When it comes to the upper echelons of high-performance cars, they are defined by three main categories – sports car, supercar, and hypercar.
Over time, the lines between these classifications became blurred – with terms such as “ultra car” and “megacar” also making their way to the surface.
However, buying the newest Porsche doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have a supercar – and reaching 100km/h in a few seconds does not always make your ride a hypercar.
Sports car
The traditional sports car can be classified as an upgraded version of a normal car that offers a higher output, better handling, and more dynamic design when compared to the standard model.
For example the BMW M3 next to the standard 3 Series.
These cars are usually pricier than their tamer siblings and offer a more rewarding and engaging driving experience.
Sports cars can be used as daily drivers, too, while their power levels can be exploited by most drivers – unlike supercars and hypercars.
Sports cars aren’t necessarily expensive or all that fast, however – think Toyota GT 86 – but are generally the top-of-the-line specification in their respective model range.
For brands like Porsche who focus exclusively on high-performance vehicles, their entry-level options can be considered sports cars.
Supercar
Supercars are visually much more dramatic than sports cars, with huge air intakes, aggressive lines, low ground clearance, and expensive materials such as forged carbon fibre.
They are usually built as a special model, too, rather than being an upgraded version of a standard road car.
Supercars are often mid-engined and generally produce more power than sports cars, with specially-built setups that help them achieve far better handling and performance than sports cars.
While supercars can’t always be considered “rare”, they are usually produced in far fewer numbers than sports cars – and demand higher price tags.
Examples of supercars include the Lamborghini Huracan, Ferrari 296 GTB, and McLaren 720S.
Hypercar
Hypercars represent the pinnacle of car technology, boasting only the most cutting-edge materials, highest levels of performance, and no-compromise aerodynamics.
These cars are more advanced than supercars in almost every way and will need a professional driver and lots of space – such as a race track – to deliver their full potential.
Hypercars push the boundaries of what is currently possible and often achieve mind-boggling results, such as sub-2.5-second 0-100km/h sprints and 400km/h top speeds.
As a result, hypercars are only reserved for the handful of high-net-worth individuals who can afford them – and even then it can be a struggle finding one.
Examples of hypercars include the Pagani Huayra, Bugatti Chiron Supersport, and Aston Martin Valkyrie.
Join the discussion