0 to 60 mph

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The time it takes to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) is a commonly used performance measure for automotive acceleration in the United States and the United Kingdom. In Latin America, Europe, India, Canada and Australasia 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) is used. It became popular as a measure of acceleration necessary to reach cruising speed when the United States national speed limit was still 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). Present high performance cars can accelerate 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. The Bugatti Veyron is currently the fastest production car to reach 60 mph from a stop, reaching the speed in 2.46 seconds.[1]

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[edit] Significance and perspective

There are a number of ways to measure a car's performance. It been has suggested that power-to-weight ratio be used as a standard for identifying "high performance" vehicles. Unfortunately, this ratio overstated the capacity for acceleration prior to 1972, because gross horsepower was used. In essence, the 15% or so horsepower robbed by accessories was disregarded. Beginning with model year 1972, net horsepower was quoted. Net horsepower takes into account the real world scenario wherein accessories, such as the alternator, rob the engine of some power. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1952 usually had no accessories to drive beside a generator and fan, so the period of distortion lasted only about 20 years.

Using 0-60 mph as a yardstick for performance, the gross versus net distinction is irrelevant, and performance from subtle advancements (tires, transmissions) is accounted for.

With the dawn of OBD-I (1990), appreciable horsepower and low emission levels could co-exist for the first time. OBD-I represented a transitional period and the outcome was a paradigm shift: the sprint to 60 mph in under eight seconds was no longer remarkable.

In the OBD-II and-beyond era (1996+), a four second cut-off readily identifies serious "super cars" and six seconds identifies "high performance cars." This makes sense, as many modern SUVs and economy cars can reach 60 mph in about eight seconds.

This is only one of many forms of performance testing used by automobile manufacturers and press to determine overall performance. Other notable tests include braking distance, 0-100-0 mph, drag racing over a quarter mile, and cornering.

[edit] Criticism of magazine testing

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Automobile magazines often post 0-60 mph times that they achieve in testing. Many have questioned the practices and methods used to test the automobiles. Typically criticism revolves around:

  • "Roll out" where the car is allowed to roll for a certain amount of time or distance before the timing begins.[2]
  • General conditions: Air temperature, altitude, fuel level, etc.
  • "Factory Freaks" which would be abnormally quick stock automobiles
  • The public's inability to achieve such low times
  • High level of differences between magazines
  • Possible bribery or other unethical practices of the testers
  • Optimizing the car's performance by making setup changes such as tire pressure
  • The ability of the particular driver

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bugatti Veyron test. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
  2. ^ 2006 Cadillac test. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.

[edit] External links