Vector M12
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Vector M12 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Vector Motors |
| Production | 1995–1999 (17 produced) |
| Predecessor | Vector WX-3 |
| Successor | Vector SRV8 |
| Class | mid-engined coupe |
| Engine(s) | 5.7L Lamborghini V12 |
| Curb weight | 3600 lb (1633 kg) |
The Vector M12 was a vehicle designed by the Vector Motors, and was the first vehicle produced after the buy-out of the company from Jerry Wiegert by the Indonesian company Megatech. The vehicles were produced from 1995 to 1999, when production was halted, partly due to slow sales of the cars and mismanagement of the company. The average price of the vehicle was $184,000 (USD).
The vehicle could be considered a basic re-design to the Vector WX-3, which was never released to the public due to the Megatech buy-out. Among many small changes to the vehicle's design, was one large change to the drivetrain in the way of a 5707 cc Lamborghini V12 engine, which produced 492 PS (362 kW) and 425 ft·lbf (576 N-m) of torque at 5200 rpm. As the WX-3 was only designed to accommodate a V8, Vector had to completely re-engineer the chassis to hold the longer V12. The resulting changes show the cockpit of the vehicle being slightly further forward than in the WX-3 with a shorter nose and longer tail on the M12. With this power, the car was able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, with a top speed of around 190 mph (306 km/h).
In many ways, the M12 was considered to be a more finalized and road-friendly version of the ill-fated WX-3, although it would only manage between 9 and 13 mpg in terms of fuel economy. In total, there were 18 M12s produced (four pre-production models and 14 production models). One of the M12 pre-production cars was converted to motorsport specification by the factory, but those vehicles had very little success in the few races they were entered into, as they retired every time due to mechanical problems.
The M12 production run ended in 1999 when Vector went far into debt and couldn't pay Lamborghini for the engines, so a W8 was taken as payment. The W8 ended up being Wiegert's property, which caused a few court trials. An M12 unit would later be modified into a new car, the SRV8, which returned the company to its American V8 power roots, but by then Vector could no longer keep afloat.
The M12 is also a playable car in Polyphony Digital's video game, Gran Turismo 2 as both the production version and as an LM edition. It is available as a captivating download for Mercedes Benz World Racing.
