"Mainstream" Supercars

[james280779]

rottie102 said:

NOTHING that has a slow version can ever be called supercar. That's my definition.

So since there are 4cyl NA VX220s, NA Auto supras, Skylines GTS, 911s which ARE NOT GT2/3 etc please don't even mention those! They are all SPORTSCARS, not SUPERCARS

My 1985 911 was classed as a supercar in the 80's (n/a aircooled) as was my Lotus Esprit Turbo - I dont think a car ever stops being a supercar if it looks like one- example below.




I am aware Lotus are not exactly mainstream but just making a point

[V8RX7]

quote=rottie102]NOTHING that has a slow version can ever be called supercar. That's my definition.

[/quote]

^^^ In a world where pure speed doesn't make it a supercar - not looking like a slower car is probably as good a definition as any.

[ginbreakfast]

Lancia Stratos?

[Dave G fsi]

Ford RS 200?

[LaurasOtherHalf]

BULLITT Rich said:

The RX-7 was Mazda's supercar, built to rival Porsche at the time and did rather well too. Originally classed as a giant-killer like the Skyline as in not much money compared to its rivals but could compete against the big boys.

Built to compete against the 944/968, hardly a Supercar!

How about the group B cars, ford RS200?

Alfa Romeo Montreal?

[98elise]

I would take the GTR off the list. If you put it in a lineup of a bunch of other 4 door saloons, a non car person would be hard presed to pick it out as a sports car let alone a super car.

The look is very much a part of a supercar.

[Simond S]

The same reason why Sierra Cosworth isn't on the list.

A supercar slayer, but not a supercar.

[nickbee]

davepoth said:

E-Type Jag deserves to be on there too really, it was quite super in its day.

But in the days of the e-type, how could Jaguar possibly have been considered mainstream? Same for Mercedes - back in the day both companies built some of the most expensive and exclusive cars in the world. If you can say Jaguar are mainstream then so are Porsche, in which case let's add the 959, Carrera GT and 918 to the list.

Also, building a cheap car which is a fast as a supercar does not make it a supercar. A supercar has to be fast but also impractical, striking and as expensive as at least a small house. I like the previous definition of there being no slow versions.

Oh and the A610 was an Alpine, not a Renault.

[Tuvra]

Would the BMW Z8 be classed as a Supercar?

[zebra]

Tuvra said:

Would the BMW Z8 be classed as a Supercar?

I would say yes.

[LY99]

Mercedes CLK-GTR
Maserati MC12?? (Maserati are pushing to be mainstream now)
Volkswagen W12 (ok not production released, but they did think about it)

[300bhp/ton]

steviegunn said:

Reading this month's Evo there's a good article on future icons, two of which are the Honda NSX and the Ford GT, both of these are what I would call Supercars from Mainstream Manufacturers, who else has done this over the years?

My list:

Audi R8
BMW M1
Chevrolet Corvette
Chrysler/Dodge Viper
Ford GT40
Ford GT
Honda NSX
Jaguar XJ220
Lexus LFA
Mercedes SLS
Nissan GTR
Nissan R390
Renault A610
Toyota 2000GT

Any more?

What do you mean by mainstream manufacturer? As these days Ferrari and Maserati are owned by Fiat. Lambo, Bugatti, Bentley are all owned by VAG. Which means the money and support is all pretty much 'mainstream'.

[wolfie1978]

BMW 850?

[zebra]

300bhp/ton said:

What do you mean by mainstream manufacturer? As these days Ferrari and Maserati are owned by Fiat. Lambo, Bugatti, Bentley are all owned by VAG. Which means the money and support is all pretty much 'mainstream'.

Pedant.

You surely get the point of the thread though.

[300bhp/ton]

zebra said:

300bhp/ton said:

What do you mean by mainstream manufacturer? As these days Ferrari and Maserati are owned by Fiat. Lambo, Bugatti, Bentley are all owned by VAG. Which means the money and support is all pretty much 'mainstream'.

Pedant.

You surely get the point of the thread though.

Not really no.

Ok there are "small" bespoke companies building cars and "big" companies.

But the likes of Renault and BMW would certainly fall in the latter. And most large car makers have at some point built a high priced sports/super or competition type car.

In fact you'd probably be better served to try and list the large car makers that haven't ever made a car of this ilk.

[kambites]

The question was clearly meant to be "which mainstream badges have appeared on supercars?".

[anonymous-user]

300bhp/ton said:

What do you mean by mainstream manufacturer? As these days Ferrari and Maserati are owned by Fiat. Lambo, Bugatti, Bentley are all owned by VAG. Which means the money and support is all pretty much 'mainstream'.

I think most people understand the difference between 'brand' and 'ownership'

[otolith]

There are companies which only build exotica, including supercars, and there are companies which also build ordinary cars. I think that is the distinction being made.

I think I would put Porsche into the "mainstream" basket these days.

[zebra]

Lets not get side tracked into the usual 300bhp/ton arguments.

If we are including the Esprit, should we also be considering the Evora?

[300bhp/ton]

yonex said:

300bhp/ton said:

What do you mean by mainstream manufacturer? As these days Ferrari and Maserati are owned by Fiat. Lambo, Bugatti, Bentley are all owned by VAG. Which means the money and support is all pretty much 'mainstream'.

I think most people understand the difference between 'brand' and 'ownership'

Actually I think that is almost the point in itself, for the fact that most people don't.