>Subject: S2000 & 120 bhp/litre - now Alfa related

[RonHorowitz <RonHorowitz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Howdy, Folks!

>  Honda does, for their S2000 roadster.  1997cc, 240hp @ 8300rpm.
>
>Yanking us straight back into Alfa content, it's interesting that in 1967
the 33
>Stradale was making 230 bhp @ 8800 rpm from a 1995cc V8. Not far off,

Hold on, hold on, hold on....  You guys and your obsession with peak
horsepower. Engine performance between those two is clearly different,
regardless of peak horsepower specs, nevermind other issues.

>considering both that 25-ish years have passed since the Stradale to the
launch
>of the S2000, and even that the Alfa's 230bhp was possibly exaggerated
slightly.
>It was however a DIN figure and not gross.<

IMHO, peak horsepower is a spec for salesman. You have to compare areas
under curves and their shapes. Peak horsepower only occurs when an engine
is operating at the rpm corresponding to the peak. It says nothing about
what happens on either side. If you wanted a single number, what you'd want
is a higher numeric value for the integral over the range of RPM, not
necessarily a higher maxima. If you have a huge gradient near the peak,
even though the car has "a bigger number" it's going to be more difficult
to drive and you're likely to be slower than you'd be in a car with a more
linear and progressive delivery.

RON
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