10 Sports Cars That Forever Changed Their Segments

The Ford Model A, Tesla Cybertruck, Pontiac GTO, and the Pontiac GTO are some of the most iconic cars ever made. These cars showed that a car is more than just a vehicle for transport. These cars are not the only important vehicles in automotive history. Automobile manufacturers have always sought to create the most stylish, well-designed, and feature-packed cars. Innovation was the only way to achieve this goal.

Today we'll be taking a look at some of most innovative sport cars ever made. We have everything you need, from lightweight sports cars to supercars. Although they may not have broken any records like the Bugatti Veyron's, they redefined what this segment can do.

10 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Although the Mazda Miata wasn't the first lightweight sports car ever to hit the market it was the one that made the biggest impact on the world. The MX-5 Miata is not only the most popular convertible sports car, but it's also one of the best sports cars that a first-time buyer could get.

In 1990, the public was first able to purchase the original NA Miata. Since then, there have been three generations: the NB NC and ND. All Miatas stayed true to their roots. They grew in power and size, but they were still rear-wheel-drive and had a retractable roof. They also had a naturally-aspirated engine and a manual transmission. The Miata proved that you don't need to be a millionaire in order to own a fun sports car.

Related: Why you should buy a Mazda MX-5

9 Tesla Roadster

Contrary to popular belief the Roadster was Tesla’s first production car. It was not the Model S. The Roadster was available for environmentalists between 2008 and 2012. However, only approximately 2,500 units were sold in those four years.

The Lotus Exige platform was used to build the Roadster. It could handle twisty roads like a sports car and can be driven on narrow roads. It also had sufficient performance capabilities, with a 0-60 mph time in 3.7 seconds, which was faster than the Lexus IS 500 F-Sport supersede.

8 McLaren F1

Let's talk about the McLaren F1 in case you've been living under a rock ever since the early 1990s. It was a BMW-built, naturally-aspirated, 6.1-liter V12 engine that had to go through a lot of testing and upgrades to be able to deliver the 618 horsepower and 479 lb-ft torque. McLaren F1 is more than just a super-engineered powertrain.

The McLaren F1 broke the top speed record for production cars in 1998, just a few years after it was released to the public. It clocked in at 243 mph. There have been many cars that have broken the record since then, but none naturally-aspirated ones. This record is held by McLaren F1 to date.

7 Lamborghini Miura

The Lamborghini Miura, the world's first supercar, was born in 1966. It was powered by a naturally-aspirated V12 engine of 3.9-liters that produced 345 horsepower. This was the power output of the base model P400. The V12 finally managed to produce 380 hp on the P400 SV. All of this sounds a bit boring, especially when compared with modern Lamborghinis. But keep in mind that this was the late 1960s.

The world record for fastest production car was set by the Lamborghini Miura SV in 1970 at 179.3 mph. It took the title of the Ferrari 365 GTB/ Daytona.

6 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4

The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 was a revolutionary vehicle. It featured an all-wheel-drive system that was remarkable, with a variable-sounding exhaust, adaptive dampers and active aerodynamic parts. The 3000GT VR4 was a landmark car that set the standard for other cars, such as the Acura NSX.

Its unique twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V6 engine was also included. This powertrain produced 314 hp and 320 lb-ft torque and could propel the 3,800-lb Japanese sportscar to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds.

5 BMW 2002 Turbo

The 2002 Turbo was not only BMW's first turbocharged production vehicle, but also the first to emerge from European soil. The 2002 Turbo's short hood concealed a turbocharged four-cylinder engine of 2.0-liters that produced just 168 horsepower and 177 lbft of torque.

The 2002 Turbo weighed less than 2,400 lbs, even though it wasn't loaded with an excessive amount of power. The 2002 Turbo was a true track weapon and could handle tight turns just like the Toyota GR Corolla.

Related: 10 Most Reliable BMW Cars Ever Made

4 Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 has been a staple sports car for the wealthy, if not supercar. It is the perfect combination of a hardcore racecar and a luxury grand tourer. We all know that the 911 is a remarkable car today, but it all comes down to the first 911 ever built.

The Porsche 911 was first to breathe air in 1964. Since then, seven generations have followed, with the most recent being the 922-generation. The first 911s were built with a 2.0-liter flat-six engine that produced only 130 horsepower. These German sports cars are still the benchmark in the high-end segment of the sports car market.

Related: This is What Happened When Porsche Loses Hundreds of Cars At Sea

3 Pagani Zonda

It's a common saying that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This piece of literature is applicable to both the Porsche 911 and the Pagani Zonda. Let's get into it. The C12 Zonda was unveiled to the public in 1999. Since then, Pagani has used the exact same formula for all its predecessors, including the Utopia supercar.

The original Zonda's recipe consisted of a V12 engine that was naturally instigated, a bug-inspired design language, and lightweight carbon fiber structures. The only difference between all Pagani products is the power output. The Zonda's Mercedes-derived, 6.0-liter V12 initially produced 395 horsepower but eventually increased to 789 horsepower with the Zonda HP Barchetta.

2 Dodge Viper

Some claim that the Dodge Viper was one the most intimidating cars to drive. It was powered by a diabolical, 8.0-liter V10 under its hood. This engine produced 400 horsepower and 465 lb-ft torque. Keep in mind that safety was not a priority for Dodge... it's no wonder the Viper is considered one of the most dangerous cars.

It didn't have traction control, stability control, or ABS. You can see how a front-engined, lightweight, rear-wheel-drive muscle car with 400 horsepower was a bit like steroids. However, it was only available with a manual transmission. This caused some people to be a little scared. Other carmakers built their own V10-powered death traps after the success of the Viper, like the Porsche Carrera GT.

1 Honda Integra Type R

The Hond Integra Type R was one car that proved that front-wheel-drive cars could be just as fun and enjoyable as rear-wheel-drive models. The Integra's driver had a lot of fun thanks to its limited-slip differential and high engine redline. It also has a 5-speed manual transmission.

The Integra Type R was able to reach 60 mph in just 6 seconds thanks to the combination of all these components. Although it might not have been capable of keeping up with supercars like the R33 Nissan GT-R straight, the Acura gripped around bends like there was no tomorrow. The popularity and appreciation for the Integra Type R clearly led to other Type R models. We can thank the Integra for the Honda Civic Type R.