Sports cars and supercars stand as the epitome of automotive engineering, known for their extreme performance, eye-catching designs, and exceptional quality.
With their six-figure price tags and the ability to captivate attention worldwide, they represent an exclusive niche in the automotive industry. Almost every prominent manufacturer has tried to release their own version of a sports car.
However, creating a supercar that justifies such a steep price is no simple task, especially when competing with established models from renowned brands that already attract most buyers.
As a result, many manufacturers have launched potentially great supercars, only for them to fail for various reasons.
Sometimes, even the most prestigious automakers fall short of delivering production versions of their concept cars and prototypes, which had built up massive global anticipation. Here’s a list of 10 overhyped sports cars that ended up failing miserably.
10. Fisker Karma (2011-2012)
Developed as the first production vehicle from Henrik Fisker’s startup company, the Fisker Karma initially seemed incredibly promising on the verge of its release.
It wasn’t just one of the first plug-in hybrid sports cars, boasting 402 horsepower and innovative technology, but it was also aesthetically stunning. So, why did it fail?
Despite being marketed as a plug-in hybrid, the Fisker Karma turned out to be highly inefficient. When combined with its $100,000 price tag and multiple factory recalls, it’s no surprise that it failed to meet expectations.
9. Jaguar XJ220 (1992-1994)
Four months after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Jaguar unveiled the XJ220 as a concept car with some truly impressive specifications.
Features like all-wheel drive and a racing-inspired V12 engine generated significant excitement, prompting many eager buyers to place deposits in advance.
However, when the production model finally arrived four years later, it wasn’t as competent as anticipated.
Instead of the promised V12, it came with a V6 engine and rear-wheel drive. This disappointment led to much lower demand than Jaguar had hoped, and only 282 units were produced.
8. DeLorean DMC-12 (1981-1983)
While fans of Back to the Future may disagree, the DeLorean DMC-12 doesn’t make much sense from a purely automotive perspective.
Despite its striking and aggressive design complete with gullwing doors the DMC-12’s modest V6 engine only produced 130 horsepower.
This resulted in a sluggish 0-60 mph time of 10 seconds, making it painfully slow compared to its performance-oriented competitors.
Also Read: 17 Formerly Discontinued Cars Making a Return to the Market
7. Lamborghini Jalpa (1981-1988)
The Jalpa represented Lamborghini’s effort to create an entry-level sports car that could appeal to buyers who couldn’t afford the iconic Countach.
However, this very intention led to its downfall. In an attempt to make the car more affordable and less extreme, the Lamborghini Jalpa ultimately lacked the performance and thrill expected from a Lamborghini.
This lack of excitement resulted in limited demand, with only 410 units produced over its seven-year production run—a sales figure that is underwhelming for an entry-level model.
6. BMW M1 (1978-1981)
Let’s clarify one thing: the M1’s failure wasn’t due to any mistakes on BMW’s part. In fact, the company did everything it could to ensure the car’s success.
The M1 was initially conceived to compete in a new Manufacturers Competition racing series, which required participating vehicles to have road-going versions.
To meet this requirement, BMW enlisted Lamborghini to assist with the development of the M1. Unfortunately, financial troubles at Lamborghini caused significant delays in the project, forcing BMW to cancel the partnership.
With no other manufacturers able to step in on time, BMW was forced to rush the M1’s production, resulting in a car that didn’t quite live up to expectations.
5. Ferrari F50 (1995-1997)
While the Ferrari F50 is undeniably an excellent car in its own right, it couldn’t escape the shadow of its predecessor, the F40. The F50 featured a breathtaking design and a racing-inspired V12 engine paired with a manual gearbox.
However, the F40 was still seen as the superior model by many enthusiasts, leaving the F50 to struggle with lower demand and interest. As a result, Ferrari only produced 349 units of the F50, a relatively small number for a Ferrari supercar.
4. W Motors Lykan HyperSport (2013-2018)
The Lykan HyperSport, priced at $3.4 million, generated a tremendous amount of hype prior to its release, particularly after making an appearance in the Fast & Furious movie.
Despite its ultra-aggressive design and claims of a 740-hp flat-six engine, there is little reliable information to confirm that W Motors ever actually sold a single Lykan HyperSport. Many people believe the entire venture was a scam.
3. Vector W8 (1990-1993)
Before its eventual release, the Vector W8 appeared to have immense potential. Vector was already known for producing wild cars, and the W2 prototype, on which the W8 was based, featured a Chevy-sourced twin-turbo V8 and an eye-catching wedge-shaped design.
However, despite promises that the Vector W8 would go into production just one year later at a price no higher than $125,000, production was delayed for a staggering nine years. Furthermore, the price was tripled, which led to its eventual failure.
Also Read: 10 Best Budget-Friendly Cars with Luxury Features in 2025
2. Lexus LFA (2011-2013)
Designed with Toyota’s ambition to create a near-perfect supercar capable of competing with Ferrari and Lamborghini, the Lexus LFA was an extraordinary machine.
Its V10 engine produces one of the best engine sounds in automotive history, and it’s a thrilling supercar to drive.
However, to achieve this level of excellence, Toyota and Lexus invested over 10 years and millions of dollars in development. Despite its price tag of over $400,000, Lexus reportedly lost nearly half a million dollars on each LFA sold.
1. Cadillac XLR (2004-2009)
The Cadillac XLR, based on the Chevy Corvette, represented GM’s luxury division’s attempt at creating a two-seater convertible coupe with plenty of power.
While the XLR itself was a beautiful supercar with great driving dynamics and impressive power, it wasn’t enough to set it apart from rivals like the Mercedes SL or even the Chevy Corvette.
The interest in the XLR never grew as Cadillac had hoped, leading to a shortened production run.