Definition of a Sports Car

A simple definition of a sports car is "a small lowNot all automotive enthusiasts, however, embrace
car with a high-powered engine, and generallythis restrictive view of sports cars. In many
seats two people". This is more or less acircles, a sports car is any car offering greater
"textbook" definition but gives us an idea of whatperformance or power than more standard
the public perceives to be a sports car.offerings. This school of thought will consider
The Houghton Mifflin dictionary defines a sportsmuscle cars and other larger vehicles designed
car as: "An automobile equipped for racing,with performance in mind as sports cars.
especially an aerodynamically shapedOthers will maintain that the distinction between a
one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having asports car and any other type of car lies in how
low center of gravity and steering and suspensionthe car's suspension and handling are addressed.
designed for precise control at high speeds." ThisTechnical debates rage over whether various
dictionary definition does not seem to capture thesuspension packages qualify as belonging to true
general perception of what the public sees as a"sports cars."
sports car.Some will argue that a sports car can be defined
The Houghton Mifflin definition of the "two seatby its intentions. If the car is designed for
rule" seems out-of-date. Many sports cars todayperformance more so than for utility, they say, it
offer small back seats (sometimes referred to asis a sports car. This intent-based definition,
2+2 seating) and there is a current movementhowever, provides little guidance in determining
underway to increase the seating room in modelswhether a car is a sports car or not. Particularly in
long considered sports cars by most automotivethe modern era, the notion of designing a car of
experts.any sort without significant consideration of its
Insurance companies use their own formula infeasibility and utility seems unlikely. Any
classifying automobiles and often the presence ofcommercially viable vehicle, regardless of its
two doors automatically makes any car a "sportsperformance, must retain significant utility.
car" in their eyes. This perspective, of course, isRoad and Track, a leading automotive publication,
as overly simplistic as the standard dictionarysummarizes the sports card definition debate with
approach to defining a sports car. One cana simple observation: "Ask five people the exact
certainly think of any number of two doordefinition of a sports car, and you'll likely get five
vehicles that fall far short of being an actualdifferent answers."
sports car. Economy cars and even largerThere is no clear-cut definition of what really is a
two-door vehicles that are not built with powersports car. The restrictive definitions of the past
and performance in mind should not qualify asseem ill suited to categorize today's' diverse
true sports cars.automotive offerings and common usage of the
Some car buffs will refer to high-performanceterm runs contrary to most long-held definitions.
muscle cars and other larger vehicles as sportsThere is, however, a common thought that
cars. Others, however, draw a distinction betweenseems to run through almost all of the outlooks
these vehicles and "true" sports cars. Theseon the meaning of "sports car." If a car is
individuals will claim that a car can be a "sportingdesigned with high performance or race-like
car" or simply "sporty" but still fall short of being acapabilities in mind, it can probably be safely
true sports car. Thus, "regular" cars may betermed a sports car. Some purists may balk at
outfitted with a "sports package" and/orsuch a liberal perspective, but alternative
accessories to make the car sportier, but maydefinitions fall far short of accurately distinguishing
not fit a strict definition of a sports car.sports cars form regular production models.