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Throughout automotive history, some models have attracted attention not for their sophisticated design, but for questionable aesthetic choices that have left an unusual mark on the industry. Discover the ugliest cars ever produced and discover why they still generate so much debate among enthusiasts and critics.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but that doesn't explain how certain cars have been released onto the market looking like they were designed by a team of designers fighting in the dark. We'll see the ugliest cars in the world.
A car design goes through several stages: creation, approval by managers, final adjustments and, finally, mass production.
Despite this rigorous process, some automotive aberrations manage to escape onto the streets.
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Ugliest Cars Ever Made
Sometimes a design starts out promising, but issues like cost-cutting, safety requirements, and corporate bureaucracy can turn a promising car into a visual disaster. Here's a list of cars that exemplify what happens when design goes horribly wrong.
Fiat Multipla
The Fiat Multipla is a classic among automotive disasters. Despite its spacious interior and decent driving experience, the exterior was a car lover's nightmare.
Its headlights positioned above the hood created a strange and disproportionate appearance, more like an insect than a vehicle. It's a case where you'd rather ride a bike than be seen on it.
Volkswagen Type 181 (The Thing)
Initially released for the German army in the 1960s, the Volkswagen Type 181, also called the Trekker or “The Thing”, looked like a box on wheels.
Its crude, clunky design made sense in a military context, but when it was released to the general public, it seemed more like a bad joke.
Nissan cube
As its name suggests, the Nissan Cube was exactly that: a box. While it offered practicality and functionality, its asymmetrical design, especially at the rear, turned off many buyers. It was a car for those who prioritized interior space, but didn't care about critical looks in traffic.
Pontiac Aztec
The Pontiac Aztek is perhaps the most famous ugly car in pop culture, thanks to its appearance in Breaking Bad.. However, off-screen, he symbolized a failure in design.
Created to appeal to campers and young adventurers, the Aztek was equipped with a rear tent and even a built-in refrigerator.
But what really marked the car was its clumsy and disproportionate exterior. Not only did it fail to win over consumers, it also helped bury the Pontiac brand.
Aston Martin Lagonda Shooting Brake
Aston Martin is typically associated with sleek, sophisticated cars, but the Lagonda Shooting Brake was a glaring exception.
This customized version of a luxury station wagon looked more like a hearse. With its elongated and awkward design, it ruined any charm the original model might have had.
chevrolet ssr
The Chevrolet SSR is one of those cars that tried to be everything and failed miserably. It was a convertible, a truck, and a sports car, but it didn't do any of those things well.
The design, inspired by 1940s and 1950s pickup trucks, resulted in a bloated and boring-looking vehicle. Despite its powerful V8 engine, it never gained a loyal following and was discontinued in 2006.
Nissan S Cargo
Looking like a combination of a van and a toy, the Nissan S-Cargo was anything but appealing. Its quirky design included rounded lines and styling that harked back to a 1980s concept car that should never have gotten off the ground. It was especially popular in Japan, but was difficult to find in other markets.
Fiat 600 Multipla Marinella
An even more peculiar version of the already criticized Fiat Multipla, the Marinella looked like a cross between a rowing boat and a fairground car.
Its exotic design made it more of a curiosity than a practical car. Taking corners seemed like a dangerous adventure, especially with its unstable center of gravity.
Saab 9-5 (2006 facelift)
The attempt to update the Saab 9-5 in 2006 ended in disaster. While the original model was stylish, the redesign featured exaggerated chrome headlight surrounds, giving the car a cartoonish appearance. Jeremy Clarkson famously described the model as looking like something out of a cheap car accessories catalogue.
Sbarro Autobau
The Sbarro Autobau is a perfect example of how a concept car can go wrong. Inspired by the comic book Batmobiles, the car looked more like a modified Beetle by a sci-fi fan. Despite having a Ferrari V12 engine, its bizarre appearance prevented it from being taken seriously as a supercar.
Ugliest Cars – Why Do These Cars Stand Out?
The cars on this list have one thing in common: their looks push the boundaries of what is acceptable. Whether through questionable design choices or compromises made during development, they have become unwitting icons of automotive ugliness.
However, these models also represent valuable lessons about the impact of design on a car's success.
These creations, while controversial, help show that even mistakes can become part of automotive history. After all, who could forget the cultural impact of the Pontiac Aztek or the eternal jokes about the Fiat Multipla?
