I was just thinking about that 440 lbs/ft torque that smaller-and-lighter-than- Magnum-&-300C Dodge Hemi Charger is going to have (assuming it's not "underrated"). If that car weighs no more than a GTO & Cobra, it's going to be "stupid" quick!

Has anyone actually taken the time to look at the horsepower and performance out there, and is coming over the horizon? Many people are still under the gross illusion that cars from the muscle car era are quicker, faster & more powerful. But very few realize that horsepower ratings from that era and today are 2 different measurements.

In 1971 & 1972, automakers went from the gross vehicle rating to the net vehicle rating, which made the horsepower drop of the early 70s look more dramatic than it actually was (automakers also lowered compression because lead was being phased out of gasoline). As far as strict pollution standards robbing power from engines, this didn't kick in till '73 through '75 when smog pumps, air injection, and catalytic converters sapped massive power from performance engines. But it's completely amazing the power we are getting out of our cars today & the fuel economy & lack of emissions compared to just a few years (let alone decades) ago.

The king if the muscle cars, the GTO ram air IV of the late 60s to early 70s, were rated at 370 hp gross. Even taking into consideration it was underrated, it still most certainly didn't put out over 330 horses using today's measurement. The even more powerful (and very very expensive) Hemi engined Mopars were rated at 425 horsepower. By today's measurement, that equals about 300 plus (like GTO's ram air engine) any underrating, +/- 30-40 horses.

In the late 80s, the Buick GNX was the phenominal car of the decade, puting out about 300 actual horses. Just a decade ago, the quad cam Corvette ZR1 was the most outregous car out there running between 375 and 400 horsepower, depending on year.

Even at the turn of the decade, the Z06 was up in the stratosphere at 405 & F-bodies running up to 340 actual horses was still pretty untouchable to anything with more than 2 seats.

But look at us today! A Chrysler luxury car has over 340 hp! Cadillac's entry car has a 400 horse version. the new GTO makes far more horsepower out of a 29 mpg 346 V8 than it did with a 455 V8 and 9 mpg, not to mention the new GTO is lighter by over 300 pounds! (and some poor desparado had the nerve to still say it's slow ). If that's not amazing enough, Mustangs with engines the size of I6s in the 60s is putting out 375+ 1960 style horsepower, and that's just the "slow" GT. Cobras at 400 net is a whole other story.

Now... look at the future. The next GTO will have 400 horsepower (that's 530 to 550 hp to those of you stuck in the 1960s), the next CTSv will be pushing well over 450 and the new Hemi Charger will be right there with it. And it's not just the horspower numbers that's amazine either.

Neon SRT-4 stage II runs with LS1 F-bodies, Acura's new sedans can out accelerate the quickest stock Chevelle SSs, and even economy cars today have higher top speeds than the generally 120-130 top ends of the most powerful cars of the muscle era.

We're living in some really great performance times. As long as the economy doesn't melt down, and everyone's job exported overseas, it's going to continue for at least another half decade.

 

I noticed the horsepower wars starting at last years auto show... its a good feeling.

Too bad our car isnt playing a role [yet]

 

I could definately get used to living in an era with HP wars going on between car manufacturers

 

HP wars yahoo.

 

Ive been saying "Let the second era of muscle car wars begin" bor a while now.

 

I may abandon my GM roots and be a full on Mopar guy soon.

 

LOL, I am going to go order my 300c soon.

then again, it always gives a reason to stick in a cam, port some heads, slap on a blower and call it a day. =)

but then again, in 50 years, what do you expect?

 

While it's true that this is the age of horsepower,we don't have much in the way of cool wrappers for the truly awesome powerplants available. Hopefully, that will be remedied soon..

 

We should enjoy it while we can. If gas prices continue to soar, this horsepower boom may be short lived.

 

I see it happening, but I have to wonder to myself, when's it going to peak and level off. If the current trend continues, then within the next decade there will be 1000 HP vehicles available at your local Dodge/Chevy/Pontiac/Ford dealership. Honda and such will still be stuch in the lower 200's. Back to seriousness, while this performance trend is great for the enthusiast sector, it can't continue forever. It has to level at some point. Just when is the question to me.

 

Your pedestrian Accord v6 comes with a 6spd and a 240hp v6, and it'll outrun my stang stock for stock, not to mention a lot of the 60's and 70's muscle cars. This from a front-drive family car. That's almost depressing. On the plus-side, it highlights the advances in technology and performance today.

 

since nobody else seems concerned, i'm assuming its a california only thing? i filled up at a 76 at $2.25/gal last time. what is everyone else paying for gas these days?

 

$1.72 for 93 octane. I've been driving the 94 'vert 396 stroker lately, and it ain't easy on gas! It really does amaze me that you can have high hp/tq with good fuel milage. Great engineering credited with precise A/F ratio via O2's and injectors. How about the longevity of an engine. Just incredible....

 

The bubble will have to burst somehow...we can't keep getting unlimited HP gains all the time...

Either the government will see whats going on and move CAFE to 40 MPG (its been 27.5 since 1985!!!!!!!!), figuring if we can have 450hp Caddys, we can have 40 MPG Monte Carlos...or, the insurance industry will price them out of site...

Either way, we lose...

 

I'm spoiled. For $30K I won't accept anything less than high 12s with full optioned weight in a coupe.