# Sport compact > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sport_compact > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sport_compact.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_compact > Source revision: 1352059032 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American car classification}} {{More citations needed|date=November 2018}} {{Multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | header = Sport compact examples | header_align = center | width = 225 | caption_align = center | image1 = 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 Convertible in Dark Red, front left (Hershey 2019).jpg | caption1 = [Chevrolet Cavalier Z24](/source/Chevrolet_Cavalier) (1988–1994) | image2 = Electric Blue SRT4 01.png | caption2 = [Dodge Neon SRT-4](/source/Dodge_Neon_SRT-4) (2003–2005) | image3 = Hyundai VELOSTER N Front-Side.jpg | caption3 = [Hyundai Veloster N](/source/Hyundai_Veloster_N) (2019–2022) | total_width = | alt1 = }} '''Sport compact''' is a United States marketing [classification](/source/car_classification) for a high-performance version of a [compact](/source/Compact_car) or a [subcompact car](/source/subcompact_car). There is no precise definition, and the description is applied to various models for promotional purposes. Cars began to be marketed as sport compacts in the mid-1980s to describe the option packages on American-built coupes. Since then, it has also been used for standalone sports car models and cars imported from [Europe](/source/Europe) and [Asia](/source/Asia). The European equivalent is a [hot hatch](/source/hot_hatch). However, sport compacts are not limited to hatchback body styles.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} __TOC__ {{clear}} ==Characteristics== A sports compact should "fulfill the multiple duties of a family car, plaything, and daily driver".{{cite web|url= http://www.motortrend.com/news/sport-compact-car-comparison/ |title=Small, Fast, Fun: Sport Compact Car Comparison |website=motortrend.com |date=January 5, 2009 |access-date=March 13, 2017}} Many sports compacts have coupe, sedan, or hatchback body styles built on mass-production platforms. Other common (but not essential) characteristics include [front-wheel](/source/front-wheel_drive) or [all-wheel drive](/source/all-wheel_drive), a four-cylinder internal-combustion engine, suspension tuned for [handling](/source/Automobile_handling), and bodywork designed to improve aerodynamics or allow for larger wheels.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} "Econosport" is a rarely used term for a sports version of a small economy car.{{cite web|last=DiPietro |first=John |title=2002 Econosport Sedans Comparison Test |url= http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/sentra/2002/comparison-test.html |work=Edmunds |access-date=26 April 2013 |date=10 May 2002}} == History == [[Image:Subaru Impreza WRX STI , Bangladesh. (38959791684).jpg|thumb|right|[Subaru Impreza](/source/Subaru_Impreza) WRX STI (2004–2007)]] An early sport compact was the 1968 [Ford Capri](/source/Ford_Capri), a European coupe built on the platform of the second-generation Ford Cortina sedans.{{cite web |title=CC Outtake: Ford Capri 3000 GT – A New Dawn |url= http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/cc-outtake-ford-capri-3000-gt-a-new-dawn/ |website=curbsideclassic.com |date= 25 November 2015 |access-date=31 March 2019}} The early American-built sport compact models contained optional performance or sporting packages for mass-produced compact coupes in the 1980s. Examples include the 1986 [Chevrolet Cavalier](/source/Chevrolet_Cavalier) Z24, the 1986 [Ford EXP](/source/Ford_EXP) Sport Coupe, the 1987 [Renault Alliance](/source/Renault_Alliance) GTA, and the 1988 [Plymouth Sundance](/source/Dodge_Shadow).{{cite web |last1=Ramey |first1=Jay |title=Street-Spotted: Renault GTA |url= https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/classic-cars/a1720321/street-spotted-renault-gta/ |work=Autoweek |date=8 April 2019 |access-date=22 February 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Emslie |first1=Rob |title=For $1,900, Could You Align Yourself With This 1987 Renault Alliance GTA? |url= https://jalopnik.com/for-1-900-could-you-align-yourself-with-this-1987-ren-1822511562 |website=jalopnik.com |date=30 January 2018 |access-date=22 February 2024}} These models achieved moderate sales. Sport compact models gained greater prominence by the mid-1990s, sold in significant numbers in models such as the 1993 [Ford Probe](/source/Ford_Probe) (based on the Mazda MX-6 platform), and the 1995 [Chevrolet Cavalier](/source/Chevrolet_Cavalier)/[Pontiac Sunfire](/source/Pontiac_Sunfire) badge-engineered twins.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Kevin |title=From the Archive: Eleven 1990 Compact Sports Coupes Comparison Test |url= https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a43059490/1990-compact-sports-coupes-compared/ |work=Car and Driver |date=June 1990 |access-date=22 February 2024}} Sports compacts of the 2000s include the 2001-2003 [Ford ZX2](/source/Ford_Escort_(North_America)), the 2004-2007 [Saturn Ion Red Line](/source/Saturn_Ion), the 2005-2010 [Chevrolet Cobalt SS](/source/Chevrolet_Cobalt_SS), and the 2003-2005 [Dodge Neon SRT-4](/source/Dodge_Neon_SRT-4).{{cite magazine |title=New Cars for 2003 |magazine=Ebony |date=November 2002 |volume=58 |issue=1 |page=120 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=v9oDAAAAMBAJ&q=Dodge+Neon+SRT-4+takes+compact+sport+sedans+to+a+whole+new+level&pg=PA116 |publisher=Johnson Publishing |quote=The Dodge Neon SRT-4, second only to the Viper in quickness, takes compact sport sedans to a whole new level. |access-date=17 September 2019}} European [hot hatch](/source/hot_hatch)es are considered 'sport compact' cars in the North American market. Examples include the 1976–present [Volkswagen Golf](/source/Volkswagen_Golf) GTI and the 2000–present [Mini](/source/Mini_Hatch) Cooper.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Similarly, most Japanese hot hatches and sports coupes are classified as 'sport compact' cars when sold in North America, for example, the 1984–present [Honda Civic Si](/source/Honda_Civic_Si), 2007-2013 [Mazdaspeed3](/source/Mazdaspeed3), and the 2012-present [Toyota 86](/source/Toyota_86).{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} == Models == {{main|Category:Sport compact cars}} ==Motorsport== [[Image:Lluís Teixidor Ferraz-Volkswagen Golf GTI (2).jpg|thumb|right|[Volkswagen Golf I](/source/Volkswagen_Golf_Mk1) in competition]] Sport compact cars are often used in motorsport events because they are relatively lightweight.{{Cite web |title=Sports Car Racing {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sports-car-racing |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}} They are used to compete in various types of motorsport, including [autocross](/source/autocross), [rallying](/source/rallying), [rallycross](/source/rallycross), [touring car racing](/source/touring_car_racing), [drifting](/source/drifting_(motorsport)), and [drag racing](/source/drag_racing). From 2005 through 2012, the International Sport Compact Auto Racing Series was an American [stock car racing](/source/stock_car_racing) series for sports compacts that mostly raced on paved oval racetracks.{{cite web|url= http://www.iscarsonline.com |title=ISCARS |website=Iscarsonline.com |date=2011-03-23 |access-date=2011-03-31}} == See also== * [Car classification](/source/Car_classification) * [Hot hatch](/source/Hot_hatch) * [Sports sedan](/source/Sports_sedan) * [Sports car](/source/Sports_car) ==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{Automobile configuration}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sport Compact}} Category:Sport compact cars Category:Car classifications --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sport compact](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_compact) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_compact?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.