A is a term used for a Sports Car , typically an exotic or rare one, whose performance is highly superlative to its contemporary sports cars. The proper application of this term is subjective and disputed, especially among enthusiasts. In addition, the use of the term is dependent on the era; a vehicle that is considered to be a supercar at one time may not retain its superiority in the future. Nonetheless, the automotive press frequently calls new exotic cars "supercars". Also see the List Of Supercars to help understand the term subjectively.
- — most supercars have high engine (987 SAE Hp /736kW) engine.
- — supercars, by the usual definition, have extremely quick acceleration compared to most vehicles, including ordinary sports cars. Some current expectations are as follow:
- --- 0 to 60 mph (96.56 km/h): Under 4 seconds for virtually all supercars today. The McLaren F1 has a 0 to 60 mph time of about 3.2 seconds. The Bugatti Veyron has a 0-60 time of 2.4 seconds.
- --- 0 to 100 mph (160.9 km/h): Under 10 seconds is generally called for, with undisputed supercars being significantly faster. The Ferrari Enzo , introduced in 2002, has a 0 to 100 mph time of about 6.5 seconds. McLaren F1 could do it in 6.3 seconds.
- --- Standing Quarter-Mile (402.3 meters): Under 13 seconds is arguably a requirement, as is a trap or terminal speed of at least 110 mph (177 km/h).
-- The Ferrari Enzo completes the quarter mile from a stop in about 11.1 seconds at 133 mph (214 km/h).
-- The Koenigsegg CCR , introduced in 2004, is officially claimed to run the quarter mile in "9 seconds, end speed 235 km/h (146 mph)" {Link without Title}
:It should be noted here, however, that the term supercar usually refers to particular models of factory-built, street-legal sports cars, which tend to be perceived as unmodified; heavily modified and potentially street-illegal vehicles can often accelerate faster than any production car, requiring well under 10 seconds in the quarter mile. Because supercars are usually designed for road use as opposed to drag racing or straight-line racing alone, their standard equipment often do not include roll cages and other mandatory requirements for fast cars on a Dragstrip .
- — Today, undisputed supercars can exceed at least 200 mph. The fastest models today have speeds exceeding 250 mph (400 km/h).
- --- On February 28 , 2005 , the Koenigsegg CCR with 806 hp (601 kW) achieved a top speed of 387.87 km/h (241.01 mph) on default settings. The car was driven on Italy's Nardo Prototipo proving ground, a circular track with a circumference of 12.5 km. This exceeded the McLaren's record. {Link without Title}
- --- On May 20 , 2005 , the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 achieved a two-way average speed of 400 km/h (248.5 mph)(limited) at parent company Volkswagen's Ehra-Lessien test track. This exceeded the Koenigsegg's record. The Veyron can do 0-200mph in just under 14 seconds which is quicker than the Mclaren F1 can even do 120-200mph {Link without Title}
- — In contrast to a Sports Car which simply has a more 'sporty' or involving handling than a normal hatchback or saloon, a supercar is usually built for maximum cornering and road gripping ability in order to achieve superior racing times.
In addition to performance, the following criteria are also cited in determining if a particular Sports Car or Exotic Car deserves the supercar moniker:
- — Supercars often feature groundbreaking styling elements. The Formula One -inspired Enzo Ferrari , for example, set a new styling direction for that company.
- — Supercars are not designed to be practical transportation devices, with functionality varying widely between different examples. Many and increased its turning ability.
- — All supercars feature cutting edge contemporary racing car technology. This has included the use of Carbon Fibre and Ceramic s, Ground Effect s and Wing s, and novel layouts like Mid-engine . The use of Turbocharger s has fallen out of favor in many recent supercars, though the Bugatti Veyron uses four. All Wheel Drive is also used in some modern supercars, reflecting the success of the Audi Quattro Rally Car . Rear Wheel Drive is still used most often.
- — Most commentators would not include one-off Concept Car s under this category. Although no objective metric has been agreed on, Homologation often makes the case for a supercar. Similarly, the term is never applied to a pure racing car — supercars must be legal for use on the street. Although their makers often promise to produce dozens of examples, some supercars never reach these production targets. For example, while 400 Enzos were built, just two Mosler Photons have been sold.
- --- — Some manufacturers have programs for car dealers, which allow dealers to order and sell specialized street vehicles that would otherwise be left unbuilt. Those cars are built by the automobile manufacturers, and may come with factory warranty. Special programs such as COPO were used by dealers in the Muscle Car era to sell supercars with unequal performance, even by standards of the era.
- — An extremely difficult aspect to objectively discuss is the "spirit" or "soul" many supercar buyers search for. This is often more a reflection of the manufacturer's reputation, especially on the race track, than the absolute qualities of the vehicle in question. This factor is often cited in disqualifying cars like the Honda/Acura NSX and Dodge/Chrysler Viper and including even the lesser V12-powered Ferrari s.
- — A supercar is expected to carry a high price tag, a racing reputation and a well-known name. Performance, quality and even design are lesser factors.
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