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** Honorable mention: 624 hp - 2004 [[Maserati MC12]] (note: [[Maserati]] and [[Ferrari]] are now owned by [[Fiat]] the MC12 uses a detuned version of the same V12 engine in the Ferrari Enzo and is the most powerful, publically-offered car currently in production)
** Honorable mention: 624 hp - 2004 [[Maserati MC12]] (note: [[Maserati]] and [[Ferrari]] are now owned by [[Fiat]] the MC12 uses a detuned version of the same V12 engine in the Ferrari Enzo and is the most powerful, publically-offered car currently in production)
** Honorable mention: The [[TVR Cerbera Speed 12]] prototype produced an estimated 940 bhp (701  kW) (the central shaft of TVR's dynomometer snapped before they could complete the test) but the car never entered production
** Honorable mention: The [[TVR Cerbera Speed 12]] prototype produced an estimated 940 bhp (701  kW) (the central shaft of TVR's dynomometer snapped before they could complete the test) but the car never entered production

If these superlatives should apply to mass-production (>1000 units) engines, the Mercedes-Benz supercharged V8 that develops 493 horsepower is a leading contender, as is the 485-horsepower V12 in the Ferrari 550. One could argue that the GM Performance Parts ZZ502 engine sold through dealers and the Summit Racing catalog is as much a production engine as the ones listed above, with many thousands of units sold and a 502-horsepower rating.
** Front-wheel drive: 300 hp [[SAE]] (223 kW) - 2002 [[Cadillac Seville|Cadillac Seville STS]] and [[Cadillac Eldorado|Cadillac Eldorado ETC]]
** Front-wheel drive: 300 hp [[SAE]] (223 kW) - 2002 [[Cadillac Seville|Cadillac Seville STS]] and [[Cadillac Eldorado|Cadillac Eldorado ETC]]
*Petrol/Gasoline - (forced-induction) - 806 hp [[SAE]] (601 kW) - 2004 [[Koenigsegg CCR]] [[supercharged]] [[V8]]
*Petrol/Gasoline - (forced-induction) - 806 hp [[SAE]] (601 kW) - 2004 [[Koenigsegg CCR]] [[supercharged]] [[V8]]
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===Most specific power (power to weight ratio)===
===Most specific power (power to weight ratio)===


* 100–200 hp — 288.75 hp/ton (7.6 lb/hp) — [[Lotus 340R]], 190 hp (142 kW) and 658 kg (1451 lb)
* 100–200 hp — 288.75 hp/ton (7.6 lb/hp) — [[Lotus 340R]], 190 hp (142 kW) and 658 kg (1451 lb) Note: Vehicle is not street legal in US due to lack of emissions certification for Rover K-Series. Another Lotus, the Federal Elise tops this list in the US, with 190 horsepower for 1970 lbs.
* 200–300 hp — 266 hp/ton (8.5 lb/hp) — 1994 [[TVR Griffith]] 4.3 liter 280 hp (209 kW) and 1080 kg (2381 lb)
* 200–300 hp — 266 hp/ton (8.5 lb/hp) — 1994 [[TVR Griffith]] 4.3 liter 280 hp (209 kW) and 1080 kg (2381 lb)
** 657 bhp/ton (3.0 lb/hp) — [[Ariel (vehicle)|Ariel]] Atom 2 [[supercharged]] 300 bhp (224 kW) and 456 kg (1005 lb) (Note: May not be street-legal in the US, and production numbers unavailable.)
** 657 bhp/ton (3.0 lb/hp) — [[Ariel (vehicle)|Ariel]] Atom 2 [[supercharged]] 300 bhp (224 kW) and 456 kg (1005 lb) (Note: May not be street-legal in the US, and production numbers unavailable.)
* 300–400 hp — 381 hp/ton (5.8 lb/hp) — 2003 [[TVR Tuscan]] S 400 hp (298 kW) and 1050 kg (2315 lb)
* 300–400 hp — 381 hp/ton (5.8 lb/hp) — 2003 [[TVR Tuscan]] S 400 hp (298 kW) and 1050 kg (2315 lb) Note: Vehicle is not street legal in US due to excessive emissions and lack of airbags. The best recent Federalized car for this is the new C6 Corvette with 400 horsepower for 3100 lbs; if you combed the manufacturers' catalogs in the 60's I'm sure you could end up with a Dodge Dart, Ford Falcon, or Chevy Nova with 350-400 horsepower and a curb weight well under 3000 lbs. In addition, a Shelby Cobra with the 427 engine had around 330 net horsepower in a 2400-lb car. The TVR Griffith is also relevant here, with several in the US and similar figures to the old Cobra.
* 400+ hp — 620 bhp/ton (3.2 lb/hp) — 2004 [[Koenigsegg CCR]] [[supercharged]] [[V8]] 806 hp (468 kW) and 1180 kg (2513 lb)
* 400+ hp — 620 bhp/ton (3.2 lb/hp) — 2004 [[Koenigsegg CCR]] [[supercharged]] [[V8]] 806 hp (468 kW) and 1180 kg (2513 lb) Note: I do not believe there are twenty Koenigseggs currently registered and insured for road use, and there are definitely not 20 CCRs. The McLaren F1 should still lead this category with 627 horsepower in a 2400-lb package.


===Most specific engine output (power per unit volume)===
===Most specific engine output (power per unit volume)===
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***Honorable mention - 3.1 sec - 2004 [[Caterham Cars|Caterham CSR 260]] - (''Note:'' the Caterham's status as a "production car" is disputed)
***Honorable mention - 3.1 sec - 2004 [[Caterham Cars|Caterham CSR 260]] - (''Note:'' the Caterham's status as a "production car" is disputed)
***Honorable mention - 2.8 seconds - 2005 [[Ultima GTR]] [http://www.ultimasports.co.uk/newrecord.html] - (''Note:'' production numbers for GTR are not available and the GTR's status as a "production car" is disputed)
***Honorable mention - 2.8 seconds - 2005 [[Ultima GTR]] [http://www.ultimasports.co.uk/newrecord.html] - (''Note:'' production numbers for GTR are not available and the GTR's status as a "production car" is disputed)

Most high-end supercars run between 3.7 and 4.0 seconds. Times in the zero-to-sixty dash are limited more nowadays by tire traction than by any vehicle factor. Ferrari, Porsche, TVR, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini, and Ford all make cars that will run in that bracket. Lotus's Esprit V8 would also run that fast if you were willing to replace the old Renault 25 gearbox after every third run...

** Sports car (4 seat) - 3.8 s - 2000 [[TVR]] Cerbera (4.5 liter version)
** Sports car (4 seat) - 3.8 s - 2000 [[TVR]] Cerbera (4.5 liter version)
** 4-door car - 3.5 s - 2005 [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution|Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII FQ400]] 2.0 L (''Note:'' the FQ400's status as a "production car" is disputed)
** 4-door car - 3.5 s - 2005 [[Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution|Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII FQ400]] 2.0 L (''Note:'' the FQ400's status as a "production car" is disputed)

Revision as of 02:33, 24 June 2005

This page lists superlatives of the automobile industry - that is, the smallest, largest, fastest, lightest, best-selling, and other such topics.

In order to keep the entries relevant, the list (except for the Firsts section) will be limited to automobiles built after World War II. Many odd vehicles emerged in the early days of the automobile industry. There is a section for early superlatives, however.

The list will also be limited to production road cars that meet the following conditions:

  1. 20 or more examples must have been made by the original vehicle manufacturer and offered for commercial sale to the public in new condition - cars modified by either professional tuners or individuals are not eligible
  2. They must be street-legal in their intended markets and capable of passing any tests or inspections required to be granted this status
  3. They must have been built for retail sale to consumers for their personal use on public roads - no commercial or industrial vehicles are eligible


Some notes about units of measurement used herein...

Engine Capacity/Displacement

  • 1 liter = 1,000 cubic centimeters = 61.0237 cubic inches
  • 1 cubic inch = 16.3871 cubic centimeters

Engine Output

Power

  • 1 horsepower (hp) = 1 brake horsepower (bhp) = 1.0139 metric horsepower (PS) = 0.7457 kilowatts (kW)
  • 1 metric horsepower = 0.9863 horsepower = 0.7355 kilowatts
  • 1 kilowatt = 1.3410 horsepower = 1.3596 metric horsepower

Torque

  • 1 pound-foot of torque (lb-ft) = 1.3558 Newton-meter (nM)
  • 1 Newton-meter = 0.7376 pound-feet

Fuel Economy

  • 1 mile per US Gallon = 1.2009 miles per Imperial Gallon = 0.4252 kilometers per liter = 235.208 liters per 100 kilometers
  • 1 mile per Imperial Gallon = 0.8327 miles per US Gallon = 0.3540 kilometers per liter = 282.4731 liters per 100 kilometers
  • 1 kilometer per liter = 2.3521 miles per US Gallon = 2.8247 miles per Imperial Gallon
  • 1 liter per 100 kilometers = 235.208 miles per US Gallon = 2824731 miles per Imperial Gallon

Engine capacity

  • V6
    • Smallest V6 engine (petrol) - 1.6 L (1597 cc/97 in³) - 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer 6A10
    • Smallest V6 engine (Diesel) - 2.5 L (2497 cc) - 1996 Audi/VW 2.5 TDi (in multiple cars)
    • Largest V6 engine (petrol) - 4.3 L (4300 cc/262 in³) - 1985 GM Vortec 4300
    • Largest V6 engine (Diesel) - 4.3 L (4304 cc/262 in³) - 1982 GM LT6
Note: The 6.0 L (366 in³) V16 in the 1995 Cizeta-Moroder V16T is the only post-war V16 production engine. A 13.6 L V16 was used in the General Motors concept car Cadillac Sixteen.

Dimensions

Overall

Wheelbase

Track

Weight

  • Lightest passenger vehicle (3 wheels) - 59 kg (132 lb) DIN - 1962 Peel P50
  • Lightest passenger vehicle (4 wheels) - 350 kg (770 lb) DIN - 1956 Isetta
  • Heaviest passenger vehicle - 3428 kg (7558 lb) curb weight - 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha

Other

Power

Most power

  • Petrol/gasoline - (naturally-aspirated) - 650 hp (485 kW) - 2003 Ferrari Enzo V12 (Note: the Enzo's status is disputed since the car was not available for sale to the public but to a private group of individuals selected by Ferrari)
    • Honorable mention: 627 hp (6.1 liter V12)- McLaren F1 (Note: this is the most powerful undisputed car on the list though it is not currently in production)
    • Honorable mention: 624 hp - 2004 Maserati MC12 (note: Maserati and Ferrari are now owned by Fiat the MC12 uses a detuned version of the same V12 engine in the Ferrari Enzo and is the most powerful, publically-offered car currently in production)
    • Honorable mention: The TVR Cerbera Speed 12 prototype produced an estimated 940 bhp (701  kW) (the central shaft of TVR's dynomometer snapped before they could complete the test) but the car never entered production

If these superlatives should apply to mass-production (>1000 units) engines, the Mercedes-Benz supercharged V8 that develops 493 horsepower is a leading contender, as is the 485-horsepower V12 in the Ferrari 550. One could argue that the GM Performance Parts ZZ502 engine sold through dealers and the Summit Racing catalog is as much a production engine as the ones listed above, with many thousands of units sold and a 502-horsepower rating.

Most torque

  • Petrol (naturally-aspirated) - 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 - 712 Nm (525 ft·lbf) - 8.3 liter (505 in³) V10 engine.
  • Petrol (forced-induction) - 2003 Mercedes CL 65 AMG - 1000 Nm (736 ft·lbf) - 6.0 liter (366 in³) turbocharged V12 engine.
  • Diesel - 2005 Dodge Ram (Cummins 610 Turbodiesel), 826 Nm (610 ft·lbf)

Most specific power (power to weight ratio)

  • 100–200 hp — 288.75 hp/ton (7.6 lb/hp) — Lotus 340R, 190 hp (142 kW) and 658 kg (1451 lb) Note: Vehicle is not street legal in US due to lack of emissions certification for Rover K-Series. Another Lotus, the Federal Elise tops this list in the US, with 190 horsepower for 1970 lbs.
  • 200–300 hp — 266 hp/ton (8.5 lb/hp) — 1994 TVR Griffith 4.3 liter 280 hp (209 kW) and 1080 kg (2381 lb)
    • 657 bhp/ton (3.0 lb/hp) — Ariel Atom 2 supercharged 300 bhp (224 kW) and 456 kg (1005 lb) (Note: May not be street-legal in the US, and production numbers unavailable.)
  • 300–400 hp — 381 hp/ton (5.8 lb/hp) — 2003 TVR Tuscan S 400 hp (298 kW) and 1050 kg (2315 lb) Note: Vehicle is not street legal in US due to excessive emissions and lack of airbags. The best recent Federalized car for this is the new C6 Corvette with 400 horsepower for 3100 lbs; if you combed the manufacturers' catalogs in the 60's I'm sure you could end up with a Dodge Dart, Ford Falcon, or Chevy Nova with 350-400 horsepower and a curb weight well under 3000 lbs. In addition, a Shelby Cobra with the 427 engine had around 330 net horsepower in a 2400-lb car. The TVR Griffith is also relevant here, with several in the US and similar figures to the old Cobra.
  • 400+ hp — 620 bhp/ton (3.2 lb/hp) — 2004 Koenigsegg CCR supercharged V8 806 hp (468 kW) and 1180 kg (2513 lb) Note: I do not believe there are twenty Koenigseggs currently registered and insured for road use, and there are definitely not 20 CCRs. The McLaren F1 should still lead this category with 627 horsepower in a 2400-lb package.

Most specific engine output (power per unit volume)

Note: The 250 bhp (186 kW) version was available in Japan only. For the rest of the world, the engine produced 240 bhp. Also, the 2.0 L engine is no longer available in North America, it has been replaced by a 240 hp (109 hp/L) 2.2 L F22C1
  • Honorable mention: 168 hp (125.3 kW)/liter - 2002 Radical Motorsport SR3 (252 hp (184 kW) 1.5 L I4) - (Note: The Radical's status as a production car is disputed, and numbers refer to the competition version, there is no official data for the road version)

Most specific torque (torque per unit volume)

  • Petrol (naturally-aspirated) - 114 Nm (84 ft.lbf)/litre (370 Nm (273 ft.lbf)) - 2003 BMW M3 CSL
  • Petrol (forced-induction) - 206.6 Nm (152.2 ft.lbf)/litre (412 Nm (304 ft.lbf)) - 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi (japanese market)
    • Honorable mention: 233.6 Nm (172.1 ft.lbf)/litre - 700 Nm/516&ft.lbf Dauer 962, road-going Porsche 962 replica
  • Diesel - 187.1 Nm (138 ft.lbf)/litre (560 Nm (413 ft.lbf)) - 2005 BMW 535d

Least specific engine output (power per unit volume)

  • Petrol - 22.5 hp (16.8 kW)/litre (115 hp (85.8 kW) 5.1 L V8) - 1973 Chevrolet 307
  • Diesel - 18.4 hp (13.7 kW)/litre (105 hp (78.3 kW) 5.7 L V8) - 1980 Oldsmobile LF9 engine

Performance

  • Highest USA EPA mileage - 61/66 mpg - 2005 Honda Insight 5-speed
  • Highest not EPA rated mileage - 67/67 mpg - 1955–64 Messerschmitt KR200 4-speed (reverse by running engine backward)
  • Lowest EU average fuel consumption - 2.99 L/100 km (78.6 mpg (US)) - 2002 VW Lupo 1.2 TDI 5-speed
  • Quickest 0-60 mph:
    • 2.9 s - Ariel Atom 2 (supercharged 300 bhp)
      • Honorable mention - 3.1 sec - 2004 Caterham CSR 260 - (Note: the Caterham's status as a "production car" is disputed)
      • Honorable mention - 2.8 seconds - 2005 Ultima GTR [1] - (Note: production numbers for GTR are not available and the GTR's status as a "production car" is disputed)

Most high-end supercars run between 3.7 and 4.0 seconds. Times in the zero-to-sixty dash are limited more nowadays by tire traction than by any vehicle factor. Ferrari, Porsche, TVR, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini, and Ford all make cars that will run in that bracket. Lotus's Esprit V8 would also run that fast if you were willing to replace the old Renault 25 gearbox after every third run...

  • Quickest 0-100-0 mph:
    • Sports car (2 seat) - 11.5 sec - McLaren F1 LM (Note: this is the best 0-100-0 time for an undisputed production car)
      • Honorable mention: 9.8 seconds - 2005 Ultima GTR [2] - (Note: production numbers for GTR are not available and the GTR's status as a "production car" is disputed)
      • Honorable mention: 10.73 sec - 2004 Caterham 500 - (Note: the Caterham's status as a "production car" is disputed)
  • Highest top speed:

Sales

See also List of bestselling vehicle nameplates
  • Best-selling models:
    • Best-selling car nameplate - Toyota Corolla (more than 27,000,000 sold in nine generations since 1966)
    • Best-selling vehicle nameplate - Ford F-Series (more than 29,000,000 sold since 1948)
    • Best-selling single model - Volkswagen Beetle (more than 21,000,000 of the same basic design sold worldwide between 1947 and 2003)
    • Best-selling sports car - Ford Mustang (more than 7,800,000 of five generations sold between 1964 and 2004)
    • Best-selling 2-seat car - Mazda MX-5 Miata (more than 700,000 of two generations sold between 1989 and 2004)
    • Best single-year sales - over 912,000 - 2004 Ford F-150 (23 years in a row as the top-selling single vehicle, 28 years as the best-selling truck in the USA)
  • Lowest-production models: (excluding limited-production vehicles)
    • Pickup truck - avg. 223 per month, Lincoln Blackwood (3,356 sold in 15 months)
    • Sports car - avg. 6 per month, Toyota 2000GT (337 sold in 5 years)
      • Honorable mention: avg. 79 per month, Bricklin SV-1 (2,857 sold in 3 years)
    • SUV - avg. 4 per month, Lamborghini LM002 (301 sold in 6 years)
      • Honorable mention: avg. 200 per month, Suzuki X-90 (7,205 sold in 3 years)
  • Marques and manufacturers:

Firsts

Full-production vehicles are listed here. Many were preceded by racing-only cars.

Engine types

  • W16
    • The Bugatti Veyron is expected to be the first production car from a major manufacturer to use a W16 engine, however, several smaller firms have either developed prototyped or produced small numbers of cars - including the Jimenez Novia which used a 4.1 liter W16 based on four I4 Yamaha motorcycle engines.
  • W18
    • No production cars yet are known to use a W-18 configuration, however Bugatti has experimented with both three-bank and four-bank designed for various concept cars.

Engine technologies

Body

Transmission

Layout

Suspension

Brakes

Driver-aids

Passive-restraint

Tires

  • First use of pneumatic tires - 1895 Peugeot L'Eclair (Michelin)
  • First standard pneumatic tires - 1896 Bollee Voiturette
  • First radial-ply tires - 1949 Michelin "X" (patented in 1946)
  • First self-repairing tires - 1950 Goodyear

Lighting/electrical

Other

American types

Pre-War

  • Best-selling pre-war vehicle - Ford Model-T (15,000,000 sold between 1908 and 1928)
  • Least-expensive full-featured automobile - 1927 Ford Model-T ($300 is about $3200 in inflation-adjusted 2004 dollars)
  • Largest vehicle - Bugatti Royale - 21 ft (6.4 m) long, 180 in (4.57 m) or 170 in (4.32 m) wheelbase depending on model
  • Largest pre-war I4 - 12.9 L (12867 cc/785 in³) - 1903 Dietrich-Bugatti Type 5
  • Largest pre-war I6 - 13.5 L (13518 cc/824.8 in³) - 1914 Peerless and Pierce-Arrow (tie)
  • Largest pre-war I8 - 12.8 L (12763 cc/778 in³) - 1929 Bugatti Royale

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_automotive_superlatives&oldid=15727293"