I have a question...how is it that a small displacement Engine push so much Horsepower more then our V8's i love the ford 281 4v but i cant help but see these import companies pulling ahead in performance i mean look at BMW with the M3 it has a 3.3l inline 6 that pushes more HP...WTF? how is that possable....is America falling behind..??
Horsepower is easier to make higher numbers than torque, because it is rpm based. European cars push higher rpms to achieve those horsepower numbers, where our cars concentrate on putting torque at a useable power range for our style of driving.
I've seen 1100rwhp Supras that can only run low 12's in the 1/4 mile, and while the horsepower is impressive, it's torque that does the work. I can run low 12's in a Mustang with 400rwhp, because the power is made at a more useable level.
Smaller engines with higher horsepower tend to grenade a lot sooner than ours. The mod motors are darn good and in view of the fact that they aren't the strongest out there for horsepower... they are relatively cheap to mod. Ford has learned that most enthusiasts will grab a Stang with the intention of modding afterwards. What Ford provides is kind of a canvas that we can paint on and tailor to our needs. It keeps the prices relatively in check and we have a platform that we can play with.
Just my .02...
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66 Coupe Tahoe Turq - 200, Pertronix & Flamethrower, 3 Row Rad, Cliff. 6/2 96 GT Vert Laser Red - FMS pulleys, Bullet ProM, BBK CAI, Prof. Prod. Elbow and 70mm TB, MAC Off-Road H, Borla side exhaust, Tokicos, B&M Ripper, 18x10 & 18x9 DD Bulletts 06 GT Tungsten, UIP, Red Leather, Stick, 18" blades, Steeda CAI, SCT XCal 2 w/ MC Racing 91 tune, MACs, BMR SP010 springs, BMR Adj Panhard, CDC ducktail & quarter louvers, Rear louver, painted black stripes
Google ford eco-boost engines. The newest generation of ford engines. I believe the new SHO with that engine is around 360 hp. When those come out all the little imports are going to get smoked by moms grocery getters
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2003 MUSTANG GT AUTO. BBK CAI, ROUSH 75MM T-BODY, C&L PLENUM, STEEDA UDP, JBA CAT BACK, FRPP 4.10 GEAR, DIABLOSPORT TUNE KYB GR2, MACH1 SUBFRAMES, ROUSH LCA. BULLITT FUEL DOOR. BEST TIME 14.107 @ 97.73 MPH ON STREET TIRES.--BEFORE EXHAUST AND SUSPENSION.
Oh i see what you mean coming to think of it when it comes to advertisements u only ever see horsepower ratings never torq..Ok thanks i was getting worried that imports where polling ahead in technology
I have a question...how is it that a small displacement Engine push so much Horsepower more then our V8's i love the ford 281 4v but i cant help but see these import companies pulling ahead in performance i mean look at BMW with the M3 it has a 3.3l inline 6 that pushes more HP...WTF? how is that possable....is America falling behind..??
Those high horse power micro engines are boosted. Boost a 4.6 and the margine not only vanishes but goes on our favor.
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2008 manual GT with deluxe trim, FRPP CAI, FRPP GTB Mufflers & 91 Tillman Tune. 3.73 gears, Coast Ultralight Drive-shaft. 18" OEM Polished Bullitts, Webelectric Sequentials, XM built into the Shaker 500. Alarm and Escort 8500.
Google ford eco-boost engines. The newest generation of ford engines. I believe the new SHO with that engine is around 360 hp. When those come out all the little imports are going to get smoked by moms grocery getters
Yeah, good example is the 2010 Ford Taurus Eco-Boost SHO equipped with 415hp, should be interesting with the elder people at the wheel
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2003 Mustang GT Fobra, Sonic Blue 4R70W 262rwhp/280rwtq - Mods in profile Vortech coming soon.....
Daily Driver 2001 Mustang V6, Oxford White 4R70W
Mods in profile
The M3 is a really nice car, but for the money, I would get a 03 Cobra with extra money to mod and call it a day. Maybe pay off some student loans as well
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2003 Mustang GT Fobra, Sonic Blue 4R70W 262rwhp/280rwtq - Mods in profile Vortech coming soon.....
Daily Driver 2001 Mustang V6, Oxford White 4R70W
Mods in profile
Yeah the new SHO is supposed to be rated at 365hp...not too shabby for a Taurus. And I agree with what was said above, if you drive an M3 then got in a V8 stang...you will notice its like 2 different kinds of power. The stang has torque that throws you around, the euro cars have smooth power if that makes since.
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-04 Mustang GT-Intercooled Kenne bell 2.1L supercharged @10psi, C&L cold air intake, mass air flow, Sumitt racing 75mm throttle body, Magnaflow catback with Bassani X-pipe, chip and dyno tuned, 3:73 gears, B&M short shifter, FMS lowering springs and UPR caster camber plates, UPR upper/lower control arms, UPR subframe connectors. Kumho 275 up front/Kumho XS 315 in rear. Currently 420RWHP/435lbtq
-Daily Driver 04 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner, Blacked out, TRD suspension, K&N filter.
I think it all boils down to where the cars were designed to be driven. A BMW was designed to be comfortable and quiet while traveling 100mph on the Autobahn.
Us Americans are usually sitting in traffic in some town or city, going stoplight to stoplight, and we like to get to each one quickly when driving a muscle car. Us gearheads also like to hear and feel the grunt of our cars, so we buy big V8's that make a lot of noise. We also live the life of customization, so they give us cars with potential, but leave it open to the owner's personalization skills so they can get exactly what they want. So we get cheap lower HP, with more torque, but the ability to get exactly what we want out of it for around the same cost as a comparable BMW.
Good thing I found this thread. I'm friends with a guy who is always telling me
"Why do you drive a mustang!?!? 4 cylinder japanese can beat you with a couple of turbos"
Haha anyway.. I'm always telling him toque is very important in a race, and he always disagrees. He drives an accord by the way, nice car, but I wouldn't trade my stang for it anyday (even though it probably cost more, my stang is worth more to me lol)
Anyway like Shelby said, and like someone pointed up above, "Horsepower sells cars, Torque wins races"
European Vs. American 
(even though it probably cost more, my stang is worth more to me lol) 
