Will Advancing Technology And Gas Prices Make Sports Cars Go Away?
There are many sports car lovers who are afraid that they will soon go the way of the dinosaur because of high fuel prices and the advances in performance technology that is enabling family sedans to compete with sports cars in quickness. While it does seem that there has been somewhat of a decline in sports cars along with increased sales of SUVs some of the current developments tell me that the vehicles we love are not going to be around in large numbers but they will still be around.
Back in the day, muscle cars ruled in the performance realm and regular sedans and trucks couldn't keep up. SUVs didn't even exist. Now with the innovations in design and engine performance and the light weight materials being used automakers are getting superior results out of smaller engines. In addition normal production vehicles now handle as good as a race car.
Some of the other issues that are causing the decline in the numbers of sports cars seen on the road include comfort and affordability. Sports cars in the truest sense are not built for comfort, they are built for speed and long road trips are no fun. The larger cars of today that still offer a sporty ride give you the best of both worlds. As far as the affordability issue goes, it is quite simple most families are just unable to afford the expense of having a car just for fun. People these days have to make use of their cars on a daily basis as it has become cost prohibitive to keep one around just as a hobby or weekend car.
In the beginning cars were used as sport, for racing across country in rallies and contests. It wasn't until much later that they became mainstream everyday drivers.
Some good news for the high end sports car market is that there are several companies that are beginning production of hybrid or electric sports cars. Some of the top companies like Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Mitsubishi are working on bringing them to the open market.
The most promising one that I have seen as a true sports car in terms of performance and the fact that it is a two seater is the new totally electric roadster from Tesla Motors, a company backed by the founders of Google and Paypal. The car does 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds and it runs on laptop batteries!
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What Determines Whether A Car Is A Sports Car
Originally, it was easy to differentiate between a sports car and a regular production automobile. If a regular person could buy it, it wasn't a sports car. Sports cars were toys for the extremely rich and automobile-obsessed. They are also used primarily in situations that represented a radical departure from conventional driving. Road races, rallies and other competitions were the home of the sports car as manufacturers and designers went head to head, testing their newest technological advances and inventive ideas.
These sports cars were almost always designed for a single driver and no additional passengers. Occasionally a "co-pilots" seat might have been added. The notion of a backseat made little sense considering the purposes for which the cars were being used. They tended to be extremely small and exceptionally faster than most regularly produced cars.
This historical moment gave birth to a notion of the sports car that survives today among many automotive enthusiasts. These traditionalists will consider a car a sports car only if it is a two-seater and designed for racing.
This perspective was antiquated somewhat by the post-war experience in the United States and elsewhere. Cars based upon the test car technologies began to make their way into the garages of the public. With a more mainstream audience, some changes were made to the traditional sports car, including the frequent addition of a small back seat.
As time passed, sports cars slowly grew and the technologies pioneered by sports cars found their way into vehicles, which were not undersized or built for racing.
In the 1960s, John Delorean decided to drop a large V8 into a Pontiac Tempest. His new invention, the GTO, ushered in the muscle car era. Purists might argue the American muscle cars were not sports cars, but simply cars making use of sports car refinements. The distinction however, began to become lost in regular conversation and "sports car" began to refer to any fast or high-performance vehicle.
The line becomes increasingly blurred with every year. Traditional sports cars are becoming increasingly rare as automakers recognize a need to maintain some level of functionality if they are to entice buyers. The innovations spurred by traditional sports cars are being adopted into vehicles of every size and shape. While traditional racing style sports cars are maintained in many product lines and though some boutique manufacturers still focus their efforts on small high-speed cars, it is impossible to ignore the "crossover" appeal of many traditional sports car features.
Some may say there are sports cars, sporty cars and sporting cars and that they are all different things. To the average person, however, they blend into one.
Which cars are sports cars? Today, it's hard to tell. You can be a hardliner and say only the racing-based two-seaters qualify, or you can be liberal in your interpretation and proclaim all high-performance vehicles sports cars. Either way, you'd probably be right.
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Ford Mustang – Fast Sport Cars
Ford is a well known brand across the world, it owns 33% of Mazda known by its modern cars featured in films such as the Fast and the Furious, Jaguar, Aston Martin and many others. From its many car models, one of the most famous is the Mustang. Manufactured and engineered to be a muscle car, this particular car model stands away from the rest by it unique design and power. The best part is that due to this model's reputation the company keeps improving and redesigning it to deliver a high quality driving machine every single time.
Ford Mustangs are highly customizable sport cars and in recent years have shown many modifications to its design. The wheelbase in both versions (convertible and coupe) are 101.3 inches, the curb weight varies just a tiny bit from the convertible to the coupe models, the curb weight of a mustang 2 door convertible is 3257 pounds while the two door coupe is 3077 pounds. As far as fuel capacity both models, convertible and coupe can hold up to 15.4 gallons. Both models can comfortably accommodate 4 passengers.
As far as design, second and third Mustang generations were not as good as the first one but the machinery quality improved. Second and third generations range from 1974-1993. During the 1980s Mustangs were going through a hard transition when Ford announced that they would replace the rear-wheel drive Mustang with a Mazda-derived four wheel drive version, luckily for them and its clients the fourth generation of Mustangs came along, this generation of fords is almost as welcomed as the first due to the significant redesign this model went through.
The 1994 Mustang coupe was starting to show signs of potential and greatness but it wasn't until 1995 when the GTS model was introduced to the market. In 1996 Mustang's engine went through a major upgrade, this is when the Windsor 5.0 L engine was replaced by 215 horse power 4.6L SOHC Modular V8 engine and in 1998 the SOHC engine was increased to 225 HP through aggressive PCM calibration a larger exhaust and a modified fuel system.
As far as power, the 3.8 V6 engine sent developed 145-190 horsepower, the GT 5.0L V8 sends 240 hp to the back axle.
In 1994-2004 models Mustang GT's power was increased to 260hp and consumers have loved this car ever since, that's not even mentioning the awesome "MODs" available which include new decals, bumpers, paint work, rims, etc. Not only it is extremely reliable and stylish but many consumers have reported that it's stereo system beats any other manufacturer-installed car stereo in the market, it has an extremely good bass, the midrange is perfectly set as well as the highs.
Aston Martin is also an outstanding fast and high end Ford-owned driving machine which delivers great power, speed and style but that's another article.
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Sports Car Innovators To Remember
The history of American sports cars is the story not only of machines, but also of the men who made and drove them. There have been many key players in the development of the modern sports car, but some stand out as truly significant figures. Among those innovators to remember are Alexander Winton, Zora Arkus-Duntov, and John DeLorean. Each made a lasting impression on the sports car scene. Alexander Winton Alexander Winton was the first truly successful automotive magnate in the United States. His cars participated and excelled in virtually every major racing and touring event of the late 1890s and early 1900s. Winton cars were perceived as the model of American automotive engineering. Winton's success and belief in his vehicles led him to accept a challenge from an upstart from Detroit named Henry Ford. In a much-ballyhooed 1901 contest, Ford and Winton squared off in one-on-one race. Winton's Sweepstakes race car suffered from mechanical problems during the contest and his two-cylinder, 28 horsepower racer finished a distant second to Ford, who found his career revitalized after the publicized victory. Despite often being remembered as the man who lost to Ford, Alexander Winton was a true American sports car pioneer and laid the groundwork for many manufacturers who followed in his footsteps. Zora Arkus-Duntov After World War II, American manufacturers began to produce readily available sports cars, in contrast to the limited production, high-dollar versions from earlier in history. After Ford made a splash with the Thunderbird sports car, Chevrolet sought to capture its share of the growing market with the 1955 introduction of the Corvette. The Corvette, whose distinctive appearance was brought to light be famous designer Harley Earl, was a beautiful package containing a ho-hum gift. The car had a two-speed automatic transmission and a standard Chevy 6 cylinder engine. Sales stagnated. A Russian émigré and Chevrolet designer named Zora Arkus-Duntov took the reigns of the Corvette project after its second lackluster year. He redesigned the new Chevy V8 to fit in the Corvette and replaced the automatic transmission with a sportier 3-speed manual tranny. His design changes vaulted the Corvette to fame and admiration. Arkus-Duntov continued his affiliation with Corvette, ushering it into its heyday as the most respected and admired American sports car. John DeLorean A brash young auto executive at Pontiac named John DeLorean had an idea. He could take the under performing Pontiac Tempest, make a few minor exterior alterations, outfit it with a big and powerful V8 engine and upgrade some of the other components. His revitalization effort turned the lowly Tempest into the Pontiac GTO—the car that sparked the muscle car era in America. DeLorean's efforts to build better and more interesting sports cars continued as he opened his own auto company. He introduced the stainless steel DMC-12 sports car later popularized in the Back to the Future movies. The innovative vehicle was never a hot-seller but was an inspiration for countless future designs from other automakers. The controversial DeLorean was plotting an economy-priced plastic sports car that was never released. He passed away while the vehicle idea was still in its infancy. Sports car enthusiasts remember cars. They can tell you the specs of many significant sports cars and can trace the history of many sports car lines. It's important to remember these cars did not materialize from thin air. There were men behind the cars who brought them to the limelight. Three of the great innovators—Winton, Arkus-Dontav, and DeLorean deserve to be as remembered as any sports car to ever hit the road.
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Sport Cars – Modified by Technology for Higher Performance
A sports car can be referred to as an automobile specifically intended for performance driving. Almost all sports cars are rear-wheel drive, possess two seats, two doors, and are intended for accurate handling, acceleration, and aesthetics. A sports car mainly aims at high-class road handling, braking, maneuverability, low weight, and high power, and not passenger space, comfort, and fuel saving. Sports cars come under either luxurious or spartan, but the compelling aspect is the driving mechanical performance. Drivers consider brand name and the related racing reputation and history as important pointers of sporting versatility, but some brands, even though they do not indulge in racing or constructs racing cars, is also widely respected. A car may be classified as a sporting automobile even if it is not a sports car. Performance alterations of common, production cars, such as sport compacts, sports sedans, muscle cars, hot hatches and other cars similar to these generally are not sports cars, still share characteristics owned by sports cars. Sometimes, performance cars of all compositions are classified as Sports cars, or, often, as performance cars. A sports car does not need a big, powerful engine, even though a lot of them do have them. Some traditional sports cars do not possess powerful engines, but were popular for excellent handling because of its light weight, a well-engineered, balanced chassis, and modern suspension. On complex and compressed roads, automobile like them achieve more efficiency than a heavier, more powerful luxury car with less flexibility. As a result of North American safety regulations, a lot of sports cars are not in the market for sale or use in the United States and Canada. In the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle Eastern market (e.g. UAE), an adjustable attitude towards small-volume specialist manufacturers has helped companies to flourish. The drive train and engine layout decide the handling features of an automobile, and is the core to the design of a sports car. For sports cars of any generation the front-engine, rear-wheel drive train layout (FR layout) is common. This configuration has lasted the test of time longer in sports cars compared to mainstream automobiles. For achieving of better handling and weight distribution, other formats have been developed. The RMR layout is a commonly feature seen only in sports cars - the motor is centre-mounted in the chassis (nearer to and behind the driver), and supports only the rear wheels. High-performance sports car and supercar manufacturers always show a liking to this layout. A lot of modern cars, specifically grand tourers, also employ a FMR layout, with the motor placed between the front axle and the firewall. Only a few manufacturers still employ the rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout (RR layout). The motor has well spread out weight across the wheels, and this delivers exceptional traction, but is not advisable, as the engine's weight is not between the two axles; the vehicle is badly balanced, thus, many early vehicles handled errantly. However with the continuous modifications to the design, added with the engineering developments and support of electronic driving i.e. computerized traction-stability control, the manufacturers have been able to fight against inherent weaknesses in the design. Sports cars continue to be an irresistible attraction for car fanatics all over the world.
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