Are Sports Cars Fuel Efficient?

Sports cars usually aren't the first choice for Michigan drivers who want to conserve fuel or reduce their environmental impact. These autos need powerful engines to accelerate quickly, and this usually reduces gas mileage. Nonetheless, such vehicles also have some traits that help them save energy.

Features

Turbochargers enable engines to extract the most power out of every gallon. Some sports cars have fiberglass bodies or soft tops that reduce their weight. Carbon-fiber components are helping high-end European manufacturers make them even lighter. The relatively small sizes and aerodynamic styles of many models can also boost efficiency. A few performance vehicles use diesel or hybrid engines to save fuel.

Depending on their design and placement, spoilers may or may not improve fuel economy. A few high-end models have special "active" spoilers. They enhance aerodynamics by popping up when the vehicle travels at a high speed. This feature may become more common in the years to come. Sports cars normally don't have roof racks; this also improves gas mileage.

Statistics

It is true that some high-performance vehicles offer exceptionally poor fuel economy. They also provide minimal cargo and passenger space. A few expensive European models and eight-cylinder autos travel fewer than 15 miles per gallon. Several other cars seldom exceed 24 mpg. Nonetheless, they often surpass the gas mileage of large SUVs, pickup trucks and big luxury cars.

At the same time, some automakers have embraced a shift toward greater efficiency. Government regulations, public concern about the environment, fuel price fluctuations and new technology have bolstered this trend. Multiple recent sports cars achieve an average of 29 to 32 miles per gallon. A few gas-electric hybrids exceed 65 mpg, but they remain quite costly.

Any driver who has test-driven a Mustang Dearborn knows that this model uses fuel with relative efficiency. This well-known American muscle car travels 21 mpg in urban areas and 30 mpg on highways. It also reaches 60 mph somewhat faster than the above-mentioned vehicles. Motorists save gas when they choose the six-cylinder engine rather than the louder V8.

Sports cars have large engines that consume extra gasoline. However, they partially compensate for this with aerodynamics, turbochargers and lightweight materials. It's fair to say that certain models continue to operate quite inefficiently, especially when drivers choose eight-cylinder engines. Nevertheless, improved motors and body designs have significantly reduced the fuel consumption of numerous cars.