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  • Greatest 300 horsepower cars of all time

    The best feeling of driving a car is when your right root reflex a little bit on the accelerator, the car listened to you and response faster than you can imagine. With the technology we had in automobile market today, most of the cars with 300 horsepower or more are good listener (see also: What is horsepower?). Some cars like the Porsche 911 Carrera S sports a 350-horsepower with a 3.4-liter flat-6 engine but the car itself cost nearly $100,000. However, 300 horsepower cars are not often come with high price tag. Some of them are in between $20,000 to $30,000. Here in Carsut.com, we have worked out the list of great cars with 300-350 hp.

    1. Ford Mustang V6 Coupe
    Ford Mustang Coupe
    Horsepower: 305 hp
    MSRP Price: $22,310

    Yes, with $22,310, you can get a cool looking coupe with a powerful V6 engine under the hood that gives you 305 hp. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 17 city/28 highway mpg. The handling, acceleration response, brake response, and extremely cool exterior design make the Ford Mustang Coupe probably the best muscle car you can buy today.

    2. Chevrolet Camaro Coupe LS
    Chevrolet Camaro Coupe
    Horsepower: 323 hp
    MSRP Price: $23,280

    The Chevrolet Camaro Coupe LS is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 323 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. With the EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, it is one of a few cars with around 300 hp that deliver this result.

    3. Dodge Challenger Coupe SXT
    Dodge Challenger Coup
    Horsepower: 305 hp
    MSRP Price: $25,195

    The Dodge Challenger Coupe SXT is a practical five-seat coupe with 18-inch alloy wheel without sacrificing the two-door cool outlook. Under the hood, it is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 305 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque. EPA fuel economy is rated at 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. Other than its power, the car features roomy cabin, huge trunk, and high quality interior material. That’s what makes it a cool 300 hp car.

    4. Chevrolet Impala Sedan LS
    Chevrolet Impala
    Horsepower: 300 hp
    MSRP Price: $25,760

    The front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Impala is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 300 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It is the one and only sedan car in the list that has exactly 300 hp. EPA fuel economy is 18/30/22 mpg. The Impala may not have such distinctive outlook compared to Dodge Challenger or Ford Mustang but the cabin is roomy enough to fit six passengers and the trunk is large enough to fit many large items.

    5. Chevrolet Colorado 4WD Crew Cab
    Chevrolet Colorado
    Horsepower: 300 hp
    MSRP Price: $N/A

    Chevrolet offers a 5.3-liter V8 engine that is rated at 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque to the Colorado 4WD Crew Cabs. It is an affordable and practical pickup truck that comes with powerful engine.

    Greatest 300 horsepower cars of all time (part 2) >>

  • BMW X1 sDrive20d Review

    [imagebrowser id=26]
    The BMW X1 sDrive20d was first introduced by BMW in 2009 and it gained a very high popularity in Europe. In recent years, it is getting more and more popular and it has reached the U.S. and Asian market due to the luxury outlook, comfortable interior design, and satisfied performance. We stand a chance to put our hands on the latest 2012 model at the 2012 Motor Show after the car has been launched for three years. Now we are going to share every little bit of this rear-wheel-drive diesel-powered compact crossover SUV from head to toe.

    A view from far, the BMW X1 looks smaller and shorter when it stands beside the BMW X3 but the performance is very much related to both the 1 Series and 3 Series especially its handling thanks to its short height at only 61 inches. Overall, it looks like a big-short-small man. However, this doesn’t sacrifices any space in the cabin. The X1 offers a comfortable cabin that sits five adults contentedly.

    Engine and Performance

    The BMW X1 sDrive20d is powered by a 1,995cc four-cylinder engine producing a maximum output of 177 hp at 4,000 rpm and 350 Nm of torque at 1,750-3000rpm (Now, you can see what is horsepower and torque in a car?). This power has allowed the X1 sDrive20d the capability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds and continuously to a top speed of 205 km/h. All it takes is 29.3 seconds to accelerate from a standstill position to 1 km. Partnered with a six-speed automatic transmission, the BMW X1 give a smooth and responsive handling. Drivers will get the “instant power” feeling when they step on the accelerator. There is another version of the X1 sDrive which is the sDrive18i. With 150hp/200 Nm of torque engine under the hood, the sDrive18i accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.4 seconds.

    Underneath, a set of lightweight allow wheels add an expressive touch to the car. Coupled with the car chassis, it provides an optimal suspension comfort. The wheels look fantastic but they also feel incredible.

    Interior

    BMW X1 Interior
    When our crews sit into the car, it doesn’t really feel like a compact car. The roomy cabin feels like a sedan and we almost forgot we are viewing the X1 but not the X3. It is definitely a pleasure to be in. Take two steps to the rear seats, the space is generous. Legroom is huge enough for tall person. When buying a BMW, it is always more than just buying a car. Take the X1 sDrive20d for example. It features a lot of technology that other cars may not have such as the anti-dazzle function for the rearview mirror, Bluetooh and USB compatibility function for the sound system, automatic wiper (rain detector), cruise control, keyless system, semi command sitting position, one button stop/start technology, shift light, parking radar and sensors, etc.

    BMW X1 legroom
    BMW X1 sDrive20d rear seat legroom

    At the back of the car, there is a Mini TV player where rear passengers can connect many devices to it through AV Input or USB port. Rear passengers can also have two separate headsets if some other passengers is taking their rest during a long journey drive.

    As for the cargo space, the 420 liters of storage space is relatively huge for many large items as you can see from the photos. It can be increased to 480 liters with the back seats pulled a little to the front and up to 1350 liters with the back seats folded. If that is not enough, the multi-functional BMW roof carrier rack system is capable to carry more items especially bicycle. The roof carrier rack system is made of high-strength aluminum alloy which is durable and corrosion-proof. So we say the new X1 is an ideal crossover SUV that is suitable for those who love travel.

    BMW X1 Cargo
    BMW X1 Cargo Space

    Fuel Economy

    The BMW X1 sDrive20d diesel engine is typically fuel efficient, with an official combined fuel economy of 16.4 km/l (38.57 mpg). The tank capacity is approximately 61 liter and the CO2 emissions are rated at 160 g/km which is considered eco-friendly. As for the X1 sDrive18i, it has a combined fuel economy of 11.9 km/l (28 mpg).

    Price

    • BMW X1 sDrive18i Highline: THB.2,499,000 (Thailand)
    • BMW X1 sDrive20d Highline: THB.2,799,000 (Thailand)
    • BMW X1 sDrive20d: RS 2,440,000 (India)
    • BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics: £26,090 (UK)
    • Price in the United States: N/A

    BMW X1 sDrive20d’s competitors or similar cars: Audi Q3, BMW X3 xDrive20d, Nissan Murano, and BMW 3 Series.

    We have stated most of the pros and cons of the BMW X1 sDrive20d. However, if we would to use one sentence to describe this car, it is a small-size luxury crossover with one of the best handling, powerful engine, good fuel economy, and very reasonable price.
    BMW X1 sDrive20d

  • Sexy Motor Show Girls Dancing


    It’s our pleasure to share the video of sexy Motor Show Girls dancing on the floor. These videos are taken by our photographer during the 2012 Bangkok Motor Show. The video above is a lucky white color Suzuki Swift lure by a few very sexy girls with long legs while the video below is a dancing show from Isuzu. Ten pretty girls were shot by machine gun at the end of the show.

    LIKE it and SHARE it if you LOVE it. Continue to see more sexy and pretty girls at Motor Show in Carsut.com. Stay Tuned!

  • How much horsepower does my car have?

    Lotus Elise - How much horsepower it has?
    One of Carsut’s readers emailed us with a question “How much horsepower does my car have?” after reading our yesterday’s article What is horsepower and torque in a car? In his email, he mentioned he always wanted to know what exactly horsepower is as well as how much horsepower his car really has. So, how to know or determine the horsepower your car have? It could be as little as 30hp up to 300hp for ordinary cars we often see on the road. However, exotic car like the Ferrari 458 Italia is having 562 horsepower under the hood.

    Generally, there are few ways to know how much horsepower does a car have:

    • Look in your owner’s manual, user manual, or the new car brochure under engine specification. Most of the new car brochure today comes with hp ratings the manufacturer claims.
    • Make a call to the nearest dealer and they are able to tell you based on your car make and model year.
    • With the internet today, you can simply go online to the official website of your car brand and look for the hp ratings based on your model and model year, for example, www.Ford.com. If you are driving an old car, Wikipedia is another great source.
    • If your car engine has been modified, the only way to get an accurate horsepower rating is to go for a dynamometer testing.

    Does a car engine lose horsepower over time?

    Unknown to many, horsepower in a car engine lose over time in its lifespan. This is because the internal parts of an engine and those auxiliary components are constantly working to produce power. When they work, they are wearing against each other and material will be lost at a microscopic level over time. It leads to compression lose as well as horsepower. A car may lose 5 to 10hp after several years although it has 300hp when it was new. However, some car engines are built with better quality thus they have better tolerances and able to last longer. A good example is the engine under the hood of Honda Civic that still works like a new car after 100,000 km.

    Horsepower rating for some general cars

    Car Model Engine Horsepower
    Toyota Camry 2.5-Liter 178 hp
    Toyota Camry 3.5-Liter 268 hp
    Toyota Camry 2.5-Liter Hybrid 156 hp
    Chevy Silverado 1500 4.3-Liter V6 195 hp
    Chevy Silverado 1500 4.8-Liter V8 302 hp
    Chevy Silverado 1500 6.2-Liter V8 403 hp
    Honda Civic 1.8-Liter 110 hp
    Honda Civic 1.5-Liter Hybrid 110 hp
    Honda Civic 2.4-Liter 201 hp
    Toyota Corolla 1.8-Liter 132 hp
    Honda Accord 2.4-Liter 177 hp
    Honda Accord 3.5-Liter V6 271 hp
    Chevrolet Malibu 2.4-Liter 169 hp
    Chevrolet Malibu 3.6-Liter V6 252 hp
    Ford Fusion 2.5-Liter 175 hp
    Ford Fusion 3.0-Liter V6 240 hp
    Ford Fusion Sport 3.0-Liter V6 263 hp
    Ford Fusion Hybrid 2.5-Liter Hybrid 191 hp
    Honda CR-V 2.4-Liter 185 hp
    Volkswagen Golf 2.5-Liter 170 hp
    Volkswagen Golf 2.0-Liter Turbodiesel 140 hp
    Chevrolet Impala 3.6-Liter V6 300 hp

    The car make, model, engine type, and horsepower shown above is the standard rating from manufacturer. If your car engine has been modified, upgrade with performance parts, added turbocharger or supercharger, the horsepower will be different from the results shown above.

  • What is horsepower and torque in a car?

    Horsepower
    It isn’t uncommon to come across the term horsepower and torque in any car review articles or car commercials. Some car dealers even put a big note on the windscreen telling their customers how many horsepower the car has. What is horsepower and torque in a car? What does it actually means for a car with 300 horsepower? What they actually mean? Everything in this world needs a unit of measurement to determine their performance and ability especially cars. Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power. The term horsepower was invented by a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer James Watt. In Watt’s theory, 1 Horsepower is equal to 33,000 foot-pounds per minute. This means with 1 horsepower, it can lift 33,000 pounds of weight up 1 foot in a minute, or 3,300 pounds 10 feet in a minute, or 330 pounds 100 feet in a minute, or 33 pounds 100 feet in a minute.

    Now try to imagine 1 Horsepower = 33,000 foot-pounds per minute with the image shown below. If a Ferrari generates 1 hp, it can lift up a 33,000 lbs weight from one foot down the cliff in a minute. In other words, a 300 hp car is capable to move it up in 0.2 seconds. [33,000 pounds is nearly equal to 15,000 kg. (33,000 lbs = 14,968.5 kg)]

    what is horsepower
    What is horsepower

    In fact, one horsepower in electric power measurement is equal to 746 watts. If you put the power generated by a 1000 horsepower car to an electric generator, it can generate 746,000 watts. In the automobile market today, a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport has an engine that capable to produce 1,184 bhp. Without doubt, this power is capable to heat up the entire village during winter time. See also: How much horsepower does my car have?

    What is Brake Horsepower (bhp)?

    Brake Horsepower (bhp) is another common term that always appears in car engine specification especially new car brochure. Brake Horsepower is the pure amount of power generated by a car engine before the loss in power caused by various auxiliary components such as gearbox, drive train, water pump, alternator, power steering pump, and etc. In recent years, the true power generated by a sports car is measured with an engine dynometer (dynamometer) or more common talking “dyno testing”. A car is pull up on a ramp and a driver will go through all gears and then pin hard on the last gear until redline during a general dyno testing. In a nutshell, a car with 300 hp on wheels is powerful than a car with 305 bhp under the hood if all the auxiliary components will cause it loss more than 5 hp.

    What is torque in a car?

    Torque is the power to rotate an object about an axis. It can be “turning power”, “twisting force”, or the power to accelerate in a car. Most of the sedan cars running on the road are using common internal-combustion engines that only produce useful torque over a limited range of rotational speed, typically from 800 to 6,000 rpm. Remember our article regarding a Ferrari 458 Italia? In the article we mentioned that “The 458 Italia features a direct-injected 4.5 L V8 engine that delivers 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque at 9,000 rpm.” What does the 398 lb-ft of torque do in a Ferrari 458 Italia? 398 lb-ft (foot-pounds of torque) is equivalent to 540 Nm (Newton-meters). This amount of torque is what makes the car capable to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds. In other words, more torque, less weight, larger wheels, and more power are some factors that allows a car to accelerate faster. Up to date, some of the high torque cars in the market are Bugatti Veyron Supersport (1106 lb-ft), Hennessey Venom 1000 (1100 lb-ft), SSC Ultimate Aero TT (1094 lb-ft), Koenigsegg Agera (811 lb-ft), Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG (738 lb-ft), Saleen S7 Turbo (700 lb-ft), etc. All these cars are famous for their acceleration power.

    Understanding the relationship between horsepower (hp), brake horsepower (bhp), and torque is essential in order to build a car that is able to accelerate fast and run fast. Then, the driving pleasure will certainly be there.