Wikipedia

Supercar

For the Australian motor racing series, seeSupercars Championship.For other uses, seeSupercar (disambiguation),Hypercar (disambiguation),Supercar (TV series),andMuscle car.
Not to be confused withgrand tourer.

Asupercar,also known as anexotic car,is a type ofautomobilegenerally described at its most basic as a street-legalsports carwith race track-like power, speed, andhandling,plus a certain subjectivecachetlinked to pedigree, exclusivity, or both.[1]The term 'supercar' is frequently used for the extreme fringe of powerful, low-bodiedmid-engineluxurysportscars. A low-profile car may have limited ground clearance, but a handling-favorablecenter of gravityand a smaller frontal area than afront enginedcar. These characteristics can reduce supercars'aerodynamic drag,enabling higher top speeds. Since the 2000s,[citation needed]the termhypercarhas 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 AventadorandMercedes SLS AMG

Supercars often serve as the flagship model within a vehicle manufacturer's sports car range and typically feature various performance-related technology derived frommotorsports.Some examples include theFerrari 458 Italia,Lamborghini Aventador,andMcLaren 720S.

Automotive journalism typically reserves the predicate 'hypercar' for low (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 millioneuros,dollars,orpounds.Examples include thePorsche's Carrera GT,Ford GTs,and the FerrariF40/F50/Enzolineage. Only a few car makers, likeBugattiandKoenigsegg,only make hypercars.

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

History

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Europe

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Lamborghini Miura P400 S

TheLamborghini 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 formid-enginetwo-seat cars with at least eight cylinders (but typically aV12 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 byFerrariorLamborghini– is also an essential characteristic for some using the term.[5]Some European manufacturers, such asMcLaren,Pagani,andKoenigsegg,specialize in only producing supercars.[9][10][11][12][13]

United States

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See also:Muscle car § Supercars
2018Ford GT

During the 1960s, the highest-performance versions of Americanmuscle carswere referred to as supercars.[14][15]: 8 The description was 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 magazineCar Lifeincluded multiple references to supercars and "the supercar club",[17]and a 1968 issue ofCar & Drivermagazine describes a "Supercar street racer gang" market segment.[18]The "S/C" in the model name of theAMC S/C Ramblerproduced 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 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 leaders of America's Detroit-based auto-industry) sports cars which have been referred to as supercars include contemporaryChevrolet Corvettes,[23][24]theDodge Viper,[25][26]and theFord GT.[27][28]Supercars made by smaller American manufacturers include theSaleen S7,SSC Ultimate Aero,SSC Tuatara,Hennessey Venom GT,andHennessey Venom F5.[29][30][31][32][33]

Japan

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1997Honda NSX

During the early 1990s, Japan began to gain global recognition for making high-performance sports cars; the automotive media described the lightweight, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, V6Honda NSXproduced from 1990 through 2005 as Japan's "first".[34][35][36]Matching contemporary European supercars in performance and features, the NSX was more reliable and user-friendly.[37][38]

In the 21st century, other Japanese makers produced their supercars. From 2010 until 2012, Lexus marketed theLexus 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–presentNissan GT-Rhas been described as a modern supercar that delivers everyday practicality.[42][43][44]It features a twin-turbo V6 producing between 473–710 hp (353–529 kW; 480–720 PS), with all-wheel-drive and dual-clutch transmission.[45][46][47][48]

Thesecond generationHonda NSX made from 2016 until 2022 used 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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Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Another 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 the 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]

Some observers consider the tubular framed, first-ever production fuel-injection, world's fastest street-legal, 260 km/h (160 mph) 1954Mercedes-Benz 300 SL"Gullwing" as the first hypercar; others the revolutionary, first-evermid-engined1967Lamborghini Miura;others yet the 1993McLaren F1[54]or 2005Bugatti Veyron.[55]

With a shift towardselectrification,many new hypercars use ahybrid drivetrain,a trend started in 2013 with theMcLaren P1,Porsche 918 Spyder,andLaFerrari,then continued in 2016 with theKoenigsegg Regera,in 2017 with theMercedes-AMG One,and theMcLaren Speedtail.[56][57][58]

Modern hypercars such asPininfarina Battista,NIO EP9,Rimac Nevera,andLotus Evijahave also gonefull-electric.

Hypercars have also been used as a base for theLe Mans Hypercarclass after rule changes came into effect from 2021.[59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"Matt Prior's tester's notes – defining a supercar".autocar.co.uk.Retrieved10 March2019.
  2. ^Mason, Paul (2018).Italian Supercars: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati.Rosen Publishing Group. p. 4.ISBN978-1538338933.
  3. ^Wasef, Basem (2018).Speed Read Supercar: The History, Technology and Design Behind the World's Most Exciting Cars.Motorbooks.ISBN978-0760362921."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.ISBN978-0760347959.
  5. ^ab"Supercars".simoncars.co.uk.Retrieved10 March2019.
  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".barrons.Retrieved17 April2023.
  10. ^"Rapid rise: What's next for supercar company McLaren Automotive?".The Globe and Mail.12 February 2019.Retrieved17 April2023.
  11. ^"The beginner's guide to Pagani".Top Gear.23 September 2022.Retrieved17 April2023.
  12. ^"Koenigsegg Founder Tells The Story Of His" Stupid Business Idea "".Motor Authority.Retrieved17 April2023.
  13. ^Woodard, Collin (21 June 2016)."Christian von Koenigsegg Was a Frozen Chicken Tycoon Before He Built Supercars".Road & Track.Retrieved17 April2023.
  14. ^abcHarless, Robert (2004).Horsepower War: Our Way of Life.iUniverse. p. 1.ISBN978-0-595-30296-3.
  15. ^Gunnell, John (2001).Standard Guide to American Muscle Cars: A Supercar Source Book, 1960–2000.Krause.ISBN978-0873492621.Retrieved16 January2018.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.Retrieved16 January2018.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.Vol. 16. 1969. pp.33–36.Retrieved11 September2014.
  18. ^"Rambler Scrambler".Car and Driver.Vol. 14. 1968. p. 84.
  19. ^Lyons, Dan; Scott, Jason (2004).Muscle Car Milestones.MotorBooks/MBI. p. 89.ISBN978-0-7603-0615-4.Retrieved11 September2014.
  20. ^Cheetham, Craig (2006).Supercars.MotorBooks/MBI. p. 6.ISBN978-0-7603-2565-0.
  21. ^"2009-2010 Supercar Showdown!".Car and Driver.1 March 2009.Retrieved17 April2023.
  22. ^"Tested: 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1".Car and Driver.15 July 2020.Retrieved17 April2023.
  23. ^Edward, Kyle."2023 Corvette Z06 Is America's Supercar Hero".Forbes.Retrieved17 April2023.
  24. ^"2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Elevates the American Supercar".media.gm(Press release). 26 October 2021.Retrieved17 April2023.
  25. ^Kennedy, George (18 May 2022)."Dodge Viper: America's Exotic Car".US News.Retrieved17 April2023.
  26. ^Snavely, Brent."Dodge Viper supercar being killed off -- again".USA Today.Retrieved17 April2023.
  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.Retrieved17 April2023.
  28. ^DeBord, Matthew."The Ford GT sets a new standard for American supercars".Business Insider.Retrieved17 April2023.
  29. ^Anderson, Gregory (1 August 2007)."Feature: The Saleen Solution".Robb Report.Retrieved17 April2023.
  30. ^Charlton, Alistair (2 January 2023)."The SSC Ultimate Aero Is The Underrated American Supercar Everyone Forgot Existed".SlashGear.Retrieved17 April2023.
  31. ^McC, James; less (25 May 2022)."SSC Tuatara Sets New Production Car Speed Record of 295 MPH".Newsweek.Retrieved17 April2023.
  32. ^Reyes, Alvin (3 May 2022)."Why You'll Hardly Find Any Hennessey Venom GTs On The Road".SlashGear.Retrieved17 April2023.
  33. ^Silvestro, Brian (18 August 2022)."The Venom F5 Roadster Is a Drop-Top Hennessey Says Can Eclipse 300 MPH".Road & Track.Retrieved17 April2023.
  34. ^"Acura Marks 30 Years Since Debut of Iconic NSX Supercar".Honda Newsroom(Press release). 6 February 2019.Retrieved17 April2023.
  35. ^Irimia, Silvian (11 December 2022)."The Honda NSX Broke and Changed the Automotive Industry Forever - Find Out How It Did It".autoevolution.Retrieved17 April2023.
  36. ^"Tested: 1994 Acura NSX Is a Fighter Jet for the Road".Car and Driver.30 June 2020.Retrieved17 April2023.
  37. ^"1990-2005 Acura NSX: Supercar Sunday".Motor1.Retrieved17 April2023.
  38. ^"Icon Review: Honda NSX Mk1 (1990 - 2005)".Auto Express.Retrieved17 April2023.
  39. ^"2012 Lexus LFA First Drive".Car and Driver.20 October 2009.Retrieved17 April2023.
  40. ^Hood, Bryan (7 October 2022)."How the Lexus LFA Became a Legend—10 Years After It Was Discontinued".Robb Report.Retrieved17 April2023.
  41. ^"Tested: 2012 Lexus LFA".Car and Driver.26 March 2010.Retrieved17 April2023.
  42. ^[hhttps:// nissanusa /experience-nissan/news-and-events/evolution-from-skyline-to-gt-r.html "Nissan Skyline to GT-R: The Evolution of a Supercar" ].Nissan USA.Retrieved6 February2024.
  43. ^Hogan, Malcolm."Malcolm Hogan: Living with the Nissan GT-R supercar".The Florida Times-Union.Retrieved17 April2023.
  44. ^"Godzilla by the Numbers: 2009-2017 Nissan GT-R".MotorTrend.23 March 2016.Retrieved17 April2023.
  45. ^"2009 Nissan GT-R First Drive".Car and Driver.1 December 2007.Retrieved17 April2023.
  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.Retrieved17 April2023.
  47. ^"Is the new Nissan GT-R still a supercar bargain?".Top Gear.26 May 2016.Retrieved17 April2023.
  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.Retrieved17 April2023.
  49. ^Lyon, Peter."Honda's New NSX Supercar Is Just As Groundbreaking As The First Generation Of 1990".Forbes.Retrieved17 April2023.
  50. ^"End of an era: Acura concludes production of handmade NSX supercar".The Columbus Dispatch.Retrieved17 April2023.
  51. ^"Honda NSX review".Auto Express.Retrieved17 April2023.
  52. ^"What's A Supercar? The Debate Rages On".youtube.The Drive. 27 February 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 11 December 2021.Retrieved12 March2019.
  53. ^abConstantine, Chris (26 December 2017)."The Best and Worst Hypercars of 2017".thedrive.Retrieved25 December2019.
  54. ^"McLaren F1 – The First Hypercar?".thehypercars.6 July 2018.Retrieved12 March2019.
  55. ^"The Bugatti Veyron: The original hypercar".cnet.Retrieved12 March2019.
  56. ^"Top Gear mag's greatest cars – hypercars".Top Gear.7 December 2017.Retrieved5 July2018.
  57. ^"Holy Trinity Of Hypercars Is Up For Auction".motor1.Retrieved12 March2019.
  58. ^"First hypercar 'holy trinity' boasted by RM Sotheby's".classiccars.17 April 2017.Retrieved12 March2019.
  59. ^Attwood, James (20 March 2021)."Le Mans 2021: How new hypercar rules are shaking up the grid".Autocar.UK.Retrieved18 March2022.
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