List of Front Wheel Drive Sports Cars

"472CID" (472CID) 01/09/2015 at 12:10 • Filed to: USELESS LISTS

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'Sports car' can be a contentious term around here. I've got three main rules to qualify as a sports car: 2 seats (in some cases 4), rwd (in some cases awd), and a relatively light curb weight. Of course there's some exceptions, and this is a list of rule #2's exceptions.

Lotus Elan - If ever there was a fwd sports car it was this. It came out at the same time as the Miata, which ironically was much more like the original Elan this this car, and was much more successful. KIA licensed and build their own version of this car as well.

Fiat Barchetta - Basically a fwd Italian Miata

Saab Sonett - This is the oldest entry, and one of the most solid cases for sport car-ness. As if looking totally unique, being fwd, and Swedish wasn't enough the Sonett came with either a two stroke or a V4, it's about as quirky as a car can get.

Alfa Romeo Spider - Personally I'd say the Spider can qualify, but the GTV and Brera are hatch/coupes. None of the models are 'pure sports car' though.

Audi TT - Yes it's basically a Golf wearing a sporty body, but the TT has been able to hang with the rwd SLK, Z4, and even the Boxster which is good enough for me.

Lancia Fulvia - Normally wouldn't think of a car based on a sedan to be a sports car, but look at this face, how could you say no?

Diahatsu Coupen - The wee kei car get a pass as sports cars, even if they're not very fast

There a few cars that don't break the rule. Cars like the Integra , Eclipse, Prelude, or Celica are sport coupes/compacts not sports cars. Cars like the CRX, CR-Z, MX-3, or Insight are hot/warm/cold hatches.

Added good suggestions

Peugeot RC-Z

Mercury Capri

Honda Del Sol

Cadilac Allante/Buick Regatta

By popular demand Honda/Acura Integra Type R

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:13

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The Beat was a mid-engined rear wheel drive car. It's straight up sports car even though it's a kei car.

William Byrd > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:14

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List of FWD Sports cars:

Just kidding, although some will reply in seriousness with a similar reply I'm sure. This was a good list, and while I typically don't believe in FWD sports cars, these are pretty solid.

 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:17

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A list of epic failures is more like it. Fulvia is the only car that I would actually want to own...and I thought it was RWD until now.

Andrew Pickle > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:17

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I actually had no idea some of the TTs were FWD. I assumed all of them were AWD.

SJGeorge94 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:17

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The capuccino was rwd so was the beat

VTECheart > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:18

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Beat and Cappuccino are RWD

PeteRR > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:18

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The Fulvia is too pretty to be fwd.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:20

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the cappuccino, best, and az-1 are all RWD. Copen is FWD.

ED9man2 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:20

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Not front wheel drive.

Zohaibman72 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/09/2015 at 12:21

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it is adorable

jariten1781 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:21

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If you're going to include that version of the Elan you may as well include this version of Capri (which time forgot)

Mojonaut > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/09/2015 at 12:21

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The Cappuccino is rear-wheel drive, too. So only the Copen on that list qualifies.

Crossed > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:21

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Would the ST models not be in the sports car list or no? Just from a performance and handling perspective, it's better than a lot of purpose built RWD sports cars.

basementshow > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:21

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Ahem.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:21

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I think the Beat and Cappucino were RWD. In fact, the Beat was MR.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut >  01/09/2015 at 12:22

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Well, apart from the fact the TT was literally the craze of 2000's contemporaries.

Twism > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:23

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As a north-american, the concept of a FWD Audi is completely foreign to me.

they based 90% of their marketing strategy around the Quattro, so selling a car without would be counter-productive here.

TheStigsGermanCousin > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:23

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I adore the Sonett. I personally think the older ones look much prettier. But the later ones like this look just cool.

50fridge > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 01/09/2015 at 12:23

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This. I remember this from Gran Turismo.

switzerr > PeteRR 01/09/2015 at 12:23

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It's heartbreaking, isn't it. Like finding out that the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie is actually an oatmeal raisin cookie. Good. But you know it could have been better.

Milky > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:23

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TT /= sports car

Putting a coupe/convertible body on a family car doesn't make it a sports car. A Grand Cherokee SRT8 can hang with a Z4, that doesn't mean its a sports car either.

404 - User No Longer Available > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:24

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What about the Ford/Mercury Capri?

I guess it's based on the 323 chassis but still...

tapzz > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/09/2015 at 12:24

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The Suzuki Cappuccino is also rear wheel drive, if with a frontish engine, but just as much of a sports car.

The Copen is FWD, though.

Kuhat > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:24

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What about the SS Cobalt? As much beef as the Cobalt gets these days, I have to say that those little SS cars were rockets! Especially the turbocharged version.

KC-10Paul > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:25

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No Del Sol love?

theshinobi01 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:26

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Title should be changed to front wheel drive sporty cars. And your definition of a sport coupe not being a sports car makes no sense, is a 240SX a sports coupe not a car because its 2 door? But there was a convertible, coupe, AND hatchback. If you are just limiting to 2 door, 2 seater front wheel drive cars, you've pretty much narrowed out 99% of cars. And the Suzuki Cappuccino is rear wheel drive.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:26

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Also - Opel/Vauxhall Tigra.

Devin > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:27

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Front wheel drive is BEST wheel drive!

golfball > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:27

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The demise of the RWD Alfa Spiders was a travesty. I would prefer to forget about the FWD spider and pretend it never happened.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:27

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*Cough*Honda CRX *Cough*

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > PeteRR 01/09/2015 at 12:27

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Still pretty good to drive though apparently. Good rally car.

Party-vi > Twism 01/09/2015 at 12:27

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The base A4 and A3 are FWD.

Stefan25 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:28

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No love for the RCZ? The RCZ-R is a very highly regarded effort from Peugeot, and just look at that roof!

Zohaibman72 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:28

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First Gen Copen* (You spelled Coupen) is adorable.

the new one scares me

Thunder > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:28

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Change "sports" to "sporty" and my Civic Si might qualify...

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-belated-st…

cdoggyd > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:29

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Anyone?

sammyjay > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:29

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Integra Type R. How could you forget that?

SRT-4. That too.

benji > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:29

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Per the dictionary sportscar = " a low, small car that seats two people and that is made for fast driving".

No mention of what wheels drive it or where the motor is.

So I'm going to stick with my opinion that the TTS is dope.

Audi-os, Amigos! > Twism 01/09/2015 at 12:29

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They make LOTS of cars that are FWD standard, AWD optional.

AntiLag > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:29

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no love?

damnthisburnershitsux > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:30

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love these ... wish they were more common

burglar can't heart click anything > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:30

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The CRX has to count.

Charlie B. Sharenative > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:30

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I can't wait for the "retro" look to hit car design in general (past muscle cars), so that hopefully we will get cars that look like this again. Just do it already!

Zohaibman72 > sammyjay 01/09/2015 at 12:31

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There a few cars that don't break the rule. Cars like the Integra, Eclipse, Prelude, or Celica are sport coupes/compacts not sports cars. Cars like the CRX, CR-Z, MX-3, or Insight are hot/warm/cold hatches.

If he counted the Alfa Spyder, than why not Eclipse Spider though?

TheStigsGermanCousin > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:31

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The Beat is MR, and the Cappuccino is FMR.

Cyrus > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:32

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This is a sports car. I don't care what anyone else says.

So is this, because, you know, it's as fast as an NSX at both Suzuka and Tsukuba.

Dirka > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:32

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The first Saab Sonett, the one that';s older than the Lancia Fulvia:

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Twism 01/09/2015 at 12:32

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They sell them, they just don't advertise them. Some of the base models are FWD.

burglar can't heart click anything > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:33

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Very close to the line of a hot hatch, but the Integra Type R is still one of the finest driving tools I've ever had the pleasure of pushing to it's limits.

shurkon93 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:33

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Acura Integra

GS-R and Type R

tapzz > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:34

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The Fulvia also qualifies because it won a shit-ton of rallies in its day, I'd say.

It's not the only FWD Lancia sportscar, though:

The Flavia Coupé

and it's somewhat wacky Zagato version:

The Beta Coupé

and Zagato's Spider version of the same

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > jariten1781 01/09/2015 at 12:34

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Time forgot it for a reason. It's basically an 323 less functionality.

RedPir8Roberts > Stefan25 01/09/2015 at 12:34

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Kind of prefer the first gen's looks, but you win a star for this. Really a shame we don't get these in the US, I was in Buenos Aires and saw one on a billboard when they first came out. Finally saw one in Bangkok, of all places. I've seen video reviews that they are a little down on power, but the looks are just great. This is another car we should get, and why the 25 year rule needs to die (or be reduced to 5 years).

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:35

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2002-2004 Ford SVT Focus?

KirkyV >  01/09/2015 at 12:35

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Score one for the most underappreciated drivetrain in motoring!

RedPir8Roberts > cdoggyd 01/09/2015 at 12:35

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My God, the only S2000 that is FWD!!! Sell on Barrett-Jackson for all the monies!!! (Sorry, couldn't resist).

PolyGeekism > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:36

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Since the TT is heavier, and likely that Alfa vert, I would say this is my number one for this category.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:38

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The CRX has a hatch, but I'm not sure it is a hatch. I mean...it only has two seats. Also, where's the Del Sol?

TheCrudMan > sammyjay 01/09/2015 at 12:38

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I'd call them both sport compacts. Certainly the SRT-4 at least...I mean...4 doors..come on.

MrBlah > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:38

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if including hardtops, I'm shocked I'm not seeing vw here, sirocco or at least corrado

RazoE > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:38

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Cappuccino was RWD.

flying lap > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:38

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Jeez, no Integra Type-R. Possibly the best FWD "sports car" ever?

Acidboogie > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 01/09/2015 at 12:39

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yep, the Capp is also kind of FMR since the engine is so tiny and placed behind the center axis of the front wheels.

RazoE > jariten1781 01/09/2015 at 12:39

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Maybe only the turbo ones.

sadfasdf > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:40

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This whole post. WTF.

Of those keijidousha, only the Copen is FWD. You try to make a list of FWD sports cars and don't even mention the ITR or Corrado, which are basically mandatory on lists like this. Then you disparage the Eclipse, which had an AWD option that's pretty well-regarded; and you include the Insight which never had any sporting pretensions (without extreme modification) among cars which do. And your sports car definition has so many exceptions in every category as to be essentially meaningless.

KirkyV > switzerr 01/09/2015 at 12:42

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Better? Hardly! FWD's a big part of what made it such a successful rally car! The last 2WD car to win the WRC - the 306 Maxi/Xsara - was FWD, and a number of other excellent rally machines have been front-driven.

(If you can't tell, I actually rather like FWD. There are far too many excellent FWD cars in the world for me to dismiss it as readily as so many others seem willing to.)

GreatPower > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:43

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Peugeot RCZ R, FWD-ONLY (no AWD variants)

Ben C > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:44

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I'd say an Integra Type R is quite a sports car.

Ben C >  01/09/2015 at 12:44

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The Fulvia is gorgeous.

I want one.

Buckner > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:44

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Biased, but if the TT (Golf) is on here, Corrado (Golf) should be as well.

KirkyV > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 01/09/2015 at 12:45

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The Puma definitely deserves some recognition, too.

472CID > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/09/2015 at 12:45

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Amended

whoisbobbarker > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:47

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Audi TT - Yes it's basically a Golf wearing a sporty body, but the TT has been able to hang with the rwd SLK, Z4, and even the Boxster which is good enough for me.

Sorry, but if you're referring to the first gen TT, you couldn't be more wrong.

I love the current TT, it punches far above its weight and powerclass. If you look at it's performance in the C&D Lightning Lap compared to the Cayman S, it's performance acumen is quite apparent. Getting behind the wheel of one is an incredible experience, the car corners hard, it's planted to the ground and the engine/transmission combo make the car feel fast, yet refined.

The first generation had none of that. It was slow and the handling was closer to an S10 than an S2000. The car was so bad that its reputation among enthusiasts is forever tarnished. Even Audi fanbois refuse to acknowledge just how far the TT has come.

472CID > SJGeorge94 01/09/2015 at 12:47

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fixed

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > William Byrd 01/09/2015 at 12:48

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Still no such thing.

Sn210 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:49

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At least Opponauts will...

Twism > Audi-os, Amigos! 01/09/2015 at 12:49

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In Canada, only the A3 and A4 base-model are FWD (and you NEVER see those, since nobody orders them.)

Europe has a larger selection, though.

red014 > Party-vi 01/09/2015 at 12:49

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A6 too.

472CID > sammyjay 01/09/2015 at 12:51

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Problem is, if you include the Integra you have to include the Celica, Eclipse, Prelude, ZX2, Cobalt SS, Avenger, Corrado, Tigra, Calibra, Accord, Beretta, Monte Carlo, MX6, Probe, Cougar, Puma, FTO, Storm, etc. Not sure where you'd draw the line but 2 seats vs 4 seats seems good tom me.

Party-vi > red014 01/09/2015 at 12:51

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Ah. Did not know this.

404 - User No Longer Available > tapzz 01/09/2015 at 12:51

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Beta doesn't qualify. It's based on a sedan, which the original post explicitly excludes.

And it's more of a grand tourer rather than a sports car.

Destructio9 > Party-vi 01/09/2015 at 12:52

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In Europe they even have a front-wheel drive A8.

Jumbojeepman > Twism 01/09/2015 at 12:52

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Back when I drove Audi's I preferred the front wheel drive models. For one thing, they had a lot less power back then, so FWD sapped a lot less power from drivetrain loss. The FWD models were also lighter, and handled better with a superior ride quality. Lastly, where I live it rarely snows, so quattro performance isn't really necessary, plus I have always owned a 4wd truck or SUV if it really gets bad (once every 2-3 years.)

Justin Hughes > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:52

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90s Mercury Capri.

Looks like a Miata, but it's a Mazda 323 under the skin.

You didn't say they had to be GOOD sports cars...

Twism > Party-vi 01/09/2015 at 12:52

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TIL.

I never saw a FWD Audi here. people who buys Audi typically do so because of the Quattro, so a FWD one here wouldn't make much sense.

Destructio9 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:53

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How about the Euro Ford Focus RS? It had 305 hp and revoknuckle FWD.

Twism > Jumbojeepman 01/09/2015 at 12:54

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yeah, that comment was based on the fact that I live in the frozen north, so all the Audis I see have Quattro. I roamed a lot of dealership inventories, and never saw any FWD.

Dream Theater of the Absurd > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/09/2015 at 12:54

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It might have been remembered a bit more fondly if Ford had gotten it to market sooner. By the time it actually appeared, the Miata was already available and better in nearly every respect.

Dream Theater of the Absurd > burglar can't heart click anything 01/09/2015 at 12:54

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I came here to say this.

472CID > Zohaibman72 01/09/2015 at 12:55

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Those things are kinda heavy aren't they? I'd probably include a fwd 3000GT before that.

RobK66 > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:55

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Acura Integra Type R.

The greatest of FWD sports cars. Fantastic track car. Which of course leads the conversation to it's Civic siblings, which also make great race cars. Not great in an LMP1 way, but great in a budgeted, reliable, way, whether you want to run the 25 Hours of Thunderhill or you want to run Honda Challenge.

I can't find a picture of my friends ITR (before it was stolen, like they all eventually are), so here's a generic one from Google.

472CID > jariten1781 01/09/2015 at 12:55

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Not a bad call, they could also be on a list of least pretty sports cars.

StalePhish > Party-vi 01/09/2015 at 12:56

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Huh, this I did not know. I've only ever heard of A4 being Quattro. My best friend has had a 1998 for about 10 years.

Party-vi > Destructio9 01/09/2015 at 12:56

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I was under the impression the used to offer one here.

Dream Theater of the Absurd > Devin 01/09/2015 at 12:56

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WRONG!!!

switzerr > KirkyV 01/09/2015 at 12:56

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You make an excellent point. And even oatmeal raisin cookies have their fans.

Party-vi > Twism 01/09/2015 at 12:57

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It makes sense in 'Murica, where the four rings are a status symbol and not everyone needs AWD.

Stefan25 > RedPir8Roberts 01/09/2015 at 12:58

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I didn't like the smiley grille on the first gen, but the double mouth is a little messy. Still they're headturners, and the RCZ-R has decent power, and really sophisticated suspension. Definitely a shame you don't get these, but I imagine in 25 years these might be a bit of a cult classic.

Treemendous > 472CID 01/09/2015 at 12:59

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Thanks for calling out the Prelude, even as an exclusion. It gets overshadowed in Honda history by the Integra, Civic Si/Type R, and RSX. The 5th generation Type SH version was amazing to drive. Once of the best handling FWD cars I've driven.

505Turbeaux > Party-vi 01/09/2015 at 13:00

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I thought that went away a few years back, before Subaru did it.