Asports sedan (also known as asuper saloon orsports saloon inBritish English)[1][2] is a subjective term for asedan car that is designed to have sporting performance orhandling characteristics.[3]
The term was initially introduced in the 1930s. Early examples include the Sports Saloon versions of theRover 14[4][5] andRover 16.[6][7]
From the 1960s, the termsports sedan was increasingly applied by manufacturers to special versions of their vehicles that allowed them to enter production cars in motor races. These cars contained modifications not usually permitted by the regulations, which therefore required cars to behomologated typically by selling them in minimum numbers to the public. Some of the earlier examples were theAlfa Romeo 1900,[8]Renault R8 Gordini,[9]Triumph Dolomite,[10]Lotus Cortina,[10][11] andBMW 1800 TI.[12]
By the 1980s, the sports sedan was described byPopular Mechanics magazine as being "well-made five-passenger cars that are modest in size, appearance, and appetite for fuel, yet can outperform all but the fastest two-seater cars".[13] Invented in Europe, the U.S. market share of these types of models had grown from 50,000 units per year in 1975, to 500,000 in 1985.[13]
While many sports sedans use notchback designs as their defaultbody configurations,fastback andliftback variations are not unheard of, with some smallerhot hatches with three-box or liftback designs crossing into this territory. Some manufacturers share similar engines and interior features as sports sedans in coupe and convertible body styles; therefore, some rankings of this market segment include those versions.[14]
The term "sport sedan" was initially used in North America for luxury import sedans (i.e.,BMW,Audi, andMercedes-Benz). These cars prioritizedhandling more than the domestic luxury sedans (i.e.,Cadillac andLincoln), which were more focused on comfort. However, since the 2000s, the domestic brands have begun producing sports sedan models such as theCadillac CTS andLincoln LS.[15][16][17]
Another term sometimes used to describe sports sedans in the US ismuscle car; however, more typically, the latter term refers to V8-powered two-doorcoupes made by American manufacturers.[18]
^"saloon (noun)".Oxford Learner's Dictionaries. Retrieved5 January 2024.
^"saloon".Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved5 January 2024.
^"Best sport sedans in America".Autoblog. 1 February 2017. Retrieved28 March 2021.'Sport sedan' doesn't have a strict dictionary definition, but we have assembled here our favorite cars with four proper doors and a trunk, not a hatchback.
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
Media related toSports sedans at Wikimedia Commons