Why Don't Americans Make a Supercar?

[Vettezuki]

:pot_stir:

Sure we have some great cars and a great automotive history. But we don't make a Ferrari, Bugatti, etc.

[Shaolin Crane]

S7, SSC Ultimate Areo, Ford GT, ZR1, Devon GTX, Rossio Q1, are all supercars in my book, all 100% american

[BADDASSC6]

Weak attemp at :pot_stir: Ben.

[Vettezuki]

S7, SSC Ultimate Areo, Ford GT, ZR1, Devon GTX, Rossio Q1, are all supercars in my book, all 100% american

A supercar is not merely a fast car, or even a great handling fast car. It has to have some X factor, be a total package, and be recognizable as such. I'm just dicking around with something that's not quantifiable.

The only car I'd give a clear yes to in that list is the GT and maybe SC, neither of which are even made any longer. They were also one offs. I would have included the Viper as a good candidate, but that's coming to end of life as well, and is a single model. The ZR1 is clearly a performance supercar, but doesn't have nearly the cache as a supercar, most people will just think of it as a really fast Corvette. If someone said they'd give you a ZR1 or F458, I bet something like %99 will take the Ferrari. I would, and I love Corvettes.

Run the remaining list past even your car buddies and I bet you they'll be like, "what, huh." How many SSC Aeros have even been sold? Does the Devon GTX even exist yet? The Rossion, which I've never seen on the road, is more like a Kit car, and for that matter, is basically a Noble (British).

Now throw in addition to the super brand name European supercars, makers like Gumpert, great tuning houses like AMG and Brabus, and new comers to genuine hypercars like Zonda and Koneggsegg.

[Shaolin Crane]

Clearly the S7 is a supercar by all means, its fast, has a very reputable x-factor(look into whats required when purchasing one) As far as it goes doesnt get more American than something assembled 100% by hand here in california
http://www.sportscarcup.com/cars/saleen-s7-twin-turbo-image.jpg
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01557/saleen_1557745i.jpg

[big_G]

I love Supercars. I bet the USA could produce and successfully market one. That said, I find it more valuable (and impressive) to produce a "near supercar" like the ZR-1 and it's little brother, the Z-O6. The performance/costs ratio is fantastic.

[Vettezuki]

Clearly the S7 is a supercar by all means, its fast, has a very reputable x-factor(look into whats required when purchasing one) As far as it goes doesnt get more American than something assembled 100% by hand here in california


I'll give you the S7. They're also admired and raced in Europe, but I don't think ever driven on the streets. They're pretty close to a road going race car. Every review I've ever read is that they are punishing and difficult to drive. They're also not made anymore.

[Shaolin Crane]

I'll give you the S7. They're also admired and raced in Europe, but I don't think ever driven on the streets. They're pretty close to a road going race car. Every review I've ever read is that they are punishing and difficult to drive. They're also not made anymore.

Ive seen 2 in my life driving around
and they still are being made, just a new look and everything
http://newcarproduct.com/tag/2011-saleen-s7-photos/

[Shaolin Crane]

oh and who can forget the GTX1
http://www.supercars.net/gallery/119513/1793/751005.jpg

[Vettezuki]

I love Supercars. I bet the USA could produce and successfully market one.

Technically capable, absolutely. Mareting is much harder. It takes a long time to establish a brand image.

That said, I find it more valuable (and impressive) to produce a "near supercar" like the ZR-1 and it's little brother, the Z-O6. The performance/costs ratio is fantastic.

And that's kind of the difference between Americans and Europeans. Americans tend to focus on accessible, functional, performance. The Europeans tend to be into a bit more Aristocratic engineering, for lack of a better definition.

[Vettezuki]

oh and who can forget the GTX1 . . .

You did. :smack:

[Leedom]

And that's kind of the difference between Americans and Europeans. Americans tend to focus on accessible, functional, performance. The Europeans tend to be into a bit more Aristocratic engineering, for lack of a better definition.

I think you hit it on the head there Ben. American believe on brutal power/performance at a cost. Europeans are the status type.

[Vettezuki]

. . . Europeans are the status type.

Status yes. But let's not kid ourselves. They know how to engineer and build some staggering machines.

I think my hypothesis is that Americans are (mmm, at least were, differenent subject) a bit more individualistic. They like what's actually available to them, including stuff they lay their own hands on. With quasi-exception of the Brits, Europeans in general don't "hot rod" or modify their cars themselves; they worship at the altar of their "national" marques. In places like Maranello, the citizens foam at the mouth for cars they'll only ever see in passing.

A curious tangent here is that the Japanese are more like Americans. Not so much now, but for a several decades the Japanese domestic market had a VERY healthy DIY approach to hi-performance cars and the idea was definitely accessibility to the devoted amateur. We sometimes make fun of the kid with a civic and fart can exhaust, but there were some savage Evo, STi, Skyline, Supra, etc. cars that compare favorably in general price/availability to our built muscle cars.

Another tangent is that the global market for genuine super cars is not so large and the Europeans simply dominate it. Entry to a new maker would be VERY difficult.

[Shaolin Crane]

I think you hit it on the head there Ben. American believe on brutal power/performance at a cost. Europeans are the status type.

100% agreement, i can be stylized when i fight and make it pretty, but i prefer to break a knee, snap an elbow and tear a shoulder out of the joint as quickly and precisely as possible, without anyone seeing or knowing.

[Vettezuki]

100% agreement, i can be stylized when i fight and make it pretty, but i prefer to break a knee, snap an elbow and tear a shoulder out of the joint as quickly and precisely as possible, without anyone seeing or knowing.

Nothing wrong with an element of aesthetic beauty added to ones' brutality. :drink: Maybe it's because of my own blood, but I like the Viking approach.

http://www.ssip.net/upload/koenigsegg-ccx-side-3_43.jpg

"Never walk
away from home
ahead of your axe and sword.
You can't feel a battle
in your bones
or foresee a fight." -- The Havamal

[Shaolin Crane]

Nothing wrong with an element of aesthetic beauty added to ones' brutality. :drink: Maybe it's because of my own blood, but I like the Viking approach.

http://www.ssip.net/upload/koenigsegg-ccx-side-3_43.jpg

"Never walk
away from home
ahead of your axe and sword.
You can't feel a battle
in your bones
or foresee a fight." -- The Havamal
I prefer Miyamoto Musashi
"You should not have any special fondness for a particular weapon, or anything else, for that matter. Too much is the same as not enough. Without imitating anyone else, you should have as much weaponry as suits you."

[Vettezuki]

I prefer Miyamoto Musashi
"You should not have any special fondness for a particular weapon, or anything else, for that matter. Too much is the same as not enough. Without imitating anyone else, you should have as much weaponry as suits you."

Yeah, me too. Just had to find a Viking saying to go with the Koenigsegg. :smack:

[Shaolin Crane]

Yeah, me too. Just had to find a Viking saying to go with the Koenigsegg. :smack:

oh well this one would have sufficed
"Jubb jub kaoooorraaa! mickkklyachhh! rooooooaaaaahhhhh! AHHHHHHHH!"

[Vettezuki]

oh well this one would have sufficed
"Jubb jub kaoooorraaa! mickkklyachhh! rooooooaaaaahhhhh! AHHHHHHHH!"

Now we're talking! I have no idea what we're saying but it sounds intense. :lhdevil:

[Vettezuki]

FTR, money no object, I think I'd go with the Koenigsegg. It's not the most advanced or fastest (though mighty fast indeed), but it does have some X factor that really makes it stand out to me. I especially love the cockpit with the wrap around glass. Reminds me of a Cylon raider.

http://www.modelermagic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/900230_press12-001.jpg

[Shaolin Crane]

Now we're talking! I have no idea what we're saying but it sounds intense. :lhdevil:

Thats how i feel whenever a viking speaks :sm_laughing:

[Vettezuki]

So what's the American equivalent of this?

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

[Shaolin Crane]

movie no worky

[Vettezuki]

movie no worky

Fixed.