Americans getting serious.

Wow. Nobody loves ultra-high performance cars more than I do, but this horsepower race is starting to worry me. With all these 500 and 600 hp cars running around, how long will be it be before the Feds decide enough is too much, and cap the horsepower like Japan?

Gary

 

It's true- the horsepower wars are going on now- it dwarfs the 1960's horsepower wars. In fact, the only 1960's engine that makes enough NET horsepower (as opposed to the over-inflated gross HP numbers that used to be used) to impress someone today was probably the original HEMI (the real HEMI, not the new dodge HEMI's of today that are nothing more than a strong engine with a catchy marketing name on them)...maybe some of the tri-carb chrysler 440s and GM 427s too.

Anyway, my guess is the insurance companies will start to use the high HP as an excuse to up the preiums like they did in the 1960's, which will decrease sales somewhat of these ultra-high powered cars. They will probably become lower-volume image cars, but then again I do see a lot of Z-06 corvettes on the road by me.

And I was so impressed when the 550 came out with 485hp.... To tell you the truth, I liked it better when 485hp was impressive- it still is, but not as impressive when these cars have 500, 600+ hp... If I had the money, I would always take a 550 over the others though as Ferraris are not only about absolute HP and acceleration, to me anyway.

 

A familiar name, wickeddus on flat-6 though isn't it?

 

TWO WORDS: NOSE HEAVY...

Secondly, you cannot sanitise and exploit properly 600+Hp if your car weighs more than 1400kgs...the SLR is another story...

 

Actually, the C5 is almost perfect 50-50 weight distribution. The C6 will be even better, I'd bet on it.

Its a front engine (almost entirely aluminum and plastic) rear transaxle design built on one hell of a frame.

Its not a Ferrari in the looks/ mystique dept, but it is not a slouch by any means. Don't underestimate one on the track, you will probably regret it.

Ed

 

I was recently invited to a private gathering of auto enthusiasts in a "secret" location......actually a person's "garage" with over 100 cars in it. He has everything from Ferraris to Rolls to Isotta Franchinis...a truly incredible place and I felt very lucky to be invited. Anyways....there was an engineer there who is part of the Ford GT program and he basically confirmed what Wickeddeus has stated. Chevy is working on a super-vette project, kinda like a modern version of the ZR-1. And he said they were working very hard to keep the price to $100k or less. It sounds very promising to say the least.

And on the subject of horsepower wars....yes it kinda scares me too. I agree you can never have too much power. But a car that truly makes over 500 hp is pretty scary to the average driver. Oh you always hear the talk of big hp, but a car with a true 500+hp is quite a handful. The Enzo with it's 650hp just blows my mind. Who would have thought that we would ever exceed the old muscle car days by such a wide margin? And the top dog being the Bugatti Veyron with it's other-worldly
987hp....!!! I really can't believe there isn't some kind of regulation about an OEM car maker producing that kind of power for the street. I think it's gonna come crashing down soon.....

But until it does.....these are the "good ol'e days"

 

carguy:

I have actually heard the oppisite. A good friend of mine was speaking to one of the head of GM engineering and was told this is very false. The new Z06 will be a monster, but there is no such thing as a "blue devil". Too bad, as I think if General put their knowledge into it, you could have a car that would be better then the McLaren F1.

 

Yes there are some great US cars now like the Z06, Viper, S7 & the Mosler. I heard the new Z06 will have 500 hp & a cf body. I'm still considering getting an F40 in 05 but we'll see what else comes around the corner between now & then.

My race car weighs 2800 # with 475 hp & thats bloody terrifying. I think people should be required to get special training at the minimum before getting the keys to a monster like these.