Automakers are boosting horsepower in key models to appeal to more enthusiasts. Horsepower ratings for select models on the market or coming soon



http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosins.../b01-89699.htm

 

Boy, the insurance companies would make a mint off of this as well as the oil companies...[sm=smiley5.gif]

 

Since when did Ford bump the GT's horsepower from 500 to 550? It doesn't really matter though since it still lost to the Viper in the 1/4 mile.[sm=smiley17.gif][sm=smiley4.gif]Then again they might just be boasting about horsepower that they don't have to make it look better and more powerful than it's competition, like they did with the Mustang Cobras a few years ago, in which they have been sued for false advertising over.[sm=smiley36.gif][sm=smiley36.gif]

 

Yeah, I heard about that. I take everybody's horsepower/torque claims (including Dodge/Chrysler) with a grain of salt until I see a dyno printout. There's a heck of a lot of BS in the automotive industry, from the manufacturer's to the oil companies as everybody tries to upstage everybody else and go after the almighty DOLLAR.[sm=smiley5.gif]

 

When the got it to the Dyno, they found it grossly underated. Still its a Ford.

 

Well that just makes Ford more pathetic, because the Viper beat the GT in the 1/4. It barely beat it, but a win is a win none the less. I think the only reason that the GT beat the Viper in 0-60, 60ft. and 1/8 mile is because the GT is mid engine, giving it better grip on the launch with all the weight right over the rear wheels where the Viper's is all up front.

 

And it's not limited to cars, either...Kawasaki's got a big *****' of a V-twin bike out now, the Vulcan 2000 with a 2,053cc engine (125 cubic inches for the metrically challenged). Torque and HP are 141/116, respectively.[sm=smiley16.gif]

 

I really don't like the fact that they compare the Viper and GT, they are two completely different types of cars. I do like the fact horsepower is rising! Somebody American (I don't care who) better get ready for the Veyron. It's estimated 0-60 is 3.2, but with 947HP I think that time is underestimated. I hope the Saleen S7 (2.9) and Chrysler ME412 (2.8) can take it.

 

They say history repeats itself, and I'll be damned if they're not right. In the late 60's-early 70's horsepower was at an all time high, then a combo of the EPA, rising insurance prices and gas restriction/prices forced all the good cars into exile.[sm=smiley19.gif] With the gasoline and oil prices going nuts through the roof and horsepower climbing, I see another 70's gas crisis and a huge drop in horsepower as well as much stricter emissions control.[sm=smiley7.gif] God I hope not, but it looks like a 70's repeat.[sm=smiley19.gif]

 

If we get an EPA friendly President, I think it's right around the corner...[:'(]