When it comes to any invention or creation, they’re made to leave a lasting impression. The creator is in pursuit of success, ultimately changing the world with the launch of their brilliant masterpiece. In a lot of cases, they’re successful and see their creations change lives.
Unfortunately, this means that there are occasions when their best ideas are not quite what people are looking for. The truth is that some ideas simply fail – or flop. And in the world of cars, this happens more often than you realize.
This is not always due to an inferior build or poor sales, sometimes it’s just “wrong”. It’s something that shouldn’t have been done to a car, but some adventures soul decided to push boundaries and see where it goes. Some cars are simply unlikeable, some more so than others.
So, on that note, let’s look at some of the strangest cars ever created, and the reasons they’re considered flops.
Aptera Motors 2e
If you haven’t ever heard of the company or the car, you’re not alone. They existed between 2004 and 2011 but never actually produced a car. They had built a few prototypes of their 2e electric car that featured three wheels. Unfortunately, they seemed to run into financial issues and let a lot of their staff go in addition to announcing production delays.
In 2011 they claimed to have completed the 2e’s design but ended up closing their doors shortly thereafter. The reason behind their funding issues came as a result of government seed money that they were promised but never received. It could also only go 100 miles on a single charge, which isn’t exactly great.
Chevrolet SSR
This one is a three-in-one car. It’s a convertible car as well as a pickup truck. Yes, it sounds ridiculous because it is. Not only did it look like a hot mess, but it also lacked the power you would expect it to have. This was rectified and saw the engine go from a 300-hp 5.3-litre V-8 to a 390-hp 6.0-litre V-8. Unfortunately, the rather silly design did not change
Fisker Karma
Another electric car on our list had tons of potential but never quite made it. Henrik Fisker founded the startup and designed the futuristic car. It was one of the first plug-in electric hybrid cars to hit the market in the states.
It featured a 23.5-kWh battery pack as well as two electric motors with a 2.0-litre Ecotec four-cylinder to generate power – sourced from General Motors. As a result, it could produce up to 402 horsepower. Unfortunately, its efficiency let it down – approximately only 24 mpg. After a series of unfortunate events, the company went bankrupt in 2013.
The Ideas Were Sound, The Rest Not So Much
These flops all stemmed from a great idea and concept; however, the execution is what let most of them down. And no, this list is not extensive. On the contrary, these are just a few options in a sea of flops.