[ChiragM]

We all know that performance cars are classified into different categories. The top 3 are sports cars, supercars and hypercars. If you go deeper, they are further classified into different categories like muscle cars and GT cars depending on the purpose they are built for. Coming to the top 3 categories, there is a very thin line separating them. Performance cars can be classified based on power output, price, availability, and even lap times. A combination of these help in classifying the cars into the three categories. The classification is subjective as there are no hardcore definitions for what is a sports car or a supercar or a hypercar and there is grey area in between.

Sports cars

Sports cars sit at the bottom of the performance cars ladder and cover a wide variety of cars from Muscle cars like the Mustang & Camaro to Roadsters like Fiat 124 Spider and Toyota GT86, GT cars like the Aston Martin DB11, hot hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Golf GTi and even four-door sedans like the BMW M5. Sports car are comparatively more practical than other performance cars and can be used on a day-to-day basis as they usually come with better ride quality, bigger boot, better ground clearance, and are sometimes smaller than supercars. These cars also require comparatively lesser driving skills than the other performance cars and can be used by amateurs as an entry point to the world of performance cars. Arguably, the cars can be more fun to drive as well as you can use more percentage of the power available on the road than what you do with supercars.

Supercars

Next up are the supercars. Most mid-engined cars are classified into supercars. Some examples include the Ferrari F8 Tributo, McLaren 720S, and the Lamborghini Huracan. Supercars are generally tougher to use on a day-to-day basis as the cars tend to be too big and also due to the ride quality. Getting in and out of these cars can also be tricky and may not be for everyone. The cars also have more power and require more skill from the driver. Also, you cannot use a lot of that power available on public roads and hence, these cars are best used on a racetrack. Supercars also attract much more attention on the streets than sports cars, and if standing out is something you are looking for, then these are the cars to get. Note that there are front-engined and rear-engined supercars as well.

Hypercars

The crème de la crème of the performance car world. Hypercars are some of the fastest, most expensive and some of the most exclusive cars on the planet. Most of these super-expensive cars are personalized according to the desires of the customers and could take months to manufacture each car. Usually, only a limited number of cars are available and the value of these cars tend to increase with time, thanks to the exclusivity and desire factor. These are also some of the most technologically advanced road cars on the planet. Many of these cars hold top speed records and lap records. Some examples of hypercars include the Pagani Huayra, Koenigsegg Agera, LaFerrari, Porsche 918, McLaren P1, and the Bugatti Chiron.

Some unusual cases

There are some cars that need a special mention. One of these is the 911. Almost the entire 911 range, from the Carrera to the GTS to the Targa models, are considered as sports cars. However, the top-end variants like the Turbo, GT3, GT3 RS, and the GT2 RS are considered as supercars due to their performance. The same holds good for cars like the Corvette, which is a sports car, but the Corvette ZR1 is considered as a supercar. Similarly, the AMG GT is a sports car while the AMG GT R is a supercar.

There are some performance cars whose classification is debatable. Many consider the Nissan GT-R to be a sports car, but it can also be considered as a supercar due to the power output / performance. The Honda NSX is sometimes considered to be mid-engined hybrid sports car due to the performance figures, but for Honda, it is a supercar as it is their flagship product and due to the body style and engine placement.

[ds.raikkonen]

Originally Posted by ChiragM

There are some cars that need a special mention. One of these is the 911. Almost the entire 911 range, from the Carrera to the GTS to the Targa models, are considered as sports cars. However, the top-end variants like the Turbo, GT3, GT3 RS, and the GT2 RS are considered as supercars due to their performance.

The 911 family has featured the greatest and the most enigmatic cars ever made. Stubbornly rear engined yet able to defy laws of physics. Like the incredible duo of the GT3 and GT2. The latter has put your so called hypercars to shame around circuits and even out dragged them! Truly a wolf in sheep's clothing. It is THE benchmark against which other cars are measured.
Check out the legendary 991 GT2 RS destroying super and hypercars on an air strip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5cUlX8ZAHY

[GTO]

Mod Note: Thread moved to the Supercar forum!