Overhyped fantasy or serious supercar ? The Vector M12 is both substantiation that ideas are one matter , lead quite another . It was conceptualize as “ aerospace engineering science for the street ” by Gerry Wiegert , an industrial designer and sometime engineer . A mockup shown in 1976 attracted much care with its wedgy , overstrung styling and promises of 600 hp , composite torso , and aircraft - quality building . Encouraged , Wiegert formed Vehicle Design Force in Los Angeles to actualize his mid - locomotive ambition .
Despite scant capital , a running epitome was nail by 1978 , and Wiegert show it everywhere possible to arouse money for production , which would be handled by a novel Vector Aeromotive Corporation . But funds were punishing to come by and the engineering science far from perfected . Still , the rename Vector W8 Twin - Turbo set out vast pressure coverage as a presently - to - be - available Ferrari - beater – and maintain on getting it for more than 10 year .
In 1988 , Wiegert took Vector Aeromotive public and raised $ 20 million . Although serious production finally seemed imminent , only 18 W8s were build and the fellowship was suspiciously broke by 1995 . Wiegert was kick out by his own shareowner , and Vector passed to Indonesian - owned MegaTech Ltd. , which presently corrupt Lamborghini and move Vector to Florida .
Vector had prepared a show car , the Avtech SC ( also known as the WX3 ) , and the new operation used this to create a successor example , the Vector M12 . British clothes designer Peter Stevens softened the styling and technologist junked the twin - turbo V-8 and costly “ aerospace ” engineering for a Lamborghini Diablo V-12 and formal building . Modern facility forebode truly professional little - scale production at the rate of 150 or so per year .
Road & Trackfound the Vector M12 “ an elemental car , provoke that corner of the brainpower that prefers violence over fledged negotiation . ” Although the test railcar was a “ image taxicab , ” the magazine deemed workmanship private-enterprise with anything from Italy . The Vector M12 was more accommodative than the W8 , yet no less a straightline garden rocket . As for handling , the Vector M12 letR&Ts man “ throw it any which way I like . [ But ] the Vector is a huge automobile … and just conduct it through corners is a evenhandedly intense accomplishment . ”
So the Vector is at long last actual after more than 20 years . The only question now is , how long can it last ?
