Mega Track | Unknown Supercars

Mega Track is a supercar that not only packs a powerful Mercedes V12 engine but also features an adjustable air suspension for tackling uneven terrain.

A supercar with a Mega Track badge on it must be quite nice, right? Having a name that appears to come straight from a Marvel comic sure seems like a good recipe for success. Those of you who have been around cars during the 90s may remember seeing Mega Track at different automotive shows and in car magazines, a vehicle capable of scaling different terrains while offering superb performance figures at the same time. Still, finding any comprehensive traces of this unique car may prove to be quite difficult today. This article will explore the story behind this forgotten supercar and find out what happened to it.

Background

The company behind this unusual car is called Aixam, and European enthusiasts may recognize it for its micro-cars. These were unique vehicles whose weight-to-power ratio allowed drivers to operate them with a motorcycle license only. Small commuters like these are the backbone on which this French manufacturer built its business in the 80s. However, this is not an automotive heritage a manufacturer could use when trying to enter the supercar segment. Now, sure, some may argue that Lamborghini started producing tractors, but that was more of a gamble than a business strategy.

To avoid fighting an uphill battle from the start, Aixam decided to launch a separate brand named Mega. The first vehicle that would come under that brand was the “Track.” This car had one very distinctive feature, which should’ve secured its place in the overly competitive supercar niche of the era. Mega Track was probably the first actual attempt at creating a supercar that could go over different terrains. With such an unusual idea behind it, the Track caught the attention of both automotive journalists and enthusiasts.

How Does it Look?

After several years of development and testing, the Mega Track made its debut at the 1992 Paris Motor Show. On the outside, the ride height and corresponding ground clearance are the most prominent features on which the press focused. However, most photos don’t show that Mega Track has an air suspension, allowing ride height adjustments. As a result, the ground clearance could vary from 8 inches for road applications to 13 inches when going over rough terrains.

Another prominent characteristic that sets this supercar apart from all rivals is its sheer size. Measuring almost 200 inches in length, it is as long as the Mercedes S-Class of the time and wider than the Hummer H1. Still, these dimensions ensured a spacious interior with four seats inside, unusual for supercars.

As for the design, the Mega Track looks a bit generic and quite similar to most supercars of that era. The overall shape followed an established and well-proven recipe that most manufacturers used when building such vehicles. Wedge-like silhouette, low slant nose, and bulky wheel arches are just some of these features. A well-trained eye will notice some elements borrowed from mass-production vehicles, such as taillights that come straight from an Audi B4.

Under the Skin

The Mega Track’s heart is a Mercedes V12 engine, a go-to option for many supercar manufacturers at that time. And there was a good reason for that. With 389 HP and 570 lb-ft of torque at the tap, it was as strong and agile as it gets. Besides, using a borrowed engine and drivetrain helps keep the cost down and ensures reliability in the long run.

Nonetheless, the original plan to have a manual transmission failed, as no gearbox could tackle such an impressive torque. Instead, the Mega Track uses a conventional 4-speed automatic, having an impact on both performance and responsiveness. And despite its off-road aspirations, the power from the engine only goes to rear wheels. Still, this shouldn’t be an issue, as the Mega Track was never meant to be a real off-roader in the first place.

Just like other supercars, the Mega Track has a tubular frame chassis with additional suspension subframes both front and back. Besides, most body panels are made either out of polycarbonate or aluminum. Not only does it allowed the manufacturing process to be simpler, but it also ensured the entire body is light and sturdy. Despite these efforts, the Mega Track ended up being quite heavy, mostly because of the complex mechanical underpinnings and the overall size.

What Happened to It?

Besides sparking the excitement inside the automotive world, Mega secured several orders during the Track’s Paris debut. It seemed that an outrageous $400,000 price tag wasn’t something that would put off potential buyers. Still, the path between presenting a stunning show car and manufacturing road-legal vehicles is long. One of them is the homologation process, which is quite demanding and comes with various obstacles. And cars like these are usually semi-finished products and need additional development before going into production. Unfortunately, this proved to be challenging for Mega, as it only managed to manufacture half-a-dozen Tracks.

However, these problems were something that most supercar manufacturers in the 90s faced when producing their vehicles. The primary cause of Mega Track failure was hiding in its DNA. A sluggish automatic transmission and immense weight made it slower and less responsive than comparable vehicles. Moreover, there were no true off-road capabilities to show off, as it didn’t come with a four-wheel-drive system.

Last Words

The Mega Track shows how over-engineering can ruin something that started as an excellent idea. If Aixam has given it a smaller engine and a traditional four-wheel-drive system, this vehicle might have been an enormous hit. Instead, it ended up with a supercar with off-road aspirations that wasn’t that good at any of these things. And this is a real shame, as the automotive world was ready for such a vehicle.

Can’t win ’em all, right?

Specifications

Engine

Drivetrain

Tires

Brakes

Dimensions

Gallery