The 10 Most Controversial Car Launches in History and Why They Made Headlines

The launch of a new car is often keenly anticipated by enthusiasts. They are hungry for expected torque, acceleration, raw power, gleaming engines, and new tech. But sometimes, the reason for the anticipation could have nothing to do with cars: An ex-employee proving a point with his newly launched car, a company trying to keep up with a younger competitor, or something more. Here are 10 controversial launches in automotive history –

DeLorean DMC-12:

 The story revolves around its founder, John DeLorean, who left General Motors to create his own company in 1975. It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who had a factory in North Ireland and an investment of £100 million by the British Government. However, it only produced 9,000 units, and the car did not meet expectations. John DeLorean was exposed for agreeing to transport drugs for $24 million and was eventually acquitted. Even after 7,000 of the production units were unsold, the DeLorean remained in popular culture due to its feature in the movie Back to The Future in 1985.

Ford Pinto:

 With increasing competition from European and Japanese manufacturers, Ford decided to launch its compact car. To make the vehicle lighter, Ford removed everything related to safety and did not emphasize it. The Pinto was a bestseller, selling over 400,000 units, but the safety issues came back to haunt them. The gas tank of this car was located behind the rear axle, which put the drivers at risk even if there was a slight impact. This could have been prevented if rubber insulation had been installed around the fuel tank, but Ford did not pay heed to this, resulting in the death of 500 people.

Renault 5 Turbo:

The turbocharged version of the Renault 5 had its dangers, earning it the nickname “pest killer.” It was primarily made of rallying featured in Spain’s Turbo Cup in 1982. It had a rear engine and rear-wheel drive layout, which made it unconventional for a hatchback back then. As a result, inexperienced drivers had major problems driving this as they were not used to a powertrain of 112hp, which had to be controlled with steady handling.

Chevrolet Corvair:

 The Corvair was launched with a 6-cylinder engine, rear engine, and rear wheel drive. While most Americans were accustomed to a front engine, the rear wheel posed handling problems. Many drivers defied the tire pressure guidelines for good handling to control this car, which was equipped with a swing axle suspension system but lacked a stabilizer. Additionally, the initial units had defects in the front hood, too, and the public criticized this vehicle widely. Lawyer Ralph Nader 1965 published his book “Unsafe at any Speed” in which he dedicated an entire chapter to the criticism of Chevrolet. 

Tucker 48 Sedan:

 The Tucker 48, also known as the Tucker Torpedo, was founded by Preston Tucker in 1947 and was very ambitious. The media and influential figures from the automotive industry heavily targeted this vehicle. The car was indeed innovative; it was equipped with padded dashboards, a pop-out safety glass windshield, and a center headlight that turned with the steering wheel. However, due to financial crumbles and follies such as his leasing the world’s largest factory for $500,000 a year and mistakes during its presentation – the Torpedo only produced a disastrous 51 units. 

Dodge 3700:

 Produced in Spain during the 1970s, it was the most luxurious car back then and could be afforded by very few. It was popular among Franco’s leaders, but the durability and build of this car became infamous because of a tragedy. Luis Carrero Blanco, one of the last Franco leaders, died in this car. A bomb had been planted, which blew up the car, killing Blanco instantly. A report published by Chrysler Spain praised the vehicle’s durability, stating the interior was still functioning, and the rear windows had not been broken.

Mercedes 600 W100:

 Too much innovation is also a curse, as portrayed in the Mercedes 600. The engineers loaded the car with complex hydraulic systems for operating window and trunk lids. Prominent figures like Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and John Lennon owned this car. On the other hand, dictators such as Kim Jong Un, Saddam Hussain, and Mao Zedong also owned the Mercedes 600, which associated the vehicle with tyranny.

Ford Explorer:

 This was the first four-door SUV manufactured by Ford, and its appearance in Jurassic Park made it a famous icon. The car was relatively heavy, and the tires were supplied by Firestone, which had been Ford’s tire supplier since the launch of Henry Ford. Over time, these tires resulted in faulty accidents, with the tread separated from the wheel. There were 238 deaths and over 500 injuries, which led to the end of collaboration between the two.

Lotus Carlton:

 Production of this car began in 1990 when only 1,000 vehicles were manufactured. This car had an astonishing 377 horsepower combined with a maximum speed of 285 km/h, but it reached a higher speed. Controversy erupted when a band of robbers stole one of these cars in 1993 and committed a robbery, stealing £20,000 of cigarettes and liquor. The police could not catch the thieves as the car was too fast. This became quite popular among the thieves, and a campaign was launched by the Daily Mail to ban this car. 

Ford Edsel:

 The Edsel’s lifespan was short from 1957 to 1960, causing a loss of over $350 million. Ford dedicated a lot of time and extensive research to making the Edsel a futuristic model, but it received a cold reaction from the public. Reports suggest that one Edsel was created for every 690 Ford vehicles; it was a slow process due to its aesthetics. Other issues were water leakages from trunks, faulty speedometers, troublesome gearboxes, and fuel economy in the late 1950s. 

15 Most Reliable Cars Ever Made — Why They Never Quit

Some claim that the dependability of autos has decreased. Modern cars have a shorter lifespan than some cars manufactured between the 1970s and the 1990s, but some new and used cars today are good enough to last for at least ten years and up to 500,000 miles. When these vehicles break down, most problems are relatively simple, and many don’t have serious difficulties. Here are 15 of the most reliable cars ever made: 15 Most Reliable Cars Ever Made — Why They Never Quit