Autoblog

Fiat turns old Yugo factory into its most advanced plant

Noah Joseph — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Fiat

Several years ago, we were surprised to discover that the Yugo was still being made. Sometimes dubbed the worst car in history, Serbian automaker Zastava continued producing the Yugo through 2008 when the last one rolled off the assembly line in Kragujevac after a twenty-year production run. That was only months after Fiat inked a deal to buy the company and its assets, including the factory.

Now almost four years later, Fiat has finished upgrading the Cold War-era assembly plant into what it now calls its most advanced factory yet. Inaugurated just the other day by Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, the former Zastava plant has undergone a billion-euro renovation, including new production shops, machinery, infrastructure, landscaping and roof over a 1.4 million square meter site.

By the end of the year, the plant will employ a workforce of some 2,400. Their first task will be production of the new 500L mini-minivan (pictured above), which is scheduled to begin delivery (at a rate of as many as 200,000 units each year) from the former Yugoslavian country to markets across Europe and around the world later this year.

Continue reading Fiat turns old Yugo factory into its most advanced plant

Fiat turns old Yugo factory into its most advanced plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The ZUGO reimagines the Yugo for the 21st-century cheapskate

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Etc., Humor

The Zastava Yugo 45 was intended to be a serious car. Instead, it became a punchline. Milos Paripovic's Zugo concept, on the other hand, is a bit of a joke that instead was taken seriously enough to win fifth place in a European design competition. After updating the lines of the Yugo for the Zugo, Paripovic endowed it with features that probably would have been useful on the original.

The electric concept has a heated rear hatch so your relatives, when pushing it, have a warm place to put their hands. But the hatch also contains a pressure sensor so you can tell if any of those relatives aren't ~~pulling~~ pushing their weight.

Paripovic said such features, and others, "are put in contrast to everyday reality of Yugo owner." That's why the Zugo is open source and provides diagrams of all of its parts so owners can fabricate their own. It's also why the safest recommended place for the Zugo is "in the garage." Check it out in the attached image gallery. It might be the finest offspring of a Yugo 45, ever.

The ZUGO reimagines the Yugo for the 21st-century cheapskate originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yugos: Awful cars, serviceable art

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:03:00 EST

The Yugofone and other interesting creations - Click above for image gallery

Remember Jason Vuic's book about the rise and fall of Yugo? Apparently, the inspiration for it came from the fact that an artist was able to buy 39 Yugos for $92 each. Those Yugos were given to students at The School of Visual Arts in New York and they were told to make something useful out of them.

And that's how you get the Yugo accordion from the book, the Yogofone (pictured above), and a Yugo grand piano with a plate reading "89 KEYS." This Yugobilia was displayed in New York's Grand Central Station and on a U.S. tour - probably the best things to happen to any Yugo anywhere. Ever.

BMW probably doesn't need to be worried about its art car franchise just yet, but the Bavarians might take some notes, just to be safe. Check out a few of the pieces in the gallery below, or click the link to check out another two dozen works of Yugo art.

Gallery: Artworks made from Yugos

[Source: Motobullet]

Yugos: Awful cars, serviceable art originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tell your best Yugo story, win a signed copy of the Yugo book

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Europe, Hatchback

Q: What's included in every Yugo's owners manual? A: A bus schedule - click above for high-res image gallery

Everyone loves free stuff, right? Everyone also loves (and loves to hate) the Yugo. Well then, have we got a contest for you. Yesterday we posted our review of The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History and many of you commented that you'd like to read the book. Friends, comrades, fellow travelers-now is your chance! Publishers Hill and Wang are sponsoring a contest where you submit your best Yugo-related story and (maybe) win a signed copy of The Yugo. Here are the details:

Jason Vuic, author of The Yugo, wants to hear from everyone who has a Yugo story to tell. Whether you owned one, drove one, sat in one, passed one, or crossed paths with one, if a Yugo made a lasting impression on you, tell us about it. Love it? Tell us why. Hate the Yugo? Give us the cause. Jason Vuic will select his ten favorite stories, and Hill and Wang will include them in an updated ebook edition. The winners will also receive a signed hardcover copy of The Yugo. To submit, go to www.yugostory.com. Entries must be under 1,000 words and submitted by March 31.

In the interest of helping to stir the pot, take our own medicine and practice some preaching, here's our best Yugo story.

As some of you may know, I'm heavily involved in the 24 Hours of LeMons. At the 2008 Arse-Freeze-Apalooza race held at the mighty Thunderhill, the word goes out that someone's bringing a Yugo. Which, at a $500 car race, makes a lot of sense. Not only does it make sense, but it makes us hard-hearted LeMons types oh-so very happy.

Sadly, the Yugo didn't fair so well on the track. After about three laps (two to be totally honest) the extra weight from the roll cage was too much for the Zastrava-grade suspension, and after spinning and slamming into another car, the Yugo flipped over onto its roof. However, the Zastrava-grade roof quality (and aforementioned roll cage) held, and within moments emergency workers had pushed the little Yugo back onto its wheels and were towing it to the paddock. After much hammering, ritual spraying of WD40 into the Weber-derived carburetor, there was much rejoicing as the Yugo started back up.

Sadly for team Tito (or whatever they were called), the 24 Hours of LeMons has a rule called, "Why am I Upside Down?" If you do find yourself upside down in your race car, the car is done for the weekend and the driver is done for the season (don't worry, it was December, the last race of the season). Shockingly, the Yugo team took the news very well. So well in fact, that they offered the Yugo to LeMons Chief Perp Jay Lamm. The conversation went something like this, "Take our Yugo, please." Jay Lamm, a former Trabant owner, looked at the Yugoslavian race car, and after thinking things through for less than one second proclaimed, "Hell no!" That's ours. Now it's your turn.

Gallery: The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History

Tell your best Yugo story, win a signed copy of the Yugo book originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Book Review: The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Humor

In 1985, just nine months before the Yugo came to America, Yugo America CEO Malcolm Bricklin and second in command Tony Ciminera toured the Zastava plant in Kragujevac, Yugoslavia. This is where the Yugo 45, the crazy-cheap car Americans would come to know, love and then loathe, would be built and rebadged as the Yugo GV (Bricklin intended GV to stand for "great value," but he never bothered paying the ad firm to spread the word). Ciminera was horrified at what he saw.

Workers would take brand new body panels they'd just finished stamping and toss them onto a pile. Meaning that the new cars would roll off the assembly line dented. Bricklin, of course, failed to see the problem and told Ciminera just to fax the Zastava workers a list of changes needed when the two of them returned to the U.S. The problem with that plan was that the Zastava factory didn't have a fax machine. Once they got one, the fax that Ciminera sent them was over four meters long. And Bricklin was sticking to his fanciful nine-month deadline.

Gallery: The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History

Continue reading Book Review: The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History

Book Review: The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Turbocharged BMW-powered Yugo highboy has us reconsidering the GV

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Videos, Humor

Vprache BMW six-cylinder turbo Yugo in hoon mode - Click above to watch video

In the beginning, there was a yellow Yugo GV. And when the folks at Vprache Racing cast their eyes over it, they thought it was missing something. So they gave it an 3.5-liter BMW inline six-cylinder transplant and added a turbo besides. And an intercooler mounted on the grille. And a high-rise lift job. Then they took it hooning. And that was the end of the first day.

When that wasn't enough, they added another turbo and fashioned arches to cover the exposed rubber. And then they took it drag racing. And that was the end of the second day. You can check out videos of the car in both iterations after the jump. It's fast. And in a yellow Yugo, you'd want to be.

[Sources: Tampa Sports Car Examiner; YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Turbocharged BMW-powered Yugo highboy has us reconsidering the GV

VIDEO: Turbocharged BMW-powered Yugo highboy has us reconsidering the GV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: 1988 Yugo sales video is hilarity of the unintentional variety

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Budget, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback

1988 Yugo sales video promo -- Click above to watch video

If this video had been made by Saturday Night Live, it would have been the funniest thing on the weekend variety show for as long as we can remember. But it's not a skit, and it's not comedy - at least, it's not meant to be. It's a 1988 video extolling the mighty and numerous selling points of the Yugo, such as the 1.1-liter engine that roared with 54 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, the 19.5-second quarter-mile time "ensuring safe access to major highways," and "no expensive computer chips to diagnose or replace."

Back in 2007, USA Today put the Yugo GV at #17 on its list of the 25 cars with the most impact. Have a look at the 10-minute video after the jump and find out just how that car was "a remarkably equipped hatch that gives new meaning to the term 'basic transportation.'" Thanks for the tip, John!

[Source: Yugo via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: 1988 Yugo sales video is hilarity of the unintentional variety

VIDEO: 1988 Yugo sales video is hilarity of the unintentional variety originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yugo Now: Zastava devotees gather in Serbia

Dan Roth — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Etc., Europe

The Yugo Party - Click above for high-res image gallery

Yugo production wound down in 2008, but Zastava's little cars still engender plenty of love, and fans of the brand recently converged on a Belgrade park with their cars. To be sure, Yugos never rolled out of the Kragujevac factory in the candy-flavored hues of some of the lovingly modified and restored rides that showed up, but Zastava and fans of its cars all but burst with pride. You're not likely to see a gathering of Yugos, at least one so large, here in the States, but on a May day in Belgrade, all sorts of cars produced throughout the company's history, from its earliest "Fica" model up to the latest Zastava 10, gathered in one spot for this giant Yugo party. Maybe once you peruse the massive gallery, you'll be so inspired that you start scouring for sale ads, looking for your own Yugo to take to a picnic.

Gallery: Zastava party

[Source: Zastava Internacionale]

Continue reading Yugo Now: Zastava devotees gather in Serbia

Yugo Now: Zastava devotees gather in Serbia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Yugo Cabrio is the one for fun in the Balkan sun

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Budget, Auctions

1990 Yugo Cabrio - Click above for an image gallery

The Yugo, once the cheapest car offered in the United States, is most remembered for being the punchline of every late night comedian's opening monologue. That said, this author doesn't actually remember the Yugo being quite as bad as its detractors painted it out to be, especially in its later years when it was equipped with a 1.3L OHC engine hooked up to a 5-speed manual transmission. The ultimate expression of fine Yugoslavian automotive design would have to be the extremely rare droptop version of the classic Communist-era machine, and there just so happens to be one in pretty decent shape right now on eBay.

We're not sold on this particular car's yellow over gray color palette, but it only has 53,000 miles on it and seems to have been owned by an enthusiast (of sorts). If you love classic wedge-like hatchback designs from the '80s but feel a VW Cabrio is just a bit too common, a Yugo such as this would definitely be an unexpected option. Thanks for the tip, Justin B!

Gallery: eBay Find of the Day: 1990 Yugo convertible

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Yugo Cabrio is the one for fun in the Balkan sun originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zastava builds the final Yugo

Dan Roth — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Budget, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback

"Cao, nema više" reads the piece paper affixed to the tailgate of the red Serbian hatchback, as a small throng of proud workers gathered around the car to bid it "Goodbye, no more" this week. After a 20-year run, the last Zastava Koral, #794,428, quietly made its way to the Zastava museum and the scrappy Eastern European automaker has wound down production on all but one of its models. The very last Zastava, a Skala 55, will be the last of its kind when it makes its way down the production line on November 20th. After that, the proud, tenacious people who have been working at the Kragujevac factory aren't sure of what the future holds. Zastava has long been linked to Fiat, and when the lines restart, the Zastava 10 will be badged as a Fiat Punto, which it is.

Make as many Yugo jokes as you'd like, but Zastava has a long and fascinating history, and the company has managed to produce automobiles through several periods of war, even after the factory sustained bombings. The now classic Zastavas will live on; the company is working on setting up Skala 55, Koral In, and Florida In production lines in Africa and the Zastava 128 is still being produced in Egypt. In those climates, we figure they won't need to come with defroster grids to keep your hands warm when pushing.

[Source: Zastava]

Continue reading Zastava builds the final Yugo

Zastava builds the final Yugo originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat buys Zastava to build new Topolino microcar

Noah Joseph — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Earnings/Financials, Fiat

If you told us a year ago that Fiat was going to sign a deal with the government of Serbia, we'd have laughed. But that was before the country announced that it was accepting tenders for investment in the state-owned automaker Zastava, makers of the famous Yugo (aka Skala 55). The process started back in December when the Serbian government made the announcement, sparking interest from various automakers. But even as recent as last week, the Fiat stance was that it was still considering the proposition. Well, it appears the Italian auto giant has done thinking, and has signed a memorandum of understanding with Serbia to establish a joint venture that involves Fiat investing a staggering 700 million euros (!) into Zastava's manufacturing facilities in exchange for a majority stake in the company, known in full as Zavodi Crvena Zastava. The Serbian government, meanwhile, will contribute some 200 million euros through tax incentives and similar measures.

Fiat has revealed that it will use the Zastava plant to produce the upcoming Topolino microcar. The vehicle will be based on the same platform as the 500 and Panda, but even smaller and positioned below either model, and share the same name as the concept car that previewed the new 500 and originally used on the 1936 runabout pictured above. According to reports, the new Topolino will be a compact two-seater measuring just 3150mm (124 inches) in length, slightly longer than the Smart ForTwo at 2692mm (106 inches). A four-seater version is expected to follow, in addition to an upscale version for the Lancia division.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]

Fiat buys Zastava to build new Topolino microcar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 May 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen may bid on Yugo, um, we mean Zastava

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:18:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, Volkswagen, Fiat

Click above for more pics of the Zastava Skala 55

It was just the other day that we looked back at the automotive punchline that was the Yugo in America. In all actuality, though, the Serbian automaker Zastava that's currently for sale, has plenty to offer prospective buyers. This fact is evidenced by reports that Volkswagen is considering bidding on the ex-Yugoslavian company. Zastava is the only automaker based in Serbia, and has a number of factories and excess production capacity which could prove rather useful to companies such as Volkswagen, which is looking to expand their production capabilities in Europe.

Zastava currently produces a line of vehicles based on licensed Fiat architecture. The plant is currently producing about 15,000 units per year, but is capable of building as many as 60,000. At this time, we're not aware of any official offers being made, but we're sure that if Volkswagen is looking, others likely are as well.

[Source: B92, Carscoop]

Volkswagen may bid on Yugo, um, we mean Zastava originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Belgrade Auto Show: Zastava Skala 55 (a.k.a. the Yugo)

Dan Roth — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Europe, Hatchback, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above for more pics of the Zastava Skala 55

The Easter holiday is a time of rebirth, and we can't think of a better automotive resurrection to celebrate than the Zastava Skala 55. Haven't heard of the Skala 55? Sure you have! It was sold here in the United States as the Yugo GV, and summarily tarred and feathered for being a $3,900 brand new car. Let's avoid an epic fight about the past and focus on why we're so jazzed that the rebuilt Zastava factory is still turning out these crisply styled five-doors. At the recent Belgrade Auto Show, Zastava parked a refreshed Skala 55 at its display and had one of the hits of the show.

Gallery: 2008 Zastava Skala 55

Continue reading 2008 Belgrade Auto Show: Zastava Skala 55 (a.k.a. the Yugo)

2008 Belgrade Auto Show: Zastava Skala 55 (a.k.a. the Yugo) originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wanna buy a Yugo? Serbian carmaker Zastava up for sale

Chris Shunk — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Europe, Hatchback

When the Yugo first arrived on our shores in 1985, it made headlines with its bargain basement $4,000 USD price tag. Of course, four large didn't buy you much of anything, except for a series of breakdowns and the laughter of virtually every motorist that easily passed you by. While the Yugo hasn't been sold in the U.S. since 1991, for the right price you can now bid for the distinct pleasure of owning Zastava, the Serbian company responsible for producing and exporting the biggest punch line in automotive history. The government of Serbia has announced that Zastava, the country's only automaker, is selling off over 90% of its shares this coming April for an undisclosed amount. While the eastern European automaker employs 4,000 workers and can build up to 60,000 vehicles per year, but currently the factory is only producing 15,000 units.

The Yugo was such a disaster when it hit the States, it seemed as though every comedian was required by law to make at least one joke about it. It didn't help that one Yugo owner was killed when the cheap compact became the one and only vehicle ever to be blown off the Mackinaw bridge that connects the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. If the price is right, though, we're sure someone will sop up the company, if only for the production capacity and cheap Eastern European labor.

[Source: Detroit News]

Wanna buy a Yugo? Serbian carmaker Zastava up for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auto Lexicon: Top 5 four-wheeled metaphors

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:34:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Here's a fun column we came across talking about cars as metaphors. Kind of like referring to something as the "Rolls-Royce" of its industry means it's the best (or most expensive, perhaps). The writer, Miss Cellania, lists five vehicles that rightly or wrongly have come to be symbols of the worst from the automotive sector. All five of her picks are instantly recognizable for their place in motoring history. While we empathize with owners of these vehicles because they frequently have endearing qualities, we understand the reasons they have been chosen. Here's the list, but we encourage you to click over to Mental Floss to hear the explanations of how they earned their often unfair reps.

1. Edsel = Failure
2. Corvair = Unsafe
3. Pinto = Volatile
4. DeLorean = Overhyped
5. Yugo = Shoddy

While the DeLorean might be a bit of a stretch as being overhyped, the rest seem appropriate. These are a good start, but we're sure you all can come up with a whole bunch more.

Thanks for the tip, C. McFeeny!

[Source: Mental Floss]

Auto Lexicon: Top 5 four-wheeled metaphors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coming soon to a theater near you: "Malcolm Bricklin: The Movie"?

Chris Paukert — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 15:56:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, China, Etc.

Automotive entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin's business successes and failings over the years have been well documented in the media over the years, with Autoblog being no exception. All eyes are on Bricklin to see if his grandiose plans for Chinese automaker Chery can meet with Subaru-like success, or whether the result will be more on the order of the dismal failure of his self-named Bricklin 'safety' sports car, or the discount embarrassment that was Yugo's foray into North America.

But apparently, all of this isn't enough for the once-and-future importer. According to Fortune Magazine's Alex Taylor III, Bricklin is chronicling his daily life leading up to the launch of Chery with a video crew that follows him around 24/7-- reportedly, more than 1,000 hours of footage has been recorded. Could 'Bricklin: The Movie' be far behind?

[Sources: Fortune Magazine via CNNMoney; AutoNews]

Coming soon to a theater near you: "Malcolm Bricklin: The Movie"? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Jun 2006 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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