10 Strangest Supercars From The 2000s
The 2000s introduced us a number of the most memorable supercars that the world had ever seen. From the Ferrari Enzo to the Porsche Carrera GT, a very glamorous of carbon fiber development, thrilling engines and distinctive styling was upon us.
Oh, and who may ever neglect concerning the Bugatti Veyron or the various iterations of the Pagani Zonda? This was an period the place the supercar was experiencing a robust surge after the flip of the brand new millennium. Some startup manufacturers even ended up changing into extremely profitable because of this, together with Koenigsegg which tend to interrupt information.
Others in the meantime, weren’t fairly remembered as a lot – and a few had been downright odd. Here is a listing of ten of the strangest supercars of the 2000s – a very unforgettable decade for quick vehicles.
10/10 Covini C6W
Impressed by the Tyrell P34 Method 1 automobile from the Nineteen Seventies, the Covini C6W was a undertaking initially drawn up in the identical decade, however was deserted by the Nineteen Eighties. In 2004 nevertheless, the Covini was again.
Powered by a 4.2-liter V8 from Audi, the C6W produced 434 hp and will go onto a prime velocity of 186mph. None of that sounds significantly weird till you’re taking one step again and notice that the C6W was moderately too impressed by the Tyrell.
The concept of a 6-wheeled automobile or truck is bizarre in anyone’s guide, by no means thoughts one designated to sports activities vehicles! The dual entrance axle routinely makes the Covini an uncommon one, and it was by no means going to go away this listing.
9/10 Ascari A10
You could acknowledge the Ascari A10 as that shouty yellow factor that appeared on High Gear many moons in the past, however few folks ever recall its existence and there’s one particularly good cause for that.
The A10, regardless of being primarily based on the identical platform because the KZ1 and the KZ1-R racing variant, solely ever remained a prototype that by no means truly reached manufacturing.
It was powered by the identical 4.9-liter V8 engine discovered within the BMW E39 M5 and the achingly stunning Z8. It was mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox. A plan of fifty vehicles was in place, however the firm declared chapter in 2010, and we by no means noticed these superb machines ever once more.
8/10 Caparo T1
Pitched as a Method 1 fashion automobile for street use, the T1 was about as insane as you could possibly get for something with tax and registration plates. It had a 3.5 liter V8 engine made by Menhard with 575hp – in a automobile that had a dry weight of 470 kg (1,040 lbs)!
It was a undertaking dreamed up by designer, Ben Scott-Geddes and engineer, Graham Halsteed, who beforehand labored on the long-lasting McLaren F1. A restricted run of 25 examples had been to be constructed every year after unveiling it in 2007, however these targets had been by no means met with solely 16 ever being bought within the UK by 2012.
It proved to be a harmful approach of driving as properly. When it was examined on Fifth Gear, driver & presenter, Jason Plato received caught up in a hearth, mildly burning him throughout filming of the automobile on observe. The sheer hazard and insanity of the T1 makes it a moderately fascinating supercar – even when everyone appears to have forgotten about it.
7/10 Bristol Fighter
The Fighter represented the revival of Bristol Vehicles after a couple of many years of outdated fashions with little going for them. It had an all-new platform and physique and was powered by an 8.0-liter Chrysler V10 engine as discovered within the Dodge Viper.
Much more spectacular than the gullwing doorways was the efficiency: the usual trim gave you 525 hp. The Fighter S had 628 hp. Nevertheless it was the Fighter T that basically had the massive figures.
The T was supposed to provide 1,026hp from a turbocharged model of that V10 engine. However sadly, it by no means went into manufacturing with solely the prototype shell remaining which was bought off because of Bristol Vehicles’ liquidation two years in the past. Solely 13 or so Fighters had been ever made and remaining chassis numbers are throughout the arms of devoted Bristol specialists similar to SLJ Hackett in southern England.
6/10 Marcos TSO
Just like the Fighter, the TSO marked the resurgence of one other iconic British model trying to tackle the competitors within the new millennium.
Marcos Engineering produced some actually succesful sports activities and racing vehicles all through their historical past, together with the three.0 liter GT and Mini Marcos that was primarily based on Mini Cooper underpinnings.
The TSO was a bespoke supercar powered by a sturdy 5.7-liter Chevrolet LS6 V8. It was accessible in numerous states of tune from 350hp all the way in which as much as 462hp with the efficiency pack added on. The chassis was engineered by motorsport aces, Prodrive, and was even accessible in a 6-speed handbook. Sadly, the undertaking did not final lengthy and Marcos went into administration in 2007.
An estimated 5 or 6 vehicles had been ever produced with some prototypes left behind.
5/10 9ff GT9
So far as quick Porsches go, everyone is conscious of the RUF, Singer and in-house GT merchandise. However the one tuner that seemingly will get left behind in dialog was the outright bonkers agency, 9ff.
9ff took the well-acclaimed 997 Porsche 911 GT3 and adjusted… just about every little thing. The flat six engine was extensively modified and twin turbocharged to provide anyplace between 740 and 1,120hp. Because of this, the 9ff GT9 was a tad sooner than the concorde-like Bugatti Veyron with a prime velocity of 254mph.
Simply 150 GT9s had been ever made, with simply 20 produced with essentially the most highly effective state of tune. So far as tuned Porsches go, the 9ff might be the king of the hill on the grounds of efficiency.
4/10 Gumpert Apollo
Based by Audi ace, Roland Gumpert who was concerned within the Quattro’s Group B rallying profession, Gumpert was based after the brainwave of designing a street-legal racing automobile with Roland’s engineering experience in thoughts. He got here up with the Apollo which started manufacturing in 2005.
Naturally, it used Audi’s 4.2 liter V8 engine. However this time, it was twin turbocharged and produced between 641-789hp relying on the state of tune. Roland utilized his motorsport experience and entered the Apollo into the 24-Hour Nürburgring race in 2008, utilizing a hybrid model. It used a 3.3 liter V8 coupled to an electrical motor – producing 646hp in complete. It even had the power to recharge the battery underneath braking – which was well-ahead of its time!
The Apollo ultimately received changed by the Apollo Intensa Emozione in 2019 with a radically sharp look underneath a brand new model identify, Apollo Automobil.
3/10 Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale
For those who ever believed the 8C was Alfa’s craziest supercar of the 2000s, then you definately’re fairly incorrect. The TZ3 was initially primarily based on a Maserati with a 4.2 liter V8, however the bigger Stradale model was primarily based on none apart from the Dodge Viper.
Particularly, it was the Viper ACR that served the idea for the mad Alfa. It is 8.4-liter V10 producing 640hp by means of a 6-speed handbook gearbox. This must be essentially the most excessive instance of an Italian automobile constructed upon American operating gear – and it wasn’t unusual prior to now with vehicles such because the DeTomaso
The Stradale was bodied by Zagato which following custom, had constructed the previous Alfa TZ1 and TZ2 fashions from the Sixties. The coachbuilder has endlessly been famend for designing some actually stunning machines.
2/10 McLaren Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss
As if the McLaren Mercedes SLR wasn’t mad sufficient for each respective producers, Mercedes took it one step additional and needed to create a particular model that harked again to the 300SLR of the 1955. Simply this 12 months, the Uhlenhaut coupe turned the most costly automobile ever bought at $142m.
The 1955 Mille Miglia noticed Sir Stirling Moss win his biggest race behind the wheel of an SLR sporting the well-known 722 numbers. The tribute automobile references that actual occasion and driver, they usually even got here out with a 722 version for the common SLR, to which the open-top automobile was primarily based on.
The SLR Stirling Moss is a windscreen-less beast with a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 with 650hp and 605 lb.ft of torque. It had a 217mph prime velocity, that means for those who ever supposed to go that shortly, you may want some goggles.
Simply 75 examples had been ever made and solely provided to present SLR prospects, to which all had been bought out immediately after launch.
1/10 Spyker C8
Spyker could also be identified for the loopy Dutch supercars of the final twenty years, however surely, they’re one of many oldest automobile producers in Europe that pioneered a 4WD system as early as 1904.
The C8 however, is the automobile that everyone thinks of when the model is talked about. It is the third automobile on this listing to be powered by Audi’s 4.2-liter V8, however is essentially left commonplace with 395hp and will go onto a prime velocity of 186mph.
What made the Spyker uncommon for its time although, was the way in which it was designed. The propeller steering wheel as an illustration was a nod to Spyker’s aviation heritage, and the trims and fittings had been luxuriously beautiful – crafted from the best leather-based and aluminum to create an environment impressed by a cockpit of a fighter airplane. If the phrase, unusual might be utilized to any supercar from this time interval, the C8 may definitely be it.
Sources: Mercedes-Benz, Bristol Vehicles Heritage Belief, Marcos, RM Sotheby’s
