Posted on 06/03/2013 4:12:27 PM PDT by jjotto
Petrol heads, continue to rejoice: Car manufacturers have not ignored your cries for high-powered cars and trucks. Despite tightening emissions regulations and rising fuel costs, automakers are building an increasing number of vehicles putting out at least 500 horses.
Based on our research, there are over 80 cars sold in the United States that deliver these burnout-inducing numbers (not including tuners such as Mosler or Callaway). That's up about 10 cars from the list we did last year.
Each automaker takes its own approach to supplying adrenaline junkies with 500-plus hp, whether through massive turbochargers, supercharging, or just sticking to naturally aspirated goodness.
Cars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG shun forced induction but can still churn out 563 hp of V8 power.
Then there are cars such as the Nissan GT-R that rely on turbochargers (two in that case) to produce an output of 545 hp from its 3.8-liter V6. The Bugatti Veyron uses four turbochargers to power its 16.4-liter W16 engine to produce 1,200 hp (for the Super Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse models).
Superchargers power up the likes of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, which pumps out 638 hp from its 6.2-liter V8.
We're also seeing an increasing use of hybrid technology in high-powered supercars, with the forthcoming Porsche 918 Spyder and the Ferrari LaFerrari (not on sale yet) both producing over 850 hp using a combination of electric and gasoline-powered motivation.
Our list features not only cars, but trucks as well, some of which might do surprisingly well on the track. Manufacturers like BMW produce their X5M and X6M models, which both produce 555 hp from a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. Land Rover also produces the supercharged Range Rover, which achieves 510 hp.
Then there are the hyperexotics, such as the Koenigsegg Agera and the Pagani Huayra (pronounced “why-ra”). The Agera reaches Bugatti territory, with its twin turbo 5.0-liter V8 producing an outrageous 1,140 hp. The Huayra, produces 700 hp from its AMG-sourced, twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12.
Horsepower does come at a price, though: The cheapest member of the 500 club is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, stickering at $54,350. For the other cars, you'll have to have even deeper pockets.
Below is our list of the notable production cars that arrive with 500 hp or more. They are organized by horsepower from least to greatest; you'll notice some manufacturers grouped together if they use same engine.
Bask in all of this list's high-powered glory and feel free to sound off below on which ones you want, or already have, in your garage.
500 Club...
I wonder how many of these glitzy toys are bought by ‘rat elites, who drive them everywhere except to “climate change” activist events.
Yet I can’t even buy a diesel work truck unencumbered by EPA high-maintenance engine-killing horsecrap, unless I get a well-used one.
So I’ll stick with used, I guess. “They’re making it hard for the working man...”
500 hp is pretty easy these days.
Mostly because the airflow technology is better understood.
I sitting here reading an article were they took a 150,000 mile Chevy 5.3 pickup short block assy, added a good set of cylinder heads and cam and got 484 dyno hp.
I have a 1976 Chevy powered Jeep CJ-5 with about 525HP. Don’t ask my why. I’m not sure I know that answer.
Cam, headers, e-fans, intake, tune and my trailblazer ss put down about 400 all wheel hp. That’s about 500 crank.
You could take a junk yard iron block 4.8/5.3/6.0 a step further and drop a turbo in. Instant 600-800hp for a couple grand (if you do it yourself).
Wonder how long it’ll last...
I like the combined electro-gas idea for massive instant torque, but with long range and recharging from the high-powered gas engine. Problem with eco-enviro is the low power gas end and high weight of the battery side. When they try to wedge both into a a little-bitty underpowered too-small enviro-packaged box, nothing works.
Try it with a larger car and higher-powered engine, you’d have more success.
Did you see this? 2 V-6s welded together into a V-12.
It was posted here a few weeks ago.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1643786-v12-ls1-build.html
From last night.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3026560/posts
255 HP is plenty if the car only weighs 2350 pounds. The problem with most of the listed vehicles is weight. Not to mention cost.
Heavy cars going fast eat tires and brakes at a furious pace. This English feller named Colin Chapman had this all figured out decades ago.
I have a 1976 Chevy powered Jeep CJ-5 with about 525HP. Don’t ask my why. I’m not sure I know that answer.
Sure sounds like a waste of power in a Jeep CJ.That amount of power in a vehicle of that type is dangerous since the vehicle has such a high center of gravity.Damned thing will flip right over in a high speed turn.
Today, a stock 5.0L (302 c.i.) Ford Mustang GT engine is rated at 412 hp normally aspirated with all the EPA goodies. In testing by the car mags, they consistently come in higher at the crank and about 400 hp. at the rear wheels. And they will easily last 100k+ miles with simple normal maintenance.
In 1965, a Shelby Cobra took a cast iron 427 c.i. (7.0L) big block from Ford's truck group and a lot of Carroll Shelby magic to get around 420 crank hp. that could last a whole F.I.A. race or the 24 Hours at Daytona.
Times have changed.
Which reminds me: why is the USA the only country that sells Jeep products that I cannot buy the diesel Jeep Wrangler in again? Oh, yeah.
Oh yeah. Something like a Lotus can use a pretty much off-the-shelf Toyota engine and be a demon.
I’m amazed at the SUVs. Range Rover Supercharged can’t be kept in stock at dealers. BMW X5Ms are sleepers, almost indistinguishable from grocery-getting X5s.
Some of the prices on the list are way too optimistic. Nobody’s getting a new 500+ hp Range Rover for $64K!
I’ve had a few CJs and was OK with the 304. My dad had a Willys with the 225 v6 and that seemed to almost too much for it. If I ever have another AMC, I would be happy with an inline 6. My 65 Willys gets cranked once in a while. It has developed a problem at higher RPMs, no matter idle or in gear about stumbling and stalling. Dwell is right according to the manual. I suspect there may be a vacuum leak or maybe something amiss in the one barrel.
Here are the top 10.
My son-in-law mentioned that with the Ford family discounts (???) he priced a GT500 at under $50K... only daydreaming, of course.
Amazing!
Ferrari FF, 651 hp, $295,000
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (coupe and convertible), 662 hp, $54,800/$59,800
Lamborghini Aventador, 700 hp, $387,000
Pagani Huayra, 700 hp, $1.5 million
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, 730 hp, $326,000
Koenigsegg Agera, 960 hp-1,140 hp, $1.5 million-$1.7 million
Bugatti Veyron, 1,001 hp, $1.3 million
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, 1,001 hp, $1,980,000
Bugatti Veyron SuperSport, 1,200 hp, $2,426,904
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, 1,200 hp, $2.6 million
Ya know what’s funny, is ya look at all these high end hot rods which in the 60s and 70s used to be built and drivin by teenagers and young adults...Now the only ones ya see driving these sleds are feeble guys in the 80s trying to impress someone...Very pathetic..
In today’s America, they’re the only ones who can afford these flashy boats...Or the insurance...
Yep. Mid-50s on up seems to be the buyers for actually fast cars. I do see some younger people in BMWs, probably due to relatively cheap leasing and generous parents. Car guys are actually worried about how few younger people are interested in non-appliance cars.
On the other hand, something like a V6 Accord coupe is as fast as most sports sedans and sure costs less.
regressing into childhood is common in Olde Age
(and for some, may be the first time they can afford, or are allowed to have, the muscle car they wanted when they were 16)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdCLmxbhtH8
get your 700hp Mustang today!
(I don’t get paid for sharing this link, it just seems very responsive to this FR topic, and it is public and on Youtube anyway so anyone can watch it)
have fun, old guys who wanna feel young again?
zoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom!
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