Contents
Overview
Manufacturers invest millions of dollars to build a vehicle. This might be in the production or in the research and development, they always hope that they can get their money back once the vehicle is launched in the market. Many of them get their investments back in fact with huge profits if the vehicle built is good and goes on sale at the perfect time. And some vehicles fail to impress the buyers which leads to huge losses. But there are a few vehicles that are actually good enough to have but failed due to heavy competition, wrong time of release, or outdated technology used in the vehicle. Here is a list of 10 such vehicles that failed in the market and ended up bankrupting their manufacturers. (Source : hotcars.com)
1. Vector M12
Vector Aeromotive produced this sports car from 1995 to 1999. This vehicle used a 5.7 L Lamborghini V12 engine that made a power output of 492 hp at 5,200 rpm and 425 lb⋅ft of torque at 4,900 rpm. This 2-door coupe has a 5-speed manual transmission and a top speed of 189 mph. And only 17 units were produced of which three are pre-production models.
2. DeLorean DMC-12
This beautiful wedge design vehicle was the iconic car from the 80s. It also featured in the movie “Back to the Future”. But only 9,000 units were built and the manufacturers had to declare bankruptcy with the arrest of DeLorean.
3. Plymouth Prowler
This retro-styled car was in production from 1997 to 2002. The company offered the vehicle in only one generation and 11,702 units were produced. The vehicle used a 3.5 L EGG V6 engine and a 4-speed 42LE automatic transmission.
4. Hummer H2
This large SUV was in production from 2002 to 2009. This vehicle used 6.0 L V8 till 2007 and later a 6.2 L V8 engine. The vehicle used three different automatic transmissions and the 2008-9 model produced a 393 hp and an acceleration from 0-60mph in 9.1 sec.
5. Jensen SV-8
With an investment of more than $10 million, the vehicle got launched at the 1998 British International Motor Show. The company planned to produce 300 units with a deposit of $40,000 but only 110 units were ordered. This led to the bankruptcy of the manufacturers leaving 18 partially completed cars and 20 unsold cars.
6. Wiesmann MF5
This vehicle came into production in 2009 and the company produced only 55 of these. This vehicle designed to look very good but the issues with the powertrain brought down its sales of this vehicle. Eventually leading the company to bankruptcy.
7. Pontiac G6
This mid-size vehicle was produced by General Motors from 2004 to 2010. The vehicle used a 2-door convertible, 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan body style but couldn’t stay in the market for so long.
8. Spyker C8 Preliator
The company’s decision to buy SAAB from General Motors is what lead the company to bankruptcy. But even after that, the company bounced back and revealed the C8 Preliator at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. And there is no news about this vehicle after that.
9. Fisker Karma
This sports sedan was produced by Fisker Automotive in 2012. The vehicle used a 2.0 L turbocharged Ecotec VVT DI LNF I4 engine and two 161-hp electric motors. This vehicle became famous with big celebrities buying them. But the manufacturer had to bankrupt leaving a debt of $192 million.
10. Apollo Gumpert
Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH, a German manufacturer brought this sports car into production in 2005. The vehicle used a 4.2 L twin-turbocharged V8 engine and a 7-speed sequential manual transmission. This vehicle sold well till 2012 and the demand for this fell very quickly. But they tried to pull back into the competition but stopped production in 2012.