The term 'sporty auto, for short' can be summarized by three crossword solutions: ALFA (4 letters), JAG (3 letters), and VETTE (5 letters). ALFA is a reference to the Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo, which produces luxury sports cars. JAG is an abbreviation for Jaguar, a British car manufacturer known for its luxury sports cars. VETTE is an abbreviation for Corvette, an iconic American sports car produced by Chevrolet.