When you think of supercars, there’s little doubt that the first cars that pop into your mind are Ferraris and Lamborghinis and cars like the Pagani Zonda. What is it that makes a supercar super, though? Is it the horsepower? Not really, as it seems that the new ZL1 Camaro has got more power than many true supercars, and even the most ardent Camaro fanatic would be hard pressed to call the ZL1 a “supercar” strictly speaking. Is it the styling? While its true that Ferrari and Lamborghini do make some exquisite looking cars, but they are far from the only ones to do so. Just look at the new Volkswagen Beetle. Who would have thought that the Beetle could look that good?
Perhaps a supercar, by itself, is what we make it to be. Perhaps it’s more than the manufacturers telling us what their car is or isn’t, and then leaving it to us to decide. Perhaps a supercar is actually little more than a mild-mannered transport during the work week that you can flog at the race track on the weekends. With that in mind, the very prospect of a “supercar” is dumped on its ear in favor of something far, far more interesting, and unassuming.
2012 Camaro ZL1
The 2012 Camaro ZL1 is the spiritual descendent of high-performance racing cars offered by General Motors in the 1960s. Its 6.2 liter engine is said to produce as much as 550 horsepower and is for all intents and purposes, a Corvette wearing Camaro clothing. The thing about the ZL1 Camaro is that it’s a fairly unassuming car. If you know Camaros, then the off-colored hood intake scoops will tip you off, but otherwise, there’s nothing but the badges on the Camaro that might indicate to an unassuming Mustang driver that there is in fact a fire-breathing monster lurking beside them at the traffic light. Further unassuming qualities are a dual-stage exhaust system. At idle, the engine has a mellow, soft rumble that lets you know its a V8, but when the throttle is punched, the second stage exhaust kicks in, unleashing an unholy bellow guaranteed to make stoplight racers wet themselves through first gear. The ZL1 will be released in early 2012 as a 2012 model.
2012 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
You can’t mention the Camaro ZL1 without paying homage to the car that made GM get off their collective rears and do something exciting. The Shelby GT500 with its supercharged engine and track-tuned suspension is very much the rival of the Camaro, and that said, with equally matched driver abilities, it is very likely that neither car could outmaneuver or overpower the other. So, are the Mustang and the Camaro now comrades-in-arms? Possibly, but the Mustang has a convertible option, so it does have that going for it. In addition, while the ZL1 has only yet proven itself in beautifully-produced advertising spots, only a very select few have actually driven one. The 550-horsepower GT500, on the other hand, has been a regular with everyone from bellhops to auto detailing professionals. You could even rent one from Hertz a few years back. So far, the Mustang has nothing to prove, so the Camaro’s going to have to come out fighting if it wants to live up to its hype.
2012 Audi S5 Coupe
Sure, the S5 doesn’t really look particularly sporty, like a Porsche, and it isn’t even as powerful as the Mustang or the Camaro. What the Audi S5 does have is undeniable appeal. Look at it. Yes, its an aspirational car, but it’s quick when it counts, almost decadently luxurious, and yes, you could flog the S5 at the track all weekend, then be ready for work on Monday without a hitch. The S5’s 4.2 liter engine has 354 horsepower on tap, but still manages to eke out as high as 24 miles per gallon when equipped with Audi’s Tiptronic transmission.
2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Admittedly, the Genesis Coupe is getting a bit long in the tooth. It is, however, a 306-horsepower vehicle that has more than enough guts to make your daily commute very interesting. The only problem with the Genesis is that price-wise, it just doesn’t stack up against the other three cars on the list. For $32,200, you get approximately half the vehicle. That makes it by a good margin the most affordable car in the group, but its also the end of the line. There is no less expensive car you can buy that will provide anything like the performance of the above mentioned cars, and any of the three of them will easily trounce you should you decide to get cocky. However, if you set aside the horsepower ratings, and the luxury, and the prestige, the Hyundai Genesis does indeed have something that the other three do not, that is the ability to insure it. Depending on your driving record, you may have to take out a second mortgage on a Camaro ZL1 for insurance, and if you’re younger than 25, your agent’s going to laugh in your face if you ask for a quote for a GT500. Likewise with a luxury car like the S5.
Being a supercar doesn’t always have to mean carbon fiber and other exotic materials. It doesn’t always have to be the pinnacle of luxury or the fastest car on earth. Sometimes all it takes to be a supercar is just to be a super car.
Chevrolet.com: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1; http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro-zl1/#image1
Ford.com: 2012 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500; http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/
Audi.com: 2012 Audi S5; http://models.audiusa.com/s5-coupe
Hyundaiusa.com: 2012 Hyundai Genesis; http://www.hyundaiusa.com/genesis-coupe/