The original "horseless carriages" of the 19th century had top speeds of around 10mph. Today, Bugatti claims the Bugatti Chiron is the fastest road car around. It is electronically limited to 261mph, and Bugatti won't say what its unlimited top speed is, yet.
But why is a sports car so much faster than yours? What exactly makes a vehicle fast?
While various factors, including wind resistance and gearing, make a difference, the fundamental answer is power-to-weight ratio. The more horsepower a car produces per pound of weight, the faster it will go. It's why the 155-horsepower Mazda Miata is so much zippier than a 420-horsepower Chevy Silverado. Horsepower alone isn't enough, a vehicle must be light, too.
This actually creates a fundamental problem in achieving better power-to-weight ratios. Higher horsepower engines are typically larger. The Bugatti Chiron, for instance, uses 16 cylinders, which makes it a surprisingly heavy sports car -- 4,400 pounds!
Automakers must compensate for larger engines by using lightweight body materials, like aluminum, carbon fiber, or titanium, or find ways to squeeze more power out of a smaller engine by using direct injection and turbocharging.
Help get more power out of your engine, and keep your car fun to drive with maintenance and repairs at LCM Used Car Center.
