Speaking with Autovisie, Friedhelm Wiesmann revealed that he and his brother are currently negotiating with several potential investors a potential revival of the Wiesmann sports car brand. The brothers are hopeful of finding “a solution” within the next four to six weeks but are the first to admit there’s a strong chance they won’t be successful. Rival niche sports car brand Gumpert also became insolvent recently but managed to secure a new investor and now has new products available.
Should a new investor be found for Wiesmann, Friedhelm Wiesmann said that one of his first tasks will be to launch a much cheaper model than was previously offered. Work had actually started on just such a model prior to Wiesmann’s financial troubles.
The cheaper model was to be based on 2011’s Spyder concept and would have cost about 100,000 euros (approximately $129,550), a significant discount on the 160,000 euro ($207,270) starting price of the previous cheapest offering, the MF3, which the production version of the Spyder concept was meant to replace.
Wiesmann's financial troubles ultimately trace back to an ill-timed expansion of its factory and production efforts in 2009, just as the global financial crisis reached its peak. A slowdown in sales and increasing debt obligations eventually eroded the brand's capital until it was unable to pay its suppliers and employees.
Pictured above is the GT MF4-CS, the last model launched by Wiesmann. It’s powered by the 4.0-liter V-8 from the previous-generation M3 and can reach 60 mph from rest in just 4.4 seconds.
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