Whenever an automaker breaks the news that it intends to build a sports car, there are various demands and expectations that need to be met. Sports cars, though not quite the segment it was 15 years ago, are still very hot, and the established names in the class still do very well for their respective brands, even though some of them eventually get forgotten.
While some automakers did indeed achieve the goal they were aiming for, completely changing the sports car game, others didn't fare quite as well. For one reason or another, as many game-changing sports cars there have been in history, countless others simply failed to live up to the hype.
10 Changed The Game - Toyota Supra
The Supra started out as a high-performance trim level for Toyota's lower-end Celica. Eventually, however, people were swarming all over the Supra trim level, praising it left right and center, causing Toyota to spin it off into its separate model.
The peak of the Supra came in the 90s with the Mk4, also known as the JZA80. This generation Supra, though it may have been heavy and not all that fast by today's standards, used undeniably one of the most legendary engines in history; the 2JZ inline-6. It may not have seemed like much, but this engine is notorious for being able to make masses of power without much hassle or stress.
9 Failed To Live Up - Maserati 3200 GT
Aside from a bunch of F1 wins in their time, Maserati is a company well-known for changing hands multiple times. In the early 2000s, they decided it was high time to go back to what they do best; making sports cars. The result of their efforts, the 3200 GT, didn't exactly turn out as planned.
The handling left a lot to be desired, for one thing. The interior was verging on cheap subcompact car levels of quality, and the exterior design wasn't to everybody's taste either. The biggest letdown with the 3200 GT was undeniably the DuoSelect semi-automatic transmission. It was jerky, slow to shift, and it's infamously unreliable.
8 Changed The Game - Ford Mustang
When the Mustang dropped in 1964, almost 6 decades ago, it completely changed the automotive industry as we know it today. Aside from literally inventing its own class, the Mustang brought along a bunch of brand-new things to the table.
For one thing, it was possibly the first-ever car to introduce potential buyers to proper customization. A variety of engine choices, stripes, exterior colors, wheels, and various other accouterments like auxiliary lighting. Most importantly, it showed the world that a fun, relatively fast car didn't have to be expensive, and it all took off from there.
7 Failed To Live Up - Saab Sonett
Yes, it may be hard to believe, but Saab attempted to make a sports car back in the mid-60s. The result of their efforts was the Sonett. In many ways, it had all the makings of a true sports car, being small and lightweight.
But, being a Saab, it was also incredibly quirky. Despite it seeming otherwise, the Sonett was actually FWD. It also used a two-stroke engine, just like some motorcycles. The engine was a two-cylinder with about 60 hp, and it didn't exactly win any favors with consumers. Even after the switch to a Ford-sourced V4, the Sonett never really behaved or felt like a proper sports car, resulting in failure.
6 Changed The Game - Porsche Boxster
Often credited as being one of two models that saved Porsche from certain death, the Boxster was a complete revolution when it debuted back in the 90s. It was billed as a more affordable way of getting into Porsche ownership, without all that much compromise.
Porsche has rarely failed to deliver on their promises, and this Boxster was no exception. It was a complete blast to drive, and while the styling divided opinion, it was the drive that mattered the most. Not only is the early Boxster well-equipped, relatively reliable, and truly amazing to drive, early models are now very, very cheap. It really is a great sports car for serious gearheads.
5 Failed To Live Up - Marcos GT
It's pretty likely that many people haven't heard of Marcos before. Marcos Engineering was started in the early 60s, and even though they were a small company, they were serious about building sports cars and competing in the big leagues.
The Marcos GT arrived in 1963, and it was basically a kit car with a plywood chassis and a variety of powertrains available. Unfortunately, most of these powertrains simply weren't powerful enough. The GT was also pretty cramped, and the Triumph parts that it used in some areas fared about as well as most people would expect...
4 Changed The Game - Corvette
Possibly the most interesting thing about the Corvette is the fact that it almost didn't change the game at all. The project was billed as America's own sports car, in response to the likes of the Porsche 911. The earliest C1 Corvettes used an I6 engine, and they weren't exactly exciting to drive.
Then, later on, Chevy shoehorned a small block V8 under the hood of the C1 Corvette, and everything radically changed. The Corvette suddenly became sporty and exciting, and as a side effect of that, it became a massive success. Even with the recent switch to a mid-engine layout, the Corvette is still going strong.
3 Failed To Live Up - Pontiac Fiero
Launched in the summer of 1983, the Pontiac Fiero was very similar in concept and appearance to the Toyota MR2. It was a small sports car with an MR layout that would allow consumers to have a sports car experience at an affordable price.
However, when the Fiero launched, it was missing one thing that its like-minded competitor was famous for; reliability. The early 4-cylinder engines that the Fieros came with had a tendency to spontaneously combust, meaning the car really lived up to its name. Budget cuts were necessary to make the project happen, and even though Pontiac worked hard to iron out the issues, the damage was already done, and the Fiero was already declared a failure.
2 Changed The Game - Mazda Miata
This legendary roadster plays host to a lot of superlatives in the world of cars. It's the best-selling roadster of all time, it's one of the best-handling sports cars of all time, and it's one of the most talked-about (and memed) cars on the Internet.
Launched in 1989, and currently in its fourth generation, the Miata (known as the MX-5 elsewhere in the world and the Roadster in its homeland) truly redefined what most people considered a sports car. It was a faithful tribute to classic British sports cars, but with none of the reliability and maintenance headaches those cars were known for. It truly is an icon.
1 Failed To Live Up - Ferrari Mondial
There's an unwritten rule that says anyone who bought a Ferrari Mondial only bought it as an excuse to say they own a Ferrari. Back when the Mondial debuted in 1980, it was designed as a more family-friendly Ferrari that handled emissions regulations better.
Unfortunately, this philosophy was detrimental to the Mondial's performance. The V8 in the rear wasn't powerful enough, and combined with the added weight of two (completely unusable) rear seats meant that quite a few modern compact family cars can actually best a Mondial in a drag race. What a shame.