Supercar status or just fast

[hatasan]

What makes a car earn the title "supercar". Where's the cut off?....price, HP, time slips, styling......?

[Klubbheads]

name only. If its a brand new brand then it has to be nice looking with massive power and sick handling combined with exquisite interior.
The only one that has able to get into that category is Pagani Zonda.

[fredrik94087]

I bought a book a while back. It listed several supercars.

Supercar status these days is usually ~500+ HP, a top speed above 180mph, great handling, styling, and technology.

The Testarossa, F40, F50, Saleen S7, Porsche 969, Ford GT(old and new), Viper, etc. were in there.

Yes, Lamborghini and Lotus were there too.

[fecurtis]

If thats the case, the C6 Z06 should be considered a supercar, although I wouldn't consider it as such.

[Jeff92se]

The lines for "supercar" and such are getting blurred more everyday. The line also gets moved up. Now I think you need to have 650+ hp and a price tag of at least $125,000.

fercutis mentioned the Z06. It's a great example. It probably out accerates, brakes and handles cars with "supercar" status just 8-10 years ago. But most middle income people could probably swing one

[IVRY PRL]

I think people are confusing supercar and exotic. A Z06 is a supercar, but not an exotic. An NSX is an exotic, but only barely a supercar.

[///M32G35]

I wouldn't consider a NSX a supercar. Exotic, absolutely. F430's and Gallardo's are barely supercars in my book. Anything on the level of the Zonda, Enzo, S7, LP640, or Carrera GT is, IMO, worthy of hypercar status.

I would also consider the C6 Z06 a supercar, but not any Lotus.

[IVRY PRL]

F430 is barely a supercar but C6 Z06 is no problem? Lotus Espirit 350 isn't? Those are some seriously odd, heavily Corvette biased standards.

[Pwoz]

Originally Posted by Klubbheads

name only. If its a brand new brand then it has to be nice looking with massive power and sick handling combined with exquisite interior.
The only one that has able to get into that category is Pagani Zonda.

What about Koenigsegg? I think they managed to crack it.

I think the Z06 is too daily drivable to be a supercar. You could park it at your local Walmart without much worry.

[thommyboy0885]

I think the car needs to be exclusive also. If there is one on every corner (Corvette) then how is it a supercar? So power, styling, performance, and price go a long way, but it needs to be rare also. Just my opinion...

[///M32G35]

Originally Posted by IVRY PRL

F430 is barely a supercar but C6 Z06 is no problem? Lotus Espirit 350 isn't? Those are some seriously odd, heavily Corvette biased standards.

Z06 outperforms the F430 pretty handily. It has 25 more hp, about 115 more lb-ft of torque, and possibly weighs a bit less. Lotus Espirit is no faster than an E46 M3. The Lotus is more of an exotic. And I am FAR from Corvette biased, for $70k+ I'd much rather have an E60 M5 than a Z06. FWIW I wouldn't classify any Porsche a supercar except the GT2, the Carrera GT IMO is a hypercar.

Let me break it down for you like this. If it has between 450-600hp, great handling, and can run less than 7:50 on the 'ring then IMO it is a supercar. If it has over 600hp and can run less than 7:40 at the 'ring then it's a hypercar. If it is foreign, exclusive, and semi-expensive to expensive then it is an exotic, regardless of performance. Example:


Supercars


Ferrari 430
Lambo Gallardo
Corvette Z06
996 & 997 GT2
Ferrari 575
AM DBS
Tuscan TVR
MB Mclaren SLR (only a supercar because it's handling and lap times are not up to snuff)
MB CLK DTM AMG

Hypercars

Mclaren F1
Ferrari Enzo
Lambo Murci LP640
Ferrari FXX
Koenigsegg CCR, CCS, CC8s
Porsche Carrera GT
Pagani Zonda, Zonda F, Zonda R
Mosler MT900
Saleen S7
MB CLK GTR

[Pwoz]

Shouldn't the Porsche GT3 be on your list of porsches. I thought it went faster than 7:50

[///M32G35]

Originally Posted by Pwoz

Shouldn't the Porsche GT3 be on your list of porsches. I thought it went faster than 7:50

It did, but just barely at 7:48. Apperently you didn't see the hp requirements I put up either. I believe supercars need to have some pretty serious straight line speed as well, and I don't believe the GT3 has that. Also, the E46 M3 CSL lapped the 'ring in 7:50, but you can bet there is no way in hell that I would label that a supercar. Although TBH, maybe the 997 GT3 RS should have made it.

[Pwoz]

Ah, yeah, I passed over the HP requirement you had.

I probably wouldn't call any Porsche except the GT a supercar because they all look the same. Different standards though.

Makes me wonder if there is a technical definition for a supercar.

[empfl]

though hp is a factor, i dont think it really determines whether it is a super car or not.. if anything it would be on the bottom of the "requirements"

a 700 hp mustang is not super car where as a 500-600 hp lamborghini is..