When creativity goes too far: top 10 car flops

They say fortune favours the brave. But when it comes to cars, that’s not always the case: sometimes the manufacturer is too far ahead of its time, its ideas too far-fetched. It isn’t always easy to take the road less travelled.

Here’s the proof: 10 models whose lifespans were not as long as was originally hoped. A special mention goes to Renault, a brand heavily featured here, which has often strayed from the script. Well, you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs and, while the French manufacturer has often got it horribly wrong, it has also, on occasion, absolutely nailed it.

1. Alfa Romeo Arna

On paper, the marriage between Nissan and Alfa Romeo had it all. Italian passion mixed with a pinch of Japanese precision. But it didn’t work. The Arna was certainly much more resistant to corrosion than other Alfa models, but its design made it as sexy as a lamppost. The adventure began in 1983, only to end in 1987.

2. ASA 1000 GT

Enzo Ferrari, willing to engage in the market for small coupés, puts the idea to one of his clients, the industry magnate De Nora. Il Commendatore provides discreet support: it is out of the question to see his famous prancing horse affixed to a small car! Technically, the ASA is extraordinary. A propulsion coupé with a small four-cylinder engine (derived from the Ferrari V12) generating astonishing power: 1l but 97hp at 7,000 revs. Today, nearly 50 years on, the performance (for a naturally aspirated engine) is unrivalled in this category. Alas, three anonymous letters and a stratospheric price could only lead to failure: fewer than 100 were made.

3. Audi A2

Being too far ahead its time, that was the A2’s problem. Shaped like a small minivan, the A2 displayed an impressive technology for its range, including an aluminium body. Its downfall: an exterior deemed not sexy enough and an exorbitant price.

4. Chrysler Airflow

We are in the 1930s. Car design has reached a turning point: lines are gradually receding, the headlights become part of the wings and aerodynamics gain in importance. The Chrysler Airflow was the first to take an active interest in all three. And the result was disastrous from an aesthetic point of view: too innovative, too out there; the Airflow only existed from 1934 to 1937.

5. Citroën GS Birotor

In theory, the rotary engine (aka Wankel, now featured in the Mazda RX-8) has many advantages: no vibration, fewer moving parts and an attractive output. In fact, it has the appetite of an ogre (both diesel and oil) and a lack of torque, and its reliability is disastrous. The model destined to be the super GS was a commercial flop.

6. Citroën SM

Ever since the aftermath of World War II, the French have, by and large, struggled to reconquer what was rightfully theirs before the war: automobile haute couture. Citroën tried its best with the flamboyant SM: a unique design, an original Maserati V6 engine and an improved DS running gear. It was a unique combination that worked wonders when everything functioned (which was rarely), but the oil crisis and the introduction of speed limits quickly saw it off.

7. DeLorean DMC-12

The DeLorean did indeed become mythical... after it had stopped being manufactured, thanks to the film Back to the Future. Its story is just as incredible. John DeLorean is hell-bent on making a high-flying sports car. He calls on Lotus to develop the chassis. Unfortunately, the result is far from what he had hoped for: the quality is terrible and the engine (a V6 PRV) is completely lifeless. Then the twist in the tale: in 1982, DeLorean is arrested for drug trafficking. The case was dismissed but the damage was done, and bankruptcy was declared.

8. Renault Avantime

The idea was appealing: the Avantime was aimed at couples used to minivans but whose children had left the family nest. Hence this coupé/MPV design. The public was not convinced, and the commercial flop also led to the bankruptcy of the Avantime’s developer, Matra. Only 8,000 were ever made.

9. Renault Kangoo Be Bop

On its release, it was immediately dubbed Be Flop by journalists. Looking like a toy, the Be Bop was too quirky and above all, too expensive. Compact (3.87m), equipped with a sunroof, only four seats and a two-tone finish, it ranks as a proper dud in the history of mini-MPVs.

10. Renault Wind

Granted, it is still in production. But it would be wrong to say that its longevity sends people into raptures. This little two-seater roadster is pleasant to drive, though. A sparkling motor, a sporty chassis and an intelligent roof are its strengths. Unfortunately, its high price, poor finish and twisted design put paid to its success. Renault has already stopped distributing it in Britain.