What makes a car a super car?

[Zip]

Aston Martin’s hand-built 6.0-litre V12 is renowned as one of the finest engines in the world: enormously powerful, smooth and beautiful. It can also lay claim to being the world’s best-sounding high performance car engine. In the Vanquish S, it reaches its zenith. Maximum power is 520 bhp (388 kW) at 7000 rpm, with maximum torque of 425 lb ft (577 Nm) at 5800 rpm.

Such power delivers sterling performance. Indeed, this is the fastest-ever road going Aston Martin. Top speed is more than 200 mph (321 km/h), the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) dash is accomplished in only 4.8 seconds while 0-100 mph (160 km/h) takes just 9.8 seconds. But it is the mid-range acceleration that is truly sensational; 50-70 mph (80-112 km/h) takes only 6.5 seconds in sixth gear. Overtaking is effortless.


OK maybe that one is a super car

Vanquish S V12

Now thats the Aston Marton iwould call a supercar

What class of car would an Ariel Atom 2 be in?(the superchanged 300bhp version)?

 

[Nozzer]

Now thats the Aston Marton iwould call a supercar

What class of car would an Ariel Atom 2 be in?(the superchanged 300bhp version)?

Same as the Caterfields and Elises, sports car.

 

[geiger]

It has supercar performance below 100, maybe below 140 but not upto 200 like high bhp gives

 

[NathanE]

It's more of a go-kart than a car...

 

[Zip]

This will solve this debate once and for all (i hope)

The following is a list of vehicles that are widely considered to be "supercars" for their era. Vehicles are listed in the era of the base model's initial year of production, then sorted alphabetically.


1950's Supercars
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Porsche 550 Spyder

1960's Supercars
Ferrari 250 GTO
Ferrari P3/4
Ford GT40
Lamborghini Miura
AC Cobra

1970's Supercars
BMW M1
Ferrari 512BB
Lamborghini Countach
Maserati Bora
De Tomaso Pantera

1980's Supercars
Ferrari 288 GTO
Ferrari Testarossa
Ferrari F40
Porsche 959

1990's Supercars
Aston Martin Vantage V600 LE MANS
Bugatti EB-110/EB-110 SuperSport
“Caterham” Lotus Seven
Cizeta Moroder
Ferrari F50
Isdera Commendatore 112i
Jaguar XJ220
Jaguar XJR-15
Lamborghini Diablo
Lister Storm
McLaren F1
Mega Track
Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR
Nazca C2
Nissan R390
Pagani Zonda
Panther Solo
Porsche 911 GT1 model
Schuppan 962CR
Spectre R42
Venturi Atlantique
Spyker C8

2000's Supercars
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
Bugatti Veyron 16.4
BMW M3 GTR
"Caterham"Lotus Seven
B Engineering Edonis
Ferrari F430
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Ferrari Enzo
Ferrari FXX
Ford GT
Gumpert Apollo
Koenigsegg CC8S
Koenigsegg CCR
Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini Murciélago
Maserati MC12
Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Mosler MT900
Nismo GT-R Z-Tune
Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3
Pagani Zonda F "C12 F"
Porsche Carrera GT
RUF Rt 12
Saleen S7
SSC Aero

Unproduced supercars
Audi Avus Quattro
Bentley Hunaudieres
Bizzarrini BZ-2001
BMW Nazca M12
Cadillac Cien
Chrysler ME Four-Twelve
Holden Hurricane
Italdesign Cala
Italdesign Schigera
Jiotto Caspita
Joss Supercar
MCV CH4
MG XPower SV (900bhp+ model never entered production)
Mitsuoka Orochi
Monteverdi Hai 650 F1
TVR Cerbera Speed 12 (never went into production, however one of the prototypes was recently rebuilt, registered, MoT'd and sold)
Peugeot 907
Vector WX-3
Vector WX-3R

Planned supercars
Jaguar XK-RS (production being considered)
Joss Supercar (production is planned)
Laraki Fulgara (production is planned)
McLaren P8 (development restarted)
Volkswagen W12 (production being considered)
Audi Le Mans Quattro (production approved)

Disputed/questionable supercars
Acura NSX
BMW 8-Series
Buick Reatta
Chevrolet Corvette
De Tomaso Deauville
De Tomaso Guara
De Tomaso Longchamps
De Tomaso Mangusta
Dodge Viper
Dodge Daytona (1969)
Ferrari Dino
Ferrari 308
Ferrari 328
Ferrari 348
Ferrari F355
Ferrari 360
Jehle Super Saphier
Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini Jalpa
Lotus Carlton
Lotus Esprit
Panther Solo
Plymouth Superbird
Porsche 911 Turbo, GT2 and GT3 models
Porsche 928
Porsche 930
Vector M12
Vector W8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_supercars

 

[=Mac=]

BMW M3 GTR

Not sure about that one, sure its expensive fast and rare but its still a 3 series BMW.

Edit: Nor that tuned up skyline, they just arent special enough.

mac

 

[Nozzer]

I wouldn't call the modern entry level Ferraris 'super cars', they're way too common.

 

[Clarkey]

I agree with Noz on that, in my eyes the Enzo is the only supercar Ferrari make these days.
It is wild in every way, massively powerful engine, staggering performance, staggering price tag!, looks so wild that its actually pretty ugly but it gets away with it, and most importantly in my eyes, its highly exclusive.

A supercar will make me stop in the street and gorp at it, something which 360's, 430's, Aston's and so on just don't do. On the other hand lambo's are pretty awesome, they always make me look.

 

[AmDaMan]

What about this one then

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8003041790071513413&q=Top+gear

that is frickin' awsome!!

What happens there when he loses control? It sounds like it was blowing up. Awsome.

 

[Alibaba99]

0-100 in 10 seconds isn't really a guide either as some of the standard Evos can do this. They certainly aren't supercars.

 

[The_Dark_Side]

0-100 in 10 seconds isn't really a guide either as some of the standard Evos can do this. They certainly aren't supercars.

you're kidding?
really?
apart from the FQ430 i hadn't realised any of the standard cars were that quick.

 

[Bennah]

I would count a Noble to be a super car.

My defination of a super car is, something that has presence, has a wow factor about it, nice look about it, quick and puts a HUGE smile on your face if you ever drive one.

Does'nt have to have a huge engine (L wise), doesnt have to be huge in size, doesnt have to have an expensive badge, doesnt have to be over £100k...

 

[[TW]Fox]

I would count a Noble to be a super car.

No supercar would have Mk1 Mondeo backlights, Mk2 Mondeo aircon/heater switchgear and a Mondeo V6 engine, irrespective of how many turbos are added.

It's a quick car, it's not a supercar.

 

[Matt]

A Noble isn't a supercar. Much like an Aston DB9, or a Ferrari F430.

It has to be something that you're never actually going to own, as it's that rare and since there are thousands of 360's, and will be thousands of 430's in this country alone, that takes them far away from any supercar list.

 

[Nozzer]

No supercar would have Mk1 Mondeo backlights, Mk2 Mondeo aircon/heater switchgear and a Mondeo V6 engine, irrespective of how many turbos are added.

It's a quick car, it's not a supercar.

The Ford GT has Mondeo lighter/wiper stalks and a truck engine. Is that not a supercar?

 

[[TW]Fox]

The Ford GT has Mondeo lighter/wiper stalks and a truck engine. Is that not a supercar?

The truck engine is a tad different to a 2.5/3.0 V6 from a Mondeo and I had no idea it had the same stalks

 

[Cassius Clarke]

IMHO, noble M12 GTO is a supercar, so is the 911 GT2 (0-100 less than 10 secs, rare, cost new over 100 grand)

and Im not just saying this becuase im considering a swap for the noble

 

[=Mac=]

IMHO, noble M12 GTO is a supercar, so is the 911 GT2 (0-100 less than 10 secs, rare, cost new over 100 grand)

and Im not just saying this becuase im considering a swap for the noble

The 911 is arguable, it still looks like a 911, despite the extra performance. They dont make people stop and look on the side of the road or children in cars to stare at them, they are too normal and too common.

The noble is a "Sports car", same as the elise etc.

 

[Alibaba99]

you're kidding?
really?
apart from the FQ430 i hadn't realised any of the standard cars were that quick.

I'm sure that when Autocar tested the Evo 6 RS it did 0-60 in 4.2 and 0-100 in around 10.

 

[[huzeeee]]

I would say a super car is a road legal lemans style car car such as the enzo, f1 and gt40. They have to be iconic cars, that make motorsport history. mostly mid engined rear wheel drive 200k plus £..