When you think of a supercar, what comes to mind? Speed? Luxury? Head turning looks? A terrifying price tag? Futuristic design? This is what makes a supercar exactly that – there are so many different attributes that it can be hard to pin down a definitive rationale for what a ‘super’ car is. With that in mind, let’s consider what a lot of these cars have in common.
- A supercar must be a work of art. It can be overstated (the original 1990 Lamborghini Diablo was just such a beast) or understated (the Audi R8 was known for styled in a typical ‘Germanic’ fashion) but it must be art. A supercar must be art because that is what evokes emotion.
- Performance is also a must. It may not be about 0-62 times – classic supercars are no less supercars because they can’t keep up with the pack anymore – but the ability of the car must impress. The Porsche 911 Turbo was ‘The Widowmaker’ for that reason. A Subaru Impreza might be a hugely quick car point-to-point, but a supercar it isn’t.
- The line between GT and supercar is ever blurring. The latest AMG GT has the grand touring moniker in the name and yet for all purposes it fits very firmly into the supercar category. Luxury is heavily featured however, which points to something else. Unless the supercar in question is an absolute track only monster then you’ll find yourself swathed in leather and expensive metals. Not for the non-supercar.
- A huge price tag isn’t necessary for a supercar, but for the manufacturers this maintains exclusivity and rarity. Rarity drives appeal.
- Manufacturers spend huge amounts of investment cash on making sure that their supercar is not only near the top but has something unique to offer the buyer. This can be a small thing like the fighter jet still flip up button on the Lamborghini Aventador through to the active aero of the Pagani Huayra.
So as you can see, the next time you think of a supercar, there’s really a lot more going on than you’d think!
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