États-Unis
Mosler
Mosler is an American carmaker specializing in lightweight sports cars, founded by businessman and fund manager Warren Mosler. The adventure began in 1985 with Consulier Industries, based in Florida, which produced the Consulier GTP, a road-going prototype with a composite chassis renowned for its extreme lightness. In 1993, the automotive operation was reorganized under the name Mosler Automotive, and the GTP evolved into the Intruder and then the Raptor models. The brand set up in Riviera Beach, Florida, near West Palm Beach, where it operated more as a specialized engineering shop than as a series production manufacturer. In 2001 came the brand's emblematic model, the MT900, whose name references Mosler, its designer Rod Trenne (formerly of the Corvette C5 at General Motors), and the 900 kg mass target. Built around a carbon-fiber chassis and powered by Corvette-derived V8 engines mounted in a rear mid-engine position, the MT900 came in several versions, including the road-going MT900S and the MT900R competition variants. The brand had its finest hour in racing: the MT900R won its class at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2003. Production remained confidential, with a total often estimated at around 85 units, split between road cars and racing chassis. Manufacturing at certain periods also involved a site in South Africa and final assembly in the United Kingdom. In June 2013, the company ceased operations under the Mosler name: its assets were bought out and absorbed into Rossion Automotive (RP High Performance group), which continued a derived lineage, the Rossion Q1, assembled in Riviera Beach. Mosler thus remains a North American niche manufacturer whose philosophy rested on lightness and power-to-weight ratio rather than on volume.
Historique / disparuePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitaireAméricaines
History
History of Mosler
Mosler is an American carmaker specializing in lightweight sports cars, founded by businessman and fund manager Warren Mosler. The adventure began in 1985 with Consulier Industries, based in Florida, which produced the Consulier GTP, a road-going prototype with a composite chassis renowned for its extreme lightness. In 1993, the automotive operation was reorganized under the name Mosler Automotive, and the GTP evolved into the Intruder and then the Raptor models. The brand set up in Riviera Beach, Florida, near West Palm Beach, where it operated more as a specialized engineering shop than as a series production manufacturer. In 2001 came the brand's emblematic model, the MT900, whose name references Mosler, its designer Rod Trenne (formerly of the Corvette C5 at General Motors), and the 900 kg mass target. Built around a carbon-fiber chassis and powered by Corvette-derived V8 engines mounted in a rear mid-engine position, the MT900 came in several versions, including the road-going MT900S and the MT900R competition variants. The brand had its finest hour in racing: the MT900R won its class at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2003. Production remained confidential, with a total often estimated at around 85 units, split between road cars and racing chassis. Manufacturing at certain periods also involved a site in South Africa and final assembly in the United Kingdom. In June 2013, the company ceased operations under the Mosler name: its assets were bought out and absorbed into Rossion Automotive (RP High Performance group), which continued a derived lineage, the Rossion Q1, assembled in Riviera Beach. Mosler thus remains a North American niche manufacturer whose philosophy rested on lightness and power-to-weight ratio rather than on volume.
Public founding or origin of Mosler.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Mosler's technical signature lies in its obsession with lightness. The MT900 is built on a carbon-fiber chassis and body, designed using advanced design software, for a contained mass of around 900 to 1,000 kg depending on the version. Power comes from naturally aspirated V8 engines sourced from General Motors (the LS1, LS6, and then LS7 families, derived from the Corvette), mounted in a rear mid-engine position and driving the rear wheels. The Photon version pushes weight reduction further with magnesium and carbon wheels, titanium springs, refined subframes, and carbon seats. No hybrid or electric powertrain was ever part of the lineup: Mosler favored a high power-to-weight ratio achieved through proven mechanicals rather than through electrification.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
An American niche manufacturer of ultralight sports cars with carbon chassis and V8 engines, focused on power-to-weight ratio and competition.
Reputation
Mosler enjoys a reputation for sharp engineering among enthusiasts, with its MT900 praised for delivering performance through lightness rather than excessive power, to the point of competing on track with far more prestigious benchmarks. The class win at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2003 reinforced this sporting credibility. The brand nonetheless remains confidential and little known to the general public. The scarcity of examples and the artisanal finish make resale value highly variable and the market narrow. Now defunct, Mosler retains the status of a curiosity sought after by knowledgeable collectors.
Strengths
Mosler's great strength lies in its mastery of lightness: a carbon chassis and contained mass delivering a remarkable power-to-weight ratio and agility. The Corvette-derived V8 mechanicals, robust and well known, simplify maintenance and parts. The endurance racing record and the exclusive artisanal character add to the appeal for knowledgeable enthusiasts.
Points to watch
Mosler suffers above all from its confidentiality: minuscule production, a near-nonexistent network, and low recognition. The artisanal finish and the absence of a series production structure complicate maintenance, the sourcing of specific parts, and resale. With the brand gone since 2013, any official support is now nonexistent, which reserves these cars for knowledgeable, well-supported owners.
Models
Mosler models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Mosler Automotive's headquarters and main workshop were located in Riviera Beach, Florida, near West Palm Beach, in North America. The facility was more of a specialized engineering shop than a high-volume factory, in keeping with very limited production. At certain periods, manufacturing also involved a site in South Africa and final assembly in the United Kingdom. After the brand's end in 2013, the Florida site was retained: Rossion Automotive (RP High Performance) consolidated operations there to produce the Rossion Q1, making Riviera Beach the North American anchor point of this lineage.
Tires and wheels
Moslers are extreme rear-wheel-drive sports cars, fitted with low-profile performance tires mounted on large light-alloy wheels, or even magnesium and carbon wheels on the lightened versions such as the Photon. They typically use a staggered setup, with rear tires wider than the front to handle traction. Given their track focus and the rarity of these vehicles in Quebec, the choice falls on high-performance summer rubber; real winter use is unlikely. In the absence of consistent official figures, it is best to verify the exact dimensions marked on each car before buying any tires or wheels.