sports car
Sports car is an automobile designed more for performance than for carrying passengers or luggage. Sports cars are known for their light weight, speed, nimble handling, and appearance. They feature special equipment, and with few exceptions manufacturers make only limited numbers of them. As a result, pound for pound they cost more than most other cars. Famous sports cars include the Chevrolet Corvette of the United States, the Alfa –Romeo and Ferrari of Italy, the Jaguar XK-E, MGB, and Triumph TR-7 of the United Kingdom, the Porsche 911 and Mercedes 300 SL of Germany, and the Mazda Miata and Nissan 370ZX of Japan.
Characteristics. Most sports cars are two-seaters with low ground clearance and aerodynamic designs that enable them to cut through the air easily. With generally favorable power to weight ratios, these cars often accelerate more quickly than other automobiles do. Sports cars have performance tires and advanced suspension systems. Sports cars often serve as a means of testing new automotive technology before it becomes commonplace in everyday vehicles. For example, automakers have used sports cars to demonstrate the efficiencies of multi-valve, overhead cam engine designs, rack and pinion steering, and four wheel disc brakes before they were incorporated in inexpensive passenger cars.
History. Automobiles began to be driven as sporting vehicles in the late 1800's. At that time, rich enthusiasts started racing one another on public roads from town to town. The first formally organized race took place in France in 1895. This race and others like it helped encourage the development of the automobile, and soon special cars were being built for racing. Automobiles in the United States in the early 1900's were light, rugged, and powerful. Well-known models of the time included the Hayes-Apperson “Jack Rabbit,” Chadwick Great Six, the Lozier Briarcliff, the Mercer Type 35 Raceabout, and the Stutz Bearcat. As time went by, however, the size of cars increased. By the 1930's, the only sports cars made in the United States were the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg, and the same company made all three.
By the 1940's, open wheel and stock car racing had become the most popular motor sport in the United States. But in the late 1940's and early 1950's, there was a revival of interest in light, quick cars. A number of small, short-lived businesses sprang up to produce sports cars—among them the Kaiser Darrin and the Crosley Hot-Shot. Meanwhile, sports car production was fairly strong in Europe before and after World War II (1939-1945). Among the most important sports cars manufactured in the United Kingdom were the MG, Austin-Healey, and Triumph. Beginning in the late 1940's, such names as Jaguar of the United Kingdom, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo of Italy, and Porsche of Germany became well-known for racing and sports cars. These cars were discovered by American G.I.s stationed in Europe after the war, and brought back to the United States. Soon local sports car clubs were established, and cars were raced on a few road courses like Watkins Glen in New York and on former airports, like Sebring in Florida. There are various definitions of sports car depending on a point of view of the authority that creates definition. Former “classic” image of a sports car was “An automobile equipped for racing, especially aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise controls at high speed” (American Heritage Dictionary). The whole definition sounds ancient by today’s standards, perceptions and practices, but sports sedans fulfill most of the criteria. Modern technologies allow taking attributes of a sport car and incorporating it into a mass production vehicle. Thus, many “relatives” of sports car were created with claims that they were sport cars as much as their prototype. Distinction between “classic” and contemporary understanding of a sports car got blurred since experts, manufacturers, general public and insurance companies did not follow strict guidelines for identification of what sport car is.
In the 1960's, the Japanese auto industry introduced its first sports cars, including the Honda S800 and Toyota 2000GT. Since then, Japanese automakers have built generations of fast, reliable sports cars. Among these are the Nissan ZX, Toyota MR-2, Mazda RX-7, and Mazda Miata.
Since 2000, several automakers have made cars with vastly increased engine power. This increase makes sports cars potentially more dangerous and difficult to control. Fortunately, advanced stability control systems have also become more common. The Audi R8 is typical of the modern sports car, with all-wheel drive and all-aluminum construction.
Sports cars continue to be popular among a group of young drives and older drivers who wish to remain feeling young. Often expensive, they bring status and the exhilaration of speed to those who drive them.
Characteristics. Most sports cars are two-seaters with low ground clearance and aerodynamic designs that enable them to cut through the air easily. With generally favorable power to weight ratios, these cars often accelerate more quickly than other automobiles do. Sports cars have performance tires and advanced suspension systems. Sports cars often serve as a means of testing new automotive technology before it becomes commonplace in everyday vehicles. For example, automakers have used sports cars to demonstrate the efficiencies of multi-valve, overhead cam engine designs, rack and pinion steering, and four wheel disc brakes before they were incorporated in inexpensive passenger cars.
History. Automobiles began to be driven as sporting vehicles in the late 1800's. At that time, rich enthusiasts started racing one another on public roads from town to town. The first formally organized race took place in France in 1895. This race and others like it helped encourage the development of the automobile, and soon special cars were being built for racing. Automobiles in the United States in the early 1900's were light, rugged, and powerful. Well-known models of the time included the Hayes-Apperson “Jack Rabbit,” Chadwick Great Six, the Lozier Briarcliff, the Mercer Type 35 Raceabout, and the Stutz Bearcat. As time went by, however, the size of cars increased. By the 1930's, the only sports cars made in the United States were the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg, and the same company made all three.
By the 1940's, open wheel and stock car racing had become the most popular motor sport in the United States. But in the late 1940's and early 1950's, there was a revival of interest in light, quick cars. A number of small, short-lived businesses sprang up to produce sports cars—among them the Kaiser Darrin and the Crosley Hot-Shot. Meanwhile, sports car production was fairly strong in Europe before and after World War II (1939-1945). Among the most important sports cars manufactured in the United Kingdom were the MG, Austin-Healey, and Triumph. Beginning in the late 1940's, such names as Jaguar of the United Kingdom, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo of Italy, and Porsche of Germany became well-known for racing and sports cars. These cars were discovered by American G.I.s stationed in Europe after the war, and brought back to the United States. Soon local sports car clubs were established, and cars were raced on a few road courses like Watkins Glen in New York and on former airports, like Sebring in Florida. There are various definitions of sports car depending on a point of view of the authority that creates definition. Former “classic” image of a sports car was “An automobile equipped for racing, especially aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise controls at high speed” (American Heritage Dictionary). The whole definition sounds ancient by today’s standards, perceptions and practices, but sports sedans fulfill most of the criteria. Modern technologies allow taking attributes of a sport car and incorporating it into a mass production vehicle. Thus, many “relatives” of sports car were created with claims that they were sport cars as much as their prototype. Distinction between “classic” and contemporary understanding of a sports car got blurred since experts, manufacturers, general public and insurance companies did not follow strict guidelines for identification of what sport car is.
Definition of a sport car is being stretched and applied loosely to describe a wider range of sporty vehicles. Thus, textbook definition of a sports car is becoming less relevant and applied. Every attribute that depicts a sport car can be challenged and made in an attribute of “non-sport” car that results in the creation of a sports car “relative”. Car manufacturers enhanced this type of “relatives” with numerous features of a sports car. Thus, many vehicles that are called a sports car might be a far concept from classic sports car definition. However, this does not undermine sporty characteristics and superior performance of sedans that do not fit into a rigid framework of a sports car definition. Additionally, dictionary does not capture the way public views a sports sedan. Thus, old concept of a sports car has been challenged since a wide variety of cars is being labeled as sports cars. Although modern sedan descendants of a “sport breed” might not fulfill every technical requirement, their look, performance, energy and spirit give us right to call them nothing else but sports cars. Thus, sports car may be purpose built or simply a “road-going sports car” (Meaning of sports car; Bharat). Dictionary definition of two-seat rule appears to be outdated. Presently, many sport cars offer four doors and two back seats. Although the status of a four passenger sedan as a sports car is questioned (Spell), such cars as four doors Mustang and Camaro are often referred to as sports cars by their manufacturers, some liberal experts, insurance companies and the general public. Recent terminology was enriched by new definitions of the high performance cars. It includes such labels as “sport sedans”, “near sport cars” and “sporty cars”. It seems that narrow original meaning of a sports car has been redefined. Car industry has developed “sport packages and add-ons” that increase performance, change looks and enhance features of what could have otherwise been a regular car (Meaning of sports car). This allows turning a sedan into a successful sports car. In some circles suspension and handling of the car are considered to be main attribute of a sports vehicle. Since lines of distinction become more blurred, intension based classification for defining the status of a sport vehicle gains more support. Intension based definition states, “When a vehicle is made for performance much more compared to utility, it’s a sport vehicle” (Meaning of sports car). Such definition does not specify the number of doors, passengers, size, height or steering and suspension differences and does not exclude sedans from “sporty” car family. Former narrow definitions of sports car are not suitable for today’s diverse automotive variety. “If your vehicle was created rich in performance or race-like abilities in your mind, it may most likely be securely called a sport vehicle. Some purists may balk at this type of liberal perspective, but alternative definitions fall far lacking precisely distinguishing sport cars from regular production models” (Meaning of sports car).
Comparison of two vehicles confirms that classic two door sports car and a four door sport sedan are very much alike (see table 1). Thus, sedan can claim his status of a sports car.
American manufacturers soon responded to the appearance of European sports cars on American shores. In 1953, the General Motors Corporation launched the Corvette. The Ford Motor Company responded with more luxurious Thunderbird in 1954, but Ford eventually turned the "T-bird" into a four-seater. Thus, the Corvette remained the only true sports car made in the United States until the Chrysler Corporation introduced the Dodge Viper in 1992.In the 1960's, the Japanese auto industry introduced its first sports cars, including the Honda S800 and Toyota 2000GT. Since then, Japanese automakers have built generations of fast, reliable sports cars. Among these are the Nissan ZX, Toyota MR-2, Mazda RX-7, and Mazda Miata.
Since 2000, several automakers have made cars with vastly increased engine power. This increase makes sports cars potentially more dangerous and difficult to control. Fortunately, advanced stability control systems have also become more common. The Audi R8 is typical of the modern sports car, with all-wheel drive and all-aluminum construction.
Sports cars continue to be popular among a group of young drives and older drivers who wish to remain feeling young. Often expensive, they bring status and the exhilaration of speed to those who drive them.
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