New Vector WX8 revives iconic American supercar name!

[opendriver]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/13/new-vector-wx8-revives-iconic-american-supercar-name/

If the name Gerald Weigert sounds familiar, you're probably a car nut of a certain age that remembers his travails trying to launch his pet supercar project, the Vector, back in the '70s, and the ensuing limited production run and financial difficulties during the '80s and early '90s. Originally powered by a turbocharged GM V8 in W8 guise, they eventually were fitted with a Lamborghini-sourced V12 in the M12 model. Fast forward to 2007, and the man that created quite a stir a generation ago with his All-American supercar is at it again. Vector Motors sent out a press release announcing their newest offering, the Vector Avtech WX8.

The full specs on the car are in the release (which you'll find after the jump), but it's fairly similar to the original plan. A race developed chassis with a bunch of aerospace technology, powered by a big V8. In this case it appears to be a Z06 mill that has been tweaked to produce 600HP, or a whopping 750 with an optional supercharger. Claimed acceleration is right in the middle of the supercar pack with 0-60 mph happening in 3.3 seconds, the quarter in 11.3 sec. at 138 mph, and a top speed of 260-270 MPH, given the proper gearing.

We'll see the car at the LA Auto Show this week, but Jalopnik ran these photos which make it look a bit like a mid-engined previous gen Camaro. We're not sure if this is the final look or not, so we'll reserve judgment.

Sweet marry mother of joseph.

Hell on wheels

 

[Rykon Zero]

👍

 

[Perfect Balance]

👍👍

 

[-Fred-]

I can predict, for some reason, this will be an epic failure, if it actually ever gets built.

 

[Perfect Balance]

I can predict, for some reason, this will be an epic failure, if it actually ever gets built.

You're probably right, but it looks so cool.

 

[Blackbird.]

I think it looks ugly, the first thing I thought when I saw the front end was a camaro.

 

[Azuremen]

I think it looks ugly, the first thing I thought when I saw the front end was a camaro.

Agreed. Greatly so.

Its just a fancy body kit for a Camaro guys, so just go home.

 

[ND4SPD]

Are those Supra headlights I'm seeing?!

 

[Grand Prix]

Looks kinda like the Infernus from GTA3. Great to see Vector back though, we'll be able to drive the W8 in GT again, hopefully.

 

[opendriver]

I think this may fall away like the ME4.12 did

 

[CDailey]

I think it looks sick. 👍

 

[Venom800tt]

Wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for the rather bland headlights, which do look a LOT like Supra ones...
Maybe some popups would look better, although they kinda fell out of style years ago with the Vette C5 being the last car with them.
And the ME412 still has a roughly 50% chance of reaching production. I'd say it would be more likely to hit production if Chrysler makes it out of their slump by pumping out some better products than what they have now...

 

[Leonidae]

why is there suddenly an unnatural interest of hyper quick vehicles among american small companies? no matter what they do, they still can't touch Veyron other than top speed-wise.

FAIL.

 

[Flerbizky]

Wow - That is so ugly it's not even funny...

 

[Casio]

Yeah, I'm totally bored of this race to 300mph (Then 350...400...) thing. I sound like a hippy but if makers spent as much time and money on a normal looking, practical, normal car that did 80mpg I'd be much more impressed.

 

[Turbo Lag]

Great to see Vector coming back but i dont exactly like this model so much. I still remember that M12 i had in GT2, that was the car i used that most 👍

 

[V1P3R]

Someone been smokin too much NFS I guess... ? xD

 

[TheCracker]

It's no beauty, yet it's still infinitely prettier than any previous Gerald Weigert offering.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Are those Supra headlights I'm seeing?!

Exactly what I was thinking as well, the taillights remind me of some tuner taillights for a Supra as well...

 

[Redgodzila]

It's looks outdated already, and I've only been looking at it for 23 seconds .

It's reminds me of a early-mid 90's supercar.....that train left the station, well, years ago!

 

[Metar]

It could look decent 10 years ago - and even then, with a different front.

The thing has a good silhouette. Now they just need to re-do the actual body - sharper, sleeker, anything but that mid-engined Camaro mix. It has the potential to look pretty.

Now, to succeed, they need to focus on a well-handling, more reasonable car. Something like a Zonda, rather than an Ultimate Aero SCC.

 

[Philly]

I found this interesting.

The new Vector Avtech WX8 is expected to establish several new records for a custom and production automobile, including a 0 to 60 in --- 0 to 100 in -- Quarter-Mile in ---- Skid Pad ------ and a top speed of------.

I hope they have incredibly deep pockets.

The car has a few interesting innovations like the flush windscreen and invisible A-pillars. But some things like F-22 switches and spacecraft breakers are a little over the top.

the chassis scored highest of any car in DOT tests apparently, and is the only car to pass both front and rear tests on one chassis.

Now if only they tweaked the body a little and painted it so it looked finished, I see this car being a moderate success.

 

[///M-Spec]

why is there suddenly an unnatural interest of hyper quick vehicles among american small companies? no matter what they do, they still can't touch Veyron other than top speed-wise.

FAIL.

Weren't you the guy accusing people of being brand/badge snobs in the GT-R thread?

Yep. That was you.


M

 

[Prosthetic]

The front end is off a Camaro, not a Supra.

 

[Philly]

But the argument is whether or not the lights are from a Supra. I think we all pretty much agree that the front looks like a squashed Camaro with Supra lights.

 

[Jim Prower]

No...It doesnt' look as clean as the M12 did. It's nice to see Vector Aeromotive back out there, though.

THe car also looks camoflaged.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

the chassis scored highest of any car in DOT tests apparently, and is the only car to pass both front and rear tests on one chassis.

Say what you will about it; this is impressive.

It looks dated, but so does the SSC. I don't mind it, the profile is very Vector. Whether it succeeds or not doesn't concern me too much; the fact this could mark a return to the GT series for all Vectors is more appealing, because I'd have a far better shot at driving one .

 

[TopHat]

Awesome car. 👍 Very much a Vector in its side-profile.

 

[Grand Prix]

It's no beauty, yet it's still infinitely prettier than any previous Gerald Weigert offering.

The Vector W8 is the coolest car ever! Give it a manual gearbox and it's even cooler. It still looks ahead of it's time, seeing it in the 1980s alongside the box-shaped cars of the time must have been insanity!

The point is, I would be happy even if this Vector doesn't perform as well as the other hyper cars. It has the jet fighter-inspired interior, the American V8, it's a Vector! What do you expect? Of course it should have a jet fighter styled interior! The only problem with this one is that it needs a different front.

 

[Leonidae]

Weren't you the guy accusing people of being brand/badge snobs in the GT-R thread?

Yep. That was you.


M

[OT]Mmmhmm, but I'm not adamantly claiming that Veyron is invincible (sp), unlike numerous Z06/997 turbo enthusiasts who keep nagging that "Z06/997 turbo cannot be beaten mere Nissan, because it's a Nissan and this is Z06/997 turbo".. Didn't I just admit that Veyron can be/has been beaten in top speed?[/OT]