We’ve all heard the phrase “so bad it’s good”—whether about movies, fashion choices, or even fast food.
But what about a car?
Believe it or not, one of the UK’s most notorious budget vehicles from the 1980s is gearing up for a dramatic return.
Yes, the Yugo—often joked about as Britain’s worst car—is planning a bold comeback in 2027.
Let’s rewind and unpack the wild journey of this quirky little car that once cost less than a holiday abroad.
The Budget Car Britain Tried to Love
Back in the early ’80s, when Britain was knee-deep in a recession, a boxy little car rolled onto the scene with a price tag that made it hard to ignore—just under £3,000.
That car was the Zastava Yugo 45, imported from Yugoslavia (now Serbia), and it was marketed as the ultimate bargain alternative to the Austin Metro or Ford Fiesta.
Cheap?
Absolutely.
But that’s where the compliments mostly ended.
The Yugo was known for its outdated design, questionable reliability, and build quality that could make even the most forgiving mechanic wince.
Yet despite all that, thousands of Brits gave it a go—at least at first.
A Legacy of Laughs and Leftovers
Between 1981 and 1991, Yugo managed to move about 3,000 units a year in the UK.
And while it was a hit in some circles due to its unbeatable price, it quickly became a bit of a running joke.
Fast forward to today, and only seven of these cars are still registered on UK roads. That’s right—seven.
There’s even a book titled The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History, which tells you just how memorable this little machine became, though not quite for the reasons its creators hoped.
The Catapult Incident That Became Legendary
If you thought the Yugo’s reputation couldn’t get any more absurd, wait for this.
In 1997, two history-loving friends in Shropshire decided to use a full-sized medieval trebuchet (yes, a legit catapult) to launch a red Yugo across a field.
It was an expensive science experiment-slash-prank meant to settle an argument about siege weapons. Spoiler alert: the Yugo did not survive the flight.
Revival on the Horizon with a Modern Twist
Now here comes the twist in the tale.
This month, at the 2025 Car Design Event in Munich, Yugo Automobile unveiled a scale model of what the new Yugo could look like.
The rebirth of the Yugo is being led by Dr. Aleksandar Bjelić, a Serbian university professor with ties to the German auto industry.
With the help of Serbian designer Darko Marčeta, the modern Yugo design features a retro-inspired hatchback with sleek LED lights, bold haunches, and large alloy wheels—definitely a far cry from the clunky original.
Aiming for Affordability Without the Embarrassment
Unlike the Yugo of old, the reboot promises to focus on both affordability and quality.
The plan is to launch it as a two-door petrol car, with manual and automatic transmission options to start.
But they’re keeping the future flexible, teasing that electric and hybrid versions might follow.
Yugo Automobile also hints it will use a shared platform with another automaker, helping to keep production costs reasonable while meeting all modern safety standards.
Mark Your Calendar for 2027
The team plans to debut a fully functioning prototype at the Belgrade Expo in 2027, and from there, it could roll out into European markets—including, possibly, the UK once again.
With its history of being called the worst car ever sold in Britain, this modern revival has nowhere to go but up.
If Dr. Bjelić and his team can pair nostalgia with quality, the new Yugo might actually surprise us all.