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A supercar is meant to be, effectively, tremendous. However not each high-performance machine delivers on that promise. Some fall flat, failing to impress earlier than quietly disappearing into the depths of automotive historical past.
With most supercars carrying six-figure worth tags, there’s so much at stake. That type of funding means the automotive neighborhood holds them to the next normal, and so they don’t hesitate to name out those that miss the mark. Poor design, shoddy construct high quality, dangerous timing, and market miscalculations are exhausting to miss.
We’ve scoured the web in the hunt for supercars that have been destined to fail, and because of sources akin to High Gear, AutoEvolution, and others, we’ve inventoried our favourite fails and included the errors that sealed their destiny.
How These Supercars Made the Lower
We weren’t searching for the quickest or the rarest; we have been searching for those that fizzled. These are the supercars that ought to have made a splash however belly-flopped as a substitute. Every automobile on this record:
- Promised one thing daring: groundbreaking tech, stunning design, or headline-worthy efficiency.
- Was truly produced (even in tiny numbers), not simply teased in idea type.
- Confronted real-world points: mechanical failures, pricing blunders, unmet expectations, or dangerous press.
- Was documented by way of dependable sources like High Gear, AutoEvolution, Motor1, Goodwood, and fanatic databases.
Some have been one-hit wonders. Others by no means even obtained that far. However each automotive right here proves simply how simple it’s to get the supercar system improper — even whenever you’ve obtained large horsepower and even larger ambition.
HTT Pléthore
Have you ever ever heard of a Canadian sports activities automotive? No, eh? Nicely, I’d prefer to introduce you to the HTT Pléthore. Based on Autoevolution, it truly appeared on CBC’s Dragon’s Den in 2011, and it did have so much going for it. It was powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 LS9 with 750 hp and 655 lb-ft of torque, and there was even a 1,100 hp possibility. Design-wise, it additionally seemed like a correct supercar.
On the present, W. Brett Wilson and Robert Herjavec supplied to grow to be companions by buying 20% of the corporate for $1 million. Nonetheless, throughout a take a look at drive, the transmission failed, and so they backed out of the deal. An unidentified investor stepped in with the mandatory funding to construct a revised prototype, however as a consequence of an absence of funding, it by no means made it previous that stage. As Kevin O’Leary would say: “I’m out.”
Vector W8
High Gear states that solely 17 Vector W8 manufacturing vehicles have been made, making it one of many rarest supercars ever produced. Whereas it definitely was flawed, the largest drawback was in all probability the worth. Vector spent over a decade constructing hype for the W8, however by the point the primary automotive was prepared, its worth had skyrocketed from an preliminary $225,000 to a staggering $450,000, which is effectively over one million in at the moment’s {dollars}.
The outrageous efficiency claims turned out to be somewhat optimistic. The Vector W8 was mentioned to achieve 242 mph (making each mile value $1,859 — a steal). Nonetheless, automotive journalists on the time couldn’t attain that pace once they examined the ill-fated automotive. All of the dangerous press was the ultimate nail in its coffin.
Weber Quicker One
The Weber Quicker One definitely wasn’t a looker. It resembles one thing a barely proficient 10-year-old would draw, with questionable styling and an awkwardly curved grille. Seems apart, it did pack a critical punch, due to the turbocharged GM LS7 V8 with 900 hp.
Based on Under the Radar, an internet site devoted to uncommon and obscure vehicles, the founder made some spectacular efficiency claims in 2008, however the automotive pale into obscurity, solely to reemerge in 2013 with much less offensive styling. After that, nothing has been talked about, however failing to safe funds is almost certainly the perpetrator. Think about being so ugly that even a makeover doesn’t get you your crush on the finish of the 2000s rom-com. Ouch.
Hofstetter Turbo
Uncommon Automobiles Solely, an internet site devoted to, you guessed it, uncommon vehicles, says the Hofstetter Turbo was the brainchild of Brazilian Mario Richard Hofstetter. He started designing the automotive when he was simply 16 years outdated, impressed by Italian prototypes from the Nineteen Seventies — which explains its wedge-shaped design.
Whereas it seemed as dramatic as any Lamborghini, it’s truthful to say it didn’t carry out like one. Jalopnik studies that early vehicles have been powered by a turbocharged 1.8-liter Volkswagen engine with 140 anemic horses, and later fashions acquired a 210-hp 2.0-liter. When manufacturing ended, Hofstetter had constructed an estimated 18 vehicles. What was the purpose of making a Lambo dupe simply to nerf it with poor efficiency? Hofstetter was possible making an attempt to make a cool automotive underneath tight authorities restrictions, however at what price? No one would purchase a automotive wanting like this simply to chug alongside to 60 mph in 9 seconds.
Cizeta-Moroder V16T
Wanting on the Cizeta-Moroder V16T, you might assume it appears to be like like a bizarre Lamborghini Diablo, and that’s as a result of it type of is. Based on Goodwood, Marcello Gandini designed it as a alternative for the Countach, however Chrysler-owned Lamborghini determined to melt the design and turned it into the Diablo.
Gandini wasn’t happy, so he bought the design to Claudio Zampolli, who employed six former Lamborghini workers to construct the Cizeta-Moroder V16T. Goodwood tells us that, in contrast to the Lambo and its puny V12, the Cizeta had a 6-liter V16 engine that produced 540 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Nonetheless, it didn’t pique gearheads’ curiosity as a consequence of a hefty price ticket, and Automotive Throttle claims solely 10 vehicles exist, together with a prototype. That prototype bought for $1,363,500 at a Sotheby’s public sale, a bit ironic for the reason that authentic $300,000 worth had folks scoffing.
Caparo T1
Motoristo tells us that Caparo Automobile Applied sciences constructed the Caparo T1 as a “road-going Method One automotive.” Whereas it’s definitely not fairly, there’s no denying that the Caparo T1 has a purposeful design. F1 vehicles have sure options, and street vehicles should adhere to sure laws — that is only a mixture of the 2.
Sadly, the design isn’t even the worst half about it. Like an F1 automotive, the T1 desperately struggled for grip at gradual speeds, so utilizing it in visitors or on chilly, moist days isn’t advisable. Actually, I’d suggest by no means driving it — this blocky LEGO copycat is a large eyesore. It was highly effective, although. Fitted with a barely detuned 3.5-liter IndyCar V8 engine, it made 575hp at 10,500 rpm.
Covini C6W
Covini clearly believed that extra is all the time higher, in order that they added one other axle on the entrance, giving the C6W a complete of six wheels. Motor1 claims Covini in all probability did this to make the automotive safer to drive, however certainly there should’ve been less complicated methods to extend security?!
Not less than Covini did one thing proper once they opted for Audi’s 4.2-liter V8 with over 430 hp to energy it. Nonetheless, that wasn’t sufficient to persuade many rich folks to purchase one, however they did handle to promote a handful of vehicles earlier than calling it a day. Most individuals had an excessive amount of widespread sense to trouble, nevertheless, it doesn’t appear to be Lamborghini, Ferrari, and all the opposite supercar manufacturers wanted six wheels.
Tatra MTX
The Czech Republic’s most well-known export definitely isn’t supercars! Nonetheless, Tatra is a Czech firm and one of many oldest automotive producers nonetheless in enterprise at the moment. Within the early days, the corporate was identified for utilizing the most recent expertise out there and constructed some ground-breaking vehicles in consequence. That got here to a grinding halt when the Communist Occasion took over after WWII.
Nonetheless, within the early Nineties, Tatra dipped its toes within the efficiency automotive pool, and the end result was surprisingly spectacular. Pushed To Write, a global collective of writers, tells us the MTX V8 had a 3.9-liter V8 producing 302 horsepower, sufficient to ship it to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. It even had scissor doorways and pop-up headlights. 200 orders have been positioned, however solely 4 vehicles are identified to have been constructed — manufacturing was slowed as a consequence of a manufacturing facility fireplace and an absence of funding.
Jaguar XJ220
Based on Petrolheads, a British automotive fanatic website, Jaguar needed a chunk of Ferrari and Lamborghini’s market — nevertheless it didn’t go as deliberate. In 1988, they confirmed off a V12-powered AWD supercar, and rich folks instantly waved their checkbooks. Jaguar took 1,500 orders – every with a £50,000 deposit.
Quickly after, the yuppie period was over, and everybody had cash issues. Jaguar needed to lower some corners when constructing the XJ220, and the promised V12 and AWD have been gone. As an alternative, it had a turbocharged V6 and RWD. It didn’t matter if it was the world’s quickest manufacturing automotive, the patrons pulled out. However they weren’t going to simply let it go — Jaguar was truly sued over the modifications, since many patrons didn’t wish to pay the worth to tear up the contract. Jaguar solely constructed 271 XJ220s, and so they bought for $400,000 every.
Ferrari F50
When the Ferrari F50 debuted, it didn’t get the love you’d anticipate. Following within the footsteps of the legendary F40 was by no means going to be simple, and for some, it simply didn’t measure up. Granted, it wasn’t as fairly, nor was it as brutal, and it was barely slower — so it primarily grew to become the Ferrari equal of a red-headed stepchild. Solely just lately have Ferrari fanatics acknowledged the flagship supercar’s hidden allure.
Goodwood informs us that the F50 has a 512-hp 4.7-liter naturally aspirated V12, and it was no abnormal V12 both. It’s derived from the unit Ferrari utilized in its 1990 Method One race automotive, however linked to a guide transmission. It now prices $3.5 million to $5.5 million to get your self an F50, so perhaps you shouldn’t have swiped left on the purple head whenever you had the prospect.
What These Automobiles Nonetheless Train Us
Constructing a supercar is without doubt one of the boldest strikes an automaker — or a dreamer — could make. Get it proper, and also you’ve obtained a legend. Get it improper, and also you’ve obtained a footnote in automotive trivia.
The vehicles on this record all shot for greatness and landed elsewhere: in lawsuits, chapter filings, or the pages of automotive weblog,s questioning what went improper. However that’s precisely what makes them fascinating.
As a result of in a world stuffed with polished perfection, typically the flawed ones are essentially the most attention-grabbing of all.
