-stylist Pininfarina in 50 years. The wood-and-leather interior is beyond sumptuous.

2006 Pontiac Solstice: This small, racy two-seater is supposed to cost only about $20,000 with its 170-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. It's a favorite of General Motors product guru Bob Lutz, who wants to draw more younger buyers to Pontiac with an affordable roadster that doesn't have high insurance premiums.