How Shockingly Ugly Is The 218mph VLF Force 1?
VLF Automotive’s Force 1 had a bit of a troubled start in life. Aston Martin claimed that designer Henrik Fisker - one of the British company’s ex-employees - had copied the DB10. Fisker - who started VLF as a join venture with former General Motors chairman Bob Lutz and racing driver Ben Keating - responded by opening up a $100 million lawsuit against Aston; as you do.
But, with the car revealed in full at the Detroit motor show we can now see it looks nothing like a DB10. Not unless the DB10 you have in mind has been hooked on crystal meth for the last three years, anyway. In fact, I don’t like the way it looks at all.
It’s preposterously fussy at the front with all those lines, intakes and the tiny headlights (which remind me of the ones you find on the Mazda MX-5). The rear is better - a little Dodge Viper-esque in places - but with more particularly unsubtle gouges and vents, it still looks messy.
Yes, it has a 745bhp and 638lb ft, 8.4-litre V10 from the Dodge Viper and yes, it’ll do 218mph (as well as 0-60mph in three seconds dead). But right now I’m too distracted by the rubbish lettering they’ve used on the boot and the front wing to care. It looks like those naff, generic chrome letters they sell at your local parts store. On a $268,500 car. Seriously?
But maybe I’m being overly harsh. It certainly looks dramatic, and clearly has presence. So what do you think?
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
The sides and rear look good, I’m sure the front looks better at night…
It looks like the MX-5’s old Asian aunt.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say ‘ugly,’ but certainly overtly derivative (as Robinson points out). Hell, even the rear fender/shoulder haunches are reminiscent of a Ferrari California! Unfortunately, it also has that disjointed quality that typically marks small manufacturers (The Shelby Series 1 comes to mind).
Regardless, this thing will certainly get you noticed.
You’d say ugly, I’d say aggressive. It looks like it knows how to go fast. It’s not going to win any beauty contests, but I personally like aggressive-looking cars, so this looks great to me.
Is it wierd that i like how it looks
it looks like an old grumpy man ringing the doorbell during a house party and staring into your soul while calling the cops
I kinda like it, but it looks like a futuristic Viper gone wrong
(gone sexual)
IMO it looks fine from everything behind the front bumper.
It’s the Viper’s hideous twin sister.
Looks like steven seagal….