Second-World Supercars: Italian Sexpots Are So Played Out—How About Slovenian? Malaysian?

Founding a sports-car company is a surefire way to squander one's fortune and reputation. Think of Bricklin, De Tomaso, and DeLorean. The risk might be monumental, but so is the appeal: Be the guy whose creation inspires the next generation of car fanatics. That's a nice headstone inscription. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the concentration of wealth in many such nations, the Second World is emerging as fertile ground for industrialists hoping to be the next Enzo or Ferruccio. While there is no shortage of vaporware being peddled to potential investors worldwide, the following companies are notable for actually, you know, building cars. (Which isn't to say that they, too, won't go the way of Vector.)   marussia motors Homeland: Russia Annual Output: "Several hundred" Chief Offering: B2 Price: $155,800 Engine: Turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6, 350 hp Weight: 2450 pounds Performance Claims Zero to 62 mph: 4.6 sec Top Speed: 155 mph Marussia has serious money—perhaps you recognize the name from its Formula 1 team. Founded in 2007, the Russian sports-car maker debuted the B1 supercar in 2008. Only 30 were built as test cars; now Marussia is introducing the far-wilder-looking B2 [shown top left]. Power comes from a turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 (rumor is that it's made by Nissan) mated to a six-speed automatic. With a carbon-fiber body and an aluminum structure, the B2 will be manufactured by Finnish coachbuilder Valmet Automotive. Fifty B2s have been built for evaluation purposes. Production is planned for late 2012 or 2013.   tushek supercars Homeland: Slovenia Annual Output: 10 Chief Offering: Renovatio T500 Price: $388,405 Engine: 4.2-liter V-8, 450 hp Weight: 2500 pounds Performance Claims Zero to 62 mph: 3.7 sec Top Speed: more than 193 mph The vision of Slovenian race driver and businessman Aljoša Tushek, the Renovatio T500 [shown top middle] is a highly modified version of the Slovakian K-1 Attack kit car that we tested five years ago ["Just Do It! (Yourself)," September 2007]. Instead of the K-1′s Honda powertrain, though, the Renovatio uses a high-revving 4.2-liter Audi V-8. Two prototypes have been built and sold, reviews have been positive, and the company has orders for two cars. Predictably, Tushek has even more ambitious goals: Next year, he says he plans to launch the Forego T700, which will be bigger, faster, and more expensive.   bufori Homeland: Malaysia Annual Output: 30–50 Chief Offering: La Joya Price: $150,000 Engine: 2.7-liter V-6, 172 hp; supercharged 2.7-liter V-6, 238 hp Weight: 3300 pounds Performance Claims Zero to 62 mph: 6.7–7.8 sec Top Speed: 124–137 mph Founded in Australia some 20 years ago, Bufori relocated to Kuala Lumpur in 1994. The company's vehicles look like they've been around much longer than that: Its core model is the 1930s-themed La Joya [shown top right], and it unveiled the Geneva luxury sedan two years ago. On account of the latter's $350,000 price tag, most of the 30 to 50 cars Bufori builds each year are La Joyas. In spite of the long hood, the La Joya carries its Hyundai V-6 behind the seats; the Geneva is powered by a 6.4-liter Chrysler Hemi V-8. Comparison Test: 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia vs. 2011 McLaren MP4-12C, 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Road Test: 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Feature: Speed Sells: Charting Global Supercar Sales—with Charts! from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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