Name a car that generated a lot of hype, but ended up being a sales dud

fhdowntheline · 28th November 2020, 21:24

Will add a few more to this:
1) Honda Mobilio
2) Honda Brio
3) Honda BRV
4) Honda Jazz

Each of them has a great pedigree and most have been well hyped, (Mobilio especially with its cringe-worthy Kapil Sharma comercials.)

TrackDay · 28th November 2020, 22:00

Two cars come to mind. The Toyota Yaris and Etios. Yes both from the same company too confident on their brand name and didn't do the proper homework.

I know the Etios did well in the Taxi segment, But before that it was expected to set fire to the private car owner market. Sadly those interiors and exteriors were a huge let down.

The Yaris was priced too high despite not having that good a design. For folks like me based in the middle east the Yaris represents a segment used by cabs at the bottom end of the taxi market. (I know even mercs run as taxi in Europe, but the yaris is a plain NO for the me as a private owner)

The 2011 fiesta and Kizashi are also a worthy mention.

Latheesh · 28th November 2020, 22:31

Fiat Uno, Tata Nano
Toyota Etios

Other cars did not generate much hype except amongst auto enthusiasts.

King_pin09 · 30th November 2020, 20:47

Here goes my list

Fiat 500
VW Beetle
Tata Nano
VW ameo
S Cross
Renault Lodgy
Hyundai Santro
Mahindra E2O
Toyota Yaris
Maruti XL6

suhas_raj · 30th November 2020, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by adv.yzr

Greetings,

According to me it is the Maruti Suzuki Zen Classic.

Thanks.

Image Source: Google/Facebook

This was just a hideous facelift if you can call it that. Fastest way to kill the beautiful zen that used to sell well back in its day!

DicKy · 30th November 2020, 21:43

Has to be the only one.

Tata Nano.
Can't remember any other car launch that ended up as the headlines on the first page of newspapers.
Also opened my eyes to the dirty play of politics and closet classists.

Another one was the Tata Aria.
It was like the dream family car made to my spec. And then they botched up the pricing.
Though personally, guess I was hyped for almost all TML launches. When I stopped looking forward to TML launches (post- Tiago), they started doing well.

Also I believe another jinx is the Innova killer tag.
Except for Ertiga, by virtue of its price, FE and Maruti tag, almost all other MPVs marketed as VFM rival for Innova has ended up doing pretty bad.

Another biggie would be the Etios.
Atlast, Toyota was going to rule the Indian market I thought.
One look at that beige/red interiors in the unflattering Auto expo lights, knew it was going bad.

In the luxury end, another player that was being hyped and rumoured for years, but ended up being just an official importer was Lexus
Knew they were handicapped by the diesels and CBU taxes, but still.

28th November 2020, 21:24	#91
fhdowntheline Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: —- Posts: 2,765 Thanked: 8,651 Times	Re: Name a car that generated a lot of hype, but ended up being a sales dud Will add a few more to this: 1) Honda Mobilio 2) Honda Brio 3) Honda BRV 4) Honda Jazz Each of them has a great pedigree and most have been well hyped, (Mobilio especially with its cringe-worthy Kapil Sharma comercials.) Last edited by fhdowntheline : 28th November 2020 at 21:25.
	() Thanks

28th November 2020, 22:00	#92
TrackDay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Magic land Posts: 1,057 Thanked: 4,433 Times	Re: Name a car that generated a lot of hype, but ended up being a sales dud Two cars come to mind. The Toyota Yaris and Etios. Yes both from the same company too confident on their brand name and didn't do the proper homework. I know the Etios did well in the Taxi segment, But before that it was expected to set fire to the private car owner market. Sadly those interiors and exteriors were a huge let down. The Yaris was priced too high despite not having that good a design. For folks like me based in the middle east the Yaris represents a segment used by cabs at the bottom end of the taxi market. (I know even mercs run as taxi in Europe, but the yaris is a plain NO for the me as a private owner) The 2011 fiesta and Kizashi are also a worthy mention.
	() Thanks

28th November 2020, 22:31	#93
Latheesh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CNN/BLR Posts: 4,341 Thanked: 10,641 Times	Re: Name a car that generated a lot of hype, but ended up being a sales dud Fiat Uno, Tata Nano Toyota Etios Other cars did not generate much hype except amongst auto enthusiasts.
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30th November 2020, 20:47	#94
King_pin09 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Mumbai Posts: 458 Thanked: 651 Times	Re: Name a car that generated a lot of hype, but ended up being a sales dud Here goes my list Fiat 500 VW Beetle Tata Nano VW ameo S Cross Renault Lodgy Hyundai Santro Mahindra E2O Toyota Yaris Maruti XL6
	() Thanks

30th November 2020, 21:43	#96
DicKy Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TVPM Posts: 4,446 Thanked: 15,672 Times	Re: Name a car that generated a lot of hype, but ended up being a sales dud Has to be the only one. Tata Nano. Can't remember any other car launch that ended up as the headlines on the first page of newspapers. Also opened my eyes to the dirty play of politics and closet classists. Another one was the Tata Aria. It was like the dream family car made to my spec. And then they botched up the pricing. Though personally, guess I was hyped for almost all TML launches. When I stopped looking forward to TML launches (post- Tiago), they started doing well. Also I believe another jinx is the Innova killer tag. Except for Ertiga, by virtue of its price, FE and Maruti tag, almost all other MPVs marketed as VFM rival for Innova has ended up doing pretty bad. Another biggie would be the Etios. Atlast, Toyota was going to rule the Indian market I thought. One look at that beige/red interiors in the unflattering Auto expo lights, knew it was going bad. In the luxury end, another player that was being hyped and rumoured for years, but ended up being just an official importer was Lexus Knew they were handicapped by the diesels and CBU taxes, but still.
	() Thanks