What really defines an exotic car? This is a word that many people use to describe things as varied as food and even exotic beauty. Naming a car as an exotic sports car requires a bit more thought.
The sleek, streamlined look of authentic exotic sports cars is much more than just looks. The sleek look of these beauties also contributes to their speed, as they slice through the air with very little resistance or friction. The true exotic high-performance sports car is as fast as it looks.
With truly exotic sports cars, design is crucial in giving the vehicle that designation and is a must for serious car enthusiasts. Automakers are well aware of this fact and high-end vehicle manufacturers pay particular attention to creating standout designs that turn heads and draw crowds of onlookers wherever they are parked.
Automakers like Ferrari actually outsource the design of their vehicles, like how they had Pininfarina design the ’02 ENZO. Another newer model that comes to mind and draws the crowds is the new Lotus Elise. We saw one outside a local restaurant last week and everyone who saw it came over and looked at it.
While design is what makes the exotic stand out from the mere mortal vehicle, it is sheer performance that high-end car enthusiasts seek. Speed and handling while maintaining high speeds and adapting to tight corners are the factors that really set them apart. Think about it, the first thing that comes to mind is how fast the car is, how fast it goes from zero to sixty. Beauty really has to be more than skin deep when it comes to a true performance car like the 1994 Dauer 962 LeMans, which currently holds the record for fastest sports car with a zero-to-sixty time of 2.6 seconds.
True exotics are limited production cars and in many cases there is a waiting list for them. This is another thing that adds to the appeal, the fact that you don’t see one at every traffic light, except maybe in South Beach.
Even people who don’t consider themselves car enthusiasts can easily name some of the more notable manufacturers, including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, and Lotus. I personally like the new Lotus Elise as it is a somewhat more affordable vehicle under 50k. If you get a chance to see one up close or are lucky enough to be able to drive one, you’ll see what I mean. I thought at 6’3″ and 240 pounds I wouldn’t be able to fit in one, but they are deceptively roomy.