As some may know, the new J1349 SAE horsepower standard ensures that manufacturers more accuratley rate the performance numbers of their cars. In other words, companies won't be able to "cheat" in rating their numbers. As of right now, the standard is optional, but most manufacturers are adopting it.

GM had already adopted it. Now Toyota/Lexus and Honda/Acura, and some others like Mazda have adopted it. In most instances, the hp and torque ratings have gone down for each companies' cars. Perhaps one of the most apparent examples is the TL, which goes from 270 hp to 258 for 06. The changes are said to be closer in line to dynos.

I'm eager to see what Nissan/Infiniti's numbers are revised too, if and when they adopt the J1349 standard. I wouldn't be suprised to see the G's numbers go down, but then again, cars like the M make the number drop offs less likely to incur a sizable drop when you look at the performance statistics.

 

wasn't it Mazda a few years ago that over rated their pos RX-8?

oh, that pos comment was uncalled for.

 

Not Really LOL

 

ford mustangs had in issue 5 years back also

 

This doesn't have anything to do with overrating cars. Rather, the scale of measurement has been changed to ensure greater precision.

 

^ Yeah.....it is my understanding that the new rating system standardizes things better and takes into account certain things/tricks that are used to bump up performance numbers, i.e., use of higher lubricating oils, what accesory belts are hooked up or unhooked, etc. In the article that I read, the Chevrolet C-6 Corvette actually went up from 500 hp to 505 hp when using the new rating system.

 

I would have been PISSED if I bought an RX8. Didn't they adjust the performance numbers down twice???

 

I prefer for us to remain at 280hp rather than some random number like 236

 

Mazda claimed a higher number on their advertising campaign vs
what was really pulling our of that pos rotary at the crank. that's
what i meant by overrating.

dang, I keep saying pos when Mazda comes to mind. sorry.

 

Not to sound crass (impossible for me, I know) but does it really matter?

If I know what a car's performance numbers are (0-60, 0-100, 1/4 mile, 45-65+, etc) and the engineering of the car, I don't care about the HP rating. As long as everything is measured with the same ruler, I don't really care what the "number" sold to the public is.

As has been stated so many times here - peak HP & TQ numbers are marketing tools. What the curve looks like, where the HP & TQ is available and for how long are two things that concern me more than what number my car can produce.

BMW (I hate to say this) traditionally has lower HP & TQ numbers than the competition, but the performance produced is on par if not BETTER than cars with higher numbers.

I think of it like weighing yourself. Weight gain or loss is only reliable if measured with the same scale. If I weigh myself at home, and then come to work and weigh myself here, the two pounds gained or lost doesn't mean anything to me - I know there was no change in weight (performance), only a change in measure (HP scale).

 

Well, if the new 2006 TL is only 258 fwhp and the new 2006 G35 is 298 rwhp and if both cars are the SAME PRICE I'd say it definitely matters. This just moves the Acura completely out of the same class as the G35 and right into line with the 325i.

Some would say that the G35 is in the same class as the 330zhp. Others would argue it's a step above.

 

HP numbers are just usefull for braggin rights. HP numbers are the only thing people with little knowledge about cars can understand. Try talking torque and gear ratios to girls (average girls not super girls like Finiti)...

 

Plus the new standardized system will be more useful for comparing future cars.

If your car already smokes an Acura TL now, it doesn't make what changes are made to the numbers. It'll still win by the same margin.

 

The 270HP TL (old rating) now 258HP TL (new rating) still has the same performance numbers, so I'd say it makes no difference at all. 0-60 still drops in the 5.7 second range, 1/4 mile time is the same, it won't lap the track any slower.

Agree about the 298 rwhp statement but we both know that isn't what they're talking about. The 6MT doesn't make 298 rwhp any more than the TL makes 270.

It's like renaming a banana an apple. It still looks and tastes like a banana no matter what you decide to call it. They just recalibrated their measuring stick.

 

Yes. I'd be embarrassed to have a 298hp G35 barely pull on a mere 258hp TL. Personally, I'd be happier if I was pulling on a 270hp TL.