Photo by Artiom Vallat on Unsplash
BMW is known for making some of the best luxury cars in the world. The brand has been around since 1916 and has been producing high-quality vehicles. But even with a long history, BMW has had its share of blunders. From strange concepts that never made it past the drawing board to concept cars that were too far ahead of their time, here are five of my favorite ugly BMW's.
BMW i3.
The BMW i3 is a city car, meaning it's designed to be used in urban areas and around town. The car has a range of about 100 miles, so you'll have to charge it more often than not if you drive long distances.
BMW Z18.
The Z18 is a concept car built for the 50th anniversary of BMW's M1, and it's not just ugly; it's downright bizarre. The two-seater has a mid-mounted engine and carbon fiber body. It looks like the lovechild of a DeLorean and an F1 car crossed with something from an early 80s sci-fi movie.
Even worse than its looks was its performance: 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds on its way to 205 mph. Why this car was even built will forever remain one of life's great mysteries (with money being another).
BMW H2R.
Although BMW's first supercar inspired much of the company's future success, it wasn't all that pretty. The H2R model is even less attractive.
The hydrogen-powered H2R is a track-only model with a top speed of over 200 mph and an acceleration time of under 10 seconds. It can only be used on racetracks because its lightweight carbon fiber body makes it too fragile for normal roads (its door handles are about as durable as your average piece of tissue paper).
Despite being limited to track use only, there are currently no plans to sell any more than 100 units at $1 million each—but if you're willing to drop that kind of cash on a car that looks like an angry catfish from above and below, then, by all means, go nuts!
BMW Isetta 600.
You were probably a child of the 1960s when the Isetta 600 hit its only peak of popularity. It was an ugly little car that looked like a cross between a Citroen 2CV and an ice cream truck. The Isetta 600 was only built for about five years, but it made its mark on BMW's history.
The car had two doors and could fit one person comfortably in the front seat—but most people would have to crawl into it because there wasn't much room inside! It may have been small, but it also had some big problems with its engine: it could not produce enough power to move at highway speeds or even climb steep hills without struggling mightily.
BMW’s: Even When Ugly, They’re Expertly Made! Get Yours Expertly Repaired.
Even the ugly BMW’s run better than most luxury cars. We respect the design here at Brown Motor Works, even if sometimes they’re hard to look at. Come see us at Brown Motor Works Northeast in Columbia for your BMW or other vehicles. Brown Motor Works Northeast is located at 520 Clemson Rd., Columbia, SC 29229, but you can also schedule an appointment online. And don't forget to Like us on Facebook for news and updates. We specialize in BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Mini Coopers, so you can feel confident your vehicle is in good hands with our highly skilled technicians.