Ten Cars That Totally Subvert Their National Heritage

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Sometimes, it can be surprisingly hard to guess a car’s origin without looking at its badge. Especially if it defies its national heritage like these ten.


USA: Tesla Model S

This car should be Norwegian. Americans still buy way more pickup trucks and SUVs for this truly wonderful luxury sedan to feel at home anywhere outside Silicon Valley. It’s also way too fast for Virginians.

Suggested By: Duck, Photo Credit: Tesla


Sweden: Koenigsegg Agera RS

Sure, the Swedes have always been crazy about turbo power, but not this crazy. Park an Agera next to a Volvo, and try to guess which is faster on snow.

Advertisement

Suggested By: For Sweden, Photo Credit: Koenigsegg


Canada: Conquest Knight XV

Canadians are the friendly cousins of Americans who love everybody and are loved by all in the world, right?

Advertisement

Maybe not.

Conditions are harsh up north.

Suggested By: CrowdSceneExtra, Photo Credit: Conquest Vehicles


Denmark: Zenvo ST1

The Danish used to be known for their delicious pastries. Then came this. With 1,100 horsepower on pump gas. Yep.

Advertisement

Suggested By: Sir HoonsAlot, Photo Credit: Zenvo


Japan: Toyota Mega Cruiser

The Japanese knew the Hummer was a piece of crap, so they made a better one with four-wheel steering, portal axles and three locking diffs, powered by a 4.1 liter four-cylinder turbodiesel.

Advertisement

Suggested By: HammerheadFistpunch, Photo Credit: Toyota


South Korea: Hyundai Equus

The Equus is to Japanese luxury sedans what Japanese luxury sedans were to German luxury sedans twenty years ago, but the world just wasn’t ready yet.

Advertisement

Suggested By: MAKE2 Mifune, Photo Credit: Hyundai


Italy: Lamborghini LM002

It was a terrible idea fueled by Middle-Eastern cash, but Lamborghini was right about one thing: Ferrari had nothing like this.

Advertisement

Suggested By: As Du Volant, Photo Credit: Lamborghini


Russia: Marussia B2

The last time we checked, the Russians were still unable to produce a decent compact without getting French, Japanese or American help.

Advertisement

Luckily, making supercars is way easier, so I’m sure the B2 is one of the finest automobiles out there....

Suggested By: PatBateman, Photo Credit: Marussia


Switzerland: Monteverdi Safari

For decades, Monteverdi kept building GTs sporting Italian bodies and American powerplants, and that sort of made sense because Switzerland is almost in Italy.

Advertisement

Then came the Safari, a Range Rover competitor based on the International Harvester Scout. I know they have the Alps, but come on!

Suggested By: 2cvhoonage, Photo Credit: Wiki Commons


France: Citroën C-Elysée

A stupid name that’s impossible to spell won’t turn a boring economy Peugeot into a querky Citroën.

Advertisement

I know it was made for China, but this French Corolla is hardly worthy of the badge.

Suggested By: soyjuan, Photo Credit: Citroen

Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day’s Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It’s by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy! Photo Credit: Koenigsegg

Advertisement

Contact the author at mate@jalopnik.com.