Top 10 Auto Design FLOPS - Does It Get ANY Worse Than This?

As the writer points out down below, it's really hard to come up with a fresh and new concept in the automotive world. If there's one thing we know about people, it's that they hate change.

This applies to automotive design and when you try to introduce an "innovative" concept, like a two-door convertible sport-utility vehicle. But do cars like the Plymouth Prowler deserve to be on the list? I mean, we know it was a terrible idea to throw an autobox and a V6 together but that doesn't really say much about its design, does it?

Let us know in the comments below...


When writing about Nissan's Murano CrossCabriolet recently, I was reminded how difficult it is to create a new automotive concept -- and how harshly the market treats original ideas. The CrossCabrio is the ambitious -- or perhaps foolhardy -- attempt to create a crossover with a convertible top.

Bright ideas are hard to pull off. For every Chrysler minivan or Ford Explorer four-door SUV, there are dozens of one-hit wonders and new concepts that failed to catch on. The Pontiac Aztek, an unholy combination of minivan and SUV, is the classic example, but there have been many others through the years...

[Source: CNN Money]

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JRobUSC - 8/16/2011 10:42:02 AM

+6 Boost

how many other 10-year old vehicles are selling for as much or more today as they were new?

Sealy - 8/16/2011 11:26:52 AM

+7 Boost

Before I even open one of these space filler lists, I know American Motors is going to be on it. AMC was an amazing little company that did a great deal with what it had. They made dependable, attractive cars and brought them in at a respectable price point. Stand the Pacer against anything else in its class and it's as good a compact people mover as any. That it broke the mold in styling should not be held against it. Harping on a 35-year old car is cheap rehash of criticism that wasn't valid when fresh.

tango - 8/17/2011 9:34:06 PM

+1 Boost

The writer of that article constantly mixes up "design" duds and "sales" duds. Two different things. "Design" refers to styling, looks. The Prowler, for example, was one gorgeous car. It still looks hot and turns heads wherever it is. The problem was that it was mechanically not what potential owners wanted. It had a V6 engine where a V8 should have been, and it came only in automatic when many owners wanted a manual. And on top of that it really didn't handle the way a modern sports car should and it cost a lot of money. But design dud? Absolutely not.