Top 10 Sports Cars Report
We selected the top 10 sports cars from consumer reviews and information. Below is our official listing of the top 10 domestic cars. To search for cars for sale in your area, click the cars for sale link above.
The Elise is an exotic mid-engine roadster from Lotus that was new to the U.S. market for 2005. The supercharged Elise SC made the top 10 sports cars list for the 2008 model year. The Elise went on sale in Europe in 1996 and became the best-selling Lotus model ever. True to Lotus founder Colin Chapman's vision of building innovative, lightweight, top-performing cars that are fun to drive, the Elise sits on a chassis weighing only 150 pounds, thanks to aluminum alloy extrusions and aerospace bonding techniques. Body panels are lightweight composite material. The Elise accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds and top speed is nearly 150 mph.
The 360 Modena is Ferrari's mid-engine V8 sports car, offered in both coupe and spider versions. The first mid-engine V8 Ferrari was the 308 GTB which became one of the most popular Ferrari models of all time. The 308 was followed by the 348 for 1990 and the F355 (also one of our top 10 sports cars) for 1995.The 360 Modena replaced the F355 for 2000 and was lighter with a more rigid chassis through the use of aluminum for the chassis, body shell, and suspension components. The Spider was added during the 2001 model year.
The Corvette is Chevrolet's world-class, high-performance sports car which added the Grand Sport for the 2010 model year after the ZR1 joined the lineup for 2009. The Corvette Grand Sport features wider bodywork and high-performance suspension to create a car that is equally at home on the road or the track. The Corvette ZR1 is the most powerful and fastest production car ever produced by General Motors. A true American icon, the Corvette was introduced in January 1953.The first 300 cars were produced by hand and powered by 235-cubic-inch 6-cylinder engines. In 1955 a V8 engine was offered for the first time and in 1965 a big-block V8 was optional and 4-wheel disc brakes became standard. The fifth-generation C5 Corvette was introduced in 1997, with the Z06 added in 2001 along with additional performance equipment. The 2005 C6 was the first Corvette in more than 40 years without retractable headlights and the Z06 returned again for 2006. The OnStar advanced communication system comes standard on the current Chevrolet Corvette. The Corvette has been in the top 10 sports cars for 3 years now.
The GranTurismo is Maserati's new take on a classic touring coupe with modern, beautiful and seductive Pininfarina styling, influenced by the 75th Anniversary Birdcage concept car. The GranTurismo features a powerful stance with a large, concave grille; swept-back headlights; bold fenders and a V-shaped power bulge that sweeps back from the large Maserati trident at the center of the grille. The GranTurismo is described as giving the famed Italian marque a true grand touring car that is suitable for everyday use, while delivering excellent handling, a very sporty feel and a thrilling drive. A two-door coupe with four seats, there is room in back for two kids or flexible and tolerant adults. The GranTurismo is completely new to the top 10 sports cars list.
The 911 is Porsche's iconic rear-engine sports car, produced today in coupe and cabriolet versions that was updated for 2009. The 911 first went into production as the 1964 911 Carrera, Porsche's first six-cylinder model and a replacement for the legendary Porsche 356. For 2004, a 40th Anniversary edition was offered and the Turbo Cabriolet and the Carrera 4S Cabriolet were added, marking the first time since 1989 that a Turbo Cabriolet was offered. The 2005 Carrera and Carrera S debuted the next generation of 911, an evolution of the original 911 silhouette, with a return to oval headlights with separate turn indicators. The Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S returned for 2006 (which is our favorite year for the top 10 sports cars list), followed by the 911 Turbo and GT3 for 2007.
The M3 is BMW's high-performance version of the 3-Series, offered in coupe, convertible and sedan versions. The M3 began as a limited-edition model designed to meet minimum production requirements for touring car racing in Europe and Asia. The M3 arrived in the U.S. in the late '80s and was sold through the 1991 model year as a high-performance 2-door coupe. The M3 returned as a coupe for the 1995 model year, and in 1997 an M3 sedan was added. The M3 convertible completed the M3 lineup in 1998 and the sedan was dropped for 1999. The third-generation M3 was offered as a coupe and convertible from 2001-2006. Completely redesigned for 2008, the current M3 is powered for the first time by a V8 engine. Even more aggressive than its predecessor, the M3 includes a power dome in the middle of the aluminum hood, a rear diffuser, and gills in the front fenders that include the blue/purple/red M3 logo.
The R8 is Audi's two-seat, mid-engine sports car that debuted for 2008 powered by a 420-horsepower V8 engine and added a Spyder version and a V10 engine for 2010. The R8 incorporates technology from Audi's Le Mans-winning R8 prototype to build on its racing success for the street. The production version of the Audi R8 sports car made its debut at the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris in the fall of 2006, with the dramatic design remaining very true to the Le Mans quattro concept car first seen in 2003. The Audi R8 sports car begins with the classic wide, low stance of a mid-engine exotic but the design is dominated by a signature design element, the ÒBladeÓ of carbon fiber on each side, behind the door and in front of the rear wheelÑthat runs from the roof at an angle over the side air intakes to the rocker panel.
The V8 Vantage is Aston Martin's newest two-seat sports car that bears a strong family resemblance to the DB9. The Roadster joined the Coupe for 2007. The interior is all Aston Martin, with much of the styling for the switches and instruments derived from exclusive watches and premium audio gear. The interior makes extensive use of leather and anodized aluminum, and the V8 Vantage features a full complement of custom-fitted luggage. The front-engine rear-wheel-drive V8 Vantage is aimed squarely at the Porsche 911.
Since the late 1970s, the Ferrari model range has included a mid-engine V8 coupe, and these days that spot is occupied by the F355. This model replaced the 348 in 1994, and contains Ferrari's first road-going engine with five valves per cylinder. In recent years, Ferrari has made major gains in quality, reliability, and ergonomics, and these gains are reflected in the F355. The Berlinetta provides the basis for the Ferrari Challenge, a single-make gentleman's racing series, though either model can be ordered with racing seats replacing the standard Connolly leather ones.
The Viper is Dodge's flagship All-American, hand-built exotic sports car. With a traditional front-engine rear-wheel-drive design, the Viper has four-wheel independent suspension with large wheels and tires and massive brakes. Offered as either a roadster or a coupe, the Viper was updated for 2008 but retains signature Viper design cues such as the crosshair grille, deep side scallops, swept-back fenders and a low hood line. A new 600-horsepower 8.4-liter engine was developed to meet emission regulations but the Viper is also capable of a top speed of 200 mph.
|
|
