Performance car

A Performance car is one that exhibits above average abilities in one or more of the following areas: acceleration, top speed, cornering, and braking. It is debated how much performance is required to move classification from standard to high performance. Adding to confusion, the yardstick is constantly moving.

Industry Practice

Much as insurers objectively determine if an insured is youthful (i.e. under 25), they also determine objectively which vehicles are considered high performance. For decades, it has been necessary to charge a higher premium for performance cars, especially with youthful drivers. Actuaries and underwriters stay current on new models coming out and note acceleration most often. It is most commonly used because handling and braking are subjective, and top speed is usually not exercised. The largest insurance companies flag a vehicle as high performance in line with the approximate guideline: max. 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time in seconds = 4 + 16/( 2^rounddown(([modelyear] - 1906) / 30)). As such, a 1967 Camaro must accelerate faster than 8.0 seconds. A 1997 Camaro must accelerate faster than 6.0 seconds, otherwise it is rated as a standard performance vehicle. Any additional vehicle-specific surcharge would have to come from insurer experience (actual cost of replacement parts, repair labor, etc). While insurance companies quietly discern performance versus non-performance, they must disclose the surcharge and name the affected cars explicitly. This practice dates back to the mid-1960s. The Department of Insurance mandates this disclosure.

Sports car driving has been a popular past time in many countries. Agile vehicles with moderate power (e.g. early Mazda Miata, Triumph TR4) were considered sports cars. Contrary to owner expectations, they were never flagged as high performance cars. This can be verified in all major DOI filings.

Classification

Further classification of performance cars is possible in the following categories:

  • Grand tourer — a luxury performance car designed for high speed and long-distance driving
  • Hot hatch — a high-performance version of mass-produced hatchback model
  • Muscle car — a large American rear-wheel drive car with a V8 engine
  • Sports sedan — a high-performance version of a sedan model
  • Supercar — an expensive high-end sports car, with hypercars being the most expensive and fastest supercars.

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