The Super Car industry has been ruled my Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati & Porsche from the 1960's, with the birth of the ostentatious but shatteringly beautiful Lamborghini Miura there was a paradigm shift in the definition of Super Cars. The Miura introduced many firsts such as the mid-engine Exotic in the Super Car genre and since then manufacturers have been following the defined path set by this revolutionary car. Several production units cropped up around the world during the 1980's and 1990's to compete in this prestigious and prized segment, one such audacious manufacturer was the California based Vector Motors Corporation established by Gerald Wiegart, an automotive industry veteran and expert technician with experience at the big three of Detroit General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.
Vector built a prototype called the W2 which was eventually fine-tuned into the W8 Twin Turbo production model. Historically America did not have the prerequisite base to build Super Cars, but Vector did not scrimp on the construction of the W8, it was constructed using the most advanced technologies and cutting-edge materials, such as carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass, the semi-aluminum monocoque chassis was epoxy bonded and riveted with an aluminum honeycomb floor pan, and 5,000 aircraft specification rivets were used in the car's assembly.
Powered by a Rodeck resleevable, mid-mounted modified Chevrolet 350 ci (5.7 liter) V8 racing engine with twin Garrett turbochargers and coupled to a custom three-speed transmission and produced an advertised 650 bhp (485 kW) at 5700 rpm and 649 lb·ft (880 N·m) of torque on 8 lbs of boost the Vector W8 was astonishingly fast and had a company claimed top speed of 220 mph (354 kph). This top speed was reached while still using the "high down force" rear wing. Later aerodynamic testing further honed efficiency, bringing the car's drag coefficient down to just 0.32 CD. Performance wise the Vector W8 could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds which was marginally faster than the venerated Ferrari Testarossa and these figures stand in good stead even today. Road & Track featured a Vector on the cover of their March 1991 issue, and in their review they praised the car very highly.
Due to its exorbitant cost of $448,000 only 22 were produced over the life of the company. However on today's used market, it could fetch well over $1.4 million depending on the condition of the car.
However, the car has been reviled and lampooned by several experts and enthusiasts, it has been listed in many sources as one of the worst Super Cars of all time, giving several reasons for its vilification.
Car and Driver has rated the W8 as one of the worst Super Cars of all time,
check it here.
TopGear has listed the
Vector M12 &
MSN Autos likewise.
Edmunds.com is also scathingl on the car, read it
here.