European Automakers Even Some Automobile Fanatics By no means Heard Of

You understand how everybody talks about BMW, Mercedes, and Audi like they’re the one sport in Europe? Nicely, buckle up, as a result of the continent’s automotive panorama is approach weirder and extra attention-grabbing than your native luxurious dealership would have you ever consider.

Past the family names, there’s a complete universe of obscure producers constructing the whole lot from tiny metropolis automobiles to absurdly costly supercars that make a Bugatti look pedestrian. A few of these corporations have been round for many years, quietly doing their factor of their nook of Europe, whereas others are newer operations with wild ambitions. Most Individuals have by no means seen these badges on the street, and actually, loads of European automotive followers haven’t both.

Let’s dive into the deep cuts of European automotive historical past and meet some producers that deserve far more recognition than they get.

Wiesmann (Germany)

Image this: a German sports activities automotive that appears prefer it time-traveled from Sixties Britain, however with a contemporary BMW engine beneath the hood. That’s Wiesmann in a nutshell.

These guys have been constructing retro-styled roadsters in Dülmen, Germany since 1988, and their automobiles are principally what you’d get when you requested a German engineer to construct a Morgan with higher reliability. The corporate went bankrupt in 2014, however relaunched in 2020 with new possession and even unveiled an electrical mannequin known as Venture Thunderball.

They solely make about 50 automobiles per 12 months, so recognizing one is like discovering a unicorn. With costs beginning round $200,000, these aren’t precisely impulse purchases, however they’re undeniably cool.

Gumpert/Apollo (Germany)

Roland Gumpert, a former Audi motorsport director, determined retirement was boring and began constructing a number of the most aggressive-looking monitor automobiles ever conceived. The Apollo (initially known as the Gumpert Apollo) appears to be like prefer it was designed by somebody who thought “subtlety” was a grimy phrase. This factor produces as much as 790 horsepower from its twin-turbo Audi V8 and might lap the Nürburgring quicker than most individuals can pronounce Nürburgring. The corporate went by chapter and rebranding, rising as Apollo Automobil, and so they’re nonetheless making absurdly quick machines at the moment. These automobiles begin round $500,000, which actually appears cheap for one thing that appears like a spaceship had a child with a race automotive.

Bitter (Germany)

Erich Bitter was a German race automotive driver who determined he might construct higher luxurious coupes than most mainstream producers, and you recognize what? He type of had some extent.

Beginning in 1971, Bitter created beautiful grand tourers that borrowed mechanicals from Opel however wrapped them in elegant Italian-designed bodywork. The Bitter SC was notably beautiful, trying like what you’d get when you crossed a Ferrari with a extra sensible each day driver.

Manufacturing numbers have been tiny, with only some hundred automobiles constructed over a number of many years, making them extremely uncommon at the moment. The corporate nonetheless technically exists, although present manufacturing is principally nonexistent, which is a disgrace as a result of the automotive world might use extra small-scale luxurious producers.

Dacia (Romania)

Okay, so Dacia isn’t precisely unknown in Europe, the place they’re principally in all places, however attempt discovering an American automotive fanatic who can inform you something about Romania’s largest automaker. Owned by Renault since 1999, Dacia makes a speciality of constructing extremely low cost, no-frills automobiles that get the job completed with none pretense.

The Duster SUV has develop into an enormous hit in Europe with 2.2 million items offered, providing competent transportation for round $15,000, which in at the moment’s market appears like discovering a glitch within the Matrix. They’re slowly increasing into extra markets, and their method of “let’s simply construct a good automotive with out all of the costly gimmicks” is refreshingly sincere.

Certain, you gained’t win any type awards, however your pockets will thanks, and typically that’s sufficient.

Isdera (Germany)

When a Mercedes-Benz designer decides to go away and begin his personal supercar firm, you get Isdera. Eberhard Schulz based this firm in 1982 and created some genuinely weird mid-engine exotics that regarded like nothing else on the street.

The Commendatore 112i was notably wild, that includes a rear-mounted periscope mirror as a substitute of a conventional rear window, as a result of apparently common mirrors have been too mainstream. They used Mercedes V8 and V12 engines, so at the least the powertrain was dependable, even when the styling made individuals do double-takes.

Solely about 30 Isderas have been ever constructed, making them among the many rarest supercars in existence. The corporate’s nonetheless round, allegedly engaged on new fashions, although updates are about as frequent as Halley’s Comet sightings.

Microcar (France)

Sure, that’s really the corporate’s title, and sure, they actually make microcars. Based in 1984, Microcar makes a speciality of these tiny quadricycles you see zipping round European cities, those that appear like somebody shrunk an actual automotive within the dryer.

In lots of European international locations, youngsters can drive this stuff with no full driver’s license, which explains quite a bit about European site visitors. They’re powered by tiny motorbike engines producing round 8 horsepower, which sounds pathetic till you keep in mind the entire automotive weighs lower than a golf cart.

Costs begin round $10,000, and actually, they make numerous sense for congested metropolis facilities the place parking a traditional automotive is principally not possible. Individuals would most likely giggle at these, however attempt parallel parking in central Paris and also you’ll perceive the attraction. (It’s additionally fairly cute, though not as cute because the Miata.)

Sin Automobiles (Bulgaria)

Bulgaria isn’t precisely identified for automotive manufacturing, which makes Sin Automobiles much more attention-grabbing. This small firm, based in 2012, builds limited-production sports activities automobiles that punch approach above their weight class.

Their first mannequin, the Sin R1, produces 525 horsepower from a BMW-sourced V8 and weighs solely about 2,400 kilos, giving it a greater power-to-weight ratio than most supercars.

They’ve solely constructed a handful of automobiles, each basically custom-made for its proprietor, with costs beginning round $300,000. The construct high quality is reportedly wonderful, which is sensible given that every automotive takes months to finish.

It’s proof that nice sports activities automobiles can come from surprising locations, although good luck discovering one outdoors of Jap Europe.

Aixam (France)

One other French microcar producer, as a result of apparently France actually loves this stuff!

Aixam has been round since 1983 and is definitely the European chief on this quirky section, constructing 1000’s of those tiny machines yearly. Their automobiles are technically categorised as “mild quadricycles,” which is a elaborate approach of claiming “not fairly an actual automotive however greater than a golf cart.”

You possibly can drive them with only a primary license in most European international locations, and so they max out at round 28 mph, which is terrifying on common roads however excellent for village driving. They begin at round $12,000, and whereas they’re by no means coming to American roads (they wouldn’t meet security requirements), they’re a legit transportation resolution in Europe.

Consider them because the automotive equal of a 49cc scooter, simply with 4 wheels and a roof.

Gillet (Belgium)

No, not the razors!

Belgian racing driver Tony Gillet began constructing track-focused sports activities automobiles in 1992, and the outcomes are completely bonkers. The Gillet Vertigo is basically a road-legal race automotive that makes a Lotus Elise appear like a luxurious sedan.

With motorcycle-like uncovered wheels, minimal bodywork, and engines producing as much as 500 horsepower in a automotive weighing round 2,000 kilos, this stuff are weapons. They’ve set a number of information at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium’s legendary race monitor, which is sensible as a result of that’s principally what they’re designed for.

Solely about 30 have been constructed, with costs beginning round $150,000, although good luck discovering one on the market. If you need consolation or practicality, purchase actually the rest, however for pure driving thrills, these are exhausting to beat.

PGO (France)

PGO Cars makes a speciality of retro-styled roadsters that appear like they escaped from a Nineteen Thirties automotive present. Based in 1985, they construct trendy automobiles with classic aesthetics, form of like Morgan however with a French accent.

Their Speedster II and Hemera fashions seize that pre-war racing aesthetic with trendy reliability, utilizing varied French engines from Peugeot and Citroën. Manufacturing numbers are tiny, perhaps a number of dozen automobiles per 12 months, and so they’re hand-built within the conventional sense. Costs begin round $70,000, which isn’t low cost, however you’re paying for one thing genuinely distinctive.

They’re the proper automobiles for somebody who thinks trendy automobiles all look the identical and desires one thing with precise character, even when that character is borrowed from 90 years in the past.

Spyker (Netherlands)

Spyker has one of the vital attention-grabbing backstories in automotive historical past, initially constructing plane and luxurious automobiles within the early 1900s earlier than disappearing, then relaunching in 2000. Their trendy automobiles are rolling artwork items, with aircraft-inspired design parts like uncovered gear linkages and propeller-shaped wheels that appear like they belong in a steampunk novel.

They use Audi V8 engines, so at the least the mechanicals are stable, even when the whole lot else is delightfully bizarre. The corporate has gone by a number of bankruptcies and possession adjustments, as a result of apparently constructing low-volume unique automobiles is admittedly exhausting.

With costs beginning round $300,000 and questionable monetary stability, shopping for a Spyker is certainly a heart-over-head determination, however man, they’re cool to take a look at. After some inner turmoil, Spyker’s founder has introduced the automotive model’s return

– what that’ll appear like, I don’t know.

Donkervoort (Netherlands)

Think about a Lotus Seven that acquired actually into CrossFit and determined to get critical about monitor days. That’s Donkervoort. This Dutch producer has been constructing Lotus-inspired light-weight sports activities automobiles since 1978, however they’ve advanced approach past easy equipment automobiles into legit efficiency machines.

Their newest fashions produce round 415 horsepower in automobiles weighing lower than 1,500 kilos, giving them completely insane acceleration. We’re speaking 0 to 60 mph in beneath 2.5 seconds, which is supercar territory from one thing that appears like a classic racer.

They value round $180,000, and also you get zero consolation, zero practicality, and 100% driving engagement. Bought! Every automotive is constructed to order of their small manufacturing facility, and so they’re precisely the type of centered, uncompromising sports activities automotive that makes you keep in mind why you’re keen on driving within the first place.

Conclusion

The European automotive panorama is a lot deeper than the manufacturers we see at each dealership. These obscure producers show that you just don’t want large manufacturing numbers or international model recognition to construct one thing particular.

A few of these corporations are hanging on by a thread financially, whereas others are quietly profitable of their tiny niches, and actually, the automotive world is healthier for having them round. They signify the type of ardour and weirdness that makes automotive tradition attention-grabbing, even when most individuals won’t ever see one in individual.

Subsequent time somebody tries to inform you they know the whole lot about European automobiles, ask them about Bitter or Gillet and watch them Google it.