Five Worst Automotive Designs of All Time

By and large, automotive designers are polite group who don't like to criticize another designer's work. However, the following design gaffs were so egregious than when prodded, they couldn't resist mentioning a few of the designs they love to hate. Unlike the lists that showcase good design (where there was limited consensus), the following cars appeared with alarming frequency

For purists, the Jeep Compass is wrong for many reasons. Skirting the arguments that the legendary brand should never produce a car-based utility vehicle (the Compass shares underbody and power train components with the Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring), the Jeep SUV is just plain ugly to many designers. "Bloated" and "too tall" are descriptors often heard when the Compass (new in 2007) is discussed.

Proving that even legendary manufacturers can produce a stinker every now and then, the Ferrari Mondial 8 (1980-82) stands out as a poster child for poor design. Pininfarina is credited (and therefore somewhat discredited) with responsibility for the design that lacks continuity and balance.

Richard Teague penned some winners (the AMC AMX) and some losers. To the eyes of our designers, the 1973-1978 AMC Matador Coupe was a dud. Crazy, disproportionate curves and gaudy tunneled headlights highlight the coupe's extreme long-hood/short-trunk design. Some felt that the always-struggling AMC needed to differentiate their cars with styling, and Teague's group did achieve their goal, although some would ask, "at what cost?"