300bhp per tonne

[300bhp/ton]

Just having a little look around and it's surprising how few cars actually exceed 300bhp/metric tonne.

Of course we can always find some via Google and there are plenty of extreme examples. But even some of the modern heavy weights that we take for granted, with their massive power outputs, are actually often still a reasonable amount short.

Make/Model	Weight (kg)	Weight (tonne)	Power bhp	Power/weight
2012 Jaguar XFR-S	1987	1.987	542.5	273
2014 BMW M5	1945	1.945	592	304
2004 BMW M5 (E60)	1830	1.830	500	273
2014 Porsche Boxster GTS PDK	1375	1.375	335	244
2000 BMW M3 (e46)	1570	1.570	338	215
2013 BMW M3 (F80)	1595	1.595	425	266
2015 Audi RS3 Sportback	1595	1.595	362	227
2007 Lotus Elise SC	903	0.903	217	240
1998 Porsche 911 C4 (996)	1375	1.375	296	215
2014 BMW 650i xDrive Gran Coupé	2055	2.055	444	216
2002 Jaguar S-Type R	1800	1.800	390	217
1993 BMW 840Ci	1830	1.830	282	154
2012 Subaru BRZ	1253	1.253	197	157
1996 BMW 328i Coupe	1395	1.395	190	136
2008 Nissan 370z	1466	1.466	331	226
2012 Morgan Aero Coupe	1175	1.175	362	308
2014 Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430	1610	1.610	430	267
2014 Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Coupé	2070	2.070	577	279

Modern cars are certainly more powerful and often a lot faster. But power to weight really does highlight how much weight some cars have gained.

Although I guess it's interesting to see how some cars of a past era are viewed. Few would argue the abilities of the e36 328i, but I think it is often forgotten what it weighed and with its lowish output engine (in a modern sense), comes in massively behind something like the GT86 in power to weight terms.

[GroundEffect]

That's because 300BHP/tonne is a big number. My car is 250-odd BHP/tonne and it's certainly adequate for the road.

[Poopipe]

Even the smallest hatches are going to need getting on for 350bhp to qualify these days - which is a bit of an ask from any engine thatll fit in them (reliably at least)

[Bennet]

If you add an 80kg driver to either of the two cars you list that actually pass the benchmark, they both cease to meet it.

[hornetrider]

Who cares about some arbitrary figure of no significance?

[FreeLitres]

Yep, 300bhp/tonne is a little ambitious.

Time to change user names OP!

[Wills2]

300hp/tonne is a huge amount of power in a road car, you have to be looking at the latest 991 GT3/turbo to gain entry as a standard car and then on into the likes of Ferrari/Lambo/McLaren/R8 [insert mental car of your choice] etc...

Only a few of the AMG/M monsters get to the 300 mark.

[JockySteer]

hornetrider said:

Who cares about some arbitrary figure of no significance?

[300bhp/ton]

hornetrider said:

Who cares about some arbitrary figure of no significance?

What number should we care about then?


Seriously, aren't all performance stats & metrics arbitrary.

[braddo]

Yep, 200-250hp/ton will cover the majority of fast cars.

I bought a 300hp/ton car last year and the step up in performance is pretty eye-opening.

[ikarl]

Between 700 and 600 bhp per tonne.
Koenigsegg Agera 4.7L V8 - [2010]
696.1 bhp per tonne

Koenigsegg CCX 4.7 V8 Supercharged - [2006]
683.0 bhp per tonne

Koenigsegg CCX 4.7 V8 Supercharged - [2006]
683.0 bhp per tonne

Porsche 9FF GT9 - [2008]
680.6 bhp per tonne

Koenigsegg CCR 4.7 V8 Supercharged - [2005]
655.2 bhp per tonne

Gumpert Apollo Enraged 4.2 V8 Turbo - [2012]
654.4 bhp per tonne

Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16 Super Sport - [2010]
644.1 bhp per tonne

McLaren F1 LM 6.0 V12 - [1995]
630.8 bhp per tonne

Ferrari LaFerrari 6.3L V12 - [2013]
628.6 bhp per tonne

Gumpert Apollo S 4.2 V8 Twin Turbo - [2009]
616.6 bhp per tonne

Between 600 and 500 bhp per tonne.
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse - [2012]
594.9 bhp per tonne

Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged - [2013]
570.6 bhp per tonne

Pagani Zonda Cinque 7.3L - [2008]
560.3 bhp per tonne

McLaren F1 6.0 V12 - [1994]
550.0 bhp per tonne

Ariel Atom 300 Supercharged - [1999]
545.4 bhp per tonne

Radical SR3 1.5 16V - [2001]
541.9 bhp per tonne

McLaren 675 LT 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo - [2015]
541.4 bhp per tonne

Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16 - [2005]
530.1 bhp per tonne

W Motors Lykan HyperSport 3.7L Twin Turbo - [2013]
528.5 bhp per tonne

McLaren P1 3.8 V8 Hybrid - [2013]
521.1 bhp per tonne

Noble M600 4.4L V8 - [2009]
520.0 bhp per tonne

Caterham 7 Superlight R500 - [2009]
519.7 bhp per tonne

Pagani Huayra 6.0L Twin turbo - [2013]
518.5 bhp per tonne

BAC Mono 280bhp - [2011]
518.5 bhp per tonne

Caterham 7 Superlight R500 - [2000]
511.1 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Veneno 6.5 V12 - [2013]
510.3 bhp per tonne

Nissan R390 3.5L V8 - [1997]
500.9 bhp per tonne

Between 500 and 400 bhp per tonne.
Lamborghini Veneno Roadster 6.5 V12 - [2013]
496.6 bhp per tonne

Ford GT 90 6.0L V12 - [1995]
496.2 bhp per tonne

Ariel Atom Mugen - [2012]
490.9 bhp per tonne

Ascari A10 5.0 V8 - [2006]
488.2 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce - [2014]
485.2 bhp per tonne

Pagani Zonda F - [2005]
482.9 bhp per tonne

Radical RXC 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo - [2014]
482.9 bhp per tonne

McLaren 650S 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo - [2014]
481.9 bhp per tonne

Ferrari 488 GTB 3.9 V8 Turbo - [2015]
481.7 bhp per tonne

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta 6.3L V12 - [2012]
478.6 bhp per tonne

Ferrari Enzo 6.0 V12 - [2002]
476.1 bhp per tonne

Caterham Super 7 JPE - [1992]
463.8 bhp per tonne

Ferrari 458 Speciale 4.5 V8 - [2013]
462.7 bhp per tonne

McLaren 625C 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo - [2014]
461.0 bhp per tonne

Aston-Martin One77 7.3L V12 - [2011]
460.1 bhp per tonne

McLaren 650S Spider 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo - [2014]
457.8 bhp per tonne

Westfield Sport 2000S - [2004]
454.5 bhp per tonne

Caterham 7 CSR 260 - [2005]
452.1 bhp per tonne

Caterham 7 485 2.0L - [2013]
451.4 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Aventador LP720-4 50th Anniversario - [2013]
450.7 bhp per tonne

McLaren 625C Spider 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo - [2014]
447.6 bhp per tonne

Porsche 911 GT2 RS 997 - [2010]
445.9 bhp per tonne

Porsche Carrera GT - [2003]
442.7 bhp per tonne

Saleen S7 7.0 V8 - [2000]
441.0 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 - [2011]
438.0 bhp per tonne

Pagani Zonda C12 S 7.3 - [2002]
437.6 bhp per tonne

Gumpert Apollo 4.2L V8 Twin Turbo - [2005]
436.6 bhp per tonne

Ferrari F40 2.9 V8 - [1987]
433.6 bhp per tonne

Pagani Zonda Roadster - [2003]
433.5 bhp per tonne

Maserati MC12 6.0 V12 - [2004]
429.7 bhp per tonne

McLaren MP4-12C 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo - [2012]
429.5 bhp per tonne

McLaren 570 S 3.8 V8 Turbo - [2015]
428.0 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster - [2013]
424.6 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 - [2014]
423.3 bhp per tonne

Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 - [2007]
423.0 bhp per tonne

Ferrari F50 4.7 V12 - [1995]
422.7 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale - [2011]
419.4 bhp per tonne

McLaren MP4-12C 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo Spider - [2012]
417.9 bhp per tonne

Bugatti EB110 SuperSport - [1992]
417.4 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Diablo GTR 6.0L V12 - [2001]
417.2 bhp per tonne

Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 6.2 V8 - [2009]
416.9 bhp per tonne

Dodge Viper SRT 8.3 V10 - [2013]
414.8 bhp per tonne

McLaren MP4-12C 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo - [2011]
412.8 bhp per tonne

Ferrari 599 GTO - [2010]
411.8 bhp per tonne

Caterham 7 Superlight R400 - [2003]
408.1 bhp per tonne

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 6.2 V8 C7 - [2014]
406.7 bhp per tonne

McLaren 540C 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo - [2015]
406.5 bhp per tonne

Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series 6.2 V8 - [2012]
401.2 bhp per tonne

Noble M400 3.0 V6 - [2004]
400.9 bhp per tonne

Ascari KZ1 5.0 V8 - [2003]
400.0 bhp per tonne

Caterham 7 Superlight R400 - [2006]
400.0 bhp per tonne


Between 400 and 300 bhp per tonne.


Chevrolet Corvette Callaway C16 - [2007]
396.9 bhp per tonne

Mercedes CLK GTR 6.9 V12 - [1998]
396.3 bhp per tonne

Mercedes SLR Class McLaren Stirling Moss - [2009]
394.2 bhp per tonne

Ferrari 458 Spider 4.5 V8 - [2011]
393.0 bhp per tonne

Ferrari SA Aperta Pininfarina 6.0 V12 - [2011]
392.9 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Reventon Roadster 6.5L V12 - [2009]
391.1 bhp per tonne

AC Cobra 212 S/C - [2001]
388.8 bhp per tonne

Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR - [2007]
386.5 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Reventon 6.5 V12 - [2007]
384.9 bhp per tonne

TVR Cerbera 4.5 - [1997]
381.8 bhp per tonne

Mercedes SLR Class McLaren - [2003]
381.3 bhp per tonne

Lexus LFA Nurburgring - [2011]
380.4 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 6.5 V12 - [2006]
378.9 bhp per tonne

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - [2012]
378.9 bhp per tonne

Ferrari 458 4.5 V8 - [2009]
378.4 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante Edizione - [2013]
378.4 bhp per tonne

Aston-Martin Vantage GT3 5.9 V12 - [2015]
377.6 bhp per tonne

Aston-Martin Vanquish 5.9 V12 RS - [2009]
375.0 bhp per tonne

KTM X-Bow R 2.0 Turbo - [2011]
373.4 bhp per tonne

KTM X-Bow R 2.0 Turbo - [2013]
373.4 bhp per tonne

Ferrari 430 Scuderia - [2007]
372.5 bhp per tonne

Mercedes SLR Class McLaren 722 Edition - [2006]
371.8 bhp per tonne

TVR Sagaris 4.0 - [2003]
371.0 bhp per tonne

Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSI Quattro - [2015]
369.3 bhp per tonne

Lotus Evora GTE 3.5 V6 - [2012]
368.3 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 - [2008]
368.0 bhp per tonne

Lamborghini Gallardo 5.0 V10 Superleggera - [2007]
367.6 bhp per tonne

Mercedes SLR Class McLaren 722 S Roadster - [2008]
366.2 bhp per tonne

Porsche 918 Spyder 4.6 V8 - [2013]
365.8 bhp per tonne



Ferrari FF 6.3L V12 - [2011]
363.1 bhp per tonne



Wiesmann GT MF5 - [2009]
362.3 bhp per tonne



Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano - [2006]
361.9 bhp per tonne



Audi R8 GT 5.2L V10 - [2011]
361.9 bhp per tonne



Mercedes SLS AMG GT 6.2 V8 - [2012]
359.8 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Diablo SE 5.7 V12 - [1994]
359.3 bhp per tonne



Ford GT 5.4 V8 - [2003]
357.6 bhp per tonne



AC Cobra 427 - [1966]
357.4 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 GT2 997 - [2007]
356.6 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder - [2011]
356.5 bhp per tonne



Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - [2006]
355.6 bhp per tonne



Ultima GTR 5.7 - [2000]
355.6 bhp per tonne



TVR Tuscan S 4.0 - [2001]
354.5 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 GT2 993 - [1995]
353.9 bhp per tonne



Mercedes SL Class 65 AMG V12 Black Series R230 - [2008]
353.4 bhp per tonne



Mercedes SLS Electric Drive AMG - [2013]
350.7 bhp per tonne



Mercedes SLS 6.2 V8 AMG Coupe DCT-7 - [2009]
347.5 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 991 - [2015]
347.1 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Murcielago 6.2 V12 - [2001]
346.0 bhp per tonne



Ferrari 288 GTO - [1984]
344.5 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 GT3 4.0 997 - [2011]
343.5 bhp per tonne



Nissan Skyline GT-R Nismo R35 - [2015]
340.7 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 Ruf CTR Yellow Bird - [1987]
340.1 bhp per tonne



Ferrari California T 3.9 V8 Turbo - [2014]
339.6 bhp per tonne



Aston-Martin Vantage V12 S - [2013]

339.3 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 V12 - [2000]

338.4 bhp per tonne



Lotus 2-Eleven 1.8 Supercharged - [2007]

338.2 bhp per tonne



Mercedes SLR Class McLaren Roadster - [2009]

338.0 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Gallardo 5.0 V10 - [2003]

337.5 bhp per tonne



Ferrari F430 4.3 V8 - [2004]

336.5 bhp per tonne



Audi R8 LMX 5.2 V10 - [2014]

336.5 bhp per tonne



Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster GT - [2012]

336.0 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 GT2 996 - [2004]

334.5 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Diablo VT 6.0L V12 - [2000]

334.1 bhp per tonne



Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale - [2003]

332.0 bhp per tonne



KTM X-Bow GT 2.0 Turbo - [2013]

331.7 bhp per tonne



TVR Tamora 3.6 - [2002]

330.1 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 Turbo S 997 - [2010]

329.9 bhp per tonne



Audi R8 Plus 5.2 V10 - [2012]

329.4 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 Turbo S 991 - [2013]

328.5 bhp per tonne



Jaguar XK R-S GT 5.0 V8 - [2013]

328.4 bhp per tonne



Mercedes CLK DTM AMG 5.4 V8 - [2004]

328.3 bhp per tonne



Dodge Viper SRT-10 8.3 V10 - [2003]

328.2 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 GT3 3.8 991 - [2013]

327.2 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Gallardo 5.0 V10 Spyder - [2005]

326.7 bhp per tonne



Noble M12 GTO 3R - [2003]

325.9 bhp per tonne



Jaguar XJ 220 - [1991]

325.0 bhp per tonne



Aston-Martin Vanquish 5.9 V12 - [2012]

324.8 bhp per tonne



Audi R8 Plus S-Tronic 5.2 V10 - [2012]

324.5 bhp per tonne



Dodge Viper SRT-10 8.3 V10 - [2005]

323.4 bhp per tonne



Audi R8 Spyder GT 5.2L V10 - [2011]

321.8 bhp per tonne



Ferrari F430 4.3 V8 Spider - [2005]

320.9 bhp per tonne



Caterham 7 Superlight R300 - [2003]

320.0 bhp per tonne



Fisker Tramonto 5.4 V8 Performance Plus - [2005]

319.8 bhp per tonne



Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro V10 - [2009]

319.7 bhp per tonne



Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 - [2012]

319.4 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 GT2 996 - [2000]

318.7 bhp per tonne



Mercedes SL Class 65 AMG V12 - [2012]

318.4 bhp per tonne



TVR T350 C 3.6 - [2003]

318.1 bhp per tonne



Ford Mustang GT 500 - [2010]

317.3 bhp per tonne



Noble M12 GTO 2.6 V6 Turbo - [2001]

316.3 bhp per tonne



Lotus Exige S 3.5 V6 Roadster - [2012]

313.6 bhp per tonne



Nissan Skyline GTR R35 - [2012]

313.2 bhp per tonne



Mercedes CLK DTM Cabriolet - [2006]

311.9 bhp per tonne



Ferrari 250 GTO - [1962]

311.5 bhp per tonne



Nissan Skyline GT-R Pure Edition R35 - [2013]

311.4 bhp per tonne



Ferrari 340 Mexico - [1952]

311.1 bhp per tonne



Porsche 959 Turbo - [1987]

310.1 bhp per tonne



KTM X-Bow 2.0 Turbo - [2007]

310.0 bhp per tonne



Jaguar XK R-S 5.0 V8 - [2011]

309.1 bhp per tonne



Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series 1 - [1955]

309.0 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 Turbo 997 - [2009]

309.0 bhp per tonne



Tesla Model S P85D - [2014]

308.6 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Countach LP400 - [1974]

308.3 bhp per tonne



Morgan Aero Coupe 4.8L V8 - [2011]

308.0 bhp per tonne



Porsche 911 Turbo 991 - [2013]

307.1 bhp per tonne



Morgan Aeromax 4.8 V8 - [2008]

306.7 bhp per tonne



Ford GT 40 - [1967]

306.6 bhp per tonne



Vauxhall-Opel VXR8 GTS 6.2 V8 - [2013]

306.2 bhp per tonne



TVR Cerbera 4.2 - [1996]

305.8 bhp per tonne



Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 6.2L V8 - [2011]

305.2 bhp per tonne



Aston-Martin Vantage 600 - [1998]

304.5 bhp per tonne



BMW 5 Series M5 30 Jahre - [2014]

304.3 bhp per tonne



Aston-Martin Vantage V12 Zagato - [2012]

303.5 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Diablo VT 5.7 V12 - [1993]

302.7 bhp per tonne



Aston-Martin DB9 GT 5.9 V12 - [2015]

302.5 bhp per tonne



Ferrari 512 M - [1994]

302.4 bhp per tonne



Monteverdi Hai 450 GTS - [1973]

302.3 bhp per tonne



Monteverdi Hai 450 SS - [1970]

302.3 bhp per tonne



TVR Chimaera 5.0 - [1993]

301.8 bhp per tonne



TVR Griffith 500 - [1993]

301.8 bhp per tonne



TVR Chimaera 500 5.0L V8 - [2001]

301.8 bhp per tonne



Mercedes SL Class 63 AMG Performance Package - [2012]

301.3 bhp per tonne



Aston-Martin DBS V12 2d - [2007]

300.8 bhp per tonne



Lamborghini Countach LP5000S QV - [1985]

300.6 bhp per tonne



Audi R8 Spyder 5.2L V10 - [2009]

300.2 bhp per tonne

Edited by ikarl on Tuesday 1st September 16:36

[2Btoo]

That's quite some list. Thanks for posting.

ETA

Quote removed.

Edited by Big Al. on Tuesday 1st September 18:32

[300bhp/ton]

FreeLitres said:

Yep, 300bhp/tonne is a little ambitious.

Time to change user names OP!

Quite.

Still a little way to go. Think it's around 230bhp/tonne at the moment.

[AnotherClarkey]

300bhp/ton said:

hornetrider said:

Who cares about some arbitrary figure of no significance?

What number should we care about then?


Seriously, aren't all performance stats & metrics arbitrary.

Whoosh parrot required?

[MoelyCrio]

2Btoo said:

That's quite some list. Thanks for posting.

Thanks for quoting it in its entirety.

[dannyDC2]

2Btoo said:

That's quite some list. Thanks for posting.

and thank you for quoting so we could all see it again.

[Patrick Bateman]

Bennet said:

If you add an 80kg driver to either of the two cars you list that actually pass the benchmark, they both cease to meet it.

BMW include the driver, some fuel and luggage in that figure, are most manufacturers not the same?

[DonkeyApple]

300bhp/ton said:

FreeLitres said:

Yep, 300bhp/tonne is a little ambitious.

Time to change user names OP!

Quite.

Still a little way to go. Think it's around 230bhp/tonne at the moment.

Cut down on the pies?

Re your list, while cars have got not just fatter with all the modern kit they've also become physically larger to the point where it almost seems logical to compare, for example, whatever VW's current Polo equivalent is to the early Golfs. If that makes sense?

I also think the static metric of BHp/tonne could possibly mislead as modern VVT and FI probably means cars from today with the same metric as cars from the past will actually be considerably swifter due to much wider power bands?

[Slow]

DonkeyApple said:

Re your list, while cars have got not just fatter with all the modern kit they've also become physically larger to the point where it almost seems logical to compare, for example, whatever VW's current Polo equivalent is to the early Golfs. If that makes sense?

Recently picked up a mk3 golf, its tiny in a carpark. Almost sure its closer to a up than a new gen polo.

Now someone brings proof im wrong no doubt

[soad]

(V10) F1 cars?