7/31/2023 0 Comments History of v8 supercarsMounted transversely in the engine bay, the aluminum block-and-head, fuel injected power plant is based on a 5.7L Chevrolet engine which had been strokered, and then provided with forced induction.īoost pressure through the Garrett turbochargers can be adjusted by the driver up to a maximum of 14 psi, with Vector Aeromotive Corporation claiming that this would allow the engine to output an astronomical 1,200-horsepower. The engine is a 6.0L twin-turbocharged V8 which produces an advertised 625-horsepower 5,700 rpm and 649 lb-ft of torque 4,900 rpm, operating with 8 pounds of boost. The sheer abundance of power that the mid-mounted unit produced made for remarkable specs on paper, though its real-world performance in some cases is at best, debatable. The Vector W8 Twin Turbo had an engine which not only set the precedence of what the car itself was all about but also how future engines would be perceived – particularly in the United States. on the map as a serious super(car) power by setting the stage for the production of future supercars with a ‘Made In America’ distinction, such as the Ford GT and Saleen S7. Some would even argue that the Vector W8 Twin Turbo has forged a distinguishable legacy, putting the U.S. Examples come up for sale every now and then and are able to fetch huge money – from $200,000 USD for restoration projects to as much as $1,000,000 USD for mint examples.ĭespite things not really taking off for Vector Aeromotive Corporation, Wiegart had still achieved his goal of shaking up the automotive industry, by producing a supercar like no other before it. It is considered a classic unicorn car which is on the radar of many private collectors. Today, the W8 Twin Turbo has a small but formidable cult following of whom the nostalgia is not lost on. In the end, there were only 17 customer cars built – plus two prototypes – before production was eventually ceased. The Vector W8 Twin Turbo in many respects was ahead of its time however, due to the company’s financial troubles and eventual dissolution, the car ultimately fell behind the perpetually shifting curve. Without question, Wiegart and Vector Aeromotive Corporation abstracted the idea of a supercar further, taking it to outer space with certain on-paper specifications that wouldn’t feel out of place in a dialogue about the supercars – or even hypercars – of today. Initially dubbed the W2 in its prototype stage, the W8 Twin Turbo would eventually go on to become a 6.0L, mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, V8 supercar with 625-horsepower, and an extroverted chassis/exterior composed of carbon fiber, kevlar, and aerospace-grade materials. This message resonated enough to garner some enthusiasm within the right circles – and more importantly some investors – so the company was able to raise more than $13 million USD of capital and expand their operations into a 35,000 square foot facility. “The idea is to build a reputation, not ride on one,” said Wiegert, acutely conscientious as to what this journey would entail. This was probably the only tactic that Wiegert could employ, knowing very well that he could not rely on brand heritage or prestige to make a statement. Founded by industry veteran Gerald Wiegert in Wilmington, California, this company, through the production of its Vector W8 Twin Turbo, would make its entrance into the automotive establishment with a manner which would be fittingly described as “shock and awe”. Then we have Vector Aeromotive Corporation, who added their relatively lesser-known American flavor to this mix. Using the aforementioned as a template, others such as McLaren with its F1 would then take that philosophy to the next level. There were certainly different approaches to this goal, for example, with the Honda pioneering the ‘everyday supercar’ movement with its NSX producing a high-performance supercar which was also reliable, comfortable and refined – a combination of characteristics simply unheard of at the time. The effort to bring down the establishment appeared to be a concerted effort, as manufacturers from Asia, the U.S., and the rest of Europe looked to shake up the supercar space simultaneously. Then the 1990s arrived, and the rest of the world seemed to have had enough of the status quo and as such, revolutionaries and determined usurpers would follow. These three manufacturers together monopolized the supercar fandom at a time when supercars were still very much an emerging aspect of automotive culture.
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