Sports cars: Getting started with your need for speed

If high acceleration, top speed and looks are what you want in a vehicle, then a sports car is probably what you are looking for.

Sports cars are a $4.5 billion industry with about 55,000 units sold each year.


Sports cars are built as performance vehicles, which means they have to be pushed in a way that regular cars cannot. For example, acceleration is often no more than 5 seconds to go from 0 to 100 mph.

Because it is more difficult to maneuver a speeding object, sports cars are specially designed to drive at top speed.

The term sporty has been coined to refer to a sleek yet robust design that exudes a powerful personality for the person behind the wheel. 

What follows is a basic run-through of sports cars on the market, their general designs and layout, as well as a list of the more popular models and makers.

FF front engine, front wheel drive. 

The FF layout has a moderate capacity for high speeds and can be seen in selected models such as the Fiat Coup, and the Lotus Elan M100. 

FR engine front, rear wheel drive

Given the layout of the classic sports car, the engine drives the rear wheels, but keeps the weight away from the rear.  The FR is good at cornering while maintaining control. Mercedes-Benz is known for using this layout for its models.

RR rear engine, rear wheel drive

With the engine in the rear driving the rear wheels, weight placement on an RR layout provides excellent traction for a car. However, without additional driving aids such as stability control, roadholding becomes difficult. As of today, the only manufacturer to retain the RR layout for its cars is Porche.

AWD four wheel drive

An AWD layout offers the easiest operation, making it ideal for those just starting out with sports cars. Audi has started using the Quattro with the widespread use of this technique. Japanese manufacturers such as Mitsubishi used this technique to improve handling, making it an excellent rally car.

Because of the higher restrictions in the states, sports car manufacturers are more common in Europe than in America. Yet American brands compete on an equal footing with their European and Asian counterparts. Some recognized manufacturers and models are:

  • Alfa Romeo
  • Alpine 
  • Aston Martin 
  • Austin-Healey 
  • BMW 
  • Bugatti 
  • Caterham 
  • Davrian 
  • The Lorean 
  • Ferrari 
  • Fisker 
  • Jaguar 
  • Koenigsegg 
  • Lamborghini 
  • Lotus 
  • McLaren 
  • Maserati 
  • MG 
  • Morgan 
  • Panoz 
  • Porsche 
  • Triumph 
  • TVR 
  • Vector

Now that you've started, take the next step by discovering the excitement a sports car can bring you today, just as it has for generations.

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