Quote:
Originally Posted by RawAlex
Math of HP to weight requires a pretty big shift to get a difference. If you take two similar cars side by side (say bone stock mustang GTs) and add 200 pounds to one and not the other, you might see a couple of tenths in a quarter mile run.
Consider that the two cars in question are both relatively porky, withthe Bugatti weighing in at over 4100 pounds, and the Merc rough number of about 3300 pounds. Less than a third more weight, more than a third more horsepower. Both cars are geared to generate high autobahn style speeds.
The Bugatti benefits greatly during acceleration by having all wheel drive, which means that the theoretical limit of tire grip is much higher without spinning the wheels, which leads directly to more horsepower being put the game from the get go.
It really isn't a surprise in the slightest. 25% more weight, 55% more horsepower, and nearly twice the available traction. Did I miss anything?  |
In this case as I mentioned before it was kind of obvious. In this case the two cars are more or less the same weight! If fact I believe that the Benz is heavier than the Buggati. I don?t believe that its 3300 lbs (more like 4300lbs), but I could be wrong on that! The video was posted to illustrate just how powerful it is next to an otherwise incredibly fast super car! Nothing more!
Torque is as much a factor, in fact more so in acceleration than hp, and the variability?s in where within the power band either is applied. You can have for example 2 cars that weigh the same, and have the same hp, same gearing ratio etc. And you can have a second or more difference in the quarter mile (not due to driver error) and different terminal speeds. Some engines are designed to bring more torque and less hp other engines are built to bring higher hp figures, peak torque in an engine is brought at the lower end of the power band (to get things moving) and peak hp usually comes a little before, or in some cases redline. If one engine is stronger than the other in torque, than it will beat it off the line, out off the hole, and ultimately in the ¼ mile. It all really depends on how the motor is setup! And what it?s setup to deliver. Sometime what you see on paper does not guarantee the outcome, and are to many variability?s and other factors, It?s not limited to any one or two factors, Weight, gearing, hp, torque, traction, variability?s in engine torque and hp delivery. That is why a car with less hp and more weight car beat a car that on paper it really shouldn?t. And there are examples of that! Like the Porsche 911 turbo, it beats cars 0-60 that it really shouldn?t, and although it does have an advantage in being all wheel drive, there is enough difference in hp and weight disadvantage to argue any real benefit that the all wheel drive provides, given the size tires they are equipping the many of these cars with.
Bottom line is yes agreed more hp and less weight make a faster car! But where power is made can make a big difference in the out come of either a standing or rolling quarter mile race.