Supercar Blondie answers: what’s the difference between a sports car, supercar, hypercar, and megacar
- Sports cars, supercars, hypercars, and megacars are all very different
- What makes them so different, however, can be somewhat confusing
- This Supercar Blondie feature makes sense of the madness
Published on Mar 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The world of performance cars, be it a sports car, supercar, or hypercar, has become increasingly confusing.
No longer do we have just super and sports cars; we also have hypercars and even megacars.
It can be challenging to discern the difference between each type in terms of power, speed, and capabilities.
This Supercar Blondie feature will answer those queries and help you understand the differences between these incredible performance vehicles.
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How do a hypercar, supercar, and megacar differ?
For many years, the word supercar has been used to define performance vehicles positioned above sports cars.
To qualify as one, vehicles had to have engines close to or greater than 500hp, large displacement engines, and rapid acceleration from 0 to 60mph.
A Ferrari F430, for example, would qualify as one with its 4.3-liter V8 and at least 483hp.
A Pagani Zonda C12-S would also qualify with its massive V12 making 542hp.
Supercars are also usually available in smaller quantities than sports cars and regular cars, and their engines are often mid-mounted.
Hypercars take that to another level.
Production numbers are even lower, and power is often much higher than 500hp.
While many classify it as a supercar, the Bugatti Veyron the first hypercar with a 1,000hp W16 engine.
Koenigsegg then complicated the game by introducing the One:1, a car they call the world’s first ‘megacar.’
It packs in 1,341hp from its 5.0-liter V8, the equivalent of one megawatt of power.
Sports cars don’t have the same level of power
Sports cars generally sit below the others in the hierarchy.
Think of cars like the Honda S2000, Porsche 911, and even the Mazda MX-5.
Sports cars are often smaller, two-seaters, and power output can be lower than 200hp.
But thanks to their lightness, they still have excellent speed and agility.
There is no official manufacturer marker regarding the threshold between each division.
Much of it is simply down to what the industry decides, hence the occasional confusion.
Some may call a McLaren P1, for example, a hypercar, while others might only view it as a supercar.
That is why we at Supercar Blondie have compiled this feature to help you make sense of the madness.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
