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Comment by DigitalJack | Hacker News Reader

130 HP? Has the definition changed?

No. Cars are amazing now. 35 years of tech, like compound interest, it adds up. Also, i think the time machine was widely regarded as being a bit underpowered. 9 second 0-60 wasn't all that great, even for then.

On the other hand:

1953 Corvette: 150 horsepower

1963 Corvette: 250 horsepower

1970 Corvette: 300 horsepower

1971 Corvette: 270 horsepower

1973 Corvette: 190 horsepower

1975 Corvette: 150 horsepower

The 1970s were dark, crummy times, due to emissions regulations and the oil crisis. By 1981 when the Delorean came out, the Corvette was still stuck at 190 horsepower.

So, building a powerful engine isn't hard, but building a powerful engine that fits within post-1970s emissions standards is.

Yeah, that's fair. And not much computation available for design work.

Still, cars now are amazing. I mean, you could pick up a $60k 700hp mass produced monster this year. I can't think of the last time i've heard of a tire failing. Stuff is made by machines, they're unbelievably reliable. You should easily get 100k out of any new car.

Modern sports cars are truly amazing. I have a C6 corvette and it's both a monster on the track and comfortable enough to run coast-to-coast with ease (something I've done twice now). The technology just keeps getting better and better. Throw in 28 mpg on the highway, and it's just silly.

What I find interesting is that some of the most amazing engines are actually produced by tiny companies e.g. the 500hp 3L V8 designed by Atom:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Atom#Ariel_Atom_500

I just saw an Atom drive by the other day - the driver looked happy, ha ha.

Ford/Firestone did a massive tire recall just a few years ago, Ford reduced their recommended inflation pressure instead of softening the suspension and the tire tread would separate, often resulting in the vehicle flipping.

Your definition of a few does not jibe with mine: that was almost 20 years ago.

It was 2001:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/PR/FirestoneRecall

edit: I guess my meaning with 'a few' was that it was recent enough to be in the "modern" era of vehicle technology.

Now see how that VW worked that out with their diesel trick.

Its also important to note that pre -72 horsepower standard legal SAE testing was bare engine no accessories no exhaust and post -72 standard legal SAE testing was "more or less wheel dyno".

So it was not unusual at all for something like a caddy to go from 400 gross HP with no exhaust no water pump no cooling system nothing to 250 HP pushed out the wheels.

Now a caddy has a ridiculous exhaust and addons, but even a vette has some. Its highly likely that the 270 HP bare engine and the 190 HP car are the same.

Another complication is HP = torque * RPM I had a commuter car in the 80s with a 2.2L engine that on paper only output 100 HP because its redline was something ridiculous to modern standards like 4000 rpm however the torque (acceleration) was huge compared to my current 100 HP commuter car that winds up like a motorcycle to 8000 RPM or whatever it is. My current car has the acceleration of a 50 HP car but the redline has doubled, so...

It's not wheel HP. But it's crank HP with a more realistic engine setup than pre-72's dyno testing.

1972 marked the change from Gross HP to Net HP ratings.

Before the change, they would test the engines with no accessory drive, not even a water pump, use headers instead of a full exhaust, and adjust the carburetor/ignition to provide the best numbers per RPM on the dyno instead of reflecting what the engine actually did in the car.

Also bear in mind that the De Lorean coupé started life as the De Lorean Safety Vehicle ( DSV ) , which was meant to combine perceived sportiness and safety in one package; it wasn't primarily about performance.

Mr D L successfully persuaded the Allstate Insurance Company to part-fund the two DSV prototypes on account of the safety emphasis.

Also keep in mind the Peugeot sourced 2.8 V-6 was not the first choice or the choice of aspiration DeLorean had intended to either turbo charge the Peugeot engine or use another engine type that would also have forced induction. From what I understand, either the other supplier found out his plans and pulled out, or Peugeot threatened to pull out if their engine was turbocharged. I am looking for the reference, and will update when I find it.

I did a double take at that too - a 130 horsepower V6 seems like a typo when read with our modern eyes!! The last thirty years have been very good for engines...

HP = Hyper Power

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