Weilbull distribution [1]. Why we used to run our mail-order PCs non-stop for a week to burn them in. If there were faulty components, we wanted them to fail under the 30-day return policy.
Do you know of any literature, articles, etc., about this? I'm asking more from a consumer's view point..
If it is a brand new car (and depending on the kind of car, too) - you probably don't want to do this, at least immediately.
This is because the engine has not been run much since it left the factory. There is an engine "break in" period (you can read about it in your owner's manual) during which you need to follow the instructions properly, or you can actually cause damage to the engine and decrease its life dramatically.
Essentially, it involves not running the engine under extreme loads or speeds for so many miles (500 - 1000 I think is normal). After that, you might also do an oil change and some other early maintenance. For certain sports cars or other high-performance vehicles, it can be even more strict.
It basically has to do with the frictional components wearing into each other with lubrication carrying away (and being captured in the filter) the small bits of metal scraped away. Because even despite the fine tolerances engines and transmissions, etc are machined too, they aren't exactly matched, and the wear-in period allows for this (then you change the fluids and filters to remove the contaminants). Running the engines and such hard during this period puts higher friction and stresses on the system, which actually causes more metal than normal to be removed (essentially - wearing the engine in more than needed, if that makes sense).
This is also basically the same thing you have to do when you get an engine overhauled or otherwise modified (ie - new pistons, rings, porting, honing, etc).