Vector Aeromotive

[jeffgoddin]

Sad story really.

The W8 is an 80's car! From 1989-93 17 models were produced for customers. One appeared in Rising Sun.

The M12 was the product of Megatech (that sounds familiar...) after a hostile takeover, and 14 were produced, and one prototype was modified for racing, but had mechanical issues.

And that's it.

And by the way, Jerry's Wiegert's hiring (he goes by Jerry), just email jw@aquajet.com.

 

[tankuroded]

The real race car looks simliar to the GT2's LM.

 

[itsbenjibrand]

Love that car. Its available in yellow correct? I remember using a gameshark code to get the Vector in the Toyota new car lot a long time ago. And I'm pretty sure it was yellow. It also had a lot of downforce, and was fun to drive.

 

[Tornado]

Why wouldn't you just buy it in the Vector lot?

 

[itsbenjibrand]

The disc I had at the time was badly scratched, and you couldn't go to South City, or else the game froze.

 

[Parnelli Bone]

Holy 🤬 I didn't know there actually was a Vector racing car. Nice find, Jeff.

That's also what I understand. Jerry Weigert seemed to be quite the idea man, but wasn't so good with financing. Many years he spent making concept cars during the '70s, but nothing production-wise. Then he won some sort of lawsuit against Goodyear tires I think, who made a "Vector" tire. Jerry owned rights to the name Vector. Something like that. And he won the lawsuit/now had plenty of money for making his cars a reality. But money got screwed up, and Vector I think got bought by a shady Indonesian consortium. I think by that point, Jerry had no say in the sale, since he didn't actually fully own Vector.

The consortium owned Lamborghini at the time, and were able to throw the 12-cylinder Countach engine (citation needed, lol) into the M12. "M" stood for Megatech....a subtle jab at Jerry IMO, since previous Vectors were "W", as in "W8."

Pretty cool that both Vectors appear in GT2.

 

[AMCNUT]

Yeah, GT2 introduced me to Vector and it's been a favourite of mine ever since; sad to see that none made the cut in GT5. I loved driving the M12 in GT2 - fun times, especially as I had one of each colour at one point in time!

GT2 encouraged me to read up on Vector way back then - there's lots of good info but it's scattered all over the place. I wish that someone would be able to write a definitive history of the marque with lots of text, gorgeous pictures, and oodles of technical info. And hey, why not a quick profile on each individual vehicle as well since so few were made???

If such a book already exists, would anyone be kind enough so as to alert me to its title?

 

[Tornado]

But money got screwed up, and Vector I think got bought by a shady Indonesian consortium. I think by that point, Jerry had no say in the sale, since he didn't actually fully own Vector.

The consortium owned Lamborghini at the time, and were able to throw the 12-cylinder Countach engine (citation needed, lol) into the M12. "M" stood for Megatech....a subtle jab at Jerry IMO, since previous Vectors were "W", as in "W8."

Megatech basically did a corporate raid of Vector and specifically excluded Jerry Vector from the company. They happened to own Lamborghini at the time (Chrysler offloaded it on them in '94), so they basically threw out most of the Vector engineering ideas and made a Lamborghini Diablo that looked like a Vector.

Interestingly enough, Vector as a company was basically dead by the time GT2 came out (Megatech had sold Lamborghini to Audi, but continued to use Lamborghini parts without paying for them, so Audi basically grabbed some of the stuff that was owned by Vector the company, except it was actually owned by Vector the person, who used that as justification to sue to regain control of the company. Its confusing), and with it went any likely chance of the brand appearing in the series again.

 

[AMCNUT]

Megatech basically did a corporate raid of Vector and specifically excluded Jerry Vector from the company. They happened to own Lamborghini at the time (Chrysler offloaded it on them in '94), so they basically threw out most of the Vector engineering ideas and made a Lamborghini Diablo that looked like a Vector.

Interestingly enough, Vector as a company was basically dead by the time GT2 came out (Megatech had sold Lamborghini to Audi, but continued to use Lamborghini parts without paying for them, so Audi basically grabbed some of the stuff that was owned by Vector the company, except it was actually owned by Vector the person, who used that as justification to sue to regain control of the company. Its confusing), and with it went any likely chance of the brand appearing in the series again.

True enough (a truly sad situation I might add), but I have to think that the additional exposure that a GT5 (6?) appearance would bring would benefit at least one of the above groups on the grounds of getting a public awareness campaign off the ground. As awesome as the Vectors are, I don't think they're on enough radars at the moment... outside of the GT community and a few enthusiasts most people just look at me funny if I mention Vector Aeromotive...

 

[Pupik]

The "Vector M12 LM edition" that you see in the above picture raced only once, at the 1998 (?) 12 Hours of Sebring [wait, Wikipedia says Road Atlanta, presently not sourced]. I believe it never raced again, having retired after only a few laps.

Most automotive publications didn't take Vector seriously; part of the problem was arranging cars to be ready, have some definite production goals, and providing a reliable/running product for testing. Problem was, rarely did all three gel at once for public inspection. As a kid, I'd always hoped that it would happen, but it never materialized into much more than hype. I do not recall a serious test of any of his machinery (I do remember a partial road test by Car & Driver in 1994...the car's engine blew up), but as time goes by, someone must have put one at least road-going model through its paces by now?

...um, wut?

 

[Tornado]

That car was also in Sports Car GT, if I remember correctly.

 

[Liquid]

The two Vectors are magnifique. 2 of the best cars in GT2.

I too was disappointed with their subsequant exclusions. Who now owns the licence to the cars? Wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult for PD to get the M12 & W8 in GT5 at least.

 

[Tornado]

Who now owns the licence to the cars? Wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult for PD to get the M12 & W8 in GT5 at least.

Vector is back in control of the licence. Which is why any chance of ever seeing an M12 in any future game is basically unpossible. W8 maybe, but otherwise no.

 

[Liquid]

Vector is back in control of the licence. Which is why any chance of ever seeing an M12 in any future game is basically unpossible. W8 maybe, but otherwise no.

That's a disappointment. Preferred the M12 over the W8. I'm sure Vector wouldn't mind their cars being featured in GT, it makes sense!

But regarding the M12; Megatech is pretty much defunct now though, surely? It'd just be great to see them in GT once again.

 

[Tornado]

The problem with the M12 is three fold:
It was a Vector that was designed as a direct result of throwing Jerry Wiegert out of the company.
It was pretty much completely designed by Megatech.
It was designed using Lamborghini components, and Audi and Megatech/Vector were on very bad terms within months of when GT2 came out.

All three of those things would need to be taken care of to get the M12 licenced for a future game. The second one may not be an issue, but the other two are very likely irreconcilable.

 

[Liquid]

That is a major shame. The M12 was easily one of GT2's best cars. I gained much pleasure using it in the recent Lap Time Challenge. The WX8 boasts improbable stats, so I don't know what to make of it.

As an 'oddity', given Wiegert had no input in it's production, the M12 bears a striking similarity to the earlier W3. Odd given it was supposed to be a Diablo facsimilie.

 

[Shant J.]

I'd love to see Vector return to GT, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[Tornado]

As an 'oddity', given Wiegert had no input in it's production, the M12 bears a striking similarity to the earlier W3. Odd given it was supposed to be a Diablo facsimilie.

The WX3 was the successor to the W8. Same basic design ideas and engineering as the older W8, similar drivetrain, same chassis underneath, but with some advancements. He showed it off in late 1992 or so. Megatech took over the company soon after the WX3 was shown off, and fired Weigert.

Megatech more-or-less took that body, threw out the entire drivetrain and replaced it all with Lamborghini parts (which necessitated a redesign of the body and chassis to fit the larger engine, one that Megatech didn't bother putting much effort into).

 

[Liquid]

Ah, now I'm getting it. Thanks Tornado.

 

[Parnelli Bone]

That is a major shame. The M12 was easily one of GT2's best cars. I gained much pleasure using it in the recent Lap Time Challenge. The WX8 boasts improbable stats, so I don't know what to make of it.

Both the W8 and the M12 are awesome. I've raced both in GT All Stars and several other top-rated events. Not the World Cup, though. Despite the fact that both Vectors aren't R-bodies, they still generate a lot of downforce.

When I drove the Saleen S7 in GT4, I was hoping it would be a Vector substitute, since it's American and an exotic sports car. But it's disappointing in comparison to the Vectors of GT2. All three cars are supposed to have body designs full of channels which generate more and more downforce as speed rises, but the Saleen in GT4 just understeers. Understeer understeer understeer.

 

[Liquid]

I have to say, I thought GT4 as a whole was ''The Real Understeer Simulator''.

 

[itsbenjibrand]

I have to say, I thought GT4 as a whole was ''The Real Understeer Simulator''.

Agreed.
GT3 has better physics than GT4. Not that similar to GT2 but close enough.
The M12 is very fun to drive.
As is the Wiegert.
Is it just me or is the Wiegert Vector W8 wicked fast?

 

[Parnelli Bone]

I have to say, I thought GT4 as a whole was ''The Real Understeer Simulator''.

The Real Understeer, No Drifting or Donuts Simulator. Ha ha.

 

[itsbenjibrand]

Sure you can't do donuts in GT4, but once you get your gameshark into the mix, you can do some wicked burnouts, in 3rd gear, at 80mph, in your front wheel drive 1000hp SRT-4. Now on topic: Did Vector only make the M12 and W8? Or did they make other models aswell?

 

[Liquid]

Sure you can't do donuts in GT4, but once you get your gameshark into the mix, you can do some wicked burnouts, in 3rd gear, at 80mph, in your front wheel drive 1000hp SRT-4. Now on topic: Did Vector only make the M12 and W8? Or did they make other models aswell?

The M12 and W8 are the only commercial vehicles Vector ever produced I think. They did make a few concept cars; W2, WX3 and SRV8 and obviously the hopefully upcoming WX8. Note the similarities:

Vector W2

Vector WX3

 

[jeffgoddin]

^Love the chick in leather in that first pic! So 80's!

 

[Parnelli Bone]

Sure you can't do donuts in GT4, but once you get your gameshark into the mix, you can do some wicked burnouts,

Yeah, I shouldn't have to buy a Lameshark, I mean Gameshark, just to do some donuts. Ha ha. Yet another reason I'm liking GT5 and GT2 much better than 4.

 

[itsbenjibrand]

I know, I hate the fact I have to use a Gameshark for donuts. On-Topic: The Vectors don't spin that much and GT2 at all.

 

[Liquid]

I know, I hate the fact I have to use a Gameshark for donuts. On-Topic: The Vectors don't spin that much and GT2 at all.

The W8 felt very 'weighty', which made it the perfect slugger. In the Lap Time Challenge we did recently, one of the cars I used at Tahiti Road was an M12; it felt rather light going over bumps; I had to lift off twice during the lap when I didn't want to, which cost me a great time with it but overall it was a stunning drive.

 

[itsbenjibrand]

Ah. The the bump on the straightaway before the final corner. Fun to hit with FFs and 4WDs, but not at all fun with FRs, MRs, and RRs.