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It's funny cause the little 1.5L 180hp ecoboost in my 3600lb (3900lb's with me) 2016 Ford Fusion actually accelerated much better than I hoped. And i'm 300lb's of bacon fat driving this thing. Even with a coworker in it, 0-60 ain't no Ferrari, but it can haul!
For the sake of accuracy, the Jensen Healey didn't have a V8. It had a Lotus 4-cylinder engine. It was the Jensen Interceptor - a much larger car - that had the big, honking Chrysler V8s (both the 383 and the 440).
The 60s and 70s were the era of big engines in small cars. That was the period where European were stuffing humongous Detroit iron in rather small packages. The Sunbeam Tiger, barely the size of the Miata, had the Ford 260 V8! Chrysler motors were in a variety of British cars. Jensen Healy had the 6-liter Chrysler motor! Fast forward to today and I think they can recreate the excitement once more. What are the candidates?
Jensen Healey had/has a 4 cylinder Lotus 907. Jensen Interceptor (4 seater) had/has a Chrysler 383 (6.3) or 440 (7.2). The 383 is actually faster.
They get so much power out of small engines now, I am not sure it still makes sense to put a giant engine in a tiny roadster. However there is nothing like a big V8. You will find the in Corvettes, That is the only commonly made 2 seater with a V8 that I can think of though. Unusual supercars like the Falcoln have V8s, but you are not likely to find one of those. Maybe some German cars?
Funny thing...I am a carguy for a long time, but I have to admit I wonder about the level of performance (acceleration) that has become commonly available in many modern factory cars, especially since there is usually a trade off with fuel consumption and potentially safety. When will it 'end'? (Probably when the autonomous cars become dominant..or will they all be 500hp and travel at 200 mph bumper to bumper?)
Unless many of today's cars are driven sorta recklessly or tracked the power is seldom really used more than a few seconds at a time, and in many cases almost never used. The owner must continually be aware of getting a ticket or worse involved in an accident of some sort.
I agree to a certain extent. Buying the "fast(er) version" of a car so you can commute to work at the same 35 mph as the guy in the slower version is pretty much the epitome of being a silly human, but we're all guilty of it or have been in the past. I suppose its the looks and rarity of the go fast version that appeals, much the way a coin collector appreciates a rare coin.
I have NEVER driven a car and said, "You know, that is a really nice car... if only it had less power and went slower".
As a consequence, my default is to ALWAYS choose the up rated engine when buying a new car.
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