What is considered a Supercar

I can fit a set of golf clubs in my Countach, does that mean it's not a supercar?

 

Supercar: An extremely fast sports car (for its day) that is produced in low numbers.

 

Historically, the term "Supercar" was used to designate the latest and greatest production cars. I seem to recall R&T or maybe C&D using the term in the late 60s or early 70s to publicize articles like "WE TEST ALL THE SUPERCARS!"

But I think that most will agree that the first use of the term for a specific car was the introduction of the F40. When introduced, the F40 was such an outrageous car with no equal that it became known as THE SUPERCAR.

Dale

 

It's like "beauty" you kow it when you see it, and personal preference plays a role. However, some people are so ugly only their mother can love them, similarly some cars just can never be considered "supercars."
For me it has to be outlandishly exotic, extremely rare (like you may get a chance to see one only if you seek out a car show), perform 2 standard deviations beyond the current crop of competent sports cars of the day, and cost a mint.

I think the term is getting used too much these days, like "genius" is.

For me:
Sampling of Supercars:
F40
Enzo
MC12
Veyron
Koeneiggeresegerthing
Carrera GT
959
Countach
LP640
(not: 308, 328, 911, 911-turbo, GT3, any 'vette, any Aston...)
Sampling of Geniuses:
DaVinci
Galileo
Newton
Einstein
Darwin
Mozart
Bach
Picaso
(not: any Beetles, Elvis, Jasper Johns, Warhol....)

 

Would you consider the new Corvette ZR1 to be a supercar?
I'm leaning towards yes, its fast (REALLY FAST), exclusive, and did I mention its really fast.

 

Sorry, absolutely NOT. They will be relatively cheap (less than a 911 TT) and they look just like another car of which 10 gazillion have been made. May turn out to be a fantastic car (except the completely silly clear hood) but definitely not a supercar.

The F40?? How could people not think so? Many would say it is THE Ferrari supercar; I'd take one over an Enzo (OK, actually I want to drive them both and decide )

 

I disagree. I think the F40 is the poster child for supercars -- its construction was decades ahead of its time, and it's just a brutal, extreme mid-engined car designed only to go fast. 20 years later, it still looks more outrageous than the Enzo. Put up against the contemporary C4 Corvette, I think the Chevy would've gone home in parts bins.

Or the 288 GTO.

Dude, no. It will be produced in essentially unlimited quantities, in exotic Kentucky, and depreciate like it was made by GM. And... there will be another faster Corvette before this thread gets archived.

What he said.

And no, I don't get the clear hood either. I guess it's better than a 'Ram Induction' decal up there.

 

F40 is at the top of the list for supercars. One's personal taste doesn't knock it off. V8, V12, really it's about the performance at the time it's released, not the number of cylinders. Amenities such as power windows and personal ass scratchers, do not make a car, a supercar. Rarity, performance, cost all add up to make a supercar.




Darrell.

 

Exotic Kentucky, too funny. LOL As for the hood, I think the clear plastic acts as a burst panel.

 

Amen brother....

 

The term super car is much like the term Pornography. I cant define it but I know it when i see it

 

A dealer-tweaked musclecar ie Yenko, Baldwin/Motion, Berger, Royal, Mr. Norms, Dana, Tasca ...

 

see i personally think that the words supercar and exotic get thrown too much into the same mix when they are actually very different in my book. some cars do qualify for both but some qualify as one or the other...

a McLaren F1 is both but a Dodge Viper is an Exotic more so than it is a supercar. the new Corvette ZR1 will be a supercar.

i think that a supercar has to be extremely fast, but does not have to be exotic at all. i would consider a BMW M5 a supercar, but not necessarily an exotic. a supercar because it has been the super saloon. the car that created the actual craze and amazement of a sports sedan, and one that does sub 5.0s 0-60s. now that the car does 4.2s 0-60s its in supercar and exotic car territory. but on the other hand the M6 qualifies more as an exotic than it does a supercar even though it goes a tad faster than the M5, it isnt faster than a supercar that is of the same class and style. it has 2 doors, and is a GT but it isnt a supercar. the M5 though is bc it is a saloon that is the fastest production sport saloon along with the E63 AMG.

i will probably be flamed beyond all belief but oh well...