Racing Heritage In Everyday Cars: How Supercar DNA Influences Modern Vehicles (2024)

When you see a sports car or supercar whizz by, for a lot of you, we are sure there is a feeling inside that makes you wish you were the one driving it instead of watching it. The feeling of pure power, head-turning designs, and the association with the high life - they have it all. Whether you are on a track day watching them, looking at one flying down the opposite side of the highway when you are stuck in traffic, or at a car meet, sports cars, and supercars are the envy of a lot of us.

But, fear not, you are closer than you think. We are not saying that driving a Hyundai Santa Fe is the same as driving a highly-tuned Ferrari SF90 Spider, but thanks to sports cars, race cars, and supercars, there is a lot of tech, engineering prowess, and features we have equipped in our everyday cars. This is why we are taking a closer look at racing heritage in everyday cars, how supercar DNA runs in the pipes of mainstream cars, what features have come from supercars, and what the future of supercar-inspired everyday cars may hold.

Track Tested For Road Use

Except for the obvious point of sports cars and supercars - fast and thrilling driving experiences - they also hold another purpose that will resonate with a lot more of us due to their importance to our very own cars; testing. The extreme conditions of racing - high speeds, intense G-forces, and quick decision-making - make for an ideal place for new concepts and technologies that will one day filter down to road cars to be put through their paces.

Bridging Performance And Safety

The innovations tested in race and sports cars on the track are gradually refined by automakers to meet our needs after watching carefully how their creations do under high stress. Safety features that are featured in F1 cars, such as head and neck protection, specifically designed crumple zones, smart crash reports, real-time feedback cameras, and advanced airbag systems have all made their way into the average road vehicle, and have either come directly from testing on the track, or have been refined because of their use on the track.

Of course, you don't see any cars with a Halo protection ring on the road, but you do see both the everyday car, such as the Chevrolet Blazer, and more luxurious cars, such as the 2025 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, showcasing safety features like lane-keep assist, collision avoidance, and adaptive cruise control. Chevrolet has learned a lot of successful lessons from their decades on the NASCAR scene, which is exactly where they were able to hone their driver safety features, thanks to the data from racing telemetry, which we now see in most modern Chevrolet models.

Likewise, Mercedes-Benz has years of experience and a wealth of knowledge from their own racing success. Most notably, in terms of safety, the crumple zone. First implemented in the 1959 Mercedes W111 220 'Fin Tail', the crumple zone has gone on to undoubtedly save thousands of lives in crashes around the world.

Though work on the crumple zone in cars had started back in 1937 by Hungarian engineer Béla Barényi, it wasn't until the late 1950s that a ready product was installed. The '59 Fin Tail, despite its luxury appointment, ludicrous curb weight of 5,004 pounds, and barge-like appearance, went on to win the 1961 Rally Of 1000 Lakes, and since then, the crumple zone has been monitored closely on the track, and in the unfortunate event of a crash, has been inspected to see how well it took the hit, then suggestions taken to implement in our everyday cars.

Thanks to the crash reports that are extensively used on the racetrack, we also have the same kind of reports for road vehicles produced by IIHS, who test cars based on how they withstand crashes from the front, rear, and side. Because of the safety implementations in both road and track vehicles, and crash simulations and testing used in the racing world, the two can be seen to work together to provide safer driving for us on the way to the grocery store, and the driver behind the wheel of an F1 car.

Racing Innovations Driving Modern Cars

If you are driving around in something like the quite obviously race car-inspired Lamborghini Hurucán STJ, you know there are racing innovations all over it. But, if you are driving around in something a little more tame, then you may not realize that the features we take for granted, in fact, have been improved thanks to their time around the track.

• Advanced Cooling Systems. Race cars and supercars handle a lot of stress due to their strenuous use on the track, and because of that, components such as the engine and brakes need to be kept at optimal temperatures to stop them from failing. Active cooling systems use pumps, fans, and thermoelectric elements to control coolant and airflow into an engine to prevent it from overheating. Race teams use state-of-the-art cooling to ensure that their car can keep going at full pace, but we also see road-friendly EVs, like the Polestar 2 , utilizing active cooling to keep batteries at the right temperature.
• Transmission Technology. Paddle shifters, are used by all F1 cars, a lot of supercars, and a huge swathe of sports cars. They are also prevalent in models such as the Volkswagen Golf R, the Hyundai Elantra N, the Kia Stinger, and the Audi S4. Most race cars feature dual-clutch technology for smooth and seamless gear changes, but this tech is also available in some SUVs, such as the GMC Yukon.
• Tire Endurance. On the track, the less you have to change your tires, the further you can go. On the road, the less you have to change your tires, the more money you save. Endurance races like the 24 Hours Of Le Mans demand tires that can perform consistently, so teams work with companies like Pirelli and Michelin to find the best materials to use and create compounds that can withstand different temperatures, performance, and endurance. The tire lessons about grip, endurance, and safety are then passed on to us for road-legal tires.
• Run-Flat Tires. Very extensively used within motorsport to allow the driver to avoid becoming stranded if their tire suffers a blowout, and though not extensively used in most 2024/2025 vehicles because of their added weight, which reduces vehicle range, they are commonly featured as standard in a lot of modern model years of the BMW 3 Series, BMW X3, and BMW 4 Series.

Supercar DNA In Everyday Vehicles

It is not just track-tested tech that is being shared across the spectrum from the supercar to the hatchback, but also advanced performance technology, lightning-fast steering, and responsive suspension, which provide not only thrilling driving fun, but also a comfortable ride when you need it. The way in which they are used differs between them.

High-Performance Tech For Daily Drivers

Heads-up displays (HUD) are commonly used in both track cars and road-legal supercars so that your attention isn't diverted from driving, with models such as the Ferrari SF90 Stradale boasting one, and displaying how much battery life is left, speed, how far you have driven, what range you have left, and other important safety information regarding the hybrid system.

The Stradale boasts a three-motor hybrid system, which is useful for both performance and saving a bit of gas and is derived from Ferrari F1 applications. When running on gasoline only, the Stradale can achieve a relatively decent, for a Ferrari, combined 18 MPG, and 50 MPGe when taking into account the hybrid tech. But, the motors are capable of kicking out up to 217 horsepower alone, so in this case, the motors are better for performance.

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On the less-exotic side of things, models like the Ford Escape, the Mazda CX-50, and the Kia EV6 all feature a HUD. The Ford Escape's HUD is low to the dash and is displayed in front of you above the steering wheel, and shows your speed, navigation details, and Ford CoPilot 360 technology features. The 2025 Mazda CX-50 comes equipped with a HUD as standard and displays similar information to what the Escape's HUD does, but it is available as a hybrid and also features three electric motors, and alongside the 2.5-liter inline-four, the powertrain can produce up to 219 horsepower, but with a better average combined MPG rating of 28 MPG, despite its heavy weight of 3,741 pounds.

Cutting-Edge Suspension And Steering

How well your vehicle goes around a corner and how comfortable it is, are not the main jobs for your steering setup and suspension, but they are also designed for safety, and the features that make sports cars so nimble have also found their way into the everyday car of today.

Magnetic Ride Control (MRC), pioneered in supercars like the Ferrari 488 GTB and Corvette C8, adapts suspension in milliseconds using magnetorheological fluid, which changes velocity extremely quickly and uses no mechanical parts, making it very reliable. MRC allows supercars to balance stiffness for sharp cornering with everyday comfort, while it also features in some models of the Cadillac CT5, showcasing its versatility across the segments.

Four-wheel steering and adaptive suspension are some more examples of technology that crosses over from the supercar to the sedan. 4WS is rarely seen in everyday road cars in 2024 models, but models like the 2019 Cadillac CT6 utilize it for both performance, ease of parking, and slow-speed driving, elevating the comfort and maneuverability of the luxury sedan. Supercars like the Aventador utilize 4WS for a much different reason; to ensure that every corner that is taken is as precise as can be, while the use of adaptive suspension has become a market-wide addition for a lot of vehicles, not just used to get the best results around the track.

Pickup trucks such as the Ram 1500 boast adaptive suspension that offers a luxury car-like ride quality thanks to actively adjusting damping forces based on your driving and road conditions. The McLaren 720S features the Proactive Chassis Control system, which reads the road 1,000 times per second for unmatched cornering stability, while everyday cars like the Golf GTI also boast adaptive suspension to balance hot hatch performance with everyday usability.

Racing-Origin Features In Modern Cars

The utilization of top-quality materials and precision aerodynamic engineering is also a huge contributing factor in the immense performance credentials of some of the world's best race cars and supercars. When you look at some of the most unforgettable roadsters of all time, you can tell that they are made for driving fast just by their sleek and low-to-ground stance. But there is a crossover, and it comes in the way that mainstream cars are also designed and use similar processes and materials to achieve aerodynamic prowess.

Aerodynamics And Precision Engineering

No expense seems to be spared when designing and producing supercars, with some of the best supercars ever made boasting seriously gorgeous design features that not only make them look as expensive as they are, but also aid in their performance. The McLaren Speedtail is considered one of the best aerodynamic cars in the world and is designed with low drag coefficients, ensuring that it slices through the air effectively, tapered rear ends reduce turbulent air 'wake' and decrease drag, and it features a very sleek overall body design. Other aerodynamic features that are easy to spot on many supercars include:

• Active aerodynamics. Features such as an active rear wing are added to models like the Porsche 911 Turbo and automatically adjust the angle to optimize downforce, while adaptive air intakes open or close depending on the cooling or aerodynamic needs of the car.
• Venting and Ducting. Air curtains are used to direct airflow around the wheels to minimize turbulence, and side vents guide air towards the rear to improve cooling and reduce drag.
• Diffusers. Supercars like the Pagani Huayra boast diffusers that channel air from under the car, generating suction that pulls the car closer to the ground, improving handling and aerodynamics.

Though these kinds of features are reserved for sporty everyday cars like the Audi RS and the BMW M Series, which both showcase brake cooling ducts and rear spoilers, there is a clear crossover in the way in which both supercars and mainstream cars are built to cut through the wind. A model you may not expect to feature something as advanced as active aerodynamics is the almighty Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV, which boasts two active front air flaps that open or close depending on how you are driving. These are used to both create an aerodynamic profile and to aid in diverting air to cool the batteries.

Cars that are designed to be fuel efficient and provide you with a long driving range from a single tank of gas or a charge of the battery also showcase aerodynamicly decent designs. As a benchmark, the Lamborghini Huracán has a drag coefficient of 0.39 Cd. While mainstream cars don't match that rating, some of the most fuel-efficient cars of 2024 are designed with an extremely impressive drag coefficient rating and do come close.

Advanced Materials And Lightweight Designs

In 2024 and 2025, the minimum weight of an F1 car is 1,759 pounds, and the average car in the U.S.A. in 2022 weighed in at 4,094 pounds. Both are used for totally different types of driving and both are set up completely differently, but some of the advanced materials that are used to save weight, are used in both the everyday and the extraordinary. F1 cars are made almost entirely of carbon fiber - known for its light weight and ultra-strong properties - but as it is an expensive material, it is reserved for some of the most performance-orientated vehicles out there that command higher prices.

Models like the Lamborghini Revuelto are constructed using carbon fiber, aluminum, and thermoplastic, all designed to be both durable, and crucially lightweight, taking its total weight to 4,145 pounds. If you look at something like the BMW M4, though it is a performance car at heart, and not in the same league as something like the 2024 Honda Civic, the materials used are more similar to that used in an F1 car than another road-legal car. The M4 boasts a carbon fiber roof, trunk lid, and engine brace, and also features body parts made from aluminum, weighing in at 3,830 pounds to 4,306 pounds, depending on what model you buy. The Civic is built using galvanized steel and aluminum alloy, weighing in at 3,379 pounds.

The reason why the Revuelto is so heavy, followed by the M4, and then the Civic, is because of the engine under the hood. The Lambo boasts a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated hybrid V-12, weighing in at 478 pounds alone. The M4 boasts a 3.0-liter TwinTurbo inline-six, and the Civic boasts a relatively small naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four. Because of the heavy-weight characteristics of the V-12, weight-saving materials need to be used to propel the Revuelto to its insane speeds. Likewise, for the M4, the addition of lightweight materials is used to mitigate the engine's size, while the Civic features a smaller engine and, though it can be considered a fun hot hatch, compared to the other two, the specifications speak for themselves.

Though some racing-esque materials are used in more affordable cars, weight-saving is done for different reasons. In supercars and trickling down to sports cars, for performance. In everyday cars, for some performance improvements, but as we have found in a lot of modern cars, for better fuel economy.

The Future Of Supercar-Inspired Cars

Cutting-edge performance, smart technology, and sustainability. This is what we hope to continue to see in future cars that have taken inspiration from supercars. Automakers are drawing from the supercar world to redefine what everyday vehicles can do. We have seen this already with hybrid and electric models such as the new Ferrari F80, which boasts a ridiculously powerful V-6 paired with an electric front axle (e-4WD) and a hybrid system, that can churn out a mesmerizing 1,200 combined horsepower, resulting in an insane 0-125 MPH in 5.75 seconds.

Innovations in aerodynamics, originally fine-tuned in supercars, are continuing to shape mass-market vehicles for improved fuel efficiency and everyday performance, which is evident when you take a look at the body design of some everyday cars, such as the Subaru WRX, Toyota GR Corolla, and the Honda Civic Type R, and looking ahead, technologies like advanced solid-state batteries and 800-volt architectures promise to revolutionize electric mobility across all vehicle segments.

Sustainability Meets The Supercar Legacy

Sports cars and supercars have long been criticized for their seeming lack of environmentally-conscious designs, but are now showing the world what they can do with the implementation of hybrid and electric powertrains, which reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency but also don't scrimp on performance.

The McLaren Artura boasts a twin-turbocharged V-6 mated with an E-Motor, which can produce up to 690 horsepower while being able to drive up to 20 miles in all-electric mode. We are unlikely to see something this powerful and impressive in something like a VW ID.4, but companies like Tesla have picked up the gauntlet when it comes to power, the use of electric motors, and relative affordability. The Tesla Model 3 is this year's fastest RWD EV, and along with its supercar/sports car-inspired exterior design, and plush interior, it can reach 60 MPH in as little as 5.8 seconds.

The single-speed electric motor paired with a 60kWh is rated at 257 horsepower and 266 LB-FT of torque, while it is economical enough to see you driving up to 272 miles on a single charge of the battery. Supercars may have the insane amount of power that so many of us dream of, but thanks to the advanced technology that is gradually filtering through into both exotic cars and mass-produced cars, we are likely to see an impressive and more affordable mixture of comfort, style, good aerodynamics, improved range, and thrilling performance in future years.