What are the two sports cars
that received a barrage of criticism
for their worst designs?
Sports cars are expected to perform beyond everyday driving and carry a sense of style and personality. Owners want their sports cars to flaunt designs that are full of emotion.
Typically, the design alone can hint at the car’s performance, which is often sleek and sensual. However, some sports cars’ designs are so bad that they’re considered failures.
The world’s ugliest car costs $1.1 million
The first one is the Youabian Puma.
Its bizarre design earned it the title “the world’s ugliest car” as soon as it was exhibited at the 2013 LA Auto Show. The price tag is $1.1 million. Youabian, a plastic surgeon in the U.S., designed the car based on the desires of many wealthy individuals who want something unique.
The car has off-road wheels and an exaggerated volume in the fenders, making it look bloated. The front end appears relatively small, with the grill and headlights clustered in the center. The grill is awkwardly placed at the bottom, contrasting with the massive wheels. After its release, it was reported that only three of these cars were sold in China, Japan, and the Middle East.
The 6-wheel sports car, the Covini C6W, is equipped with an Audi V8 engine
The next one is the 6-wheel sports car, the Covini C6W.
It was produced in collaboration with PMI SpA by Covini Engineering, an Italian sports car brand. The car is unique from the get-go, with six wheels and the doors and hood opening in a gull-wing style.
The C6W is equipped with Audi’s 4.2-liter V8 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission, delivering a maximum output of 430 horsepower and a maximum torque of 35.3 lb-ft.
The idea of a 6-wheel layout for a sports car dates back to the 1970s. Various methods were devised for Formula 1 racing, including increasing aerodynamic performance using smaller tires. However, smaller tires had the problem of reduced grip.
It was a difficult way to increase grip, but it received harsh criticism
The loss of front-wheel grip often caused understeer. To solve this problem, adding tires to the front to increase grip emerged, creating the 6-wheel sports car. Ferruccio Covini, the founder of Covini Engineering, was inspired by the 6-wheel sports car Tyrrell P34 and created the Covini C6W.
Covini’s biggest mistake was not considering why globally renowned sports car brands like Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Porsche didn’t attempt a 6-wheel sports car. Despite the vast development cost, the C6W received a lot of criticism. While the high grip may have benefited motorsports, it was too strong for everyday driving, making it difficult to turn the steering wheel.
Originally designed to set records in motorsports, this method found little practical use in reality and was shunned by the public due to its unique but sports car-spirit-diminishing design.
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