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Remember the Zastava Yugo? Back in the early 1980s, this vehicle entered the UK market with significant aspirations and a budget-friendly price of just £3,000. Despite its affordability, it spectacularly failed to capture the hearts of British drivers. Now, the Yugo is poised for a dramatic comeback, spearheaded by a Serbian university professor aiming to reintroduce it by 2027.
The Infamous Yugo: A Brief History
While it undercut competitors like the Austin Metro and Ford Fiesta during a recession-hit Britain, the Yugo’s legacy is less than stellar, not garnering a nostalgic collector following. Its flimsy construction, questionable reliability, and outdated design relegated its affordability as the sole attractive feature.
Initial sales were promising, but DVLA records indicate a mere seven remain operational today, highlighting its poor build quality.
Why Was the Original Yugo So Unpopular?
- Poor Build Quality: Flimsy materials and unreliable mechanics.
- Outdated Design: Noticeably behind competitors in styling and features.
- Limited Appeal: Affordability was its only real selling point.
The car in question is the Zastava Yugo – often cited as one of the worst vehicles ever marketed in Britain. There’s even a book with this memorable title: The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History.
The Yugoslavian marque launched the Yugo 45 in the UK in 1981, essentially a restyled Fiat 127 featuring a simple, boxy design from ItalDesign.
It also adopted Fiat’s engine range, offering three petrol options ranging from 903cc to 1,301cc, derived from the Fiat 128, and there was even a convertible version available.
The Eastern Bloc car was remarkably inexpensive, costing as little as £2,795 when imports ceased in 1991 due to the Yugoslav Wars, making it the cheapest new car in Britain.
Even in the US, the Yugo struggled, despite being the most affordable four-wheeled vehicle on the market.
Peak Popularity & Decline
During its early years, Zastava sold around 3,000 units annually in the UK.
Total production reached 794,428 Yugos, with only a small fraction sold in Britain.
By 2018, records showed only 19 were still roadworthy. Five years later, that number dwindled to nine, and now, just seven remain.
The Yugo’s Dramatic Demise
In a bizarre incident in 1997, a red Yugo was launched from a trebuchet built by a cavalry officer and his friend to test its siege capabilities. The catapult effectively obliterated the car when it hit the ground.
Production of the Koral (the domestic name) continued in Serbia until 2008. A decade later, Group Zastava Vehicles declared bankruptcy.
The Yugo’s Revival: What to Expect
But, the Yugo name is now poised for a comeback…
Dr. Alekasandar Bjelić, a university professor with automotive industry connections in Germany, revealed his vision for the reborn Yugo at the 2025 Car Design Event in Munich.
Bjelić, together with Serbian designer Darko Marčeta, presented their concept for the supermini emphasizing an eighties-inspired design.
Design and Features of the New Yugo
- Slim LED lights front and rear
- Large alloy wheels
- Squared haunches reminiscent of a hot hatch
Bjelić envisions it as an ‘affordable’ two-door model initially, with potential for other body styles later.
Plans include a petrol engine with manual or automatic gearboxes to manage costs. However, electrified versions are also being considered.
Yugo Automobile promises a ‘fun-to-drive car’ that ‘meets all relevant safety standards,’ utilizing a shared platform from a ‘cooperation partner.’
A fully functional prototype is scheduled for the Belgrade Expo in 2027.
Considering the original Yugo’s dismal reputation as one of Britain’s worst cars, Bjelić’s project aims to achieve a significant improvement.