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| A '''sports car''' is a term used to describe a class of [[automobile]]. The exact definition varies, <ref>{{cite book
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| | last = Reynolds
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| | first = Bill
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| | title = The Complete Book of Sports Cars
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| | publisher = Salamander Books
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| | date = 2002
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| | location = St. Paul
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| | pages = 7
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| | doi =
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| | isbn = 0-7603-1455-1}}</ref>
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| but generally it is used to refer to a low to ground, light weight vehicle with a powerful engine. Most vehicles referred to as sports cars are [[rear-wheel drive]], have two seats, two doors, and are designed for more precise [[Car handling|handling]], acceleration, and aesthetics. A sports car's dominant considerations can be superior road handling, braking, maneuverability, low weight, and high power, rather than passenger space, comfort, and fuel economy.
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| Sports cars can be either luxurious<ref>{{cite web|author=Csaba Csere and Tony Swan|title = 10 Best Cars: Best Luxury Sports Car|publisher = [[Car and Driver]]|date=2005-01|url = http://www.caranddriver.com/bestcars/8924/10best-cars-best-luxury-sports-car.html|accessdate = 2006-10-07}}</ref> or spartan, but driving mechanical performance is the key attraction. Many drivers regard brand name and the subsequent racing reputation and history as important indications of sporting quality (for example, [[Ferrari]], [[Porsche]], [[Lotus Cars|Lotus]]), but some brands, such as [[Lamborghini]], which do not race or build racing cars, are also highly regarded.
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| A car may be a ''sporting'' automobile without being a sports car. Performance modifications of regular, production cars, such as [[sport compact]]s, [[sports sedan]]s, [[muscle car]]s, [[hot hatch]]es and the like, generally are not considered sports cars, yet share traits common to sports cars. They are sometimes called "sports cars" for marketing purposes for increased advertising and promotional purposes.<ref>Crossa, Robert G. and Dixit, Ashutosh. "Customer-centric pricing: The surprising secret for profitability" Business Horizons, Volume 48, Issue 6, November-December 2005, Pages 483-491.</ref> Performance cars of all configurations are grouped as ''Sports and [[Grand tourer]] cars'', or, occasionally, as ''performance cars''.
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| A sports car does not require a large, powerful [[internal combustion engine|engine]], though many do have them. Many classic British sports cars lacked powerful engines, but were known for exceptional handling due to light weight, a well-engineered, balanced chassis, and modern suspension (for example, [[Lotus Seven]], [[Austin 7|Austin 7 Speedy]]). On tight, twisting roads, such a sports car may perform more effectively than a heavier, more powerful car.
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| Due to North American safety regulations, many sports cars are unavailable for sale or use in the United States and Canada. In the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle Eastern market (''e.g.'' UAE), a flexible attitude towards small-volume specialist manufacturers has allowed companies such as [[TVR]], [[Noble]], and [[Pagani]] to succeed.
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| == History ==
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| The sports car traces its roots to early 20th century [[touring car]]s. These raced in early [[rally]]s, such as the Herkomer Cup, ''Prinz Heinrich Fahrt'', and [[Monte Carlo Rally|Monte Carlo]].<ref name="Georgano">{{cite book| last = Georgano | first = G. N. | title = Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930 | publisher = Grange-Universal | date = 1985 | location = London }}</ref>
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| The first true sports cars (though the term would not be coined until after World War One) were the 3 litre 1910 [[Vauxhall Motors|Vauxhall]] 20 hp (15 kW) and 27/80PS [[Austro-Daimler]] (designed by [[Ferdinand Porsche]]).<ref name="Georgano"/>
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| These would shortly be joined by the French [[Doriot, Flandrin & Parant|DFP]] (which became sporters after [[tuning]] by H.M. and [[W. O. Bentley]], the [[Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost]]. In the U.S. (where the type was variously called [[roadster]], [[speedster]], [[runabout]], or raceabout, there was [[Apperson]], [[Kissel Motor Car Company|Kissel]], Marion, Midland, National, [[Overland Automobile|Overland]], [[Stoddard-Dayton]], and Thomas among small models (which today would be called sports cars), while Chadwick, [[Mercer]], [[Stutz]], and [[Crane-Simplex|Simplex]] were among large ones (which might today be called sports [[sedan (car)|sedan]]s or grand tourers).<ref name="Georgano"/>
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| In 1921, [[Ballot]] premiered its 2LS, with a remarkable 75 hp (56 kW) DOHC two liter, designed by Ernest Henry (formerly of [[Peugeot]]'s [[Formula One|Grand Prix]] program), capable of 150 km/h (90 mph); at most, one hundred were built in four years. This was followed by the SOHC 2LT and 2LTS. The same year, [[Benz]] built a [[supercharger|supercharged]] 28/95PS four for the [[Coppa Florio]]; [[Max Sailer]] won.<ref name="Georgano"/>
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| [[Simson]] in 1924 offered a Paul Henze-designed 60 hp (45 kW) DOHC 2 liter four, the Simson Supra Type S, in a long-wheelbase 120 km/h (60 mph) tourer and 115 km/h (71 mph) twin-[[carburettor]] sporter; only thirty were sold, against around three hundred of the SOHC model and 750 of the [[pushrod]]-six Type R. Duerkopp's Zoller-blown two liter in 1924, as well.<ref name="Georgano"/>
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| There was a clear cleavage by 1925. As four-seaters were more profitable, two-seaters increasingly turned over to specialst manufacturers, led by [[Alvis]], [[Aston-Martin]], and [[Frazer-Nash]], with shoestring budgets, fanatic followers, and limited sales (today exemplified by Aston and [[Morgan Motor Company|Morgan]]): between 1921 and 1939, 350 Astons were built; 323 Frazer-Nashes in the period 1924-39.<ref name="Georgano"/>
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| By the end of the 1920s, [[AC Cars|AC]] produced a 2 liter six, the 3.5 liter [[Nazzaro]] had a three-valve OHC (only until 1922), while French makers [[Amilcar]], Bignan, [[Hispano-Suiza]], and Samson had the typical small four-cylinder sporters and [[Delage]], [[Hotchkiss]], and [[Chenard-Walcker]] the large tourers. [[Benz]] introduced the powerful SS and [[Mercedes-Benz SSK|SSK]], and [[Alfa Romeo]], the Vittori Jano-designed [[Alfa Romeo 6C|6C]].<ref name="Georgano"/>
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| Two companies would offer the first really reliable sports cars: [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]] with the [[Austin 7|Seven]] and [[Morris Garages]] (MG) with the [[MG Midget|Midget]]. The Seven would quickly be "rodded" by numerous companies (as the [[Volkswagen Beetle|Type 1]] would be a generation later), including Bassett and Dingle (Hammersmith, London); in 1928, a Cozette blower was fitted to the Seven Super Sports, while [[Cecil Kimber]] fitted an 847 cc [[Morris Minor|Minor]] engine, and sold more Midgets in the first year than MG's entire previous production.<ref name="Georgano"/>
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| == Layout ==
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| The drive train and engine layout significantly influences the handling characteristics of an automobile, and is crucially important in the design of a sports car.
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| The [[front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout]] (FR) is common to sports cars of any era and has survived longer in sports cars than in mainstream automobiles. Examples include the [[Caterham 7]], [[Mazda MX-5]], and the [[Chevrolet Corvette]].
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| In search of improved handling and weight distribution, other layouts are sometimes used. The [[Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout|RMR layout]] is commonly found only in sports cars — the motor is centre-mounted in the chassis (closer to and behind the driver), and powers only the rear wheels. Some high-performance sports car manufacturers, such as [[Ferrari]] and [[Lamborghini]] prefer this layout. Many modern cars, especially [[grand tourer]]s, also use a [[Front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout|FMR layout]], with the motor sitting between the front axle and the firewall.
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| [[Porsche]] is one of the few, remaining manufacturers using the [[rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout]] (RR). The motor's distributed weight across the wheels, in a [[Porsche 911]], provides excellent traction, but the significant mass behind the rear wheels makes it more prone to oversteer in some situations. Porsche has continuously refined the design and in recent years added electronic driving aids (i.e. computerised traction-stability control) to counteract these inherent design shortcomings.<ref name="Early Handling Problems and Solutions">{{cite web | url = http://www.autozine.org/911/911_5.htm | title = Early Handling Problems and Solutions | accessdate = 2008-09-16 | format = HTML}}</ref>
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| Some sport cars have used the [[front-engine, front-wheel drive layout]] (FF), e.g. [[Fiat Barchetta]], [[Saab Sonett]] and [[Berkeley cars]]. This layout is advantageous for small, light, lower power sports cars, as it avoids the extra weight, increased transmission power loss, and packaging problems of a long driveshaft and longitudinal engine of FR vehicles. Yet, its conservative handling effect, particularly understeer, and the fact that many drivers believe rear wheel drive is a more desirable layout for a sports car make this layout atypical to high-performance sports cars. The FF layout, however, is common in [[sport compact]]s and [[hot hatch]]es, such as the [[Honda Civic Si]]/[[Honda Civic Type R|Type R]] and the [[Volkswagen Golf]] GTi, and cars in general (excepting sports cars).
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| Before the 1980s few sports cars used [[four-wheel drive]], which had traditionally added a lot of weight. Although not a sports car, the [[Audi Quattro]] proved its worth in rallying. With its improvement in traction, particularly in adverse weather conditions, four-wheel drive is no longer uncommon in high-powered sports cars, e.g. [[Porsche]], [[Lamborghini]], and the [[Bugatti Veyron]].
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| == Seating ==
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| Some sports cars have small back seats that are really only suitable for luggage or small children. Such a configuration is often referred to as a [[2 plus 2|2+2]] (two full seats + two "occasional" seats). The [[Mazda RX-8]] includes two small backward-opening doors to better accommodate extra passengers.
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| Over the years, some manufacturers of sports cars have sought to increase the practicality of their vehicles by increasing the seating room. One method is to place the driver's seat in the center of the car, which allows two full-sized passenger seats on each side and slightly behind the driver. The arrangement was originally considered for the [[Lamborghini Miura]], but abandoned as impractical because of the difficulty for the driver to enter/exit the vehicle. [[McLaren Cars|McLaren]] used the design in their [[McLaren F1|F1]].
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| Another British manufacturer, [[TVR]], took a different approach in their Cerbera model. The interior was designed in such a way that the dashboard on the passenger side swept toward the front of the car, which allowed the passenger to sit farther forward than the driver. This gave the rear seat passenger extra room and made the arrangement suitable for three adult passengers and one child seated behind the driver. The arrangement has been referred to by the company as a 3+1.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} Some [[Matra]] sports cars even had three seats squeezed next to each other.
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| == Examples ==
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| {{main|List of sports car manufacturers}}
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| In addition to specialist sports car marques, almost all major car manufacturers have made some form of high performance car, such as [[BMW]] with the [[BMW Z4|Z4]], [[Chevrolet]] with the [[Chevrolet Corvette|Corvette]] and [[Toyota]] with the [[Toyota MR2|MR2]].
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| ==See also==
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| * [[Coupe]]
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| * [[Fuel cell sports car]]
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| * [[Grand tourer]]
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| * [[Hot hatch]]
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| * [[Muscle car]]
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| * [[Roadster]]
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| * [[Sport compact]]
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| * [[Sports car racing]]
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| * [[Sports sedan]]
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| * [[Supercar]]
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| ==External links==
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| {{commons|Sports car}}
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| *[http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=1949 "Best All-Around Sports Car"], ''[[Road & Track]]'', March 2005
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| *[http://www.casact.org/library/astin/vol18no2/175.pdf "What is a Sports Car?"], Jean-Francois Ingenbleek, ''Universitd Libre de Bruxelles'' & Jean LeMaire, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
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| *{{cite book | last = Donovan | first = Sandra | title = Sports Cars | publisher = Lerner Publications | date = 2007 | location = | pages = 48pp | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=OZ5oB0ZlrY0C | isbn = 08-2255-928-5 }}
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| [[Category:Sports cars| ]]
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