7 Production cars with ludicrously high power to weight ratios #Blogpost

Power to weight ratio. One of the main reasons why weight reduction bro! is a thing. As engines become icreasingly lighter and powerful, it has come to the point where some automakers achieved an outrageous 1hp per kilogram with relative car control, something deemed almost impossible some thirty years ago. Here is a list of seven automobiles which push the boundaries of stuffing loads of power in a tiny package:

1. Koenigsegg One:1

This famous Swede is very well known for being one of the very selective club of road-going cars with a 1hp/kg ratio from factory. With a twin-turbocharged V8 which revs to a holy crap that’s a lot 8250 RPM, a curb weight of 1360 Kg and -you guessed it- 1360hp, this beast is not only good for staight lines> No, it can take up to 2G of lateral forces and is expected to be the fastest car round the petrolhead heavens of Nürbürgring Nordschleife. That is, if it is allowed to…

2. Ariel Atom V8

There are few production cars (I can’t even tell if the Atom V8 is road-legal) which have a more IN YOUR FACE look. With an almighty V8 made from two Hayabusa motorbike engines married together which revs to a mind-blistering 10.250 RPM (And you thought the One:1 revved high enough). It is good for 500hp which will propel the Atom V8 to 100Km/h in less than 2.3 seconds and quite possibly tear your face off your skull. With a power to weight ratio of 0.909hp/Kg, it can be compared to a GP2 car.

3. Caterham 620 R

Caterham is very well known for fiddling with the Lotus 7 project since 1973. With time, they have been evolving this very well conceived car to well… this. The Caterham Seven 620 R has a 2.0 litre supercharged Duratec engine, giving 310hp to this 545Kg little monster. This 0,568hp/Kg power to weight ratio enables the 620 R to acheive 100Km/h from a standstill in barely believable 2.79 seconds and reach 250Km/h to scare the crap out of the driver.

4. LaFerrari

This Cavallino Rampante is the fastest and most powerful car to ever leave the Maranello manufacturer. Powered by a hybrid powertrain consisting of an electric KERS system, which puts out 163 hp and a N/A V12 gifted from the automotive world heavens, putting out 800hp and 9000RPM. The grand total of 963hp in a 1225Kg chassis makes for a healthy 0,76hp/Kg and lots of petrolhead nirvana.

5.McLaren P1

One of the finest creations from the Woking outfit, this recent, yet iconic engineering masterpiece has one of the highest power to weight ratios out there. Sporting a 3.8 litre twin turbo V8 and a hybrid motor system, it is able to squeeze 904hp to the Pirelli Trofeo R rear tyres. With a curb weight of 1.547Kg, its power-to-weight ratio of 0,593hp/Kg is good for the P1 to rocket from 0-100Km/h in rapid 2.8 seconds.

6.Pagani Huayra BC

Horacio Pagani knows his stuff. The Argentinian engineer and entepreneur’s latest creation is the Huayra BC. An evolved and souped-up version of the already bonkers Huayra, it has a biturbo V12 sourced from Mercedes AMG, which puts out a symphony and according to reports around 800hp. Made almost entirely on carbon fibre, this monster weighs a mere 1220Kg, which makes for a more-than-healthy 0,65hp/Kg. Not bad at all

7. Caparo T1

To top off this list, we’ve got the cherry of the cake when it comes to stupidly high power-to-weight ratios. The Caparo T1. You can already expect some lunacy from a car that looks more like the x2010 concept from Adrian Newey than like a normal, actual road-going car. Weighing a feather-like 470Kg, this monoposto has got a 9000RPM, 3.5litre, N/A V8 which puts down… well, you will have to prepare yourself for this one 700hp. SEVEN HUNDRED EFFIN’ HORSEPOWER. This makes for a power-to-weight ratio of 1.48hp/Kg of sheer and utter madness. Add this to 3G of lateral acceleration, 0-100Km/h in 2.5 seconds, to a top speed of 330Km/h and you’ve got a pilot slayer or at very least the most oh, I crapped my pants ride of your life.

Do you think I left out any car on this list? Do you agree with all cars on this list? Share your opinions and thoughts in the comments!
Hope you enjoyed the read!