Over the weekend, I’ve been contemplating over what I’d do with my supposed project car. I was supposed to swap the engine with a larger displacement one but the price of gas has definitely had thinking it over. Now, this brought me to a more general question - why the need for a lot more horses?

For the longest time, I’ve been also drawn to increased HPs (definitely influenced by Jeremy Clarkson), but with the ongoing paradigm as to how cars should be designed and perform. Normal people who are just looking for daily drive cars don’t really need that much HP. My old 105 hp Corolla was more than enough for traveling 30 or so miles a day.

Audi has recently just announced the numbers on their 3.0L V6 TFSI powerplant. Using forced induction technology Audi has upped the horsepower to 290 hp and 310 lb ft of torque. Now what’s, quite interesting here is that, through the use of forced induction, Audi avoided having to upping the displacement. Added horses without upping displacement (and congruently, fuel economy) is always welcome. It is pegged to get a car 23.5 miles to the gallon. Quite impressive for a 3.0L V6.