We typically judge performance cars by their power ratings and 0-to-60 mph times, but we tend to overlook the importance of power-to-weight ratios. Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus Cars, was among the first to realize that "adding" lightness was better than adding power. The man who designed the iconic Lotus Seven, and other lightweight sports cars, once said that "adding power makes you faster on the straight; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."

But is this still true in an era when automakers and most enthusiasts are crazy for horsepower and lower 0-to-60 sprints? Definitely. While most vehicles are becoming increasingly heavier due to new, advanced technology and safety regulations, some carmakers still follow Chapman's philosophy and focus on lightweight construction rather than powerful engines.

Here's a list of cars that aren't awfully powerful but boast impressive power-to-weight ratios thanks to their lightweight designs.

Updated April 25, 2023: This list of lightweight sports cars has not been out for very long, but the industry is changing fast. The thing is that many of these cars are still some of the best sports cars by weight, so there is no point in writing a whole new piece when this one can simply be updated with some fresh information and a few new models.

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19 Chevrolet Corvette C7: 3,560 lbs

No list of fine sports cars would ever be complete without including a Chevy Corvette because, as most people know, it has been dubbed the official "American Sports Car." That is not to say that the 'Vette is the only good sports car in the States, but it has always been on the top rung of the sports car ladder. In 2019, one of the most powerful models to date came off the production lines with a 775 horsepower C7 engine under the hood.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 C7 specifications

18 Porsche 718 Cayman: 3,086 lbs

Porsche is a well-known name within the sports car industry. The Porsche lineup will continue to improve as they produce refined coupes and SUVs. The 718 Cayman is currently one of the best regarding power-to-weight ratio within the company's lineup, coming in at a decent 295.8 hp/tonne. The flat-six engine with an all-aluminum block may not look like much, but the times it can put on the track (or street) quickly show that it belongs on this list of the best sports cars by weight.

Porsche 718 Cayman specifications

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17 McLaren 600LT: 2,989 lbs

This beefed-up version of the 570S isn't as light as the vehicles at the top of our list, but it's notably more powerful. Although it barely slots below the 3,000-pound mark at 2,989 pounds, the 600LT comes with 592 horsepower and 457 pound-feet on tap. Its power-to-weight ratio sits at an impressive 436 horsepower per tonne. The 600LT is very quick at 2.9 seconds to 60 mph, but it's also costly, fetching $250,000 before options.

McLaren 600LT specifications

16 Mini Cooper JCW: 2,892 lbs

The Mini Cooper JCW may not be something you would expect to see on a list of sports cars but look at the street racing tracks worldwide, and you will see them bumper to bumper with the big dogs. That means the Mini Cooper is a sports car for all intents and purposes. Since it handles so well, the Mini Cooper can travel on any road that the Porsche or Lamborghini can, and at the same speeds as long as you are not looking for extreme top-end speed.

Mini Cooper JCW specifications

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15 Subaru BRZ: 2,815 lbs

The Subaru BRZ coupe may not seem too impressive at the moment, but stick around for the one that is rumored to be coming out in 2024. The engine may finally receive a turbocharger to go along with the basic 228 horsepower, kicking that number up to almost 300. This will cut a full second off the 0 to 60 mph times, and since the weight will not be adjusted by much more than a few options, the power-to-weight ratio will increase by a decent amount.

Subaru BRZ specifications

14 Toyota GR86: 2,811 lbs

The previous coupes that wore the Toyota GR86 nameplate were not all that great because they reportedly had weak engines, but for 2023 the company stepped up to the plate and stuffed a 228 horsepower naturally aspirated four-cylinder supplied to Toyota from Subaru under the hood. The acceleration was decent, but the best aspect of this sports car is its handling, which can also last through the brutal use of everyday driving.

Toyota GR86 specifications

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13 Lotus Evora: 2,751 lbs

Lotus offered various versionsof the Evora, including a GT430 Sport model that tips the scales at 2,751 pounds. That's massively heavier than the Elise, but remember, the Elise is no longer available. Powered by a 430-horsepower supercharged V-6, the Evora boasts a 344 horsepower per tonne power-to-weight ratio. The Evora GT430 Sport costs in excess of $100,000.

Lotus Evora specifications

12 Abarth 500: 2,518 lbs

The cute and little Fiat 500 becomes a bit more aggressive in Abarth trim and loses a bit of weight through lighter materials. While the 695 Biposto is no longer available, the regular Abarth 500 is also a superb choice at 2,518 pounds. The 160-horsepower four-cylinder is brawny enough for the little coupe, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 140 horsepower per tonne. Priced from $20,540, the Abarth 500 is affordable too.

Fiat Abarth 500 specifications

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11 Alpine A110: 2,381 lbs

Inspired by a rear-engined Berlinetta built from 1961 to 1977, the A110 revived the Alpine brand after a 20-year hiatus. The turbocharged, 1.8-liter four-cylinder generates 252 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of twist, which makes the A110 a worthy competitor for the Porsche 718 Cayman. Quicker and more powerful, the A110 is also more expensive than the Abarth. Sadly, it's not yet available in the US (although there are rumors that Renault might return to North America soon).

ALPINE A110 specifications

10 Fiat 124 Abarth Spider: 2,381 lbs

The iconic 124 Spider made a comeback in 2016 after a 30-year absence, and it didn't take long until Fiat gave it the Abarth treatment. Adorned by sportier design cues on the outside, the 124 Abarth also features a slightly more powerful version of the 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 164 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The Italian sports car is also pretty affordable at a little over $35,000 before options.

FIAT 124 ABARTH SPIDER specifications

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9 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider: 2,337 lbs

One of the last no-nonsense sports cars still road-legal in America is the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. The 4C is pretty light at 2,337 pounds, and its turbocharged four-cylinder engine enables it to return reliable performance. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder cranks out 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of twist, just enough to send the drop-top flying from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The 4C Spider is far from cheap, though, retailing from $66,900 before options.

ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER specifications

8 Mazda MX-5: 2,315 lbs

A nameplate with a massive following thanks to its appealing power-to-weight ratio and affordable sticker, the Mazda MX-5 Miata was redesigned for 2016, when the fourth-generation ND model was introduced. Now with a more aggressive design and a more modern interior, the Miata remains loyal to naturally aspirated power. And, of course, it remains extremely light for a road-legal vehicle that can still be used as a daily driver. Priced from $25,730, it's the most affordable sports car on this list.

MAZDA MX-5 specifications

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7 Morgan Plus 4: 2,044 lbs

Morgan has been building its Plus models for decades now, and even though they look like they were conceived in the 1930s, they feature modern underpinnings and engines. The British firm just discontinued the Plus 8, replacing it with the Plus Six, but the Plus 4 remains in production and on offer for the US market. It needs only 7.4 seconds to hit 60 mph and tops at 118 mph. The Plus 4 retails from $69,995.

MORGAN PLUS 4 specifications

6 Lotus Elise: 1,979 lbs

At 1,979 pounds, the Elise was the lightest vehicle you could buy from Lotus in 2019. Granted, the third-generation Elise is already eight years old as of 2019. Age isn't necessarily an issue for no-nonsense sports cars like these. Except for the fact that it doesn't have airbags, which prevents it from being a road-legal vehicle in the United States. The only serious issue with this car is that you can't buy it in the United States. The Lotus Elise is getting phased out in Europe too, so you're probably better off with a pre-owned model.

LOTUS ELISE specifications

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5 KTM X-Bow R: 1,741 lbs

Introduced in 2008 as KTM's first four-wheeled vehicle, the X-Bow evolved into many iterations over the years. Motivated by an Audi-sourced, 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at a whopping 300 horsepower, the X-Bow R boasts an incredible 380 horsepower per tonne. The bad news is that the X-Bow R isn't road-legal in the US after all these years, although now you no longer have to purchase the car and the engine separately. It's also notably more expensive than other choices in this list at around $100,000 before options.

KTM X-BOW R specifications

4 Ariel Atom: 1,345 lbs

Essentially a tubular frame with four wheels and two seats, the Atom lacks unnecessary technology and features and has its engine mounted behind the seats. The latest iteration of Ariel's roadster, the Atom 4, features a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder from Honda that packs an impressive 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Although it's available in the US, you can't drive it on public roads due to safety regulations. The Atom 4 is more affordable than other lightweight sports cars, coming in at $74,750 before options.

ARIEL ATOM specifications

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3 BAC Mono: 1,279 lbs

Like Ariel, BAC is based in the United Kingdom and produces one of the market's lightest, no-nonsense sports cars. Coupled with the 2.3-liter Ford engine that generates 305 horsepower and 227 pound-feet of torque, the BAC Mono has a power-to-weight ratio of 525 horsepower per tonne. The sprint to 60 mph takes only 2.8 seconds, while the top speed is rated at an impressive 170 mph. The Mono is pretty expensive, though, fetching more than $150,000 in the United States.

BAC MONO specifications

2 Morgan 3-Wheeler: 1,212 lbs

This cool three-wheeler might not be a full-fledged car, but it tips the scales at an impressive 1,212 pounds. Powered by a 2.0-liter V twin engine from S&S, the 3-Wheeler hits the road with 82 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque. This rating seems laughable, but combine it with the low weight, resulting in a 156 horsepower per tonne power-to-weight ratio. You can buy one for £34,530, which converts to around $45,000 as of May 2019.

MORGAN 3-Wheeler specifications

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1 Caterham Seven 620R: 1,201 lbs

A design that goes back to the 1950s, the Seven results from Colin Chapman's obsession with building the lightest sports car for the road. Taken over by Caterham in the 1970s, the Seven is now the most lightweight road-legal car you can buy. Opt for the 620R model, and the weight goes down to only 1,201 pounds. 620R will cost you around $80,000 before options, but adding the goodies will increase the sticker to more than $100,000. But it's definitely worth it!

CATERHAM SEVEN 620R specifications