Since the vette seems to jump 100hp when the new model comes out, when will it stop and how much hp will it be? When will they not be able to make any more hp with the new model and what will the limit be?
IMHO we are getting close. One of two things are likely to happen. Either A) The insurance companies start running the cost to insure them so high they become unaffordable or B) A high profile incident (something like a kid gets hit by some idiot driving one of these high powered machine like a fool, or racing it where a wreck happens and someone gets hurt) results in a major lawsuit where GM or Dodge, or Ford (or whoever) gets sued. My bet is that something (or somethingS) happen that conspire to scare the lawyers and bean counters into forcing the manufactures to cut back for fear of being sued over and over.
its already happened. the internal combustion engine has reached the peak of technology (well you can make it better, but not much better). proof is in the displacement, just look at how car makers are getting power by adding displacement. the hp/liter #s are not changing much though. even ferrari has to go add 6 liter engines in their cars to gain hp #s.
the power will stop when 2 things happen; 1. technology reaches its max (which pretty much has with the ICE), and 2. the power becomes so large that it becomes a saftey hazzard (such as throwing 400 hp into a car that most 18 year olds can finance, like the upcomming camaro).
the power has already reached a point where it is dangerous and our tech department on ICEs are at its peak, 100 hp/liter being the max on a car that has to carry a warranty. even with the new ''blue devil" vette they are only going to make this car in limitad #s, and the current Z06 is as expensive as you can make it to keep away the unwashed teen masses.
also you have to look at the "crash factor". when the new Z06 used prices reach a level that any HS kid can throw his ass into, you will see alot more liability issues making our insurance so high that the car companies will deter themselves from making cars with any more power.
C5 Zs are already closing in on the $20- market and when the kiddies get ahold of a beast with 400 hp you bet your ass were not gonna have it ez with vettes and insurance premiums.
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My bet is that something (or somethingS) happen that conspire to scare the lawyers and bean counters into forcing the manufactures to cut back for fear of being sued over and over.
Sad as it is, I think you're probably right, and it's only a matter of time... it seems easy to influence juries with emotion rather than reason. Eventually some immature 18 year old will get a 500+ HP car from his rich but common sense-lacking daddy, he will hit a mother pushing a baby stroller while driving like an idiot, and rather than blame the idiots in question, the jury will blame GM for making a 500 HP car in the first place, and that will be that.
This year? In a decade or two? I dunno. But it's the way of things.
People always think technology can't go much further but it always does. I remember running 180 MPH in the late 60 in a dragster and thinking no one can ever go much faster than this. Now drag racers are going what, 340 MPH? It is not over folks!
Now the lawyers and managers, that is another story. who knows what they will do.
Don't think the end is in sight just yet, but It is very possible as mentioned a high profile incident may bring it to a stop. At least in America.
As far as power for the street, my modded 02 Z is right at 500hp. Imo, this is enough power for the street in a 3000lb car. I don't even want to think of a 16 year old kid getting behind the wheel, and what would happen with this kind of power. It's like giving them a loaded gun to play with. I personally seen many young people killed in south Fl. in high performance cars. It may not be a bad idea to come up with a law to limit young drivers from such powerfull cars to age 25.
Don't get me wrong I love a 800hp twin turbo Vette just as much as the next guy.
It may not be a bad idea to come up with a law to limit young drivers from such powerfull cars to age 25.
I anticipate laws requiring people to get additional training in order to drive high performance vehicles. Sort of like getting a CDL, except this would be an endorsement based on horsepower of vehicles.
Location: Mt Juliet, TN Z06 FEST PARTICIPANT I II III IV V VI & VII
Posts: 18,151
Read several articles about new technology created by Siemens Electronics that makes speeding impossible.
A camera mounted near the rerview mirror reads speed limit signs and relays the info to a computer, which prevents your car from traveling faster than the posted speed.
Wonder how long before "Johnny-do-good" in Washington decides to support new legislation mandating this on all new cars?
Read several articles about new technology created by Siemens Electronics that makes speeding impossible.
A camera mounted near the rerview mirror reads speed limit signs and relays the info to a computer, which prevents your car from traveling faster than the posted speed.
Wonder how long before "Johnny-do-good" in Washington decides to support new legislation mandating this on all new cars?
This scares me!
Zipster
They day they do will be the last day I ever buy a new car. Under no circumstances will I purchase a vehicle with something like that.
People always think technology can't go much further but it always does. I remember running 180 MPH in the late 60 in a dragster and thinking no one can ever go much faster than this. Now drag racers are going what, 340 MPH? It is not over folks!
Now the lawyers and managers, that is another story. who knows what they will do.
that was 46 years ago, yeah we got faster but the only way we are going faster now is displacement. the ICE has reached 95% efficiency. the only way were going faster is with larger displacements or with a new type of engine altogether.
imo its a mirracle of nature that the ICE even works, if i gave you a written description on how it works most people would laugh at us and tell us were nuts. hell i would even be sceptical of its opperation fesability on paper.
Read several articles about new technology created by Siemens Electronics that makes speeding impossible.
A camera mounted near the rerview mirror reads speed limit signs and relays the info to a computer, which prevents your car from traveling faster than the posted speed.
Wonder how long before "Johnny-do-good" in Washington decides to support new legislation mandating this on all new cars?
This scares me!
Zipster
If it has a computer, it can eventually be hacked or replaced.
I would not fear this too much. We have cars that have the cags tuned out, O2 sensors and cats removed all without codes. This would be one more thing to tune away.
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2003 Blk/Blk 541 rwhp/477 rwtq | ECS Paxton Novi | Alcohol Injection | Racetronix Fuel system | 60# Motron Injectors | Textralia Clutch | DTE Brace | Hardened Left shaft | American Racing Headers | Borla Stinger 4-Tip | B&M Ripper shifter | lots of other little stuff.
Its really tough to say. As mentioned above we have seen not only massive increases in power but in handling, tire, braking, and safety as well. This much power in an 81 vette would have been dangerous to the public.
I do agree that at some point it becomes ridiculous, if it hasnt already. There are already a couple "affordable" cars that can run high 10's with just bolt ons or a $5000 investment. It was a thing we could only dream about in the 80's.
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