An inner-city, sensible, zero-emissions runabout
If you look at any list of worst cars ever made, the Yugo will often be near the top. It is often ridiculed and joked about in automotive circles. Ironically, its sexy and terrible looks have made it an iconic symbol.
The Yugo, or Yugo/Zastava Coral, is a car that has captured the hearts of many in the Balkans. The Yugo, regardless of its price tag, was able to get people from A to B. It served its purpose well enough. It was 16 years since it was stopped in the U.S., and Zastava Koal production finally ended in late 2008.
Many people wonder what the Yugo might look like today. One budding auto designer thinks the Yugo could be reinvented into something new during its “heydey”. The derided hatchback has been transformed by Dejan Hristov into an elegant electric hatchback. His idea is logical in more ways than one.
Yugo is known for being affordable. His concept could open the door to low-cost electric mobility for all. EVs are often expensive in countries that don’t offer incentives for them, so this could help to make them more mainstream. Hristov wants this to become a reality. Hristov does plan to forward this idea to Serbia’s government.
“Considering the fact that the components of the first Yugo were made in the former Yugoslavia it is possible that Rimac Automobili, from Croatia, will be part of the project.” Hristov said. Hristov also said that the Fiat connection to the Yugo original could be a factor in getting Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Serbia to participate in its development. Other candidates include the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and other Chinese automakers. Hristov says that the raw materials are also important.