Many drivers love to show off their personality with a sports car. They are easy on the eye and fun to drive.
However, the traditional definition of a sports car has been lost. Only those vehicles purposed for quick performance and masterful handling are true sports cars. When shopping for one, focus on the following factors.
Aerodynamics
During development of sports cars, the designers are always trying to achieve better aerodynamic properties. To do that, they need to take into account all the different car components and their interactions with each other. That is why the use of CFD software is so important for them.
One such way of improving the car’s properties is by using a movable splitter at the front. This article presents an investigation of how the flow can be influenced by the addition of such a splitter to a sports car and what the consequences are of its configuration.
This paper also demonstrates the effect of changing the rear wing setup on a sports car’s performance and braking modes. Moreover, it presents how only minor changes can lead to considerable improvements of the car’s downforce. This is demonstrated by comparing the velocity contours and pressure coefficients of the model with the retracted and deployed splitter. Interestingly, it was found that by simply moving the wing into a lower position, the downforce could be increased by 80% without any significant increase in drag.
Engine
When it comes to the engine technology found in sports cars, there are a variety of options to choose from. Many high-performance vehicles utilize an FF layout, where the motor is located in front of the driver and powers the car’s front wheels. This helps with weight distribution and improves handling. Other layouts are used, however, such as rear-mid/rear-wheel drive (RMR). This is a popular choice for Lamborghini and Ferrari sports cars as it increases traction while also providing a smoother ride.
While there is no clear-cut definition for what a sports car is, most agree that it is any vehicle that prioritizes performance. They are often designed to be smaller than regular-sized vehicles, which gives them better maneuverability in crowded areas and in tight parking garages. They are usually equipped with powerful engines and heavy-duty brakes that help them perform at the highest levels possible.
Because of their focus on performance, sports cars are often more expensive than regular cars. However, there are a number of affordable sports cars on the market, including the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Mercedes-AMG C 63.
Suspension
The suspension in sports cars is designed to provide more grip and stability. It can be modified to fit the driver’s preferences and driving style. The suspension consists of springs and shock absorbers. It can also be adjusted to improve the vehicle’s ride comfort.
The suspension technology in a sports car is constantly evolving. For example, some of the latest vehicles are using hydraulic cross-linking to reduce body roll. This system sends fluid to the opposite side of your car when you hit a bump or rock, reducing the damping force. It also adjusts the rate at which your shock compresses and rebounds.
Sport suspension is usually a great upgrade for any car, especially if you enjoy dynamic driving. It increases the tyre’s contact surface and lowers the centre of gravity, making it easier to drive on different surfaces. The suspension is also stiffer than normal, ensuring better handling during steep turning.
Brakes
The brakes are the most safety critical component on a vehicle. The physics of braking involves exchanging kinetic energy into one of three forms – heat, light or sound. The brake rotor (disc) and pads turn this energy into frictional heat to slow the car. The amount of heat produced increases with the use and abuse of the brakes so the system needs to be able to handle the load without overheating.
Upgrading the brake system revolves around increasing the ‘bite’ of the brake pads through compound choice, increasing the clamping force of the calipers and reducing the chance of pad and rotor overheating by allowing the system to dissipate more heat.
Drilled or dimpled discs offer another improvement in braking performance. These discs have a number of holes in their surface that help to remove glaze and also allow gases to vent through the disc. These are common on some modern performance cars and often found on supercars from the factory. They can be combined with grooved or cross-drilled discs to create a hybrid which offers the best of both worlds.
Design
While there’s no clear-cut definition of a sports car, most share a common theme: they’re fast, look amazing, and are designed to defy the norm. They usually accelerate from 0-60 in less than five seconds and have top speeds over 165 miles per hour. They’re constructed using traditional building materials like steel and aluminum but are typically lighter due to reduced sound deadening and other features. They also feature more aggressive and responsive suspension systems and bigger brakes to slow down at high speeds.
Traditionally, sports cars are two-seaters. However, as manufacturers were able to make more money with four-seat vehicles, two-seaters slowly disappeared from the market. Regardless of whether they’re two-seaters or have small back seats that only hold suitcases, the vast majority of sports cars have a low centre of gravity which enhances grip.
Many manufacturers use rear engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle architecture because it provides enhanced acceleration. Nonetheless, this type of sports car can be unpredictable and challenging to drive as the higher masses on the rear of the vehicle can cause the back end to flick out during cornering.