A high-performance vehicle is a vehicle

Vehicle

A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....

 (generally a car

Automobile

An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...

) that has been designed with specific performance capabilities, above and beyond those of normal vehicles. Enhancements such as higher engine

Engine

An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...

 output (power), enhanced braking

Brake

A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....

 and suspension

Suspension (vehicle)

Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...

systems, are all hallmarks of high-performance vehicles. A high-performance vehicle generally exceeds the standards and capabilities of more common vehicles, for the purpose of enhancing the driving experience, or increasing the performance of the vehicle for competition. The trade off is usually cost, and maintainability: High-performance vehicles typically cost significantly more than standard ones, and because of the more complex mechanical components, are generally regarded as requiring more maintenance and care.