Latest news with #DarkoMarčeta
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
First look at 80s-inspired supermini being brought back to life almost 20 YEARS after long-forgotten carmaker went bust
The vehicle went bust nearly two decades ago CAR BLIMEY First look at 80s-inspired supermini being brought back to life almost 20 YEARS after long-forgotten carmaker went bust A LONG-forgotten car brand has returned after decades away with an 80s-inspired supermini. Zastava Yugo, most commonly marketed as Yugo, was originally designed as a shortened version of the Fiat 128. 2 The Zastava Yugo is making a comeback with an 80s-inspired supermini Credit: Instagram 2 The company hopes to launch the new hatchback in 2027 Credit: Instagram Its production began in the 1980s and ceased in 2008. The fresh vehicle - revealed as a 1:5 scale model at Car Design Event in Munich, has drawn inspiration from the Fiat's model. Dr Aleksandar Bjelić, a Serbian professor, has enlisted compatriot designer Darko Marčeta, who has lifted the lid on what the future Yugo will look like. The latter's eye-catching design will give the Yugo a modern aesthetic - complete with slim LED lights front and rear, bulky alloy wheels and flush-fitting door handles. As more brands announce plans to introduce cheap entry-level EVs to encourage motorists to make the switch away from petrol and diesel cars, the revival of Yugo couldn't be more timely. For those not ready to make the switch just yet, the upcoming Yugo will be available in either a petrol or electric powertrain. The owner hopes to launch the new hatchback in 2027, but plans to introduce the car to the UK remain unknown. In the meantime, the company plans to raise publicity for the model by using a fleet of classic Yugos to drive from Kragujevac, Serbia to Mount Kilimanjaro. The trip is a recreation of one originally made by the company in 1975. ENGINE RESTART It comes after a huge car brand looks set to be brought back after 14 years with an "entirely new vehicle" that will rival one major off-roader. Flying car wows Clarkson, Hammond and May on Grand Tour episode The sparkling set of wheels is catching the attention of off-roaders now the Chinese-funded motor is back on the scene. Spanish 4x4 manufacturer Santana has been given a new lease of life thanks to backing from Chinese firm Zhengzhou Nissan. Together they have produced a brand spanking new model which offers a choice of diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The motor is "designed for -if-road enthusiasts" and is said to contend with the iconic Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster - a rugged, trusty pick-up truck. Information about Santana's new vehicle has been kept very hush-hush with images simply showing a cloaked car. The sultry silhouette of the motor teases its chunky shape, but that's about it. Santana promised fans it would reveal the entire model range at the end of 2-25. The motors are being produced in the former Santana plant in Linares, Spain. Santana was originally founded in 1956 as Metalúrgica de Santa Ana S.A and began manufacturing Land Rovers under licence in Spain a couple of years later.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
First look at 80s-inspired supermini being brought back to life almost 20 YEARS after long-forgotten carmaker went bust
A LONG-forgotten car brand has returned after decades away with an 80s-inspired supermini. Zastava Yugo, most commonly marketed as Yugo, was originally designed as a shortened version of the Fiat 128. 2 2 Its production began in the 1980s and ceased in 2008. The fresh vehicle - revealed as a 1:5 scale model at Car Design Event in Munich, has drawn inspiration from the Fiat's model. Dr Aleksandar Bjelić, a Serbian professor, has enlisted compatriot designer Darko Marčeta, who has lifted the lid on what the future Yugo will look like. The latter's eye-catching design will give the Yugo a modern aesthetic - complete with slim LED lights front and rear, bulky alloy wheels and flush-fitting door handles. As more brands announce plans to introduce cheap entry-level EVs to encourage motorists to make the switch away from petrol and diesel cars, the revival of Yugo couldn't be more timely. For those not ready to make the switch just yet, the upcoming Yugo will be available in either a petrol or electric powertrain. The owner hopes to launch the new hatchback in 2027, but plans to introduce the car to the UK remain unknown. Serbia to Mount Kilimanjaro. The trip is a recreation of one originally made by the company in 1975. ENGINE RESTART It comes after a huge car brand looks set to be brought back after 14 years with an "entirely new vehicle" that will rival one major off-roader. Flying car wows Clarkson, Hammond and May on Grand Tour episode The sparkling set of wheels is catching the attention of off-roaders now the Chinese-funded motor is back on the scene. Spanish 4x4 manufacturer Santana has been given a new lease of life thanks to backing from Chinese firm Zhengzhou Nissan. Together they have produced a brand spanking new model which offers a choice of diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The motor is "designed for -if-road enthusiasts" and is said to contend with the iconic Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster - a rugged, trusty pick-up truck. Information about Santana's new vehicle has been kept very hush-hush with images simply showing a cloaked car. The sultry silhouette of the motor teases its chunky shape, but that's about it. Santana promised fans it would reveal the entire model range at the end of 2-25. The motors are being produced in the former Santana plant in Linares, Spain. Spain a couple of years later.
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
First look at 80s-inspired supermini being brought back to life almost 20 YEARS after long-forgotten carmaker went bust
A LONG-forgotten car brand has returned after decades away with an 80s-inspired supermini. Zastava Yugo, most commonly marketed as Yugo, was originally designed as a shortened version of the Fiat 128. 2 The Zastava Yugo is making a comeback with an 80s-inspired supermini Credit: Instagram 2 The company hopes to launch the new hatchback in 2027 Credit: Instagram Its production began in the 1980s and ceased in 2008. The fresh vehicle - revealed as a 1:5 scale model at Car Design Event in Munich, has drawn inspiration from the Fiat's model. Dr Aleksandar Bjelić, a Serbian professor, has enlisted compatriot designer Darko Marčeta, who has lifted the lid on what the future Yugo will look like. The latter's eye-catching design will give the Yugo a modern aesthetic - complete with slim LED lights front and rear, bulky alloy wheels and flush-fitting door handles . read more in motors As more brands announce plans to introduce cheap entry-level EVs to encourage motorists to make the switch away from petrol and diesel cars, the revival of Yugo couldn't be more timely. For those not ready to make the switch just yet, the upcoming Yugo will be available in either a petrol or The owner hopes to launch the new hatchback in 2027, but plans to introduce the car to the UK remain unknown. In the meantime, the company plans to raise publicity for the model by using a fleet of classic Yugos to drive from Kragujevac, Most read in Motors The trip is a recreation of one originally made by the company in 1975. ENGINE RESTART It comes after a huge car brand looks Flying car wows Clarkson, Hammond and May on Grand Tour episode The sparkling set of wheels is catching the attention of off-roaders now the Chinese-funded motor is back on the scene. Spanish 4x4 manufacturer Santana has been given a new lease of life thanks to backing from Chinese firm Zhengzhou Nissan. Together they have produced a brand spanking new model which offers a choice of diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The motor is "designed for -if-road enthusiasts" and is said to contend with the iconic Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster - a rugged, trusty pick-up truck. Information about Santana's new vehicle has been kept very hush-hush with images simply showing a cloaked car. The sultry silhouette of the motor teases its chunky shape, but that's about it. Santana promised fans it would reveal the entire model range at the end of 2-25. The motors are being produced in the former Santana plant in Linares, Spain. Santana was originally founded in 1956 as Metalúrgica de Santa Ana S.A and began manufacturing Land Rovers under licence in Spain a couple of years later.
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
An unlikely star of Die Hard is making an automotive comeback
A return for former Eastern European budget brand Yugo is on the cards with the reveal of a new design study at the annual Car Design Event (CDE) in Munich. The Yugo brand died in 2008 and is now owned by entrepreneur Aleksandar Bjelić, who presented a 1:5 scale model of a new Yugo Siaj at CDE. Work is said to be underway on a full-size, fully-functioning prototype due to be presented in 2027. The design, created by Serbian designer Darko Marčeta, shows a Ford Fiesta -sized car with hints of classic Yugo models. It's only a three-door car – a bold move as three-door superminis are few and far between these days – and was presented in a shade of blue that also references Yugos of old. Speaking at the CDE event, Bjelić said 'the mission for the Siaj designer Darko Marčeta was very clear: preserve the heritage of the old Yugo and create a design to bring the next Yugo into the future. 'We tried to create something where people who know the old Yugo immediately recognise the new Yugo. Nevertheless, for younger people who don't know the old version, we wanted to have an attractive model. We also tried to keep [familiar] details on the car. For example, the air inlet on the hood is now used to display the model name.' Bjelić also says he has no plans to engineer or manufacture the car himself, but is looking for an automotive partner to take the concept to reality. That also means using somebody else's technology under the skin, with electric power a possibility as well as internal combustion engines. Yugo produced a range of cars starting in its home market of Yugoslavia 45 years ago and exporting to other markets including the UK and USA. The Yugo also appeared in a few Hollywood movies, notably Dragnet and Die Hard With a Vengeance. Bjelić hopes that any future Yugo model will remain true to the original's principles of being simple, affordable transport with a hint of sportiness – or as Samuel L. Jackson's character in Die Hard puts it, 'it's a Yugo. It's built for economy, not speed'.
Auto Express
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Yugo is back! And it's bringing the style of the 80s with it
Despite production of the Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2 recently being axed, small cheap cars have been given a lifeline with retro-inspired electric cars like the Renault 5 and Fiat 500e – and looking to join in on this resurgence is a new car from Yugo. Yes, that's Yugo – the brand named after its home nation of Yugoslavia (now Serbia) and built by the now-defunct Zastava Automobiles company. Opening the door for the new model is Dr Alekasandar Bjelić, a university professor who has secured the naming rights to the brand with a new firm, Yugo Automobile. He has also already recruited Serbian designer Darko Marčeta, who has penned what the future Yugo will look like. Advertisement - Article continues below Shown as a 1:5 scale model at Car Design Event in Munich, the new Yugo is clearly inspired by the boxy proportions of the original, which itself was based on the Fiat 127 and 128. But Marčeta's design brings the Yugo into the 21st century with slim LED lights front and rear, big alloy wheels and flush-fitting door handles. Retro touches come in the form of a blocky front grille and an angular rear hatch not dissimilar to that of the Hyundai Ioniq 5; the classic 'Y' badge features as well. Unlike the Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris, Renault 5 and Honda Jazz, all of which are five-door-only models, the Yugo will 'initially only be available as a two-door model' with 'different body versions' possible. Positioned as a B-segment, 'affordable small car' (a supermini, in other words), the Yugo will come with an internal-combustion engine with a choice of automatic and manual transmissions. This should help keep costs down in the same way as the original, which was one of the cheapest cars on sale in the UK in the eighties. Yugo Automobile also says 'electrified versions are possible', although no technical details have been revealed about an EV variant. While the original Yugo was a rather dull, rust-prone creation that made it to the Auto Express list of 'worst communist cars', the new model will 'meet all relevant safety standards, and it will be a fun-to-drive car', according to Yugo Automobile. There is no information just yet on what architecture will underpin the new car, but the firm behind the project says it will sit on 'an established platform from a cooperation partner'. Our first official look at the production-ready Yugo will take place on 15 September this year, with a finished prototype to be shown at the Belgrade Expo in 2027. Are you excited to see Yugo return? Let us know in the comments below...
