Types of Sports Cars
Many people have a great fascination for sports cars. These machines have a lot of power and torque, and most importantly are lower to the ground, contributing to proper aerodynamics against the wind. Moreover, they are generally available in either two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Two-wheel drive ones are usually used for road racing or drifting, whereas AWD sports cars are used for rally racing. Just like any other cars, they are also divided into certain groups.
Types of Sports Cars
Ford FiestaAudi A3Subaru ImprezaHatchbacks
A hatchback can be a small or a mid-sized car which has two or four passenger doors and a raise-open door at the back.
Hatchbacks are also known as three-door or five-door cars, keeping the back raise-open door in mind. These cars generally come at a low price and are known for better gas mileage and usability for a small family. Sport hatches are faster than big sports cars on roads with sharp turns, which is why they are more agile.
A few more good hatchbacks are the Subaru Impreza WRX, Volkswagen GTI, Audi A3, MAZDASPEED3, and the Volvo C30 T5.
Aston Martin Rapide Infiniti G37 BMW G37Sports Sedans
Car enthusiasts believe that sedans are a fuller type of race cars than hatchbacks. Sedans generally have four doors, and a trunk at the back for luggage. This makes them suitable to be used as passenger cars as well as sports cars when needed. Most race cars come in this category, since racersconsider this type to be more stable and well-balanced. These cars have a sporty look, and are fitted with a powerful engine. Some even have luxury facilities for the comfort of passengers. These cars are generally more expensive than standard sedans. A good example of a sports sedan is the Infiniti G37 Sport 6MT. This one from Infinity comes with a 3.7-liter 24-valve V6 engine that delivers a nice 328 hp.
A 6-speed manual transmission gearbox and rear-wheel drive contributes to the excitement the car offers. This fast car also does not compromise with safety, as a result comes with the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Traction Control System (TCS), EBD, Brake Assist, ABS, and other safety functionalities. A mileage of 17/25 MPG in city and highway might not seem good on this vehicle though. The base cost of this sports sedan starts from $40,000 approximately. And if the Infinity doesn’t suit your fancy there are many other Sports sedans to choose from including the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, BMW M5, Aston Martin Rapide, and the Volvo S60.
M3 Nissan 370Z Hyundai GenesisCoupes
Coupes are traditionally referred to as cars with just two doors and two seats, and a fixed roof. Generally, these types of cars are sporty variants of sedans. In addition, they also have a lower height than their four-door counterparts. Due to just two elongated doors, they have a sleek body styling factor. These cars are ideal for two passengers, and additional cargo. Coupes do not compromise with power, as they have the same power that is found in sports sedans. Modified coupes can be found in all types of auto racing. The M3 Coupe is one of the best performance coupes available in its class. You can really enjoy 414 hp power generated from the 4.0-liter 32-valve V-8 engine.
Owing to on-road safety, BMW has incorporated the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), ABS, and Dynamic Brake Control technologies in the M3. An interesting feature of this coupe is the Electronic Damping Control (EDC) which enables the shock absorbers adapt according to the driving condition and speed. This rear-wheel drive car is priced at around $59,000. While the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Mitsubishi Eclipse, and Nissan 370Z are also some excellent coupes.
Volkswagon EosPorsche 911 Turbo Audi TT RoadsterConvertibles
As the name portrays, convertibles are those which can convert from closed to open cars and back. This simply means that the roof can be put up or down, according to the preference of the driver. These kinds of cars can either come in coupes, hatchbacks, or sedans. They can be available in soft-top or hard-top models. Soft-top means the roof is made out of some sort of textile material; whereas in hard-tops, the roof consists of steel or carbon fiber material. The engine of convertibles is the same as other performance cars. A majority of popular sedans and coupes are offered in convertible variants for style-conscious consumers. The Volkswagen Eos is an ideal example of a convertible.
This hardtop convertible is embedded with a 200-hp 2.0-liter TSI engine that gives a mileage of 22/29 in city/highway. The Komfort variant, which is the base model in the line, is priced at about $34,000. Just like other advanced cars, this too has its share of safety features such as the ESC, Engine Braking Assist (EBA), Hill Hold Control, etc. Other good convertibles are the; Audi TT Roadster, BMW M3 Convertible, Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG, and Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible.
It cannot be concluded that one particular company is the best manufacturer of sports cars. Every company has its line up of these machines which are incorporated with trademarked technologies. For example, in rally sports; brands like Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Citroen are considered the best. However, in stock car racing Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini, Porsche, BMW, Aston Martin, Ford, etc. are more prominent. Likewise, each brand has its own specialty in sports cars. So no matter the occasion or intended use of the car a consumer will most-likely be able to find one that works them among the hundreds of Makes and Models avalible.
