Biker16 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 https://www.carscoops.com/2025/05/yugo-is-back-and-its-bringing-a-manual-gearbox-along/ Quote It’s official: the Yugo is making a run at a comeback. Yes, the same Yugo that’s often mocked as one of the worst cars ever made, is trying to rewrite its story. Today, we’re getting some early details and a sneak peek at its design, and if we’re being honest, it looks like the new Yugo might actually be a worthy successor to its infamous predecessor. The real question, though, is whether it can make it to the next milestone: a drivable prototype, slated to debut in two years. The Yugo’s Legacy The original Yugo is a bit of an antihero in the automotive world. It was never built to be the fastest, the prettiest, or the most tech-heavy, but it didn’t need to be. It was functional, it was practical, and most of all, it was cheap. While we still don’t have any idea what pricing will look like for this modern iteration, the details we do have sound pretty good. Designed by Darko Marčeta and led by Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Bjelić from Germany, the new Yugo has a distinctly boxy, classic look. The company unveiled its first scale model prototype today at the Car Design Event (CDE) in Munich. Aimed at the European B-segment (think subcompacts for North American audiences), the car features a two-door layout, a wide, flat profile, and a rear hatch with a subtle slope. It closely resembles the design sketches we saw earlier this year, capturing that retro charm with modern touches. The best part probably goes deeper than the design, though. After all, what’s a pretty face without the right combination of features? To that end, Yugo says the car will “launch with combustion engines and both manual and automatic transmission will be available. Electrified versions are possible, as well as different body versions.” That’s right, it sounds like it’ll be a small practical car with a stick shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Combustion engines?!?! Oh the horror....... Quote The best part probably goes deeper than the design, though. After all, what’s a pretty face without the right combination of features? To that end, Yugo says the car will “launch with combustion engines and both manual and automatic transmission will be available. Electrified versions are possible, as well as different body versions.” That’s right, it sounds like it’ll be a small practical car with a stick shift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 I hope this new version does better in crosswinds than the original one. https://www.tctimes.com/news/remember-the-woman-in-the-yugo/article_5496a820-4159-11e7-b3ad-8391deb9664f.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 12 hours ago, mackinaw said: I hope this new version does better in crosswinds than the original one. https://www.tctimes.com/news/remember-the-woman-in-the-yugo/article_5496a820-4159-11e7-b3ad-8391deb9664f.html I'm afraid of heights, and white-knuckled all the way across that bridge. And I was pulling a 38' fifth wheel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 39 minutes ago, fordmantpw said: I'm afraid of heights, and white-knuckled all the way across that bridge. And I was pulling a 38' fifth wheel! I thought I would hate it but I didn’t have a problem with it at all so long as I stayed out of the middle lanes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 3 hours ago, fuzzymoomoo said: I thought I would hate it but I didn’t have a problem with it at all so long as I stayed out of the middle lanes Yep, stay off the center metal gratings, and you're okay. Living in the U.P. in the 70's and 80's, I've probably traveled over that bridge more than 100 times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 Were the metal gratings only in the middle? I couldn't remember for sure. I've blocked most of that out of my memory. 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 4 minutes ago, fordmantpw said: Were the metal gratings only in the middle? I couldn't remember for sure. I've blocked most of that out of my memory. 😄 Yeah, the right lanes, both way, are paved. What's freaky is to look down while on the gratings. You can clearly see the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 18 minutes ago, mackinaw said: Yeah, the right lanes, both way, are paved. What's freaky is to look down while on the gratings. You can clearly see the water. I'm good, I'll keep my eyes focused straight ahead, thanks. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick73 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 50 minutes ago, mackinaw said: Yeah, the right lanes, both way, are paved. What's freaky is to look down while on the gratings. You can clearly see the water. I’m not affected by heights much at all, but there is something about being able to see straight down below one’s feet that gets my attention. Walking across the Royal Gorge Bridge which has wooden plank deck and seeing 1,000 feet down through the cracks is something else. Also walking onto a glass floor over 500 feet in the air. It’s just so unnatural even if the analytical rational mind says it’s plenty strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick73 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 18 hours ago, mackinaw said: I hope this new version does better in crosswinds than the original one. https://www.tctimes.com/news/remember-the-woman-in-the-yugo/article_5496a820-4159-11e7-b3ad-8391deb9664f.html Did wind cause the accident? Wasn’t aware Yugo were especially vulnerable, at least more so than most light cars. For what it’s worth, I’m not following why they are using Yugo as a brand, other than immediate name recognition; even though it largely carries negative connotation. Since prototype is still 2 years out, not sure this project should be taken seriously yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 1 hour ago, Rick73 said: Did wind cause the accident? Wasn’t aware Yugo were especially vulnerable, at least more so than most light cars...... Most likely. Winds were in the 35 mph range with higher gusts. The Mackinac Bridge Authority is adamant that winds did not cause the accident, but an eye-witness said the wind blew her Yugo off the bridge like it was a piece of paper. This accident was a real big deal in Michigan for several years. The topic still comes up on occasion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotRunrGuy Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 2 hours ago, Rick73 said: I’m not affected by heights much at all, but there is something about being able to see straight down below one’s feet that gets my attention. Walking across the Royal Gorge Bridge which has wooden plank deck and seeing 1,000 feet down through the cracks is something else. Also walking onto a glass floor over 500 feet in the air. It’s just so unnatural even if the analytical rational mind says it’s plenty strong. My wife & I did the Labor Day walk on the Mac a few years ago, even with a nominal 10-15mph breeze, surprising how much movement we felt. HRG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 17 hours ago, HotRunrGuy said: My wife & I did the Labor Day walk on the Mac a few years ago, even with a nominal 10-15mph breeze, surprising how much movement we felt. HRG You can usually see it while driving. It’s especially noticeable under it from the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick73 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 On 5/9/2025 at 6:57 AM, fordmantpw said: I'm afraid of heights, and white-knuckled all the way across that bridge. And I was pulling a 38' fifth wheel! My dad was also afraid of heights due to a horrible incident in his youth. Decades later while on a family trip traveling north along east coast, we suddenly came up on a bridge in Savannah that made him panic almost to point of not being able to drive at all. Turned white as a ghost. By the time we realized all traffic was headed up the bridge, there was no way to abort. I felt horrible for him because it looked scarier than it was due to the way the road turned up high, making it seem like you could easily drive off the edge. Anyway, your comment motivated me to find a picture of bridge which I never forgot, and it was harder than I expected because apparently the bridge was replaced. On the bright side, towards end of his life my dad lost fear of heights; as example would walk close to edge of Grand Canyon without hesitation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick73 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 On 5/9/2025 at 2:51 PM, HotRunrGuy said: My wife & I did the Labor Day walk on the Mac a few years ago, even with a nominal 10-15mph breeze, surprising how much movement we felt. HRG Talking about feeling movement, back when we crossed the Royal Gorge Bridge they allowed car traffic, so we drove across, parked, and then walked it. The bridge is very narrow, and while cars went by slowly, movement in bridge structure was easy to detect. And a little scary at first. I also recall that at the mid point there was a sign about bungee jumping from 1,000 feet above the river. I believe the park stopped doing bungee jumps on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 The Royal Gorge bridge is awesome. There were UTVs going across it when we were there, and you could definitely feel the movement just from them, so I can imagine what a car was like. I was able to handle it as I felt my feet were on something solid. My two oldest kids stuck to the middle of the bridge, petrified, but my youngest would've run along the railing if we would have let her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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