Exotic Cars 101: What is an 'Exotic Car' (by definition)?

July 17, 9:13 PMExotic Car ExaminerKae Davis

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Exotic Cars 101: What is an exotic car by definition by Kae Davis

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The Exotic Cars 101 series is part of a larger writers movement on the Examiner.com site designed to answer basic questions commonly asked in any particular niche market or industry. The term "exotic car" is an auto industry term whose definition varies wildly and depending on which car make, model or year you are discussing and exactly who -- and why (for what reason)-- you are asking. For the purpose of establishing a column with interesting features that appeal to a wide spectrum of ages and audiences, the Exotic Car Examiner feature articles cover content based solely on the following definition answer to the question, "What is an exotic car?"

WHAT DOES THE TERM "EXOTIC" MEAN TO PEOPLE IN GENERAL -- NOT JUST TO THOSE WORKING IN THE CAR BUSINESS?

The term "exotic" ALONE by definition means, in its purest form, "strikingly strange or unusual". Concepts that can be unilaterally or bilaterally applied to appearance of an object (as an adjective used to describe a person, place, or thing) or concepts that are exotic in nature -- as in a term used to describe an overall feeling evoked by an idea that lead individuals to an assessment of an object as producing a sensation of foreign or alien -- are easily described as exotic.

Rooted firmly in the xenophobic desire to give name to that meaning other (with a xenophobe being a person who has a fear [phobia] of other [xeno]), the term is a working definition. Applied as a term used to both describe and classify cars  (as in "exotic cars"), the stipulative definition has been used to describe vehicles that are so rare and unusual, it's not likely the mass population will ever see one in person . 99% of the public will seldom be fortunate enough to get near one as a driver or passenger. Furthermore, chances are the average layperson won't even know what the cars are (by brand or feature definitions and specs) if they do happen to see one at a car show or on the road.

Dealers and die hard car fans are likely to be more specific with their criteria used to define the term "exotic car" than the general public is; however, the term as a subjective. Stipulative terms tend to be defined by a person or group of people seeking to define something for discussion of a niche area. The  designation "exotic car", when used as a sorting tool, is fluid in its application. More over, the meaning of the phrase shifts from decade to decade of production (influenced by advertising marketers, cultural trends, and developing industry production) and from generation to generation. What cars seemed exotic in nature 50 years ago may be considered common by todays vehicle standards; conversely, what was once well know, if exclusive, may today become less prominent -- if a car is scarce and meets several levels of criteria as an exotic car, newer models may be seen as exotic cars by younger generations with older models of the cars being classified as classics.

WHAT IS AN EXOTIC CAR -- FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION?

An exotic car, then, for the purpose of special attention and reporter review here at the examiner, is any car that can be traditionally defined in industry standard terms by the following criteria, with the most important elements that must be present to ever classify a car as an exotic CAPITALIZED and bolded:

1. LIMITED PRODUCTION Limited production model designed for ownership by less than 1% of the world auto owners market ; cars that may have originally been built in limited number but have increased in popularity and are now produced for a larger audience may fall under different rubrics for mass produced models; cars may or may not appreciate over time based on factors or care, condition, and mileage; cars may or may not have noted chassis numbers (with notation and and original documentation of all records and service history records always preferred)
2. PERSONALIZATION Hand built or created in an unusual way; story of creation typically includes personal history of individuals or design teams; classic street rods or muscle cars are most often excluded
3. May or may not incorporate new or unusual materials or engine components with unusual design; after market custom work on any mass produced model may create cars that are exotic in appearance but not exotic by definition
4. Not intended to appeal to a general population or large potential buyers market audience except to improve prestige and increase demand by crafting a sensational image using advertising and media marketing services (grass roots marketing campaigns included)
5. May require a specialty automobile dealer to procure or resell unless traded in the private market; if traded by a common automobile dealership, the sales force may have to go to outside sources to provide expert opinion consultations on the correct marketing of the specialty product [such as for setting comparable price value and to learn about performance and handling issues to relay to clients]
6. SCARCITY Any car sold in a boutique automobile sales environment; if less than 8,000 - 10,000 cars per year [of the entire brand all models included] are made, the car may be considered exotic in addition to any other category rubric; however, cars may be judged more or less exotic cased on appearance and notoriety;  NOTE 1: sales of cars to any general public is not required (cars created simply for the sole purpose of bringing a car form idea into existence are eligible); NOTE 2: cars that were once mass produced but now are so rare there are essentially nearing extinction and are in pristine or restoration-worthy condition are frequently traded by exotic car dealers or sold at exotic or classic car auctions as investment grade automobiles -- a dealer and insurance appraisal consensus should make the determination of the car's history to help define it's academic classification at time of sale
7. Cars that require specialty tools and equipment to repair cars; both car and service equipment can be considered rare and may not be available from common auto industry resources; cars that typically require unique designations or appraisals by insurance companies for the purpose of valuation; master mechanics and technicians who work on these cars are almost as difficult to find as the automobiles (and are equally as valuable)
8. May or may not have competed in a race environment; many exotic car models may be designed for speed and driving pleasure (maneuverability, braking, acceleration) rather than for track environments; carbon fuel based racing engine or high speed performance in personal vehicles may or may not be an element considered for mid to late 21st century models -- as global cultures shift transportation priorities
9. Has extensive design elements influenced by predecessor models that are or were considered exotic automobiles; use caution to indicate cars have exotic elements rather than identifying them as exotic cars themselves (as all models must justifiably measure up to other aforementioned criteria)
10. EXOTIC IN CONTEXT Appears strange and unusual in concept or design; may or may not include unusual functions (speed, task or newly defined multipurpose transportation, aesthetic value); cars that are made as concept cars or new methods of transportation that cover ground distance are eligible -- with subsequent mass produced copies excluded; cars that are considered exotic looking during one time period or era may not be considered exotic later; cars that are considered exotic in one geographic location may be considered exotic when out of their element; NOTE: be sure to clarify time period, genre, place, et cetera in any discussion to help qualify in what context the car has appeared as unusual, surprising, or distinct

Exotic cars meeting some or all criteria listed are undeniably of interest to any exotic car collector as a vehicle to know or a potential investment piece to own. Much like the antique market prices for any well made, unique, or well preserved rare and hand crafted item tend to increase with story and product knowledge, so too does the prestige and heritage of the manufacturing process of exotic automobiles and any ownership history tend to make exotic car models more interesting to potential and valuable in the eyes of car collectors over time.

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS TO CONSIDER WHEN DEFINING EXOTICS

It is also important to note that cars have been part of the popular culture internationally as items available for private ownership for less than 100 years. As such, it is to be expected that there will be radical redefinitions of car classes and sub-classification systems that include new stand alone definitions by Genre and Species (like Green Car, further defined as hybrid or electric car, further defined as solo commuter, passenger car, sports car, exotic car, or luxury car models). One can also safely assume that as new technology and styling components blend like human genetics, that defining a class of car will be as difficult in future centuries as it already is to define people by pigeon-holing them into one particular race or national origin.

Auto ownership figures for family cars began to rise statistically in the 1930s. By the 1940s and 1950s, American culture began to include the family car as part of the family "image", with status assigned by exclusivity of brand label. Private touring cars as single or two passenger vehicles became a luxury item, something that could typically be afforded by the wealthy, by the 1960s; ownership of sports car models grew popular for upper middle income singles and couples in that same era, with true exotic cars being products for the wealthiest class population or die-hard racing drivers only. As such, the root of the myth that exotic cars are two passenger vehicles that are incredibly expensive and out of reach for any member of a common or ordinary household to own was born. Add to that a new classification moniker "Super Car" following the release of the later model Ferrari Testarossa in the 1980s, and the definition of exotic car began to bifurcate into the sports car / exotic car / luxury car versus supercar / ultra-luxury split still seen today. 

As women drivers and younger generation drivers are entering the exotic and luxury car markets at such a rapid rate the past 10-20 years (with the rise of women CEOs and private business owners in the work force and twenty-something techies having such phenomenal computer-based and work from home success), the automobile manufacturers are beginning to blend elements of vehicles that appeal not only to the new demographic markets but apply technological and comfort features of past cars that will in the future appeal to a wider prospect range. New industry terms like "ultra-luxe exotics" and "eco-friendly sports cars" are being made popular in modern laguage the same way new verbs like "to Google" or "to Twitter" something are now in common lexicon. 

FADING TERM DEFINITION COMPONENT: CLASSIFYING EXOTIC CARS DUE TO ORIGIN

During the 20th century and before the McWorld changes (modern cross continental transportation, computer technology, and global marketing initiatives appealing to major industrialized nations and now seeking to reach out to sell autos into what were formerly closed to trade or third world markets), the term "exotic car" also included a meaning about country of origin.

However, for the purpose of driving forward into the 21st century, country of origin of an automobile should no longer be considered as a solitary characteristic of defining an unusual or odd quality automobile. If a vehicle can be easily researched on the Internet and photos and/or video of the car driving can be found, then the vehicle is part of the McWorld marketing audience. 

Knowing that certain cars are not available for import or export as a base model into any country or region can re-open the classification "exotic by origin". Such cars are typically made more valuable due to scarcity, rather than geographic proximal origination. As such, where a car is produced becomes an important side note that adds to the history of the car -- and reports of how difficult (or easy) the car is to obtain should always be included in any transaction report.

For more information about exotic cars, exotic car club events, and cars in pop culture, visit and bookmark the following links: 

www.italianizzato.com

www.autopopmedia.com

The Exotic Car Examiner on Twitter at cafecars

www.ferrarimaseratinews.com