Introducing a new automobile in the industry gets everyone on their feet. Promises of innovative designs, powerful engines, advanced driver assistance features, and cutting-edge technology get everyone hooked. However, things do not always go as planned and many vehicles have bitten the dust. Despite the buzz and hype, they were total letdowns and disappointed everyone. Here are 20 Cars that were hyped up but turned out to be total letdowns:
DeLorean DMC-12
One of the most stylish cars in history, the DeLorean DMC-12 stands out with its gullwing doors. It was a movie icon featured in “Back to the Future,” where it played the role of a time travel vehicle. However, the legal troubles of the founder, John DeLorean, caught in a drug trafficking scandal, destroyed the investors’ confidence. Another reason was the poor build quality and underwhelming performance that led to its demise.
Ford Edsel
While Ford has produced some of the best cars, the Edsel was a total failure, produced from 1958 to 1960. The overhyped marketing and controversial “horse collar” vertical grille did not meet the expectations. Launched during the period of recession, consumers found it overhyped. Over 13 models of this vehicle were available, which made it difficult for people to buy from.
Chevrolet Vega
The Chevrolet Vega, launched in 1971, was a compact car designed to compete with smaller, fuel-efficient cars. The 2.3L inline-four aluminum engine faced overheating issues and oil burning. The vehicle could not even sustain itself to 50,000 miles, often smoking up and losing compression.
Pontiac Aztek
One of the biggest reasons for the Pontiac Aztek’s downfall was its ugly, clunky design. From its awkward grille to the weird dimensions, it did not appeal to consumers. The handling was not smooth at all, and the driving dynamics were poor. While the interior was innovative, it was filled with cheap plastic and poor materials.
Tucker 48
The Tucker 48, which dates to 1948, is also known as the Tucker Torpedo in some markets. Popularly known as the “Car of Tomorrow,” it came with a third headlight that turned with the steering wheel. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused and investigated the brand of misusing funds, leading to its bankruptcy.
Maserati Biturbo
Launched in 1981, the Maserati Biturbo was supposed to be a luxury sports sedan. Powered by twin turbochargers, it was an affordable, mass-produced turbocharged car. However, it was highly unreliable and featured a fragile engine that easily overheated. Other reasons included the poor build, cramped interior, and underwhelming performances.
Fisker Karma
A very-hyped hybrid vehicle, the Fisker Karma failed to deliver. Its development was rushed, and the range extender led to many problems. Moreover, the vehicle featured many technical issues alongside battery vehicles, leading to its shutdown.
Bricklin SV-1
The Bricklin SV-1 was the safest sports car of its time, featuring gullwing doors and a fiberglass body. Launched in 1974, the vehicle collapsed in only three years due to its overweight nature. The doors weighed around 90 kg and were prone to failure, often trapping the people inside. Moreover, the fiberglass body often cracked, and all funds from the Canadian government for development burned quickly.
Renault Avantime
Marked as a GT coupe, the Renault Avantime was a disaster with minivan proportions. While it did feature a panoramic sunroof and other innovative features, it had many structural rigidity issues. It weighed over 1,700 kg and could not reach its full potential, often slowing down.
Cadillac Cimarron
The Cadillac Cimarron was accused of being way too similar to the Chevrolet Cavalier but with minimal upgrades. Cadillac was supposed to be a luxury brand, but this vehicle’s performance was very underwhelming. With the hopes of competing with cars like the BMW 3 series, it was a total embarrassment.
Saturn Ion
Launched in 2003, the Saturn Ion was a compact car with innovative features such as a centrally mounted instrument. However, the weird, oversized steering wheel and low-quality plastic led to its poor finish. The 2.2L Ecotec inline-4 engine did not live up to expectations and was very noisy.
Mercedes-Benz R-Class
The Mercedes-Benz R-Class struggled to find its true consumer base from 2006. While it was marketed as a sports tourer, consumers failed to tell whether it was an SUV, minivan, or station wagon. The driving experience was rough and sluggish, with very poor fuel economy. Unlike other Mercedes vehicles, it lacked premium features and was overpriced at $50,000.
Jaguar X-Type
The Jaguar X-Type was based on the same platform as the Ford Mondeo and felt like an overpriced copy. Both the base 2.5L and 3.0L V6 engines were not strong enough, and it felt boring to drive. The handling was not sharp, either, and by the time Jaguar introduced a front-wheel drive on this vehicle, consumers had lost all interest.
Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
The Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet is an ideal example of a convertible gone wrong. It was very bulky, and the rear ends were bloated and weird. Instead of looking like a sleek and sporty convertible, it turned out to be a bizarre attempt to combine a convertible with a crossover. Less than 2,000 units of this vehicle were sold, and it was eventually discontinued after only four years of production.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
The Chrysler PT Cruiser was produced from 2000 to 2010. It had a strong start due to its retro styling and sold over 140,000 units in the first year. However, this died down, and people pointed out its poor performance and cheap build. It was based on the Dodge Neon’s cheap front-wheel-drive platform and soon became a disgraceful symbol of fallibility.
Honda Accord Crosstour
The Honda Accord Crosstour did not have the best appearance, often confusing consumers about its identity. The sloping rear roof took a lot of cargo space, consisting of comfort and practicality. With a high price and poor fuel economy, the vehicle’s performance was mediocre and nothing special.
Volkswagen Phaeton
The Volkswagen Phaeton was a high-end luxury sedan built to compete with industry giants. The problem was that Volkswagen was associated with economical and urban cars. People did not want to spend much money without getting status and prestige. The poor sales in the U.S. eventually led to its end.
Subaru Baja
The Subaru Baja was a miserably failed blend of an SUV and a pickup truck. The fusion was initially hyped but turned out to be a total letdown. As a result, it was too small to be a real truck and too impractical to be a proper SUV. The cargo bed was tiny and useless, while the engines were also slow and underpowered.
Chevrolet SSR
The Chevrolet SSR was a unique convertible truck, a combination that did not appeal to the masses. This retro-styled convertible pickup truck aimed to blend nostalgia with modern performance but was a letdown. While the performance was upgraded later, consumers disliked its poor handling. It was supposed to be a “Super Sport Roadster,” but it was clumsy and underwhelming.
Aston Martin Cygnet
The Aston Martin Cygnet did not push any boundaries of innovation; rather, it was just a Toyota iQ with an Aston Martin badge. However, it was sold at a price of over $50,000 but did not offer anything more than minimal performance. Less than 150 units of this vehicle were sold, and it was discontinued in only two years since its production in 2011. Instead of using strong V8 engines, this vehicle was powered by a 1.3L inline-4.
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