From The Car Connection Website
"You can never have too much horsepower,” or so goes an old maxim among automotive journalists—one that the auto industry has apparently taken to heart.
When the new Dodge Viper hits showrooms later this year, it will break a barrier both real and psychological, churning out an amazing 500 horsepower, as well as 500 lb-ft of torque. Those are numbers that even the most exotic and expensive supercars could only dream of reaching until a few years ago.
Yet a study conducted by TheCarConnection.com, with the assistance of AutoPacific Inc., suggests that within the next two to three years, as many as 20 vehicles will reach or exceed the watershed 500-hp mark. Heading the list is the long-planned Bugatti Veyron, which will actually more than double the bogey, with the sleek supercar expected to deliver an unreal 1001 horsepower when it finally comes to market in the next year or so.
But what’s perhaps most amazing about this new horsepower race is the fact that it is not limited to roadsters and supercars, points out AutoPacific’s Nick Twork. “With the rare exception of such cars as the Porsche Carrera GT, these aren’t race cars put on the street,” he notes. “And only a few of these are traditional, high-performance sports cars. A lot of these are sedans” that start out with an emphasis on luxury and then add plenty of muscle, he says.
That’s particularly noteworthy because, unlike the supercars of the past, most of the coming class of 500, as it were, should prove unexpectedly easy to drive.
A paltry 400
Why 500? The snide comment would be that 400 hp is too commonplace. But motorists do seem to be asking for more, especially in the U.S., the world’s largest luxury and performance market.
There’s another, more subtle factor playing into this horsepower race. Anyone studying the list of entrants into this exclusive group will notice it is overwhelmingly dominated by German, or German-owned marques.
“There’s an ego war in Germany,” declares AutoPacific’s Twork. Nowhere is that more apparent than VW. The automaker went on a buying spree under the guidance of its recently retired CEO, Ferdinand Piech. The grandson of Ferry Porsche, Piech acquired Lamborghini and Bentley, and revived the once-grand Bugatti brand. But even the core VW brand may make an entrance into the 500-hp club if Piech’s successor, Bernd Pischetsrieder, goes ahead with plans to build the W-12 supercar shown at last October’s Tokyo Motor Show.
Whatever the reason behind this modern-day horsepower race, there’s plenty of new technology available to deliver the muscle, from advanced superchargers to VW’s unusual W-12 engine design.
Then there’s technology such as displacement-on-demand, under development at General Motors and elsewhere, which could yield what was once considered impossible: more power and better fuel economy. Set for debut in 2004, DoD temporarily disables some of the engine’s cylinders while cruising, when power demands are minimal. Stomp on the gas, though, and they snap back into operation. For a mainstream manufacturer, such as GM, this could prove critical, since the automaker has an almost knee-jerk resistance to building any cars that qualify as gas guzzlers under U.S. law.
Coming at warp speed?
Here’s an alphabetical list of the vehicles that seem likely or certain to deliver at least 500 horsepower:
Audi’s upcoming RS6 will come close, but it will take the next-generation model, currently planned for ’06, to break the 500-hp wall. And the S6 may get there as well.
Bentley is about to undergo a massive re-make under the guidance of its new parent, VW. The turbocharged Arnage T comes close, with 450 hp, and the next-generation car, due in 2005, will all but certainly get some added muscle. But the one to watch will be the all-new Bentley GT Coupe, which will be previewed at the upcoming Paris Motor Show and hit the street a year later. Expect at least 500 hp for the “base” model, likely to come in somewhere north of $150,000.
BMW should top the mark with two upcoming models, including the next-generation M5, due in the 2005 model-year, and an all-new M6 coupe set to follow a year later. It appears they will be powered by a road-ready version of the V-10s used on the Formula One circuit.
The Bugatti Veyron, tentatively due to market late next year, promises to deliver 1001 horsepower. Hand-built at a cost of nearly $1 million each, its likely no more than 50 would be built each year.
Will Cadillac enter the fray? The GM division plans to launch a performance series next year with the introduction of the 400-horsepower CTSi. The XLR roadster will come close to, but probably not top, the 500-hp bogey. The division’s most likely candidate would be the Cien supercar, shown at the Detroit auto show last January. Using Displacement-on-Demand, supercharging and other technology, the prototype makes 750 hp. Insiders say Cien is close to winning a production go-ahead, but a final decision is still months away.
The 2003 Dodge Viper’s redesigned V-10 gets an extra 50 ponies, putting it at an even 500. And with the new roadster even lighter than the original, it’s going to be, without question, the fastest car at a relatively affordable price.
Ferrari’s new 575M easily makes it into this exclusive niche, with 515 horses under its sculpted hood. But all eyes are on the exotic Formula One-inspired F60, which was given a sneak preview at, of all places, a Tokyo art gallery last month. The automaker hints of numbers closer to 650 hp. A full reveal is likely in Paris this coming September.
Cross-town rival Lamborghini currently holds the horsepower edge with the V-12-powered Murcielago. But will Lambo be content with only 575 hp once Ferrari’s F60 hits the street? Don’t count on it. You can expect a new car priced well below the Murc’s starting $230,000, however. And at least 500 hp would be a safe bet, as well.
Maybach, the reborn luxury marque from DaimlerChrysler, has crafted an all-new, 12-cylinder powertrain in keeping with its price tag, which will average in excess of $300,000. Custom-built for each individual customer, Maybach’s short and long-wheelbase models are likely to deliver a minimum of 550 hp.
Then there’s Mercedes-Benz, which is actively emphasizing performance, especially with the expanding line-up from its “tuner” division, AMG. The new E-Class E55 will approach but not cross the 500-horsepower bridge. But that’s gotten the automaker to think twice about the AMG version of its new roadster, the SL55. Originally rated 476 hp, Mercedes is retuning the sports car to ensure it remains the brand’s performance leader, which may put it over 500. With a Mercedes version of the Maybach engine, the S60 AMG should break the barrier, too, as will the SLR supercar due to market sometime next year, likely as a 2004 model.
Porsche may make some of the fastest cars in the world, but it’s falling behind in the horsepower race. The top-line GT2 offers buyers a respectable 456 horsepower and 0-60 times of under four seconds. But it’s likely going to take the debut of the Carrera GT, essentially a track-ready road car, to put Porsche over the top.
Wrapping up the list is a nameplate not normally associated with high-performance, but like its former British sibling, Rolls-Royce is undergoing a massive makeover at the hands of its own new owner, BMW. The precise launch dates for the next-generation RR1 sedan and RR2 coupe remain fluid, though the target appears to be sometime during the 2000 model-year. Expect both models to at least offer a 500-hp engine option.
Notable absences
As long as this list is already, it could grow even longer as other makers vie for bragging rights. Notably absent is Ford Motor Co., the members of its high-line Premier Automotive Group, in particular. Ford’s GT40 is a limited-production, road-ready version of the legendary race car that dominated the European circuit three decades ago. It is expected to deliver something in the mid-400-hp range, but might the automaker feel pressure to bump that up a bit?
Aston Martin’s aging Vantage delivers a respectable 420 hp, while the new Vanquish V-12 pumps out 460. Could this British brand find the makings of another 40 hp? After all, can James Bond afford to drive something that might not keep up with his his-class foes?
Then there’s Jaguar. The automaker has traditionally lagged in the muscle market, but the introduction of the new S-Type R suggests it isn’t happy being an also-ran. Neither the next-generation XJ sedan, nor the supercharged XJR are likely to hit 500, but to keep the replacement XK sports car competitive, Jaguar may have to play the numbers game.
Also missing from the list is Chevrolet’s Corvette. Traditionally the American iron to beat, the Z06 version is certainly no slouch, storming from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. But it no longer has horsepower bragging rights. That could change with the next-generation C6 now under development. Sources suggest the Z06 version of the C6 might push past 500.
Even the “people’s car” could be heading for the horsepower stratosphere. As noted earlier, Volkswagen is giving serious thought to producing the W-12 supercar. And then there’s the $70,000 Phaeton, due to market in Europe this year and the U.S. in 2003. Right now, its version of the W-12 should produce somewhere in the 450-hp range, but considering the automaker’s recent moves, it may feel the need for some additional speed and horsepower.
Considering that only a few years ago, 300 horsepower was considered a serious performance target, will this horse race settle down at 500? There are technical reasons why it may be hard to go much further, though fuel costs and environmental concerns might be bigger obstacles, at least for some manufacturers. But the way things are going, it seems likely that the industry is going to keep pushing the numbers as far as they can go.
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