With the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show now written into the history books, we have a nice list of superb automotive debuts to look at and feel good about. But unfortunately, as is often the case, you gotta take the good with the bad, and there were a few reveals in Germany this year that didn’t quite cut the mustard. Between less-than-special special editions, lackluster SUVs, and uninspiring concepts, there was actually a good deal to pick from when putting together this list of Worst In Show.

Funny enough, we decided to toss in some controversial picks for good measure as well. That’s right – you may find one entry that managed to appear on both the Best In Show and Worst In Show lists! We here at TopSpeed are still arguing about it, so we want you, dear readers, to get in on the conversation. That means posting in the comments to let us know which cars did it for you and which ones fell flat. Are our opinions correct? Keep us honest! So without further ado…

Continue reading to learn more about the Worst In Show debuts from the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Thunder Power Sedan

This pick comes from Kirby Garlitos, who’s happy to explain why it’s one of the worst:

“Has to be the Thunder Power Sedan. Nothing came close, really. Say what you will about the Tesla X-looking knock-off that is the Wey XEV Concept, but give credit where credit’s due. Great Wall Motors actually brought the actual concept SUV in full bloom with it to Frankfurt. Thunder Power, on the other hand, decided to present the Thunder Power Sedan covered in camouflage with mock-up headlights. Talk about being unprepared for a show like Frankfurt. At best, I suppose the Taiwan-based company decided to keep the car’s details under wraps. At worst, they half-baked the whole process and wasted their money going to the show. Either way, I learned nothing new about the sedan other than the fact that it has a grille that looks like a mosquito coil.”

Ouch.

Volkswagen Crozz II

If this looks an awful lot like the I.D. Crozz concept that Volkswagen brought to the Shanghai Auto Show in April, that’s because it’s pretty much exactly the same. Sure, the Crozz II is a little longer and the lights are a little bigger, but beyond minor details like those, this is pretty much the same VW we saw before. The Germans even went so far as to call it closer to production status ready, but really, all that we can see is different upholstery in the interior. Talk about a waste of show space.

Read more about the Volkswagen Crozz II.

Jaguar Future-Type Concept

Frankfurt certainly had more than its fair share of autonomous all-electric concepts this year, and Jaguar was in the mix with this weird-looking addition to the heap. Dubbed the Future-Type, this Jag supposedly envisions what can be done to keep brands like the Cat badge desirable when the sharing economy and self-driving tech really take hold. The result is a lot of the traditional themes you’d expect from a car like this (it drives itself! It integrates with your social life! It’s efficient but still fun!), but nothing really new or interesting. Rather, it just looks like all the other autonomous EV concepts we’ve seen churned out over the last 10 years, even down to the styling. And honestly, if this is what a Jag is gonna look like in the future, you can keep it. I’d prefer an old E-Type, thanks.

Read our full review on the Jaguar Future-Type Concept.

Honda Urban EV

This one will likely be a bit controversial, but that’s okay, we’ve never shied away from ruffling a few feathers. While some may like the Urban EV as a reimagining of the first-gen Honda Civic, others will deride the old boxy styling as out of touch with modern aesthetics. Editor-in-chief Robert Moore even went so far as to call it “the ugliest thing to ever grace Frankfurt.” What do you think?

Read our full review on the Honda Urban EV.

Mercedes-AMG Project One

What’s that? More controversy? No problem. While some readers out there might be a bit confused, given we put the Project One in our list of Best In Show from Frankfurt as well, others will undoubtedly be nodding their heads. Here’s what it comes down to – styling and top speed.

Styling first. Just look at that front end. Personally, I’d call it functional beauty. This car isn’t supposed to be some incredible piece of art, it’s about performance, and the front end reflects that in its myriad of vents, intakes, and lines. I’ll admit though, the end result is a bit harsh on the eyes, and I can see how some might see it is a let down after all the hype Merc drummed up over its reveal.

Secondly, the speed. Put your foot down, and this thing will go 217 mph, which isn’t slow, but in a world where the Bugatti Chiron is indeed a thing, it doesn’t quite keep pace. Of course, the Project One isn’t about top speed per se, but rather, the focus is on bringing Formula 1-style performance to the street. And F1 cars were never about top speed. Acceleration? Grip? Aero? Yes, yes, and yes. But never top speed. If Merc wanted to beat the Chiron at its own game, maybe it could have, but that’s not what this thing is about. Regardless, we live in an age where the big number tends to win, and in this case, the Project One falls a bit short.

Read our full review on the Mercedes-AMG Project One.

References

Mercedes-AMG Project One

Read our full review on the Mercedes-AMG Project One.

Honda Urban EV

Read our full review on the Honda Urban EV

Jaguar Future-Type Concept

Read our full review on the Jaguar Future-Type Concept.