The Vector M12 is technically quite different from the company’s previous models. I will never forget how impressed I was by the W8 with its 7-liter turbocharged V8. Even more surprising was the automatic, three-speed gearbox.
The M12 is much more conventional, certainly by supercar standards. All because this car was based on the Lamborghini Diablo. After the company was sold, and its previous owner was no longer able to influence the company created by him, Vector was in the hands of Indonesian company Megatech, which owned Lamborghini at that time.
This explains the use of various parts from Lamborghini. The Diablo is an amazing car, probably my favorite supercar from my childhood. But this unification sacrifices the specialness of the American, Vector supercar.
The Vector M12 was produced from 1995 to 1998. There were 17 made, including prototypes. In spite of its lower price compared to the Diablo, the M12 was not in great demand. For this reason the model was discontinued.
Vector M12 price and cost.
The new Vector M12 cost 180,000 dollars. In comparison, the Diablo cost $240,000. I found information on the internet that the Vector was less well assembled, while costing comparable to a Ferrari Testarossa.
I watched the Top Gear video about the Vector M12 with interest, but unfortunately the car did not get the expected demand.
Appearance and photos.
It may surprise you, but the Vector is slightly wider than the Diablo. Like the Italian supercar, the M12 features upswept headlights. At the same time, the doors have a similar shape to the WX-3 and WX-8. The doors of the guillatine type were installed on the first Vector model, – W8, when the affinity with Lamborghini, or that Gerald Wiegert would lose the company, hardly anyone could think about.
Unlike the WX-3, the newer and cheaper M12 was not equipped with an active rear wing. The Vector was designed by Peter Stevens. This specialist was hired after Vector was owned by an Indonesian company. In the photo you can see the telescopic antenna that extended from the rear, right wing. Such an antenna was the norm on cars of the time, but not on supercars.
All in all, the Vector M12 is certainly a beautiful car. But it lacks the refinement of Italian supercars and lacks the originality and brutality of the W8. At the same time, although it was incommensurably cheaper than the first model of the company, but it was not cheap and was slower than Diablo. It seems that wealthy buyers just did not want to give money for this car.
Interior and equipment.
This was the first model of the company, which was not equipped with an aviation-type screen. The W8 and WX-3 were equipped with such a display and it was a feature of Vector supercars. M12 is equipped with a familiar dashboard, and on the transmission tunnel you can see a manual gearbox lever. Very wide door sills, from the inside of the car are covered with leather.
By the standards of supercars, the M12 has a very good visibility through the rear window. In addition, there is a front and rear trunk, which makes the supercar from Vector relatively practical.
Engine and specifications of the Vector M12.
The Vector M12 supercar was equipped with an atmospheric V12 with a volume of 5.7 liters from Diablo. The engine was installed longitudinally to the body and unlike the Lamborghini engine was installed in front of the gearbox. With 490 horsepower and 576N.M of torque, the rear-wheel drive Vector, equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, could accelerate to 100km in 4.8sec. Its top speed of 306km was also lower than that of the Lamborghini.
Unlike the Diablo, the m12 could only be a rear-wheel drive car.
Despite all these borrowings, the V12 engine is adorned with the Vector logo.
Despite the relatively low price tag, the M12 series was 2 cars less than the company’s first model, the W8, which cost 3 times as much. And although the W8 model is usually considered unsuccessful, but in fact it turned out to be the most mass model of the company, being one of the most expensive supercars of its time.
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