In the automotive world, first impressions can be breathtaking – sleek designs that make us stop and stare in admiration. But then disaster strikes when manufacturers decide to “improve” these automotive masterpieces with facelifts that transform beautiful butterflies back into caterpillars.

Even when these updated models pack more punch under the hood, their botched cosmetic surgery leaves enthusiasts wondering who approved such automotive atrocities.

2006-09 Dodge Ram 1500

While pickup trucks aren’t typically beauty pageant contenders, the 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 refresh stands as a masterclass in how to ruin a good thing. The previous 2002-2005 generation had managed to strike that perfect balance of rugged attractiveness, but its successor arrived looking like it had suffered through some questionable cosmetic decisions.

The designers apparently subscribed to the “bigger is better” philosophy, slapping on a grille that could double as a billboard and headlights that seemed to be reaching for the sky. These oversized peepers crawled their way up the fenders like they were trying to escape the front end altogether. Somewhere in the Chrysler design studios, someone looked at this automotive equivalent of a bad haircut and gave it the green light – proving that sometimes, vision tests should be mandatory in automotive design departments.

Jaguar E-Type Series 3

While the original Jaguar E-Type earned Ferrari’s highest praise as automotive perfection incarnate, the third-generation redesign probably had Il Commendatore spinning in his grave. Jaguar somehow managed to take their masterpiece and transform it into something that looked like it had been stretched in Photoshop by an overeager amateur.

The modifications read like a checklist of design sins: wire wheels that seemed more decorative than purposeful, a hood bulge that suggested excess rather than necessity, and a wheelbase extension that gave it all the grace of a limousine trying to be a sports car. But the real travesty came in the form of its new grille – a chunky, chrome-laden affair that replaced the original’s elegant simplicity with all the subtlety of a baroque picture frame. It was as if Jaguar’s designers had decided that their iconic cat needed braces, proving that even the most beautiful creatures can fall victim to questionable cosmetic decisions.

2002 Honda NSX

The Acura/Honda NSX began life as a ’90s automotive icon that had supercar makers losing sleep. But in 2002, Honda’s designers apparently decided that perfection needed “improvement” – a decision that ranks right up there with New Coke in the halls of unnecessary changes. Their modernization attempt proved that sometimes, progress isn’t actually progress at all.

The most egregious offense came from ditching the sleek pop-up headlights in favor of fixed units that protruded like bug eyes on an otherwise smooth face. Combined with a revised grille that seemed more afterthought than inspiration, the refreshed NSX went from timeless beauty to awkward adolescent. This automotive facelift proved so unsuccessful that the NSX threw in the towel just three years later, showing that even legendary supercars aren’t immune to the curse of poor plastic surgery.

1982 Dodge Challenger

The 1980s witnessed one of automotive history’s most audacious acts of badge engineering when Dodge decided to resurrect the hallowed Challenger nameplate – by slapping it on a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant. While their partnership with Mitsubishi might have looked good on paper, the execution was about as authentic as a designer handbag from a street vendor.

What really turned this marketing sleight-of-hand into a full-blown farce were the powerplants – if you could even call them that. Buyers could choose between two four-cylinder engines that packed all the punch of a tired hamster, with the “mighty” 2.6-liter version struggling to muster 100 horses. This impostor wore the Challenger badge with all the credibility of a plastic crown, and the market saw right through it. The fact that this pretender lasted barely a year before vanishing into automotive obscurity proves that you can’t fool all the muscle car fans all the time.

2016 Honda NSX

When Honda resurrected the NSX in 2016, they apparently decided that “evolution” meant forgetting everything that made the original special. While the first NSX was a masterpiece of elegant simplicity, this new hybrid incarnation showed up looking like it had been living on a steady diet of protein shakes and steroids, sporting a bloated physique that seemed more muscle-bound than muscular.

The designers appeared to have taken inspiration from a “more is more” philosophy, creating something that shared about as much DNA with its predecessor as a whale does with a dolphin. The asking price didn’t help matters either, reaching heights that had potential buyers checking if their calculators were malfunctioning. The result? A sales performance that proved nostalgia and new technology aren’t always a match made in automotive heaven. Honda learned the hard way that just because you can reinvent an icon doesn’t mean you should.

Toyota GR Supra

Including the latest Toyota GR Supra on this list might feel cruel. It is, after all, an excellent sports car and one we will miss when it goes out of production. However, some still need help getting over how heavily it relies on the BMW Z4 for its underpinnings.

In fact, many view the GR Supra as a Z4 with a roof. Its bulkier appearance doesn’t appeal to those who loved the previous A80 generation; however, away from this redesign, the GR Supra is one of the best sports cars money can buy in 2024.

1982 Dodge Charger (L-Body)

Whoever approved the revival of the Dodge Charger in the early 1980s probably has serious second thoughts about this, even 40 years after its introduction. Dodge replaced the wild and aggressive design with something dull, subtle, and underpowered.

The new L-Body Charger had become a front-wheel-drive compact hatchback, with a four-cylinder engine replacing the snarling V8. It is perhaps little surprise that the Charger name disappeared as quickly as it had returned.

2004 Fiat Multipla

While calling the Fiat Multipla iconic might be a stretch, there is no denying it is heading towards future classic status. The original Multipla, launched in 1998, was a bulbous and unusual-looking MPV with a lot of charm, all part of Multipla’s convenient package.

Due to the public’s reaction to the original design, Fiat gave the Multipla a new look in 2004 that made the Multipla look not only more conventional but also incredibly dull. Devoid of character compared to its weird older sibling, the redesigned 2004 Multipla failed to boost sales of the MPV.

Porsche 911 (996)

Of all the generations of the Porsche 911, the 996 might be its most significant. It marked the end of the air-cooled engine era and the beginning of water-cooling, something that annoyed the purists but was clearly the way to go for the legendary sports car.

But incredibly, it was the design that got people talking the most. The 996’s shape and proportions proved controversial, mainly due to its “fried egg” headlights. Consumers also weren’t happy about its plastic interior, yet to drive, the 996 was actually one of the best 911s Porsche had made up to that point.

1995 Ferrari 512 Testarossa

The Ferrari 512 Testarossa is undoubtedly one of the best-looking supercars Ferrari has ever made. The 1980s were perfect for the Testarossa, thanks to its pop-up headlights, tidy front end, and sharp edges. But in 1995, Ferrari decided to shake the design up a bit.

The pop-up headlights were gone, replaced by more conventional and necessary headlights. But that didn’t stop them from being ugly. The grille and wheels also underwent heavy reworking, and neither change particularly suited the new 1995 512.