There have been a lot of stupid cars rolling out of factories around the globe during the last century or so. Most of them aren’t really worth talking about, and some really become a sort of collectible. Flips like Ford Edsel and Pontiac Aztek come to think. Yet every once in a while, a meaningless idea filters through the product planning cracks and makes it off the drawing board and into the real world, with results so weird and interesting that it transitions from stupid category to stupid but awesome category.
These are vehicles that should never have seen the light of day, but we’re glad they did.
1991 GMC Syclone
Let me make this clear right away: GMC Syclone is very, very cool. Its Ferrari-beating performance is legendary, its turbocharged powertrain and all-wheel drive are a hero, and its looks are captivating. The fact that it’s great is undisputed. However, the original idea was full of madness. This is a real two-seater pickup that can’t be hauled or towed, horribly expensive for a then-popular GMC badging (remember, this was before the chrome Denali) and it looks like it’s ready to fall on rough roads. The storm that came later brought significantly more realism.
None of those problems today. The GMC Syclone is a perfect example of an idea that makes very little sense on paper or, really, even in the real world, but is still such an impressive package that it stands out today as a Trend-setting tool for forced touch and high-performance pickups. – Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski
Control Panel Chevy HHR SS 2009
NS Chevy HHR not cool at all, despite the fact that it was specifically designed as an attempt to capture the attention of the styling-loving crowd that was initially attracted by Chrysler PT Cruiser (also basically uncooled but a bit cool in some supercharged guise). But NS version of HHR pretty neat, with up to 260 hp in a compact chassis, and a manual transmission is available with lift-free shift programming. But the version we’re focusing on here is the Obscure Dashboard, which started out as a small pickup truck aimed at small businesses before Chevy decided to offer it in an SS version confusingly. . Same engine, same suspension upgrades and the same sporty details as other HHR SS models but with the removal of rear door handles, glass and seats. Note, the back door was open, but only from the inside.
There’s no reason for it to exist, and it’s not surprising that it’s selling so well. However, the fact that a few strange souls decided to buy one in 2009, is an interesting little footnote in automotive history, and that was enough for the HHR SS Board to qualify for the list. this. – Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski
2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8
The late 90s and early 2000s served as the organizers for the first act of America’s performance truck and SUV boom. The four-wheeler horsepower wars heated up as the world plunged into the financial crisis of the late Aughts, so when SRT announced it had embarked on a line of premium-oriented vehicles. Grand Cherokee, it was met with equally disdain and expectation from a community of enthusiasts largely uninterested in performance SUVs. And here’s the thing: It was good. It’s a complete package in a way that other SRT models don’t have. Remember, those early SRT8s had a 6.1-liter Hemi and an open differential. Until the second year of Challenger life cycle (2009) where an alternative to limiting slippage has emerged. In that context, the Grand Cherokee’s standard all-wheel drive system is a game changer.
Sure, it was compromised in some of its day-to-day SUV duties (especially towing), but not nearly as disabled as the manual transmission Dodge Ram SRT-10, and unlike the pickup truck. Powered by a Viper engine, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is not only faster and hits the ball better than anything else with an SRT badge, but it’s still a perfectly tame and all-weather daily driver. – Deputy Editor Byron Hurd
2013 Mini Cooper Coupe
After several successful years with the Mini Cooper hatchback and conventional convertible, Mini decided it needed to expand its lineup. And although its expansion has brought us Countryman, it also gives us some pretty weird patterns. Perhaps the strangest, but also most special and coolest is the Coupe. It’s weird in the same way that its Roadster compatriot did: Mini takes an already small and supposedly impractical car, and then makes it less realistic. It lost the rear seats and the lowered roofline eliminated some of the maximum cargo space. And it doesn’t have any significant performance benefits over more realistic versions. But the Coupe in particular has a wild-looking roofline. It was clearly inspired by an upside-down cap, and we agreed with the designers. It seems like a stupid design idea, but in the end it looks pretty cool.
It definitely has to turn around now too. And while it’s not really any better than regular Minis, it’s still a Mini, so it’s still fun to drive. The coupe’s lifting means that not all practicality is lost either. The Roadster is an option for those who like drips, but it’s even less practical and the head drop loses some of its distinctive features. – News editor Joel Stocksdale
Range Rover Evoque Convertible 2017
It’s hard to get more than a crossover convertible. One of the most cited in this car category is Murano CrossCarbriolet, but that particular example isn’t particularly interesting. NS Range Rover Evoque Convertible on the other hand, now it’s great. It still fits our theme; Who wants a raised crossover with no cargo space and only two doors? But the execution of Evoque Can be converted raise it into the cool field.
What matters most to the Evoque Convertible is its sleeker design and styling points. It’s an immaculately clean and complete convertible. There’s no awkward hunchback or weird body in the back. It’s sharp and purposeful, almost as much as the Land Rover designers had in mind when designing the conventional four-door Evoque. Not like Murano, the Evoque even looks good when fully loaded! It also has all the luxury amenities and (possibly limited) off-road capabilities that the regular Evoque has, making it a true Land Rover product. Somehow, Land Rover managed to land with this completely insane idea. – Road test editor Zac Palmer
GMC Special Envoy XUV
As the above description indicates, Envoy XUV is “the first and only SUV with a power-sliding rear roof. It also features a swinging or swinging rear door and a folding center door with power windows that help keep the passenger seat out of the cargo area in all weather conditions.” That’s a really lengthy description, but I challenge you to describe this delightful Rube Goldberg creation in any fewer words. Indeed, Special Envoy XUV is horribly dumb, but if I ask someone what kind of car they drive and they say “GMC Special Envoy XUV, “I would instinctively say” What? Serious? That’s very wonderful! “ Senior Editor James Riswick
2002 BMW M Coupe
NS BMW Z3 designed to be a cheap little roadster tossed with debris from the BMW parts bin. It originally had just a 138hp 1.9-liter inline-four, which has forever been described as “weed” even in places where it’s not even a common adjective. Then, wisely, BMW put in a 2.8-liter inline-six that makes 189 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Its 0 to 60 time in 6.3 seconds was horrendously fast and is actually still pretty fast today. I know because I own one. I also know that Z3 has the structural hardness of cooked spaghetti, shining like Shakira on every bump. To remedy this, and to make the Z3 a more reliable performance car with just the right amount of stiffness, BMW has effectively combined the pretty little roadster with a Honda Civic Hatchback and give out BMW USA Car coupe. It’s the opposite kind of fish: party in the front, business in the back.
At the time, people were horrified by what was dubbed the “clown shoe” and inevitably said things like “that’s stupid.” Yes, but silly in a totally awesome way. Just like making donuts in a parking lot is stupid, this is basically the main activity for one of these activities. And it will get even smellier and awesomer. While the original 240hp M Coupe represented a definite performance upgrade over the 2.8-litre, BMW brought a shotgun to the knife-edge when the M Coupe received the BMW M3’s S54 inline- new six produces 315 hp (18 hp less than the M3). To make the math clearer, it has not only 75 more horses than before, but also 177 more horses than the original Z3. Anything described as “overkill” can be pretty silly, but as usual with overkill, 2002 BMW USA The coupe is also one of the coolest cars ever. – Senior Editor James Riswick
