This forgotten American supercar was decades ahead of its time
Summary
In the late '80s, a small manufacturer revolutionized American muscle cars by defying the norm of big V-8s, opting instead to rewrite the automotive playbook. This bold move set the stage for a new era in car design and performance.
Key Insights
What was the Vector W8 and why is it considered America's first supercar?
The Vector W8 was an American supercar developed by Vector Aeromotive Corporation in the late 1980s and introduced in 1989. Designed by chief Gerald Wiegert, it is thought by many to be America's very first supercar. The W8 featured a futuristic wedge-shaped design with scissor doors and was constructed using advanced materials including carbon fiber and Kevlar body panels over an aluminum honeycomb monocoque—the same materials found on modern supercars. It was powered by a 6.0-liter twin V8 engine paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, producing 625 advertised horsepower (closer to 700 hp during testing) and 649 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds with an advertised top speed of 242 mph, making it exceptionally advanced for its era.
How did the Vector W8 differ from typical American muscle cars of the 1980s?
While most American automakers in the 1980s were downsizing V8 engines to meet government-mandated fuel economy standards—with engines typically ranging from 4.2 to 4.4 liters—the Vector W8 took a radically different approach. Rather than following the industry trend of smaller, less powerful engines, Vector used a large 6.0-liter twin V8 that delivered exceptional performance. Additionally, the W8 revolutionized American automotive design by incorporating cutting-edge materials and construction techniques (carbon fiber, Kevlar, and aluminum monocoque) that were typically reserved for European and exotic supercars. This bold departure from the conventional American muscle car formula of the era—which emphasized large displacement but often delivered disappointing power due to emissions regulations—positioned the Vector W8 as a genuinely innovative American performance vehicle that challenged the status quo.