Horsepower, Weight Ratio?

[mdillian3690]

Hey everyone, I am not to technical inclined, so excuse me if I ask a silly question. But how is it that a stock 996 with 300hp can out perform others with more hp? 0-60, 0-1/4 mile. What is behind the masterpiece of the Porsche? Thanks!

[HenryV]

Oh boy - :)

You mention the key factor - hp to weight ratio - in your title. A lighter car will out-accelerate a heavier car.

Porsche has been able to keep it's boxer-6 engine performance close to typical V8 performance without the extra weight (smaller bore and less moving parts), partially by allowing higher rpms.

You have to add to this aerodynamic shape, wind coefficient, placement of the engine (rear weight delivers under hard acceleration), width of the tires, type of tires, max rpm, torque curve, number of shift points, moving parts in driveline, Porsche's commitment to 'no compromise' design.

Think of the 996 as a 1940's Volkswagen Bug that has been challenged to go better, faster, for over half a century. Any part that could get optimized, has been, always uncovering the next part that needs to be optimized.

Technology has played a major role in (all mfg's) engines as of late to increase hp to weight ratio's - Porsche is no different, but the Porsche cars have gotten bigger and heavier to accomodate the extra horsepower, be able to control the car at speed, and prove durable. The cars are really build and tested on the track, unlike most mfg's, and the anecdote goes that the pavement around the Zuffenhausen facility is old and cobbled, forcing the Porsche engineers to also make the car's setup work on so-so pavement.

If you compare evolution with other setups - the mid-engine setup led to Ferrari's, the front-engine setup to Corvette, the weight reduction to Lotus' newest offering (fast, but raw), none of which offer the price/performance, handling ability and durability of the 996/911s over time.

And that's impressive for a rather small company.

[Costa]

Think of the 996 as a 1940's Volkswagen Bug

I don't really want to think of my 996 as a 1940's Beetle..... :lol: :lol: :lol:

[ADias]

....

Think of the 996 as a 1940's Volkswagen Bug that has been challenged to go better, faster, for over half a century. Any part that could get optimized, has been, always uncovering the next part that needs to be optimized.

The correct statement is:

Think of the 996 as a 1963 911 that has been challenged to go better, faster, for over 40 years.

To say that the 996 is an evolved VW Bug is to say a Corvette is an evolution of a 1950 Chevy Sedan.

[HenryV]

You are correct,

technically, the first Porsche was a Porsche 64, built in 1938.

This car was also known as the VW Aerocoupe or Type 64K10, and uses mainly parts from the Model 64 Beetle.

and

based on the 1938 VW "beetle"

(See more beetle pics on a year by year summary at Volkswagen pics

The most famous "first Porsche" was the 356, built in 1948.

Mind you that was mainly an aluminum chassis with a VW engine.

and

Off-course, the 911 saga started with the 901 in 1963. Name was changed to 911 (due to Peugeot naming conflict), but it launched the 'classic' 911 shape:

and ('64)

But it all depends what you measure. For some of us it started with the Model-T ford :)