Any major automobile concern wants to stand out by releasing its own supercar. This is a powerful car in a unique body, “stuffed” with the latest advances in technology and electronics. But a supercar is an expensive treat both in terms of production and price for the consumer. However, the desire of automakers to sell an expensive supercar is not always realized. It happens that buyers do not line up for a good and expensive car. Such “failed” supercars have every large concern and “smaller” manufacturers. Let us consider them.
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Maserati Merak
Supercar Maserati Merak was presented to the public in 1972. The designer of the model of the famous brand was Giorgetto Giugiaro, he has created a masterpiece of unique design with medium-engine layout. But this car didn’t managed to be called a supercar by its engine power.
At that time, the Maserati company belonged to the Citroen concern, and therefore its cars were completed with components, common with the French model SM. Thus, cars Maserati were equipped with a six-cylinder two-liter engine, producing no more than 170 hp. Such an engine was in Merak model, and people did not want to be owners of cars with a cool design, but low power.
Ferrari Mondial
The Mondial is an “economical” supercar in the Ferrari lineup, without pretensions to be the most expensive and rich. It was positioned for those people who no longer want to ride in a Mercedes, but cannot yet afford a cool Ferrari. At that time, the company was working with Pininfarina. The Mondial model was created on the platform of the famous Ferrari 308.
Stylistically it was a 308 Lite, but greatly simplified. In fact, simplification affected not only the appearance, but the suspension and even the engine. It had a power of 214 hp and accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds.
Actually, with such parameters it is impossible to call Ferrari Mondial a supercar. It became clear not only to racers, but also to ordinary drivers who were expecting from Ferrari a real miracle, but not a pitiful copy of the current version. So only 703 models of the Mondial 8 were produced before the cessation of production.
As for the “big brother” Mondial Quattrovalvole, it was more powerful and attractive. It sold better – about 450 cars per year worldwide. And yet the sales figure of 6 thousand copies for 13 years was low. They tried to modify the Mondial, but it did not bring the desired result, so the project was closed.
Lamborghini Urraco
The supercar Lamborghini Urraco also has a very weak engine. The two-liter power unit had eight cylinders, but produced only 180 hp. The car was presented in 1970 at the Turin Motor Show and got a lot of criticism.
Besides weak engine, potential customers didn’t like the fact that it was possible to get the car only three years later, in 1973. Despite this, the supercar Uracco had buyers. However, there were only 66 buyers.
BMW M1
Today the BMW M1 is an expensive rarity car, a true urban legend. But things were different back in 1978. BMW and Lamborghini decided to jointly build a car to win the rally. Initially, the plan was not to build a supercar, but a racing track car. The plan was to produce 400 cars.
But if everything went according to script from BMW’s side, Lamborghini during this period was on the verge of bankruptcy. This led to the fact that it had to dissolve the team of engineers. As a result, creation of the car was finished by different designers. Technologists gathered the car literally to pieces!
But nevertheless in 1978 BMW M1 coupe was presented to the public. The car was equipped with a six-cylinder inline 3.5 liter motor with a capacity of 274 “horses”, which was quite decent for those times. Up to 100 km/h the car accelerated in 6 seconds.
Later a more powerful variant, which gave as much as 470 “horses”, was created, but it could not provide success of the supercar. The matter was in its enormous for that time cost – 50 thousand dollars! Converted to today, taking into account inflation, it would cost 232 thousand dollars, which is also expensive for our time. As a result, only 455 cars were produced, including all versions. And then, the BMW M1 has been removed from production.
Jaguar XJ220
The prototype of this supercar was presented in 1988. The public liked the beautiful car, developing more than 500 hp. Several versions were produced, and they all aroused interest. But potential buyers were shocked by the price of the Jaguar XJ220 – $831,000! Besides the firm lied about the engine.
Instead of the declared V12 the car was equipped with simple 3,5-liter V6. Even the fact that the supercar with a twinturbo motor of rather high capacity accelerates up to 100 km/h only in 4 seconds, did not save the situation. People do not like to be cheated!
In addition, a car with such a power unit and its nuances requires constant service, which also did not please the buyers. It turns out, the manufacturers have economized on a motor and add-on equipment, but put the price tag under a million dollars. The project was closed after the production of 282 cars. A pity: the supercar Jaguar XJ220 was really very beautiful and even won awards at the Nürburgring.
DeLorean DMC-12
This car featured in the legendary movie Back to the Future. But it is not only an invention of filmmakers! DeLorean DMC-12 existed in reality, but did not manage to win popularity among buyers. This Irish-made car was produced between 1981 and 1983. It had a stainless steel body and unique doors, nicknamed by the people “gull wings”.
What didn’t suit fans of supercars? Low-powered engine, producing only 130 hp. Actually, for this reason DeLorean DMC-12 can not be attributed to the supercars. Up to 100 km/h the car accelerates in 8.5 seconds, which is comparable to the indicator of an average car.
At the same time manufacturers managed to sell 7 thousand cars out of 9 thousand ones. The rest were sold out then.
Porsche Carrera GT (980)
The Porsche Carrera GT is quite powerful and technologically advanced, but expensive. Its cost of $500,000 was not to the buyers’ liking (or maybe not to their pockets). In addition, the body was a bit of a nuisance. It could not compete with such mastodons as Lamborghini and Ferrari.
However, the technological characteristics of the Porsche Carrera quite fit the proud title of a supercar:
- 5.7-liter V10 engine;
- Power 604 “horses;
- ability to spin up to 8,000 rpm;
- six-speed manual transmission;
- acceleration to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds;
- top 210 km/h in 10.8 seconds.
But Ferrari cars of that time were more attractive and respectable, and cost just 100 thousand dollars more, so the Porsche Carrera could not withstand competition. Besides, it was recognized unsafe, because at speeds over 200 km/h it could lose control. In addition, it was let down by scanty electronics equipment. As a result, only about 1,000 copies were made.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Despite the fact that this car has specifications corresponding to the supercar, it “failed” in the number of both assembled and sold units.
The innovative, all-carbon Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren came out aggressive. People came to look at it, but were in no hurry to buy it. The supercar was produced in various bodies, including the SLR 722, which referred to the starting number of the 1955 Mile Rally winner Stirling Moss.
Initially it was planned to produce Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren with a 722 “horsepower” motor, but the manufacturers have limited the power plant producing 680 “horses”. All models sped up to 100 km/h in 4 seconds or even less.
But the super-expensive versions of ordinary brands, though premium, don’t make buyers want to buy them. People are willing to pay a lot of money for Lamborghini, Ferrari, finally, Aston Nartin cars, as they are elite brands, and Mercedes is still more “people’s” – there are plenty of them on the streets of any major city. Therefore, despite the fact that people liked the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, it has not gained a large number of owners.
Bugatti Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron is a cool car, which owners would like to become many, but they are not ready to pay millions of dollars. Moreover, externally, this supercar loses to the more sought-after Bugatti Chiron.
Despite the fact that the Veyron has an 8-liter engine under the hood with more than 1 thousand horsepower, and acceleration to 100 km/h is only 2.5 seconds, the price of this car still does not satisfy people. There are also complaints about the appearance.
The Shiron has more positive feedback, it is the one that has received wide acclaim. In general, the Bugatti Veyron did not withstand competition with its “brother”, as well as other cars of this family.
MB Exigence of Speed
This car doesn’t claim to be a “handsome” car, as the manufacturers put all their energy and soul into ensuring the excellent aerodynamics of their brainchild.
The supercar was equipped with a double rear spoiler, weighed only 1,000 kg, and had a 500 hp V8 motor in the rear of the body. But this car, despite its functionality and manufacturability, was never assembled. The project was closed in 2006.
Bizzarrini GTS 4.4
In 2002, a group of Italian real estate brokers acquired the rights to use the Bizzarrini brand. Under this brand in 2005 was released supercar Bizzarrini GTS 4.4 and presented at the Geneva Motor Show. The Italian car was equipped with 4.4 liter V8 engine and could reach 360 km/h. But after the show the public never saw this car again.