Vector M12

Vector M12
Vector M12 ASR race car
Overview
Manufacturer	Vector Aeromotive
Production	1995–1999 (17 produced)
Model years	1996–1999
Assembly	Green Cove Springs, Florida, United States
Designer	Peter Stevens
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car (S)
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Doors	Scissor
Related	Lamborghini Diablo
Powertrain
Engine	5.7 L Lamborghini V12
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,700 mm (106 in)
Length	4,780 mm (188 in)
Width	2,019 mm (79 in)
Height	1,130 mm (44 in)
Curb weight	1,633 kg (3,600 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Vector WX-3
Successor	Vector SRV8

The Vector M12 was a sports car manufactured by Vector Aeromotive under parent company Megatech, and was the first car produced after the hostile takeover of the company from Jerry Wiegert by the Indonesian company Megatech. The model was produced from 1995 to 1999, when production was halted, partly due to slow sales of the cars and mismanagement of the company.

History and specifications

The car was based on the Lamborghini Diablo utilising most of its mechanical components and its V12 engine as Megatech owned Lamborghini at that time and took such steps to produce the car in higher volumes at a low cost. The engine was centrally mounted in front of the gearbox rather than behind it as in the Lamborghini. The styling was a loose copy of the Vector AWX-3, which was a still born project due to the Megatech takeover and later infringed by former company owner Wiegert after he initiated lawsuits and patented the designs to avoid them being reused. The new owners, Megatech, hired designer Peter Stevens to create a more civilised and modern recreation of the AWX-3. The drivetrain was a 5,707 cc (5.7 L) Lamborghini V12 engine, which had a power output of 499 PS (367 kW; 492 hp) at 5,200 rpm and 425 lb⋅ft (576 N⋅m) of torque at 4,900 rpm. This differed from the twin-turbocharged Rodeck V8 engine in the W8 and the AWX-3, as they were considered to be too costly for series production of the new model. The W8 and AWX-3's engines were transversely mounted, unlike the M12's V12 which was longitudinally mounted. The engineering changes placed the cockpit slightly forward than in the AWX-3, with a shorter nose and longer tail. The M12 was able to accelerate from 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) in 4.8 seconds and had a top speed of 304 km/h (189 mph).

Production

Vector M12 ASR race car

Megatech intended the M12 to be a more road-friendly version of the AWX-3, which could get up to 13 miles per gallon of fuel efficiency. 17 cars were produced in total, which included three or four pre-production models and 14 production models. One of the M12 pre-production cars was converted to motorsport specification by the factory, but did not perform successfully due to mechanical problems. This car would again be converted, this time into the SRV8 that was intended to be the successor to the M12.

The M12 production run ended in 1999 when Vector could not pay Lamborghini for the engines. Lamborghini took a W8 as payment, but Wiegert litigated for ownership of that car and won the case.

In the media

The Vector M12 earned the inauspicious award from Autoweek Magazine as being the worst car ever tested in the history of AutoWeek.

The M12 is featured in a number of video games, including:

• Gran Turismo 2, as both the production version and as an LM edition;
• Mercedes Benz World Racing, as a downloadable car
• Sports Car GT
• San Francisco Rush
• Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA
• Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, under the name "Infernus"