If it is forced, it probably isn’t meant to be. Manufacturers, for all kinds of reasons inevitably release products that either aren’t fully engineered or forcibly so, creating cringe-worthy offerings that end up in showrooms. Often overpriced, these half-baked vehicles find their way into the driveways of unassuming owners. Unfortunately (for consumers) and fortunately (for brands), sales of forced products can go unnoticed thanks to clever marketing, such as reviving nameplates, or the promise of innovation while completely removing what a vehicle represents. For the finance department, these vehicles are a slam dunk, but for car enthusiasts who romanticize the automotive world, they are a nightmare.
10 Toyota Supra
No, it’s not a Supra, but ironically that’s not why this BMW, I mean, Toyota isn’t the greatest of sports cars. The BMW Z4 on which the A90 Supra is based on is a fine automobile, it’s not trying to be anything it isn’t or beat the 911 like all sports cars seem to attempt. The Supra stands for something different though. This is a JDM legend and as such, should really represent a full Toyota effort. If it was based on a BMW M car, maybe it would be hard-edged enough to live up to the sharp looks, because the A90 really is a stunning design. On the road though, this new Supra is too soft, in every way. If you’re going to use BMW parts, use the stuff from the M division.
9 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Killing off the Lancer Evolution and Eclipse with dignity, arguably Mistubishi's most coveted models, was acceptable. Mitsubishis of the past were genuinely enthusiasts' cars. It was always Evo vs. WRX, and the Eclipse had a huge impact on car culture, even making a star appearance multiple times in the Fast & Furious franchise. Now though, Mitsubishi has revived the Eclipse nameplate, but in the form of a very mild crossover called Eclipse Cross. Not that you’d need a ton of power to have a good time in a Mitsubishi, but 152 horsepower in a mid-size crossover isn’t exactly what you’d call “inspiring”, especially for a vehicle bearing the Eclipse name.
8 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
With the 2 Series coupe being so very impressive at all that it does, carving up canyons like you wouldn’t believe, it’s difficult to digest just how poorly the 2 Series Gran Coupe performs in comparison. The car looks great with some clever design elements, but the performance deficit especially considering the starting price is nearing $40,000. Even the Mini Coopers, the platform on which this car is built, seem to be more inspiring to drive. Hopefully, refinements or a refresh will help bring the 2 Series Gran Coupe up to “Ultimate Driving Machine” standards.
7 Maserati Ghibli
2023 will be the Maserati Ghibli’s 10th model year. Let that sink in after you’ve just paid at least $85,300. A better-equipped Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing will give you more than 100 more horsepower, vastly better performance on-road and on-track, and will cost $20,000 less to start. The interior is still very carryover Chrysler 300 and even though Maserati has injected some new excitement into their models, including the Ghibli, with an available V-8 powered “Trofeo” option, that model starts at an eye-watering $122,000.
6 BMW 3.0 CSL
The new BMW 3.0 CSL will probably be absolutely stunning to see and drive. To ask customers, even collectors, to shell out over $700,000 for a re-worked M4 CSL, is a stretch to say the least. There’s no doubting the 3.0 CSL’s breathtaking new design, taking heavy inspiration from the 3.0 CSL Hommage R Concept, but many will argue that most of the upgraded styling was probably how the G82 M4 should have been designed from the get-go, namely the better-sculpted kidney grilles. If it weren’t for the astronomical price, the 3.0 CSL could sit beautifully as a BMW performance flagship and not just as a collector’s trophy.
5 Tesla Model X Plaid
Going Plaid may not be all it's cracked up to be. Going on its seventh model year, the Tesla Model X hasn’t undergone a redesign since its introduction. If you want the Plaid model, you’re going to have to shell out at least $130,590 to have your sub-10 second quarter mile running SUV. While we love having the option, the question becomes, how necessary is a power-focused SUV like the Model X Plaid? The allure of ballistic electrically powered zero-to-sixty fades fairly quickly, especially for passengers, leaving the driver with a very expensive vehicle that is essentially the same in every way except the power to the “regular” Model X, a car which still achieves a zero-to-sixty time of 3.8 seconds.
4 Aston Martin Vantage
Parts sharing is widely accepted in the car community nowadays. Taking one of the best automotive soundtracks and dulling it down to an overplayed AMG corporate V-8 might have single-handedly ruined the Aston Martin Vantage’s reputation. The AMG 4.0 V-8 is a fine engine, proving to be wildly powerful in some applications, but it just doesn’t suit the character of what a Vantage requires. Yes, the Vantage is a stunning exercise in design, the aural experience doesn’t match the aggressive looks. If you’re looking for a competitive track car, the Aston also doesn’t perform as well as similarly equipped 4.0 liter V-8 powered Mercedes-AMG GT models.
3 Lotus Eletre
“Simplify, then add lightness.” The founder of Lotus Cars, Colin Chapman, instilled this idea that, until now, has influenced every Lotus car since the brand's infancy. Eletre takes that core Lotus principle and throws it completely to the wayside. Understandably automakers want to take advantage of the ever-growing popularity of the SUV segment, Lotus included. The same goes for the EV movement, and Lotus decided to kill two birds with one awkwardly shaped electric SUV. Eletre seems to be more of a Tesla Model X fighter with an emphasis on straight-line speed, and at an estimated curb weight of 4,400 pounds, this high-riding SUV doesn’t show much promise in the way of legendary Lotus handling.
2 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance
The C63’s main party trick has just disappeared. It used to be that the C63 stood for the rowdy German muscle car, smokey burnouts and a hellishly loud exhaust note. Handling was comical compared to a BMW M3. Over the years Mercedes-AMG has refined the C63 into a wonderfully handling sports car retaining a noisy V-8 but becoming slightly more civilized. Replacing the iconic V-8 is an inline-four combined with a hybrid system to create a very impressive, but ultimately mundane 671 horsepower. It’s difficult to wrap your mind around a car company shoving that much power into a car, while simultaneously forcing it to be exponentially less exciting by removing its defining characteristic.
1 Volkswagen ID.4
If you can’t turn down the volume of the stereo in a vehicle at night, you have a problem. Unbelievably, the Volkswagen ID.4 has a hepatic feedback volume control that isn’t back-lit, making the task nearly impossible. This is just one example of ergonomic oversights plaguing Volkswagen products lately. Things get worse the more you spend time in the vehicle. The ID.4’s interior materials leave much to be desired, and for an EV, it doesn’t feel all that powerful. A refresh shows some promise to remedy issues.