Money Can't Buy Taste
Some sports cars turn heads for all the right reasons—sleek lines, engineering prowess, and just pure automotive beauty. But then there are the ones on this list. The kind that makes you do a double take, not out of admiration, but out of sheer disbelief. So, let’s take a ride through 20 sports cars that are so visually offensive that even top-notch performance can't save them from being a laughing stock. But at the end of the day, beauty is in the eye of the beholder—who knows, you might actually like some of these!
Alexandre Prévot from Nancy, France on Wikimedia
1. Mitsuoka Orochi
Marketed as a "fashion supercar," the Mitsuoka Orochi’s overly sculpted body, fish-like grille, and strangely positioned headlights make it resemble something from a horror film rather than a sports car. While it packs a Toyota-sourced 3.3L V6, its performance is nowhere near as aggressive as its over-the-top styling suggests.
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima on Wikimedia
2. Covini C6W
A six-wheeled sports car might sound revolutionary, but the Covini C6W proved that more isn’t always better. Its extra front wheels gave it an insect-like appearance, while its bulky, cluttered bodywork distracted from its otherwise impressive engineering, which left many questioning its necessity.
Norbert Schnitzler from Aachen, Deutschland, NRW on Wikimedia
3. Chrysler Crossfire
Awkward proportions ruined this Daimler-Chrysler collaboration. Produced from 2004 to 2008, the Crossfire tried to blend German engineering with American muscle but ended up with an awkward, hunched stance. That rear end? It looked unfinished, as if Chrysler had simply given up midway.
4. Plymouth Prowler
Designed as a modern take on a hot rod, the Prowler instead came off as a cartoonish nod to nostalgia. Its exaggerated fenders and exposed front wheels made it look more like a toy than a serious performance car. Plus, its V6 engine further failed to justify the aesthetics.
5. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Ferrari’s effort to blend practicality with elegance didn’t go as planned. Produced from 2004 to 2010, the 612 Scaglietti’s elongated shape and unremarkable headlights gave it a lackluster presence. It lacked the excitement expected from a Ferrari, which makes it one of the brand’s biggest design missteps.
6. Toyota MR2
The third-generation Toyota MR2 took a drastic design shift, ditching sharp lines for a rounded appearance. It was compared to a shrunken Porsche Boxster, with an awkwardly short wheelbase and a front end lacking aggression. While lightweight and fun to drive, its styling felt too soft for a mid-engine sports car.
Daniel J. Leivick on Wikimedia
7. Vector M12
Combining a Lamborghini V12 with a body that looked like a rejected concept sketch, the Vector M12 failed to impress. Produced from 1995 to 1999, its awkward angles, excessive scoops, and clunky design made it a forgettable attempt at American supercar dominance.
8. Aston Martin Lagonda
What was once considered futuristic now seems like an exercise in excessive straight lines. The Lagonda’s wedge-shaped silhouette, paired with an unreliable digital dashboard, made it a visual and technological headache. It was imposing, but not in the sleek way Aston Martin intended.
9. DeLorean DMC-12
A cultural icon thanks to “Back to the Future,” but outside of Hollywood, the DeLorean’s stainless steel panels and boxy frame look too outlandish for the road. Despite its futuristic gull-wing doors, its underwhelming performance and lack of styling finesse made it more famous for its quirks than its quality.
10. Pontiac Fiero
The Pontiac Fiero looked like a sports car from a distance—until you got closer. Boxy proportions, tiny wheels, and a stance that seemed too high for a mid-engine car gave it an awkward presence. Often mistaken for a kit car, it lacked the aggressive, refined look expected from a true sports car.
Jonrev at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia
11. Nissan NX2000
The Nissan NX2000 looked like a sports car that couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a coupe or a hatchback. Its bubble-like roofline and oddly shaped headlights gave it a quirky appearance. The wraparound rear glass and detachable T-top roof added to the unusual styling, making it stand out—but not always in a good way.
Teun Lucassen at nl.wikipedia on Wikimedia
12. Lotus Elan
Yes, it’s practical, but at what cost? Unlike the sleek, curvy roadsters Lotus was known for, this version had a wedge-shaped design that looked more like a front-wheel-drive hatchback. Its styling felt uninspired, with people calling it too plain and lacking the exotic flair of its rivals. Lotus built it for performance, but visually, it never quite stood out.
13. Subaru SVX
Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, its most polarizing feature was the odd split-window design, which left drivers peering through a narrow opening. The heavy, bloated body and awkward proportions made it look more like a grand tourer than a sports car. While advanced for its time, with all-wheel drive and a flat-six engine, the SVX’s styling never quite clicked.
14. Dodge Daytona
The older model of this sports coupe, with its boxy proportions and plastic-heavy front end, looked more like a budget sci-fi prop than a performance car. The oversized rear spoiler screamed overcompensation, not aerodynamics. Some loved it, but for many, it was proof that style and speed don’t always go hand in hand.
15. Marcos Mantis
One look and you know something went wrong. The Marcos Mantis was meant to be a performance-driven sports car, but its disjointed, mishmash design suggested otherwise. Strange curves, oversized wheel arches, and a blunt nose made it look like a rejected prototype.
16. TVR Sagaris
A wild assortment of vents, scoops, and asymmetrical details made this car's bodywork look chaotic rather than refined. The exaggerated rear fenders and aggressive stance suggested extreme performance, yet the lack of driver aids made handling unpredictable. Hence, its design remains a love-it-or-hate-it affair.
17. Bugatti EB110
Yes, it’s a Bugatti, but no, it isn’t pretty. Styled by Marcello Gandini and later refined by Giampaolo Benedini, the car’s squared-off headlights gave it a somewhat unrefined look. Moreover, its rear appeared disproportionately boxy, and the small rear window only added to the awkward proportions.
18. Lamborghini Veneno
Too much of a good thing can be bad. The Veneno’s exaggerated fins, vents, and sharp angles made it look weird. Some even compared it to a spaceship or a video game render that became a reality. Performance aside, the Veneno’s styling remains one of the most divisive in Lamborghini’s history.
Clément Bucco-Lechat on Wikimedia
19. Ferrari FF
A Ferrari with a hatchback? That concept alone made the FF a controversial entry in Ferrari’s lineup. The front maintained Ferrari’s signature aggression, but the rounded rear and stretched proportions made it look less like a supercar and more like a grand tourer trying too hard to be practical.
20. Lotus Europa
Compact yet awkward, the Lotus Europa never found visual harmony. Its low-slung body, oddly shaped rear, and bug-eyed headlights made it look unfinished. Though it handled well, its aesthetics kept it from standing alongside Lotus’s more iconic designs.
