Rewatching TopGear, how do Americans manage to get 190 odd bhp from a 5 litre V8?

My mum's husband (a yank) has a Jeep Cheroke, 4 litre antomatic. He claims to use it off road, but when faced with a steep incline the air conditioning stops working until it reaches the top because there isn't enough power.

What are they thinking?

Its 190bhp at about 1000 rpm that will last for ever.

Perfect for 90% of American highways etc with a 55mph speed limit.

Petrol is cheap so who cares if it does sub 10mpg.

Its 190bhp at about 1000 rpm that will last for ever.

Then why put a V8 in?

Does that mean you could chip/remap that sort of car stupidly high compared to the gains to our Western engines?

Then why put a V8 in?

Because a large V8 will deliver 190bhp at 1000rpm...it won't be delivering it's power at high revs so the engine won't wear as quickly. Considering the mileages a lot of US cars rack up, it makes a lot of sense...

And, yes, you could put forced-induction on these engines to get a lot of power - look at hemi-tuning...

Rob.

I see what you mean about the higher milage, when I drove my Step Uncle's Chezy House thing he said it was low milage at 150k+.

Just seems so pointless to have a V8, when we push our cars so much.

Its a different market with different needs.

Just seems so pointless to have a V8, when we push our cars so much.

Well...a 4-cyl 2.0l car over here typically puts out about 120bhp. Double the displacement, you're looking at a 8cyl 4l engine which will output about 220bhp. Which doesn't sound like a lot when you can buy a 1.8T with 180bhp, but:

1. The 1.8T doesn't produce a lot of low-down torque/power.

2. The 1.8T unit will be more stressed.

Combine that with factors such as cheap fuel in the US, and there don't seem to be many reasons *not* to have a V8!

Rob.

Larger capacity engines are much more relaxed to drive normally, and suit the automatic gearboxes that Americans favour too.

And V8s and cockroaches will be the only things to survive a nuclear holocaust.

Mmmmmmmmmmm - V8

Chris

and you cant beat the sound of a good V8

Those cars where complete heaps.. but they went further in them and any of the previous budget car challenges and they were still running at the end of it!

...... that Americans favour too.

I think you will find that it is spelt.... Favor. :P

Separated by a common language!

I had a 1988 4litre Cherokee. It had 215,000 miles on it when I sold it & it was still as sweet as a nut.

It was very relaxing to drive; far side of London to Plymouth non-stop & I was fresh as a daisy at the end. That's what these cars are about.

and you cant beat the sound of a good V8

Yes you can!

- Large capacity straight six: Far smoother/silkier.

- Highly tuned four: Manic; lovely

- Rolls-Royce Merlin?

Emily, having sold American cars I can confirm that the build quality of them is carp. The average Cadillac is not as well built as my Octavia. But and it

Yes you can!

- Large capacity straight six: Far smoother/silkier.

- Highly tuned four: Manic; lovely

- Rolls-Royce Merlin?

No no no, your so wrong

V8 is where its at, you just cant beat the sound, the off beat burble even beats V10's and V12's for sonic delight.

Although a screaming V12 does also sound good!!

Noo the Merlin sounds fantastic, especially in a spitfire

Merlin sounds better in a Mosquito than in a Spitfire, laregely cos you get 2 of them instead of one.

Yes I have heard a Mossie flying; IIRC it was the last one in the UK.

The 150bhp from 5.0l is base output; that same basic engine can be tuned to achieve more like 500bhp on pump fuel, without forced induction, and still be road-drivable.

One of the reasons behind the low output, is some of the stupid emmissions laws in some of the states over the pond.

Merlin sounds better in a Mosquito than in a Spitfire, laregely cos you get 2 of them instead of one.

Yes I have heard a Mossie flying; IIRC it was the last one in the UK.

No idea mate, I just remember living near and air port and hearing the lovely sound of a fly over then the things climbing and hearing the noise as they dived then pulled up.

F**king lovely

Dont forget that most of the American cars millege is done going from the Mc Donlads drive through to the Burger King Drive through, to The KFC drive through etc ect...

The last time I was over there in Florida, something called international drive. I watched a big V8 yank tank pull up, out popped more than 70 stone of family, they all got onto what I would called supermarket disabled electric scootas, which we have over here and of they went. There is even a holder for you Chicken Bucket and 3ltr coke cup on the front of it. Thats why they have to build these pointless Big and crude V8 engines, there fingers are to bloody fat to build something of persision

Dont forget that most of the American cars millege is done going from the Mc Donlads drive through to the Burger King Drive through, to The KFC drive through etc ect...

The last time I was over there in Florida, something called international drive. I watched a big V8 yank tank pull up, out popped more than 70 stone of family, they all got onto what I would called supermarket disabled electric scootas, which we have over here and of they went. There is even a holder for you Chicken Bucket and 3ltr coke cup on the front of it. Thats why they have to build these pointless Big and crude V8 engines, there fingers are to bloody fat to build something of persision

:rofl:

No idea mate, I just remember living near and air port and hearing the lovely sound of a fly over then the things climbing and hearing the noise as they dived then pulled up.

F**king lovely

I'm agreeing with you about the sound of the RR Merlin engine; oddly the Packard Merlin in the Mustang D just doesn't sound as good.

And as the most surreal aviation sight I've ever seen, I bought a DVD of the 1950s Farnboro shows, which included a helicopter powered by a Merlin, so it looks like a helo, but sounds like a Spitfire!