ULY@PSUVM.BITNET (03/21/86)
In the April issues of Car and Driver magazine, a road test was
performed on the 1986 Buick Regal Grand National. According to their
results, the Grand National is faster than any other car made in America
(acceleration not top speed) including the Corvette. Only one other car
sold in America is faster and that is the Porsche 911 Turbo with a zero
to sixty time of 4.6 seconds (the Grand National's is 4.9).
The V-6 turbo that Buick has installed in the Grand National deserves
the credit for these results. The claim by Buick has the engine rated at
235 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. However, there has been some diff-
iculty in understanding how a car using an automatic transmission as well
as weighing 300 pounds more than the Corvette, can outaccelerate it when
there is only a five horsepower difference between the two.
Car and Driver estimates that the true output must be something
closer to 290 horsepower. The only explanations they could come up with
was that they did their test in very cold weather so an extra 15 hp could
result from this and they discovered that Buick apparently intentionally
rates the output 10 - 15 horse power lower than normal. This can explain
only 30 horsepower more, leaving 25 still unaccounted for. Even if the
car were a ringer it would still seem difficult to explain all of the
extra power. Where could it all be coming from? Thanks in advance for
any explanation.
Kevin S.
PSUVM on BITNET
KI6@PSUVMA.BITNET (03/25/86)
Horsepower is measured different ways maybe there is a possibility
Lines: 2
that the unexplained horsepower is a difference in formulation.
corey@svo.UUCP (03/29/86)
> /* ---------- "Unexplained horsepower" ---------- */ > > In the April issues of Car and Driver magazine, a road test was > performed on the 1986 Buick Regal Grand National. According to their > results, the Grand National is faster than any other car made in America > (acceleration not top speed) including the Corvette. Only one other car > sold in America is faster and that is the Porsche 911 Turbo with a zero > to sixty time of 4.6 seconds (the Grand National's is 4.9). > The V-6 turbo that Buick has installed in the Grand National deserves > the credit for these results. The claim by Buick has the engine rated at > 235 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. However, there has been some diff- > iculty in understanding how a car using an automatic transmission as well > as weighing 300 pounds more than the Corvette, can outaccelerate it when > there is only a five horsepower difference between the two. > Car and Driver estimates that the true output must be something > closer to 290 horsepower. The only explanations they could come up with > was that they did their test in very cold weather so an extra 15 hp could > result from this and they discovered that Buick apparently intentionally > rates the output 10 - 15 horse power lower than normal. This can explain > only 30 horsepower more, leaving 25 still unaccounted for. Even if the > car were a ringer it would still seem difficult to explain all of the > extra power. Where could it all be coming from? Thanks in advance for > any explanation. > > > Kevin S. > PSUVM on BITNET > Take a look at the March HOT ROD (I believe..??). It has a BIG section on turbochargers. They have a 1/3 page box on a couple of TBird Turbo Coupes with better than 2HP/cu inch. The SVO division at Ford apparently needed something to do since the SVO Mustang has been canceled. With only 2.3 liters to work with @ 300HP ain't bad even if it did take 18-20lbs of boost and 107 octane gas. The engine was mostly stock with a few mods like new exhaust, injectors and computer. Yes I know that EEC-IV computers are $400 and injectors aren't cheap but for 220-275HP in a TBird that gets 30 MPG (probably more like 26-28) it is wonderful even if the mods cost $1000. Anyway the 3.8 liter V6 that Buick has should make 250+ with ease. After all, look at all the practice Buick has been getting at the track with turbo V6's. You don't think they just do it for fun do ya? Ford learned a great deal about turbos from their racing experience. Look how much better the 86 SVO Mustang is over the Pace Car draw-through turbo of the 79-80 era. Look at it this way. If Buick did with their V6 what Ford did with their 4 (at the dragstrip) then the engine probably has nearly 500HP buried deep inside it. And marketing people being what they are a Buick with too much HP would be hard to explain to the Chevy and Pontiac people... Not to mention the EPA and Naderites... I don't think you need 500HP on the street but 250-300 would be OK with me..... P.S. is there any one from the "Big Three" on the net??? Corey McCormick (918) 254-8000 USENET: {ihnp4,cbosgd}!okstate!svo!corey Quote: "All I ask is an SVO and a winding stretch of traffic-less road. Of course, Bill's #9 would suffice if the road was all left-handers....." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - All of the usual disclaimers go here since they have no idea what I am doing, but then neither do I.....