Supercar Definition

[SSO]

I just posted up a blog on Supercar Definitions which added a few more categories:

https://karenable.com/new-supercar-definitions/

Comments?  Any additions?

[dinny_g]

I can see the rationale behind your criteria but I'd disagree with some of them

These two are a certainty...
- Performance statistics across the board that will have needed to be outstanding in its era.
- Serious presence on the road

I'd add in these...
- Must be halo model, limited in availability and pretty much unattainable, even for the likes of you Everything else is a sports car.
- Each Marque can only produce 1 Supercar at a time but the top model by any marque isn't, by definition, a supercar
- Must be ludicrously expensive
- Must be able to devour entire continents for hours on end...

These three, less so...
- Track god - Supercars are rare and expensive. They're not for Tracking. Sports Cars are for Tracks, supercars are for A71 through France or the E80 from Nice to Genoa to then park up at a nice Hotel (that most people have never heard of and that doesn't have a Website )
- Capable of devouring back country roads and mountain passes for hours on end - See above. do you really want to come round a corner in your Million Pound + supercar into an oncoming tractor or a heard of sheep.
- World class handling and stopping ability. - Stopping yes, Handling, meh...

Just goes to show "Supercar" is such a personal definition...

[ZedLeg]

Yeah I'd disagree with the limited availability thing.

The car that coined the phrase was a production model and I'd say the halo models moved past supercar territory in the 90s.

Supercars are (to me)

Fast - these days that means 200+mph and around 3 secs to 60
wide, low and impractical
mid engined

[dinny_g]

mid engined

Oh - good shout... but then the 959 is a supercar but rear engined...

[Jobbo]

mid engined

Oh - good shout... but then the 959 is a supercar but rear engined...

And wasn't the Ferrari Daytona a supercar which was front engined?

[Mito Man]

Hmm I’d say the 599 GTO/Aperta, F12 etc are supercars.
The Lexus LFA is a supercar, so is the One-77.

On mid engine stuff I’d categorise the new Honda NSX as a supercar even though it’s a bit mediocre and probably worse than an Audi R8 which would just be a sports car.

[PaulJ]

There's only one supercar, and it was driven by Mike Mercury. Ask your dads/grand dads.

[mik]

This one is pretty poor definition.

[ZedLeg]

My classification is correct and flawless. Anything that doesn’t match it is wrong.

[Pete_]

Hum, interesting take but I think your definition of 'supermodel' would be my definition of supercar. I'd put particularly focus on the road presence, they need to be rare enough that it's out of the ordinary for an average person to see one, but not necessarily super limited production.

Track performance wouldn't come into it at all for me. It needs to be fast, but not necessarily faster than fast sports cars. It's all about it being an occasion.

I think the Countach is probably a good example of what I think a car can get away with not doing while still being undeniably a supercar!

[SSO]

Hum, interesting take but I think your definition of 'supermodel' would be my definition of supercar. I'd put particularly focus on the road presence, they need to be rare enough that it's out of the ordinary for an average person to see one, but not necessarily super limited production.

Track performance wouldn't come into it at all for me. It needs to be fast, but not necessarily faster than fast sports cars. It's all about it being an occasion.

I think the Countach is probably a good example of what I think a car can get away with not doing while still being undeniably a supercar!

Countach is an occasion right up to the point where you need to go around a corner or back it up. Then it becomes a nightmare. Much better to keep it as a static display.

[dinny_g]

mid engined

Oh - good shout... but then the 959 is a supercar but rear engined...

And wasn't the Ferrari Daytona a supercar which was front engined?

Not to my mind no. I’m struggling to think of a Front Engined car that’s a Supercar

[SSO]

Oh - good shout... but then the 959 is a supercar but rear engined...

And wasn't the Ferrari Daytona a supercar which was front engined?

Not to my mind no. I’m struggling to think of a Front Engined car that’s a Supercar

Ferrari 599 GTO

[dinny_g]

I’ll allow it… Just

Didn’t many people think is didn’t deserve the GTO moniker???

Edit - actually No, it’s not a Supercar. It’s a special version of an existing car that isn’t sufficiently different to warrant the title.

[nuttinnew]

Oh - good shout... but then the 959 is a supercar but rear engined...

And wasn't the Ferrari Daytona a supercar which was front engined?

Not to my mind no. I’m struggling to think of a Front Engined car that’s a Supercar

Would you have classed the Cerbera Speed 12 as one?

[dinny_g]

Yes if it was made, no because it wasn’t

[Pete_]

And wasn't the Ferrari Daytona a supercar which was front engined?

Not to my mind no. I’m struggling to think of a Front Engined car that’s a Supercar

Ferrari 599 GTO

I struggle with allowing supercar status to a variation of a model that isn't in itself a supercar. Although in this case I think I would let the 599 in as a supercar. Lexus LFA I'd count as a front engined supercar one too (although somehow the F12 doesn't quite have the required visual excitement for me). I think the Aston Martin One-77 would be one too. Cerbera Speed 12 no because the Cerbera isn't a supercar.

[mik]

Yes if it was made, no because it wasn’t

They made one non?

(Possibly the ugliest Wheeler-era TVR - it’s been beaten badly with that stick)

[dinny_g]

- yeah I know but they have to make a few… and sell them to he considered IMO

[Mito Man]

I should have said F12 TdF.
I'll add the Alfa 8C to that list too.