What is the difference between a sports car and a supercar?

[911hope]

I often see a car magazine categorise cars between these 2 camps. They seem able to create the lists, but I have often wondered what the key characteristics actually are that differentiate.

Is it cost, brand pedigree, performance....?

[WonkeyDonkey]

Cost and performance really.

Stuff under 300bhp and under £60k I'd class as sports car - mx5, alpine, Elise, gt86, z4 etc.

Pedigree not so much, Lotus can make a supercar, as can BMW and Toyota(Lexus).

[Haltamer]

I've got a good question(s) to answer the question;

Is a Gen 1 NSX A sportscar or a supercar?

Is a Gen 2 NSX A sportscar or a supercar?

Now, I'd say the Gen1 is a sports car, and the Gen2 a Supercar - And that's considering them in the contexts of their times; what exactly makes me come to that conclusion? Couldn't say, simply je ne sais quoi

[Zad]

Well, for me the demarcation line used to be 200mph+ and 0-60 in <5 seconds.

Which was a decent benchmark in the 1980s but...

[bencollins4]

Zad said:

Well, for me the demarcation line used to be 200mph+ and 0-60 in <5 seconds.

Which was a decent benchmark in the 1980s but...

Not too many supercars around in the 80’s then?!

It’s a combination of factors and some will be borderline, but most would describe most Ferrari and Lambo as supercars. These days you need 500bhp plus, 2 seats and probably a mid-engine.

[Torquey]

What makes a sports car has been discussed before and I believe the outcome was; its just a matter of opinion.

Some would call a bmw 140 a sports car.
Since say a diesel can be a sports car!
Some say a sports car must be used for sport (motor racing).
And then others say mx5.


I suppose a supercar is also a matter of opinion. I personally wouldn't categorise cars like this.

[GAjon]

Sports cars break down.

Super cars break down and set on fire.

[Gary C]

An MX5 is a sports car

after that it gets blurry

[Heathwood]

I think the problem is this is quite subjective. For me, a supercar should look dramatic with other-worldly performance. A McLaren 720s is a super car, a Porsche 911 is not.

[DeejRC]

Down in the super car section, I believe the traditional answer to this is: An Audi R8 is a sports car not a supercar

[Bobtherallyfan]

Easy…..just check out whether it’s a Top Trump or not

[Gary C]

I suppose the other answer is, a sports car should look fun, a supercar should look epic and barely useable, a hypercar should look as if it wants to kill you and eat your children.

[Crumpet]

DeejRC said:

Down in the super car section, I believe the traditional answer to this is: An Audi R8 is a sports car not a supercar

R8 V10 is probably a good benchmark for where the line is. Faster and more exciting looking? Supercar. Slower and relatively plain looking? Sports car.

[Chubbyross]

Crumpet said:

DeejRC said:

Down in the super car section, I believe the traditional answer to this is: An Audi R8 is a sports car not a supercar

R8 V10 is probably a good benchmark for where the line is. Faster and more exciting looking? Supercar. Slower and relatively plain looking? Sports car.

I’d add the 911 Turbo to that. Both cars seem to just sit either side of the line depending on who you’re talking to. Interestingly both cars offer supercar performance but are guaranteed to start every time you want to go somewhere.

[CABC]

after bhp and price, I'd say sports car is to drive, a supercar is to look at and listen to.
a sports car should have mirrors you can see out of and a pedal box that is someway useable, a supercar, well....

[Jawls]

I don’t think there are hard and fast rules, but you know it when you see it.

For me, the cut off is the (non-Turbo) 911. It doesn’t matter how fast a 992S is. It isn’t a supercar.

[ecsrobin]

Jawls said:

I don’t think there are hard and fast rules, but you know it when you see it.

For me, the cut off is the (non-Turbo) 911. It doesn’t matter how fast a 992S is. It isn’t a supercar.

Whereas for me the crossover to supercar is the 918 Spyder, Carrera GT, 911 GT1, 959.

[jhonn]

'What is the difference between a sports car and a supercar?'

You'd be better off asking pubescent youths; there is no definitive, logical answer. If they'd stick a poster of it on their bedroom wall then it's likely a supercar. They just know the difference.

[LimaDelta]

My 2p. A sports car is built for enjoyment, handling and a weekend away rather than pushing the boundaries of performance or styling. A supercar is built for the spectacle, with no concessions made to practicality or usability.

And if you have to ask whether something is a supercar, or justify it with stats and figures, then it almost certainly isn't.

[BlueJazz]

Would a hyper car being in the 300mph club e.g. Bugatti Chiron?