Why Do Sports Cars Have Such Low Ground Clearance?

Why Do Sports Cars Have Such Low Ground Clearance?

The ground clearance is the shortest gap between the ground and chassis of a vehicle. It measures the space between the surface and the lowest part of your vehicle that does not contact the ground physically.

The ground clearance can be estimated when the vehicle is unoccupied. The automobile manufacturers identify this feature in millimeters or inches when the vehicle is empty. For this reason, it is always difficult to get the true ground clearance estimate. In most of the cases, the numbers are smaller than it is specified by the makers. However, ground clearance is considered an important attribute of a vehicle. It plays a key role in deciding on the usefulness and practicability of a vehicle.

Car’s height determines the target and the terrain where you can drive even if there is a little difference in the measurement.


Difference between High Ground Clearance and Low Ground Clearance

The key factor is the condition where the vehicle is going to be used. So, your location and terrain will have the decisive role. You can go with the high ground clearance when you are supposed to drive your vehicle on uneven terrains such as rocky regions and mountains.

High ground clearance will prevent damages to your undercarriage and is also considered ideal for rural and underdeveloped areas, especially where roads are uneven.

That is why SUVs are highly popular in these areas. However, it has some downsides like an increased roll-over risk while taking sharp turns on high speed. The handling is not that effective as in the case with low riding vehicles.


Why Is Low Ground Clearance Mostly Used in Sports Cars?

As stated earlier, ground clearance decides the target and the uses of a vehicle. This is a crucial physical property of any vehicle. It determines the center of gravity. On this point, the total body weight of a vehicle needs to be concentrated. It determines the average body weight of a vehicle.

This feature will affect the handling of a vehicle significantly. When a car has low ground clearance, it sticks strongly close to the ground. Another benefit is that it will not topple – often experienced with high ground clearance. You can speed into sharp corners without any difficulty.

On the track, you will need fast cars and daredevil turns. The low ground clearance vehicles are very effective for racing since they can respond fast to any maneuvering commands from drivers. In addition, low ground clearance vehicles pass less air while driving and that helps them to stick to the ground.


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