Click to see more pictures Sports cars might not carry much and they might not be very economical, but cargo capacity and fuel economy are not typical considerations when someone steps into a showroom to acquire an image-enhancing machine.
We've separated the exotic sports cars, such as the Ferraris and Lamborghinis, into a separate article. The sports cars listed here are much more common as daily drivers, and although they may not be produced in volumes typical of passenger cars or SUVs, they are not as rare as the aforementioned Italians.
Consumers often think a sports car must have loads of horsepower and cost a fortune. While this is true to some degree, it is not the case for all sports cars.
Wide Sports Car Spectrum
Take the all-new Mazda MX-5 Miata. Completely redesigned for the 2006 model year, the MX-5 features a bold look, a 170-horsepower engine and fun-to-drive characteristics This little 2-seat roadster is one of the least expensive sports cars on the market, starting at around $20,000.
Offering similar pricing and horsepower, Pontiac has entered the roadster market with the all-new Solstice. True to the thinking behind the original concept, the production Solstice is all about being a "back-to-basics roadster with gorgeous lines and fun-to-drive characteristics," according to Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman of product development and chairman of GM North America.
Other available 2-seat roadsters include the Audi TT, BMW Z4, Honda S2000, Porsche Boxster and Mercedes-Benz SLK. These cars feature different characteristics and styling as well as different prices and horsepower levels, but they all fit the profile of a true sports car.
While roadsters are only available as convertibles, there are sports cars that give you the choice of a soft-or hardtop. One of the most well known is the Chevrolet Corvette.
American Muscle
A true American icon, the Corvette was introduced in January 1953. Much about Chevrolet's halo sports car has changed since then, and for 2005 Chevrolet introduced the sixth-generation Vette. With a standard 400-horsepower V8 engine, the stylish Corvette is priced just under $45,000—considerably less than many of its competitors.
If 400 horsepower simply isn't enough muscle, then the new Corvette Z06 might be an option. A true supercar, the Z06 boasts a 7.0-liter V8 engine churning out 505 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque—enough grunt to move this sports car from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds, with a top speed close to 200 mph. This Z06 is the most powerful production Corvette ever.
Legendary Sports Car
Another name synonymous with sports cars is Porsche. Yes, the German automaker now builds an SUV too, but that doesn't take away from its sports car offerings. Redesigned for the 2005 model year, the 240-horsepower Boxster roadster starts around $44,000. But the best known Porsche is the 911.
The legendary 911 remains one of the most recognizable cars in the world. Although it's evolved over the years, the sport coupe and convertible still retain the same basic shape and layout introduced back in the mid 1960s. The latest generation of the 911 came out last year, and for the first time offers two different engines: the 911 Carrera is powered by a 325-horsepower 3.6-liter horizontally opposed 6-cylinder, while the Carrera S receives a 355-horsepower 3.8-liter power plant, both with a new 6-speed manual transmission. Early next year a new Porsche will arrive stateside: the Cayman S.
Many hard-line enthusiasts feel a true sports car should only have two doors, and if the car must have a rear seat its sole purpose is extra storage. However, there are a number of vehicles that have all the characteristics of a true sports car, except that they have four doors and a usable rear seat.
Modern-Day Muscle Cars?
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX STi are perfect examples of this segment stretching. These could almost be called modern-day muscle cars. Muscle cars used to be standard vehicles but with higher-performance engines and parts. Both these Japanese models are high-performance versions of small, economical sedans, but they are also based on rally racing cars.
The newest version of the Lancer Evolution, the MR, features Bilstein shocks, a 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission, an aluminum roof, lightweight forged aluminum BBS wheels, and vortex generator vanes to reduce drag at the rear edge of the roof. Under the hood lurks a turbocharged 276-horsepower engine driving all four wheels. The STi also features full-time all-wheel drive, and gets 300 horsepower out of its turbocharged engine.
There are plenty of different qualities and performance levels within the sports car range. For cars that feature sporty characteristics but don't quite make the bar as a true sports car, check out our list of Entry Sports Cars. And if those listed here just don't offer enough exclusivity, take a look at our list of Exotic Sports Cars.
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