sport compact

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| caption2 = Dodge Neon SRT-4 (2003–2005)

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Sport compact is a United States marketing classification for a high-performance version of a compact or a subcompact car. There is no precise definition, and the description is applied to various models for promotional purposes.

Cars began to be marketed as sport compacts in the mid-1980s to describe the option packages on American-built coupes. Since then, it has also been used for standalone sports car models and cars imported from Europe and Asia.

The European equivalent is a hot hatch. However, sport compacts are not limited to hatchback body styles.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

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Characteristics

A sports compact should "fulfill the multiple duties of a family car, plaything, and daily driver".{{cite web|url= http://www.motortrend.com/news/sport-compact-car-comparison/ |title=Small, Fast, Fun: Sport Compact Car Comparison |website=motortrend.com |date=January 5, 2009 |access-date=March 13, 2017}} Many sports compacts have coupe, sedan, or hatchback body styles built on mass-production platforms. Other common (but not essential) characteristics include front-wheel or all-wheel drive, a four-cylinder internal-combustion engine, suspension tuned for handling, and bodywork designed to improve aerodynamics or allow for larger wheels.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

"Econosport" is a rarely used term for a sports version of a small economy car.{{cite web|last=DiPietro |first=John |title=2002 Econosport Sedans Comparison Test |url= http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/sentra/2002/comparison-test.html |work=Edmunds |access-date=26 April 2013 |date=10 May 2002}}

History

Image:Subaru Impreza WRX STI , Bangladesh. (38959791684).jpg WRX STI (2004-2007)]]

An early sport compact was the 1968 Ford Capri, a European coupe built on the platform of the second-generation Ford Cortina sedans.{{cite web |title=CC Outtake: Ford Capri 3000 GT – A New Dawn |url= http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/cc-outtake-ford-capri-3000-gt-a-new-dawn/ |website=curbsideclassic.com |access-date=31 March 2019}}

The early American-built sport compact models contained optional performance or sporting packages for mass-produced compact coupes in the 1980s. Examples include the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, the 1986 Ford EXP Sport Coupe, the 1987 Renault Alliance GTA, and the 1988 Plymouth Sundance.{{cite web |last1=Ramey |first1=Jay |title=Street-Spotted: Renault GTA |url= https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/classic-cars/a1720321/street-spotted-renault-gta/ |work=Autoweek |date=8 April 2019 |access-date=22 February 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Emslie |first1=Rob |title=For $1,900, Could You Align Yourself With This 1987 Renault Alliance GTA? |url= https://jalopnik.com/for-1-900-could-you-align-yourself-with-this-1987-ren-1822511562 |website=jalopnik.com |date=30 January 2018 |access-date=22 February 2024}} These models achieved moderate sales. Sport compact models gained greater prominence by the mid-1990s, sold in significant numbers in models such as the 1993 Ford Probe (based on the Mazda MX-6 platform), and the 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire badge-engineered twins.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Kevin |title=From the Archive: Eleven 1990 Compact Sports Coupes Comparison Test |url= https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a43059490/1990-compact-sports-coupes-compared/ |work=Car and Driver |date=June 1990 |access-date=22 February 2024}}

Sports compacts of the 2000s include the 2001-2003 Ford ZX2, the 2004-2007 Saturn Ion Red Line, the 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt SS, and the 2003-2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4.{{cite magazine |title=New Cars for 2003 |magazine=Ebony |date=November 2002 |volume=58 |issue=1 |page=120 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=v9oDAAAAMBAJ&q=Dodge+Neon+SRT-4+takes+compact+sport+sedans+to+a+whole+new+level&pg=PA116 |publisher=Johnson Publishing |quote=The Dodge Neon SRT-4, second only to the Viper in quickness, takes compact sport sedans to a whole new level. |access-date=17 September 2019}}

European hot hatches are considered 'sport compact' cars in the North American market. Examples include the 1976-present Volkswagen Golf GTI and the 2000-present Mini Cooper.{{cn|date=October 2024}} Similarly, most Japanese hot hatches and sports coupes are classified as 'sport compact' cars when sold in North America, for example, the 1984-present Honda Civic Si, 2007-2013 Mazdaspeed3, and the 2012-present Toyota 86.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Models

Motorsport

Image:Lluís Teixidor Ferraz-Volkswagen Golf GTI (2).jpg in competition]]

Sport compact cars are often used in motorsport events because they are relatively lightweight.{{Cite web |title=Sports Car Racing {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sports-car-racing |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}} They are used to compete in various types of motorsport, including autocross, rallying, rallycross, touring car racing, drifting, and drag racing.

From 2005 through 2012, the International Sport Compact Auto Racing Series was an American stock car racing series for sports compacts that mostly raced on paved oval racetracks.{{cite web|url= http://www.iscarsonline.com |title=ISCARS |website=Iscarsonline.com |date=2011-03-23 |access-date=2011-03-31}}

References

Category:Car classifications