When is it too much horsepower? What will they do next?

Actually smaller turbocharged engines make significantly more torque than their naturally aspirated counterparts.

 

True, like the M5 E60 and the F10.
But there's a limit too..


Sent from my F430 using Tapatalk.

 

I believe that in Maryland it is referred to as "undue exhibition of power" which covers burn-outs also.

 

Heffner twin turbo, fully built engine. Billet rods, Ross racing pistons ect. Twin 67mm turbos.
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I think you'll see more hybrid exotic cars, where the electric motor will:
-Allow you to drive silently through your community and city areas
-Recover breaking energy for re-use efficiency
-Use max torque where gas engines can be torque deficient
-Improve mileage substantially - more Green
-Allow for smaller, more efficient engines with little overall power loss or even gain

 

Agree, the new GTR 16 will have an 800hp combined hp. Might have to buy one for a DD.

 

I was threatened once with CVC 22106 "unsafe start" for a fast takeoff with no wheelspin. It's an infraction.

"Exhibition of speed" 23109 (c), is a misdemeanor. You don't want that.

 

A second electric motor/generator will
a) prevent the need for a waste gate
b) pull energy from the turbo and direct it to the wheels

 

You would think eventually we would have a real leap in technology. The traditional internal combustion engine is ancient tech. The key may be in better energy storage that are capable of fast charging. If you can get a ton of battery power in a reasonably sized package capable of reasonable time for re charging, like say 30 minutes or less with a range of 350 miles, you could have powerfully fast electrics with super fast accelleration. I would think we will get there pretty soon. But you would need stations that had large KW electrical outlets for recharging. Something capable of putting out about 20 or 30 kw, which is quite a bit of power and not a typical electric outlet.

 

Hmm. Wonder if you could make a First Amendment case out of it?...LOL

Hey it worked for strippers...

 

This is why I am so in love with the completely unexotic but utterly intoxicating scion frs. If there was a car that was exactly the same underneath but looked outstanding, in my eyes that is the perfect road car. Or a mid engined rival to it that looks 288 gto esque and is as tossable with as laughably low grip limits, and underpowered enough that I can drive it like I stole it, without getting arrested.

 

Lamborghini's Sesto Elemento is a good example of what comes next!

Love that car. Small dimensions and light!

 

Lotus has already figured it out.

We're just waiting for the rest of the world to catch up.

 

Because politicians never call anything by its right name:
"Failure to keep down with the herd."

When we accept the notion of punishing those who excel, it's game over.
Society is on a downward spiral, chasing a declining standard.

 

The '79 Alfa Spider weighed about 2100 lbs (sans driver) and came stock with about 120 hp. (112 in the CA version, I think.)
When my mechanic got done with it, it had around 140 hp and still got around 35 mpg on the highway --- at 70 mph "economy cruise".


Today's vehicles have more padding, more airbags, more electronics, etc, and are just plain bigger and heavier.

I got a Chevy HHR as a loaner when I had the older EVO in the shop, a couple of years back.
That pig was every bit as wobbly and dangerous as any '60s muscle car. Less steering response than anything I've ever seen.
But the newer pig has about 1000 lbs more padding and airbags than the '60s machine.

Plus they're being loaded down with auto gearboxes, self-parking, auto-brakes, and all sorts of other things they're putting into cars built for people who shouldn't be driving.

Then they install 400 hp for "bragging rights".

And then people take them out in traffic, and never, ever touch the gas pedal -- idling down the road all day.

So: how much fuel are people wasting, ticking over all the parasitic load of a big honkin' engine they'll never open up?


I also see people hitting the brakes (from 5 mph) for "speed tables" -- thereby shifting all the weight onto the wheels about to hit the bump.

And they seem to need six lanes to get around a corner.

This may be the most incompetent generation to ever sit behind the wheel.
(Mostly texting while waiting for the car to drive itself.)



The news came out, recently: Mitsu is dropping the EVO in many markets (but not the US) next year, and everywhere, shortly after that.

Since "hybrids" are the new "political correctness", cars will continue to get heavier, as increasingly regulated manufacturers stuff gas plus electric engines plus heavy batteries into the road pigs.

Add in all the gadgets to excuse even less driver attention, and we're headed for more and more disasters.


All those old "clunkers" will be worth more and more cash, if this goes on.

 

What I believe is next are cars that will be able to communicate with one another, will be linked to traffic monitoring systems and will be very integrated with smart devices and have Siri/Cortana like interface. Sports cars will be lighter, more efficient have the same computer integration, and possibly cooler heads up displays and night vision systems similar to what mercedes has currently. The whole goal now is increase in safety and fuel efficiency, as you can stil have a lot of power and be fuel efficient. I dont think having a lot of power is unsafe or the real problem. It's the distractions, road conditions and also the skills of the drivers nowadays.

 

There were NO Hemi Cudas/Chargers or Shelby Mustangs in 1973!

Seems your soap box also needs repairs.

 

Ground effects

 

When my engine builder got done with my Fiat X1/9 it had about 120 HP and weighted in just over 1600 pounds.

Big engines turning over slowly are often way more efficient than a little engine reving its heart out. The 7 litre C6 Z06 could get 30 MPG at 70 MPH, whereas my 3.5 Litre F355 can barely manage 22 if I'm driving it for mileage (7 MPG at the race track.)

Its all those nannies that allow them to drive in a maximally dumb/unaware state and survive.

The disasters are already here. The driverless car is a complete abomination, and I hope my life is over by the time they are <essentially> mandated because no one can drive anymore.

 

Apparently 707 HP is just fine for the Challenger, along with 650 ft lbs of torque.

This is an amazing age, everyone should appreciate what we're seeing.

http://media.chrysler.com/newsrelease.do;jsessionid=11489A15C1319F5D82D3241598EF99BA?&id=15779&mid=1

 

Great engine. Now if they could just take 500 pounds off the platform though.

 

The improvements will be made in the handing arena.

As an instructor, what I've seen is that the average owner should be spending time in an old Fiat X1/9 (80hp) to actually learn car control, as without driver aids they would kill themselves.

The current crop of 600hp sports cars are almost unusable for the average guy. Every one of these cars should come with a 4-5 day driver's school included in the price.

 

^^^ Absolutely.