I was in Houston this week for a new business presentation and, by way of talking about "design disasters", or products that start with noble intent but reach the marketplace completely screwed up, we cited among other things the Pontiac Aztec. Clearly the ugliest vehicle available for sale in North America today.

After the presentation we were returning our Nissan Altima to the Avis compound at IAH -- when we saw a whole row of new-looking Aztecs parked nose-to-tail... asking, hopefully, to be rented but finding no takers. I suppose rental fleets are the logical fate of failed car nameplates.