QOTD: Wondering What They Were Thinking?

Bad product decisions cost auto manufacturers money, yet history provides us with many such examples. In today’s QOTD, we’re going to consider the best of the worst in poor automotive decision making. Present or past, anything goes in today’s inquiry. What vehicle makes you really wonder “what were they thinking?”

My example today is a questionable special edition, a topic which received its own QOTD a couple of years ago. Though TTAC reported it on it last year, yours truly was totally unaware of its existence until one appeared in afternoon commute traffic recently. Have a look:

You may recognize it as the Hyundai Kona, a subcompact CUV currently experiencing sales success. But it’s no ordinary Kona — it’s an Iron Man Edition. In traffic, the “IRONMAN” on the tailgate made me think it was a special edition similar to the old Ford Explorer, which represented the Ironman triathlon.

A Google search later that evening proved me quite wrong.

The text on the back is in fact Iron Man, as in the Marvel superhero. Hyundai debuted its special Kona last year at Comic-Con in San Diego. Iron Man is featured on the wheel caps, on the D-pillar, and in the headlamps. The hood says “MARVEL” on it, and the roof bears an Iron Man matte logo. There are also fender logos, side door decals, and embroidery on the seats to match. The package is finished in a gunmetal grey with ketchup-colored accents and roof. It’s garish, ridiculous, and in very questionable taste. Of course Hyundai has experience in this area, as they released the Walking Dead Edition Tucson a few years ago. And that Rare Ride came complete with bloody hand print decals. Yeesh.

What stands out to you as questionable automotive taste?

[Images: seller, Hyundai]