When the Yugo subcompact was introduced into the U.S. four years ago, its promoters billed it as the next Volkswagen Beetle. But last week Global Motors, importer of the Yugoslav-made car, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The car's initial allure was its low base price, which started at $3,990 in 1985 and is now $4,349. But the car ran into competition from South Korea's Hyundai Excel, which began selling at $4,995 in 1986.
Moreover, the Yugo's reputation went downhill because of its bumpy handling and lack of amenities. Sales slumped from 48,532 autos in 1987 to 31,546 last year. Even...
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