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Supercar

For the Australian motor racing series, see Supercars Championship. For other uses, see Supercar (disambiguation), Hypercar (disambiguation), Supercar (TV series), and Muscle car.
Not to be confused with grand tourer.

A supercar, also known as an exotic car, is a type of automobile generally described at its most basic as a street-legal sports car with race track-like power, speed, and handling, plus a certain subjective cachet linked to pedigree, exclusivity, or both.[1] The term 'supercar' is frequently used for the extreme fringe of powerful, low-bodied mid-engineed luxury sportscars. A low car has both a low, handling-favorable center of gravity, and less frontal area than a front engined car, reducing its aerodynamic drag and enabling a higher top speed. Since the 2000s,[citation needed] the term hypercar has come into use for the highest performance supercars.[citation needed]

Examples of what some may consider supercars (from right to left): Ferrari California, Ferrari 458 Italia, Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari Enzo, Pagani Huayra, Lamborghini Aventador and Mercedes SLS AMG

Supercars commonly serve as the flagship model within a vehicle manufacturer's sports car range, and typically feature various performance-related technology derived from motorsports. Some examples include the Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Aventador, and McLaren 720S. By contrast, automotive journalism typically reserves the predicate 'hypercar' for (very) limited, (two- to low 4-figure) production-number cars, built over and above the marque's typical product line-up and carrying 21st century sales prices often exceeding a million euros, dollars or pounds: examples would include the 1270 unit Porsche's Carrera GT, Ford GTs, and the Ferrari F40/F50/Enzo lineage. Very few car makers, like Bugatti and Koenigsegg, only make hypercars.

In the United States, the term "supercars" was used already during the 1960s for the highest performance muscle cars. As of 2024, "supercars" is still used in Australia to refer to Australian muscle cars.[citation needed]

History

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Europe

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Lamborghini Miura P400 S

The Lamborghini Miura, introduced in 1966 by the Italian manufacturer, is often said to be the first supercar.[2][3][4][5] By the 1970s and 1980s the term was in regular use for such a car, if not precisely defined.[6][7] One interpretation up until the 1990s was to use it for mid-engine two-seat cars with at least eight cylinders (but typically a V12 engine), a power output of at least 400 bhp (298 kW) and a top speed of at least 180 mph (290 km/h).[1] Other interpretations state that "it must be very fast, with sporting handling to match", "it should be sleek and eye-catching" and its price should be "one in a rarefied atmosphere of its own";[8] exclusivity – in terms of limited production volumes, such as those of the most elite models made by Ferrari or Lamborghini – is also an important characteristic for some using the term.[5] Some European manufacturers, such as McLaren, Pagani, and Koenigsegg, specialize in only producing supercars.[9][10][11][12][13]

United States

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See also: Muscle car § Supercars
 
2018 Ford GT

During the 1960s the highest performance American muscle cars were referred to by some as supercars,[14][15]: 8  sometimes spelled with a capital S.[16] Its use reflected the intense competition for primacy in that market segment between U.S. manufacturers, retroactively characterized as the "horsepower wars".[14]: 8  Already by 1965 the May issue of the American magazine Car Life included multiple references to supercars and "the supercar club",[17] and a 1968 issue of Car & Driver magazine describes a "Supercar street racer gang" market segment.[18] The "S/C" in the model name of the AMC S/C Rambler produced in 1969 as a street-legal racer is an abbreviation for "SuperCar".[19]

Since the decline of the muscle car in the 1970s, the word supercar has been more broadly internationalized, coming to mean an "exotic" car that has high performance;[14]: 5  interpretations of the term are span from limited-production models produced by small manufacturers for performance enthusiasts to (less frequently) standard production cars modified for exceptional performance.[20]

The 1990s and 2000s saw a rise in American supercars with similar characteristics to their European counterparts.[21][22] Some American "Big Three" (i.e. General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford, the historic giants of America's Detroit-based auto-industry) sports cars which have been referred to as supercars include contemporary Chevrolet Corvettes,[23][24] the Dodge Viper,[25][26] and the Ford GT.[27][28] Supercars made by smaller American manufacturers include the Saleen S7, SSC Ultimate Aero, SSC Tuatara, Hennessey Venom GT, and Hennessey Venom F5.[29][30][31][32][33]

Japan

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1997 Honda NSX

During the early 1990s, Japan began to gain global recognition for making high-performance sports cars; the automotive media seized on the lightweight, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, V6 Honda NSX produced from 1990 to 2005 as Japan's "first".[34][35][36] While matching contemporary European supercars in performance and features, the NSX was praised for being more reliable and user-friendly.[37][38]

In the 21st century, other Japanese makers produced their own supercars. From 2010 to 2012, Lexus offered the Lexus LFA, a two-seat front-engine coupe powered by a 4.8 L (293 cu in) V10 engine producing 553 hp (412 kW; 561 PS).[39][40][41] The 2009–present Nissan GT-R has also been praised as a modern supercar that also delivers every day practicality.[42][43][44] It features a twin-turbo V6 producing between 473–710 hp (353–529 kW; 480–720 PS), and has been lauded for its acceleration and handling through its all-wheel-drive drivetrain and dual-clutch transmission.[45][46][47][48]

The second generation Honda NSX supercar made from 2016 to 2022 upped the ante for Honda by using all-wheel drive, a hybrid powertrain (producing up to 602 hp (449 kW; 610 PS)), turbocharging, and a dual-clutch transmission.[49][50][51]

Hypercar

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A more recent term for high-performance sportscars is "hypercar", which is sometimes used to describe the highest performing supercars.[52] An extension of "supercar", it too lacks a set definition. One offered by automotive magazine The Drive is "a limited-production, top-of-the-line supercar";[53] prices can reach or exceed US$1 million, and already had by 2017.[53]

 
Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Some observers consider the tubular framed, first-ever production fuel-injection, world's fastest street-legal, 260 km/h (160 mph) 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing" as the first hypercar; others the revolutionary, first-ever mid-engined 1967 Lamborghini Miura; others yet the 1993 McLaren F1[54] or 2005 Bugatti Veyron.[55]

With a recent shift towards electrification, many recent hypercars use a hybrid drivetrain, a trend started in 2013 by the McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder, and LaFerrari, then continued in 2016 with the Koenigsegg Regera, in 2017 with the Mercedes-AMG One, and the McLaren Speedtail.[56][57][58]

Modern hypercars such as Pininfarina Battista, NIO EP9, Rimac Nevera, and Lotus Evija have also gone full-electric.

Hypercars have also been used as a base for the Le Mans Hypercar class after rule changes come into effect from 2021.[59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Matt Prior's tester's notes – defining a supercar". autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. ^ Mason, Paul (2018). Italian Supercars: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati. Rosen Publishing Group. p. 4. ISBN 978-1538338933.
  3. ^ Wasef, Basem (2018). Speed Read Supercar: The History, Technology and Design Behind the World's Most Exciting Cars. Motorbooks. ISBN 978-0760362921. "the outlandish Lamborghini Miura, which is widely considered to be the first car to legitimately deserve the title
  4. ^ Codling, Stuart (2015). Lamborghini Supercars 50 Years: From the Groundbreaking Miura to Today's Hypercars – Foreword by Fabio Lamborghini. Motorbooks. p. 4. ISBN 978-0760347959.
  5. ^ a b "Supercars". simoncars.co.uk. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  6. ^ Marshall, Stuart (4 September 1975). "Rewards and frustrations of the super cars". The Times. London. p. 23.
  7. ^ "Business Roundup; From the Land of the VW, a $35,000 Supercar". The New York Times. 21 September 1975. p. F15.
  8. ^ Ward, Ian (1985), Secondhand Supercars, London Motor Show "Motorfair 1985" Official Catalogue
  9. ^ Root, Al. "Supercar Maker McLaren Wants to Beat Tesla's Roadster at Its Own Game". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Rapid rise: What's next for supercar company McLaren Automotive?". The Globe and Mail. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  11. ^ "The beginner's guide to Pagani". Top Gear. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Koenigsegg Founder Tells The Story Of His "Stupid Business Idea"". Motor Authority. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  13. ^ Woodard, Collin (21 June 2016). "Christian von Koenigsegg Was a Frozen Chicken Tycoon Before He Built Supercars". Road & Track. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Harless, Robert (2004). Horsepower War: Our Way of Life. iUniverse. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-595-30296-3.
  15. ^ Gunnell, John (2001). Standard Guide to American Muscle Cars: A Supercar Source Book, 1960–2000. Krause. ISBN 978-0873492621. Retrieved 16 January 2018. The term muscle car wasn't heard much hack when these vehicles were first hitting the market. In those days, the enthusiast magazines favored the term supercar.
  16. ^ Severson, Aaron (27 July 2009). "Super-iority: Defining the Supercar and Muscle Car". ateupwithmotor.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018. what we now think of as muscle cars were more commonly called "Supercars," often (though not always) spelled with a capital S.
  17. ^ "Rambler Scrambler". Car Life. 16: 33–36. 1969. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  18. ^ "Rambler Scrambler". Car and Driver. 14: 84. 1968.
  19. ^ Lyons, Dan; Scott, Jason (2004). Muscle Car Milestones. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-7603-0615-4. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  20. ^ Cheetham, Craig (2006). Supercars. MotorBooks/MBI. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-7603-2565-0.
  21. ^ "2009-2010 Supercar Showdown!". Car and Driver. 1 March 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Tested: 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1". Car and Driver. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  23. ^ Edward, Kyle. "2023 Corvette Z06 Is America's Supercar Hero". Forbes. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  24. ^ "2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Elevates the American Supercar". media.gm.com. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  25. ^ Kennedy, George (18 May 2022). "Dodge Viper: America's Exotic Car". US News. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  26. ^ Snavely, Brent. "Dodge Viper supercar being killed off -- again". USA TODAY. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  27. ^ Ross, Robert (10 January 2022). "Car of the Week: A 2005 Ford GT, the First Modern American Supercar, Is Heading to Auction". Robb Report. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  28. ^ DeBord, Matthew. "The Ford GT sets a new standard for American supercars". Business Insider. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  29. ^ Anderson, Gregory (1 August 2007). "Feature: The Saleen Solution". Robb Report. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  30. ^ Charlton, Alistair (2 January 2023). "The SSC Ultimate Aero Is The Underrated American Supercar Everyone Forgot Existed". SlashGear. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  31. ^ McC, James; less (25 May 2022). "SSC Tuatara Sets New Production Car Speed Record of 295 MPH". Newsweek. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  32. ^ Reyes, Alvin (3 May 2022). "Why You'll Hardly Find Any Hennessey Venom GTs On The Road". SlashGear. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  33. ^ Silvestro, Brian (18 August 2022). "The Venom F5 Roadster Is a Drop-Top Hennessey Says Can Eclipse 300 MPH". Road & Track. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  34. ^ "Acura Marks 30 Years Since Debut of Iconic NSX Supercar". Honda Newsroom. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  35. ^ Irimia, Silvian (11 December 2022). "The Honda NSX Broke and Changed the Automotive Industry Forever - Find Out How It Did It". autoevolution. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  36. ^ "Tested: 1994 Acura NSX Is a Fighter Jet for the Road". Car and Driver. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  37. ^ "1990-2005 Acura NSX: Supercar Sunday". Motor1.com. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  38. ^ "Icon Review: Honda NSX Mk1 (1990 - 2005)". Auto Express. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  39. ^ "2012 Lexus LFA First Drive". Car and Driver. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  40. ^ Hood, Bryan (7 October 2022). "How the Lexus LFA Became a Legend—10 Years After It Was Discontinued". Robb Report. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  41. ^ "Tested: 2012 Lexus LFA". Car and Driver. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  42. ^ "Nissan Skyline to GT-R: The Evolution of a Supercar". Nissan USA. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  43. ^ Hogan, Malcolm. "Malcolm Hogan: Living with the Nissan GT-R supercar". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  44. ^ "Godzilla by the Numbers: 2009-2017 Nissan GT-R". MotorTrend. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  45. ^ "2009 Nissan GT-R First Drive". Car and Driver. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  46. ^ Tsui, Chris (6 December 2022). "The Nissan R35 GT-R Turns 15 Today. Here's a Look Back at Our Supercar Teenager". The Drive. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  47. ^ "Is the new Nissan GT-R still a supercar bargain?". Top Gear. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  48. ^ Gnaticov, Cristian (12 April 2023). "2024 Nissan GT-R Nismo T-Spec: Aging Supercar Icon Arrives in New York To Make a Point". autoevolution. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  49. ^ Lyon, Peter. "Honda's New NSX Supercar Is Just As Groundbreaking As The First Generation Of 1990". Forbes. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  50. ^ "End of an era: Acura concludes production of handmade NSX supercar". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  51. ^ "Honda NSX review". Auto Express. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  52. ^ "What's A Supercar? The Debate Rages On". youtube.com. The Drive. 27 February 2014. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  53. ^ a b Constantine, Chris (26 December 2017). "The Best and Worst Hypercars of 2017". thedrive.com. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  54. ^ "McLaren F1 – The First Hypercar?". thehypercars.com. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  55. ^ "The Bugatti Veyron: The original hypercar". cnet.com/. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  56. ^ "Top Gear mag's greatest cars – hypercars". Top Gear. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  57. ^ "Holy Trinity Of Hypercars Is Up For Auction". motor1.com. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  58. ^ "First hypercar 'holy trinity' boasted by RM Sotheby's". classiccars.com. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  59. ^ Attwood, James (20 March 2021). "Le Mans 2021: How new hypercar rules are shaking up the grid". Autocar. UK. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
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