Well as far as I know F1 at the time specifically did not (and still does not) allow AWD, and those power levels as you mentioned were only in qualifying trim. Race power levels were much less. I honestly think if they went back to those levels of power, they would try to adopt AWD.
The car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year was AWD. Spin that. http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/audi-reveals-four-wheel-drive-lmp1-hybrid/
I wouldn't bet too heavily on that. As an aside the new McLaren Supercar is going pull 2 G's on street tires. It's also very light. It will be VERY fast around a track.
I don't see how having MORE traction could be a bad thing. Modern AWD systems can drive very much like a RWD setup. You will usually only notice it when it saves your butt.
Lamborghini has been doing it for years. Almost every Lambo has more HP than Ferrari but Ferrari still sells more cars with ease. I think it really depends on what the customer demands. I just can't see an awd halo Ferrari.
What about offering it as an option? Lamborghini allows you to specify either RWD or AWD on the Gallardo. I think that might be cool on a future Ferrari. Of course, I would also love to have a stick as an option on a modern Ferrari but that doesn't appear to be happening anytime soon.
Nah, they will never go back to those levels of power. That's also the reason that the V10s were dropped; they became too powerful. The projected power output for the new 1.6 litre turbos is around 650 BHP.
Allow Toyota a couple of years of experience first. They did not do badly for their first time after all those years of absence.
That has what to do with the comment you're ducking? Still waiting for your explanation of how the fact that an AWD Audi won the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year proves that RWD Race cars are faster.
Come on now, you can do better than that. RWD by itself, or any technology on its own for that matter, does not win or lose a race. Many things have to come together. Not to mention that this is endurace racing, not a sprint.
Another artist rendering: http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/226/3/2/a_white_ferrari____by_wizzoo7-d5b1979.png http://www.deviantart.com/download/320634055/ferrari_f70_by_wizzoo7-d5awatj.png
Who knows? It could be completely different to both of them. This is only a concept created by an artist. Too much Enzo on the side, but the engine area looks better than the Road and Track rendering.
I don't but I do understand the laws of physics. Personally I think lightness is very important in any sports car and will be interested to see whether the New Enzo or New McLaren will be lighter. I also do love V12's but realise that TT V8's are lighter and in a car with KERS hung out on the back of the gear box that will be a real issue. We had to do a lot of engineering to overcome that and in a road car it's harder packaging wise. We moved ballast into the passenger compartment but you can't do that in a road car. It will be interesting to see if the New Enzo is tail happy.
I also enjoy the feel of a light sports car. Adding power can only overcome so much; removing weight affects (improves) every aspect of the driving experience, including fuel consumption. Mr. G, would you be interested in an AWD supercar? Or do you prefer RWD?
By 'tail happy' do you suggest 930 911 Turbo style tail happy with the rear becoming the front quite easily? Or more to the issue of lift-oversteer (or both?) I can tell you that next generation of stability control systems are every bit as good or better than the systems that were banned from F1... you can just mash the gas, and the car will not slip out.
Having driven a Veyron I full understand. With a KERS Hypercar I'd perfer the KERS to drive the front wheels to help exiting turns faster.
That speaks to my earlier post. If KERS is only 200 HP and the engine is 700-800 HP, then KERS it would seem that KERS is probably not a good tool for high speed, end of the straight runs. Otherwise, it would take a lot of complex gearing to allow the front wheels to "keep up" with the back wheels that take 4X horsepower. Also note, on the Porsche 918, the batteries for the KERS system (is that what Porsche is calling it?) is mounted down low. This necessitates the exhaust coming out the deck behind the driver and passenger seats. Keeping the heat separated.
KERS mounted directly to the transaxle works fine even if less hp than petrol motor. On P 4/5 CM KERS we're only making 35hp KERS as we're just using recaptured rear braking energy and want to use it basically the entire lap if possible. Even though it's only 35HP you can still feel it and it really helps. If we could engineer it to recapture front braking, which because of packaging issues we can't, it would be a lot more efficient as most braking is done by the front brakes so you'd recapture more energy and it would also make the weight split much better. Also front drive KERS would be much more effecient on a race track as you could use it to pull you out of the turns as you rolled on the petrol throttle. That's why the Audi LMP1 uses front wheel KERS. On a hypercar that would be the way to go. I just wish the 918 were lighter. There is NO question that front wheel KERS would re capture more energy and balance the car better. None. It will be interesting to see what McLaren does. The new Enzo will probably not be front wheel KERS even if it's semi AWD.