Paying homage to the classic Zastava Yugo, Marko Petrovic has released his Yugo Ampera concept…
European car brands have made big inroads in the automotive scene, but not so much Serbian car maker Zastava Automobiles. The company ceased production in 2008 due to bad management – but in the following decades has developed a cult following amongst the tuning crowd. Now, a Serbian-based designer envisions what could have happened if the brand continued on.
Submitted by Marko Petrovic, the Yugo Ampera is a concept supercar that pays homage to the classic Zastava Yugo launched in 1977. Marko wanted his supercar to look like a Lotus and adopt the Croatian technology of a Rimac Automobili. The result is a sexy looking beast with four engine motors, an independent suspension system, and an advanced charging setup.
For city driving the car employs battery power, while for the foot-down freeways, the AEC (Accumulated Energy Storage) system integrates energy together with the tunnel system underneath the car. Here the propeller generates power and the AEC delivers power directly to the wheels. Thankfully, the vehicle gains energy through fast regenerative movement – as there are few charging stations and limited range.
The hood, grille and headlights have an aggressive stance, and the same design passes down to the side wings. The opulent gold yellow exterior aesthetic only complements the brown/khaki of the interior. The interior has been gifted with impressive ergonomics including the molded Recaro cage seat, the multiple screen setup, and the gear shifter that doubles as a multi tool.
The Ampera has been designed as a modernised take on the retro Yugo. This might be the idea that breathes life into the forgotten company – and we never thought a reboot would look this good.
By Bill Varetimidis
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