GT sportscars: a definition

High performance luxury automobiles specially designed for long distance driving are popularly called the Grand Tourer or abbreviated GT. The term is derived from its Italian roots gran tourismo due its early association with the traditional grand tour to display the technological innovations of their latest offspring from the grand stables of Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Lancia and others in early 1920s. This was necessitated since there was very little means of transporting them across continents in Europe and America. The Grand Tours in addition to display their looks, performance and technological advantages to early motor enthusiasts, also emphasized their capability to be driven for very long distances at high speeds on tracks and macadam surfaces in complete safety, luxury and reliability. Early models had front mounted engines with rear wheel drive and maximum storage space and comfort of the crew and were heavier & larger compared to two-seater sports models. Over the past GTs have evolved into modern machines incorporating the latest in technologies and have 12-24 hours endurance. Some examples of racing GT's include Aston Martin DBR9, Chevrolet corvette C6R, Chrysler Viper GTS-R, Ferrari 458, Ferrari 599 GTB variants, Jaguar XK150, Toyota Supra, Ford GT, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Mercedes Benz SLS GT3 or CLK GTR, Lamborghini LP 640, Porsche 911 GT3 and Saab GT750 etc.

Professional motor sports define GT as "open or closed automobiles with no more than one door on each side and minimum of two seats on either side of longitudinal centre line.." and classifies them into GT-1 to GT-4 from earlier GTO,GTS, GTB, GTV, GTI, GTE, GTAM GTC, GTD, GTR etc, though some models are offered in the market for sports lovers but not for sports racing competitions. Generally all of them collectively get classed under GT300 or GT500 depending on horsepower available, the digit indicating the maximum in the class. Many people often tend to believe that Sports cars and GTs are synonymous, probably led by auto makers and dealers. However, GT's are similar to Sports models; they have good looks, handles well, but unlike Sports models GT's have more luxuries, are quieter in the cabin and comfortable over long distances, which are not features available in sports models. The difference is slowly getting narrowed due to introduction of new 'middle order' models such as Porsche 911, BMW M3 and Infiniti G35. Manufacturers are constantly on the look out for newer market segments to foster and cultivate niche segments for pushing their products and one of the methods is to release cross-over models, which may have looks, performance, endurance, handling and luxury of both sports segment and GT's and market them as luxury performance cars or sports utility cars etc.

Racing cars such as those used in Formula One are an entirely different class due to their strict rules and regulations to qualify in such sports. They are neither permitted nor usable out side the racing tracks due to their extreme performance posing danger to motoring public. Race cars achieve their limits of performance by use of highly advanced technologies and developments in aerodynamics, engine technology, low tare weight by use of composite materials, metals & alloys having high tolerance to heat without degradation and high speed electronics etc.