Many car enthusiasts associate their favorite automobiles to their respective brands, while some even go so far as to incorporate the country of that brand's inception. For example, Italy is a commonplace of interest to car enthusiasts owing to the fact that it is the birthplace of two of the most famous car manufacturers in the world, namely Ferrari and Lamborghini. Similarly, one might cite England as another powerhouse of motor vehicles which boasts giants such as McLaren, Aston Martin, and Bentley, just to name a few.
However, as with all companies, car brands expand their operations worldwide to generate maximum sales of their units. This means that sometimes some models are assembled and manufactured in countries or places not necessarily or even remotely associated with the brand of that company. Often companies prefer to run their operations in countries where the chances of the sale of a particular model are higher or the cost of manufacturing is cheaper. The reasons are limitless. Another major reason is that most car companies are operating under a parent company and in some cases, they may not be of the same nationality. Think of Bugatti for instance. Bugatti is a French car manufacturer which is operating Volkswagen, a German brand.
There are legions of vehicles which are manufactured in weird or unexpected places. In this article, we take a look at 24 cars which were built in really weird places.
24 Ford EcoSport
Powered by a 3-cylinder turbocharged engine delivering up to 123 horsepower, the EcoSport possesses a striking resemblance to an SUV. According to Cars, the EcoSport gives the feeling of a genuine SUV, unlike a few of its rivals.
Available in FWD as well as AWD variants, a major selling point of the EcoSport is its fantastic multimedia system which comes installed straight out of the factory.
However, the appeal of the EcoSport suffers a major downturn when its drivability and utility shortcomings come to the forefront. Assembled and manufactured in India, the EcoSport is the smallest variant of the crossover offered by the Australian housed company, Ford.
23 Vauxhall Insignia
Launched in 2008, the Insignia is a member of the Vauxhall family whose history dates over a century. According to Autocar, the very first Insignia, manufactured in 1903, was a 4-seater and was well known for its sporting capabilities.
Available in two trims- Grand Sport and Sports Tourer body, the Insignia's parent company Vauxhall is housed in the UK, however, the Insignia is assembled in a plant located in Russelsheim, Russia.
The contemporary model of the Insignia was launched in 2008 and received its first makeover in 2013 with the aim for a more comfortable ride by achieving a wider and more planted look.
22 Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is an SUV manufactured by German automotive giants, Porsche. Launched in 2002, the Cayenne is currently in its third generation. According to Car and Driver, the current Porsche Cayenne is the third model to receive a hybrid powertrain. The first generation did not come with a hybrid powertrain while the second generation was available in two-hybrid trims: a standard hybrid and a plugged in one. The first and second generation Cayennes were assembled and manufactured in separate locations. They were partially manufactured in a plant in Bratislava, located in Slovakia, and owned by the Volkswagen group and delivered to Leipzig in Germany to finalize the process. However, the third generation is manufactured exclusively and wholly in Slovakia.
21 Cadillac CT6 Hybrid
The Cadillac CT6 hybrid is, as the name suggests, a hybrid variant of the CT6. According to The Drive, although the CT6 is manufactured in Detroit, its hybrid counterpart, on the other hand, is assembled exclusively in Shanghai, China. The CT6 hybrid is powered by a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine working in tandem with an 18.4kWh battery pack which combined propels the CT6 to 335 horsepower while producing 432 lbs.ft of torque. With such figures, the CT6 is capable of achieving 78 miles per hour exclusively on battery power while the injection of combustion engine takes the CT6 to over 150 miles per hour.
20 Ford Fiesta
With a 1.6-liter engine producing 120 horsepower, the Fiesta is a deceptively small beast. It comes in variants: a 5-speed manual transmission as well as a 6-speed automatic one. According to Car and Driver, the Fiesta provides a smooth and crisp maneuverability. A minor drawback to the Fiesta is that both hatchback and sedan versions suffer from a tight rear seat. However, that is not a major concern.
Although the Ford Fiesta is a popular choice of car in the UK, the Fiesta is actually assembled in Spain.
The Fiesta may become unstable on bumpy and uneven roads but it is a solid choice for the commute around town.
19 Acura NSX
The first NSX, which went on sale in 1990, was a revelation. According to Autocar, the NSX was equipped with an astonishing combination of materials as well as expertise. Not only were the monocoque and engine made of some of the most exotic materials, the paint job of the NSX itself comprised of a 23-step procedure. It has been nearly 30 years since the NSX has had a successor, and although the original NSX was manufactured in Japan, the successor has been developed and produced in conjunction with US-based heavyweight: Acura. The new NSX, costing over $150,000 is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine.
18 Fiat 500L
The Fiat 500L is the big brother to the 500 model. According to Autocar, the 500L comes with 3 variants of powertrain: a 1.4-liter petrol engine producing 94 horsepower, a 1.3-liter diesel engine producing 94 horsepower and 1.6-liter diesel engine powering the 500L to 114 horsepower. One of the primary assets of the 500L is its very generous leg room. The 500L also provides decent storage capacity with up to 400 liters of storage after the rear seats have been pushed forward.
With a starting price of $17,855, there are few cheaper alternatives to the 500L.
The 500L may appear to be Italian aesthetically however it is actually manufactured in Kragujevac, Serbia.
17 Volkswagen Sharan
The Sharan is a seven-seat MPV manufactured in a Volkswagen plant situated in Palmella, Portugal. According to Autocar, Volkswagen offers the Sharan in three different variants of engines: one petrol engine producing 148 horsepower and two 2-liter diesel engines, offering 148 and 181 horsepower respectively. The Sharan is not the vehicle of choice for drivers who are committed at sharp bends as the Sharan suffers from understeer when negotiating turns at high speeds.
16 Mini Countryman
Owing to a lack of production capacity in the UK, the Mini Countryman is assembled and manufactured in the Netherlands. According to Autocar, the Countryman is offered in two variants: Front-Wheel Drive and an All-Wheel Drive while combined with either a petrol or a diesel engine.
The current generation of the Countryman has a hybrid option available as well which the previous models lacked.
Along with this, the Countryman comes equipped with a better material finish and an upgraded kit. Starting at $29,100, the Mini Countryman is a tad more expensive in its range of vehicles.
15 Mitsubishi Mirage
Originally launched in 1978, the Mirage came in two variants: a two-door as well as a four-door hatchback. According to Motor Trend, the first generation of Mirage was imported and sold by Chrysler under the banner of Dodge, however, Mitsubishi sold the second-generation Mirage under its own brand in 1985. The third generation Mirage started its sales in 1989 followed by its fourth generation in 1993 in the US. Currently, in its sixth generation, the Mirage is powered by a 1.2-liter engine capable of producing 78 horsepower while delivering a fuel economy of 37 miles per gallon in the city. The Mirage may be a common sight in the US however it is assembled in Thailand.
14 Toyota Yaris
With a starting price of $16,555, the Yaris is a budget car in every aspect. According to Car and Driver, not only does the Yaris comes up short in the power department, but it is also lacking in fuel economy. The manual transmission is preferred over the automatic one for a more compliant ride experience. The effective braking capability of the Yaris is let down by its lackluster steering capability. Manufactured in France, the Yaris started out in 2007 and is currently in its third iteration. With a measly 106 horsepower and a top speed of 108 miles per hour, the Yaris is not exactly on the upper echelons of Toyota's totem pole.
13 Infinity QX30
The QX30 is a unique blend of global mixtures. It is a product of a Japanese company, has an interior of a German vehicle and is manufactured in Sunderland, England. According to Car and Driver, few Crossovers have as distinctive a styling as the QX30.
Powered by a 2-liter turbocharged engine capable of knocking out 208 horsepower, the QX30 is available in a Front-Wheel and All-Wheel drive configurations.
The QX30 houses an impressive interior featuring a 7-inch infotainment system as well as a sturdy suspension delivering an exhilarating driving experience on twisty roads. The QX30 has a starting price of $30,945.
12 Renault Koleos
The Koleos is a new SUV offering from Renault which is set to compete with other offerings from its class. According to Autocar, the Koleos single unit 2-liter turbo engine capable of producing 175 horsepower and comes equipped with a CVT transmission. The overall fuel consumption of the Koleos is 6.1 liter per 100 kilometers with a Euro 5 standard compliant engine. The Koleos will be manufactured in Busan, South Korea whereas the Chinese variant will be assembled at Renaults plant in Wuhan, China. With a price of $59,990, the Koleos is a less attractive option from a myriad of other options in this class such as the CX-5.
11 Suzuki Swift
The latest model of the Swift deviates from its predecessors in that it is manufactured at Suzuki's manufacturing plant in Hungary as opposed to Japan. According to Autocar, the new Swift was expected to exceed the threshold of the $30,000 price range, however, Suzuki only incremented the price by $1000 over the previous model which equated to a price of $28,500 for the manual version and $29,990 for the automatic variant. The Swift also sports a new engine which although features a power increase of a meager 4 horsepower, enjoys a 44 percent improvement to its torque, achieved through turbocharging.
10 Vauxhall Viva
Boasting a fuel economy of 62.8 miles per gallon, the Viva is an extremely cheap-to-run offering from Vauxhall. According to Carwow, the Viva is offered in a singular model in terms of the engine: a 1.0-liter petrol engine producing 74 horsepower. This propels the Viva from 0 to 60mph in 13 seconds. The basic variant of the Viva comes with the air-conditioner which can be added optionally for 400 pounds. However, the base version still comes equipped with a myriad of features such as central locking and cruise control. Assembled and manufactured in Hungary, the Viva is an enticing option for those who prefer value at a low cost.
9 Kia Venga
The Venga is the first-ever offering of a B-segment MPV from Kia. According to Autocar, the parent company, Hyundai, offers a separate version of the Venga, known as the ix20, which utilizes the exact specifications of chassis and engine found in Kias offering. However, the biggest difference lies in the warranty department.
Where Kia provides seven years and a hundred thousand miles for the Venga, Hyundai, in contrast, provides only five years and a no mileage limit.
Assembled in Kias factory situated in Slovakia, the Venga offers four variants of engines in the UK market. Two diesel engines: a 1.4-liter producing 89 horsepower and 1.6-liter producing 114 horsepower as well as two petrol variants: a 1.4-liter producing 89 horsepower and a 1.6-liter producing 123 horsepower.
8 Audi Q5
An SUV offering from German automobile giants Audi, the Q5 is assembled in a plant that is a long way off its homeland in San Jose Chiapa, Puebla State in Mexico, which produces well over 150,000 units annually. According to Car and Driver, the Q5 is powered by a 4 cylinder 2-liter turbocharged engine capable of producing over 250 horsepower which is transferred to an all-wheel drivetrain through an automatic seven-speed transmission. The interior comprises of a well-finished cabin which sports a 7-inch infotainment system atop it. Currently, in its second iteration, the Q5 has a starting price of $42,475.
7 Hyundai I10
A popular city car offering from the South Korean company Hyundai, the I10 is manufactured in Hyundai's plant in Izmit, Turkey. According to Autocar, the I10 proved to be a stellar upgrade over the much-maligned Atos thanks to its improved aesthetics, value for money, and above all delivering a pleasurable driving experience.
The I10 comes with two variants: a 1.0-liter and a 1.2-liter engine.
The standard transmission with both variants is a 5-speed manual transmission however customers can opt for the 4-speed automatic transmission exclusively for the 1.2 variant. With a starting price of $11,250, the I10 is an excellent example of value for money.
6 Dodge Challenger
The Challenger, one of the brashest offerings from U.S Company, Dodge, is in reality manufactured in Canada. According to Motor Trend, the Challenger graced the world in 1970, providing a greater variety powertrain options than the Camaro and the Mustang. The Challenger then went into obscurity for decades, surfacing again in the late 2000s. The current model of the Challenger offers an extensive selection of powertrains. Customers can opt for a 3.6-liter V6 producing 305 horsepower delivered by an 8-speed automatic transmission, a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 producing 375 horsepower delivered through a 6-speed manual transmission and finally an option for the enthusiasts: a 6.4-liter Hemi V8, capable of delivering an outrageous 485 horsepower channeled through either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission.
5 Buick Envision
The first mass-market vehicle for the U.S market developed exclusively in China, the Envision boasts a stylish and spacious interior. According to Car and Driver, the Envision is powered by a 2.5-liter engine capable of delivering nearly 200 horsepower through a six-speed automatic transmission and a front-wheel-drive system.
Buick also offers a premium trim for the Envision, replacing the standard engine with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing over 250 horsepower.
All variants of the Envision come equipped with active noise cancellation as well as an 8-inch infotainment system. Customers can also opt for extra options such as automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise.