Filed under: Supercars
What if... the Vector W8 returned?
What if, indeed. Many may remember Vector as the American company that attempted to build a world-class supercar but couldn't quite get its act together. The W8 was its final product that actually entered production, though only 22 were ever produced. With a twin-turbo V8 that produced 625 horsepower and a body that only an F117-A Nighthawk could love, the W8 could back up its bark with a mean bite. In fact, a W8 once reached 242 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats with a smaller engine and a very unaerodynamic rear wing. That's right up there with the best terminal velocities of today's crop of supercars.
So what if the W8 returned? Well, Dieselstation reader Stefan Shulze answers that question with a series of high-resolution renderings (click the Read link to view them all). The images show an updated W8 that maintains its Vector styling cues, but appears smaller, almost the size of a Lamborghini Gallardo. While the renderings are just fun, there have been rurmors circulating for what seems like forever that Vector founder Gerald Wiegert is building another car.
UPDATE: Turns out reviving the W8 is a common way to spend one's time, as we found this previous post that shows another attempt at bringing the W8's style into the 21st century.
[Source: Dieselstation]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mowogg 7:40PM (5/15/2007)
I ran into Gerald Wiegert at the Newport Beach Concours last year, where there were three Vectors (Vecti?) and he said that he was working on a new car, but it would be someting completely different from his previous effort. He wouldn't go into detail (of course) but was a nice guy and the owners allowed us to climb all over the cars. I would love to see Wiegert back in the auto biz.
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Reuben 7:58PM (5/15/2007)
The W8 wasn't the last car Vector made. The M12 was made in 96 I believe, though that was under the new Megatech owners. Hell of a car the W8 was, and I personally love the design.
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MikeW 8:45PM (5/15/2007)
Borrow some old VW parts, twin turbo W8, in the W8.
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Thomas Brown 9:44PM (5/15/2007)
I LOVE that rendering and I think in this day and age a new supercar would be possible. The only thing is, that rendering just makes me thing Lambo knock-off.
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jason.lo 10:25PM (5/15/2007)
Quote:
"
4. I LOVE that rendering and I think in this day and age a new supercar would be possible. The only thing is, that rendering just makes me thing Lambo knock-off.
"
I think it looks better than the Gallardo. :D
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SilverAero 11:33PM (5/15/2007)
That picture looks like a Lego Lambo
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FezMan88 11:53PM (5/15/2007)
So what if Vector turned out to be filled with embezzlements, i always loved them...
if they came back itd be awesome, but most people would (rightly) just call them another start up supercar company.... not a big feat anymore. and where did that render come from, its amazing!
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Andrew 1:23AM (5/16/2007)
Autoblog, please use your physics terms correctly, terminal velocity is only used when things are falling towards the Earth. Unless W8's are dropping out of the sky faster than a Veyron, just stick to the term top speed instead. Thanks!
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F451 1:30AM (5/16/2007)
@8 "Unless W8's are dropping out of the sky faster than a Veyron..."
That would be one helluva ad campaign!
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F451 3:14AM (5/16/2007)
Wiegert was ahead of this time—his time might very well be now. He's always had a different, if not better take on matters.
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Chris 8:11AM (5/16/2007)
Ford couldn't build enough GTs to keep up with demand, so I think there's a definite market for folks who want an American supercar. The only thing is the new Vector will have to offer technologies that are out of this world to compete with the likes of the Veyron. But if the new Vector looked anything like these renderings, then it might not matter so much...
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Tim 8:54AM (5/16/2007)
I remember as a young boy dreaming about owning a Vector, and they weren't just any old dreams - you get my drift. These were hot cars and its a shame they never really took off.
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Mr. Oak 10:32AM (5/16/2007)
I once met and spoke with Gerald Wiegert at the NY Auto-Show. Would love to see the car thrown back into the super-car mix. That car was a beast, would love to see it evolve into a modern day whip.
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MikeW 2:21PM (5/16/2007)
Take two VW W8 engines, and couple together and make a neo-Cizeta V16T.
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Mr.Fab 4:01PM (5/16/2007)
In either 1980 or '81 I saw a W2 in funky trendy Ocean Park between Santa Monica & Venice "CALI, Baby!" I can't remember its color but the thing was about 10 inches off the ground, sounded great and made quite an impression here where we put the "la" in bLAse. Definitely WAY ahead of its time, the urban gearhead legend perception of the time was that Vectors had @ least 2 engines per supercar. PLS. do another vehicle, Mr. Weigert.
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gerard Vandenberg 10:57PM (5/16/2007)
General motors must buy Vector and make a real supercar out of it. with almost the same design(the front is really beautifull) and the V16 engine of the Cadillac concept car and Gull-Wings. So it will not be a competitor of the Corvette. This is just a way to let people know General Motors is able to build a supercar and so is still the KING. It must have more horsepower and topspeed than the Bugatti Veyron.
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David 1:59AM (5/17/2007)
Just looks like a slightly updated Lambo Contach. I think that thing is very ugly, next to a Veyron it would look even worse.
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JIM BABCOCK 12:37PM (5/14/2008)
GEROLD do you remember jim babcock texaco englewood co &t&cmag pics talk my car& a prom to send me a copy of the articalin your mag ? Iaint mad call me 3037984425 or 3035078244.
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