OMFG: Turboboosters and torque

Please read in context as the ridiculousness of the wording is priceless:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37111722/ns/business-forbescom/

"...This can be a tough combination. That's because speed is achieved through costly turboboosters and torque and by lightweight carbon-fiber body panels and aluminum frames. The aluminum frame of the Audi TTS, for example, is 48 percent lighter than a steel frame of identical size. Other components, such as carbon fiber spoilers, ceramic brakes and finely tuned, hand-built engines are considerably more expensive than standard features. That's where the delicate balance of price vs. power comes in..."

I think this chick Hannah Elliot must have been watching too much Transformers: http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Turbo_Booster

I swear the language of the article sounds like a highschooler wrote it...

Oh God, it gets better:

"...The car makes things easy for drivers who actually enjoy the act of driving, using dynamic stability control and traction control to monitor the car around corners and through slick patches, with an on-board computer that shows oil levels, spark-plug status and remaining travel range..."

I know I worry about spark-plug status...

WOW misinformation: "...Ford's GT500 packs a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine with 305 horsepower and 208 pound feet of torque..."

Whatever you do GRM, don't hire this girl...

I need to add some costly torque to my cars.

In regard to the linked incredibly low quality journalism: That is what you get when someone of little skill attempts to write about something they know absolutely nothing about.

I'd like me some of those turboboosters and torque.

I was surprised that the Camaro nearly doubled the Mustang in sales for April. I wonder if that will last. I figure a lot of it has to do with the newness of the Camaro and pent up demand whereas Mustang fans already have their Mustangs.

TJ,

No, it has entirely everything to do with the fact that anybody who wants a Mustang is waiting for the 5.0 and the new V6 to hit the showrooms.

if i put enough number stats and prices in my article it'll sound like i know what i'm talking about!

I just tore this one out of a previously respected trade mag, dude talking about a NASCAR race:

"During a race, the cars typically move at over 200 mph while the engine generates over 800 hp of torque. In the past, a front end collision would often rip the fuel pump from the engine block allowing fuel to spew all over the hot engine. This created a high risk of fire..."

In an engineering mag, seriously...

Hey I just upgraded by turboencabulator but I forgot to add the expensive torque. Will the engine last?

tuna55 wrote: I just tore this one out of a previously respected trade mag, dude talking about a NASCAR race: "...while the engine generates over 800 hp of torque..." In an engineering mag, seriously...

NO FAIR! I want a Torque-Horsepower Converter! That's the rarest of the rare...

ouch... my head hurts after reading that article...

Torquepower?

P71 wrote: TJ, No, it has entirely everything to do with the fact that anybody who wants a Mustang is waiting for the 5.0 and the new V6 to hit the showrooms.

That makes sense (sort of). So are those monthly sales figures for Mustangs down over normal levels then? From what I see 85% of the Mustangs driving around are driven by secreatries, housewives, and all sorts of other non-car people - I can't imagine they even know what a 5.0 means. For the few Mustang buyers that care more about performance than fake scoops on the sides and hoods of their cars waiting makes sense to me. Just look at how successful the Mustang has been over the past 20 years - they are everywhere - they are not a tiny sales niche like an RX-8 or something. It just doesn't seem to add up that the enthusiast buyer really dents overall Mustang sales.

I think Mustangs are like a rear wheel drive American version of a Camry for most of the people who buy them. What percentage of them are V6 automatic cars? I think a good number. Not knocking the car nor its sales success, I'm just thinking that they appeal to regular people and not just us.

people like that make me wonder if they are waiting on the Mustang 5.1 or even the new version 6 and hoping it will not be as bad as Microsoft's Vista

waddya expect, it's MSNBC... It's not like you can expect the truth from them, whether they are aware of it or not.

If she really thinks that speed costs money, someone should introduce her the the challenge.

TJ,

Ford's decision to make the new engine 5.0L in displacement had everything to do with marketing. Also, see the 31MPG V6 ads. The people that are waiting may not be "enthusiasts", but they know a better product is coming.

P71 wrote: TJ, Ford's decision to make the new engine 5.0L in displacement had *everything* to do with marketing. Also, see the 31MPG V6 ads. The people that are waiting may not be "enthusiasts", but they know a better product is coming.

The V6 Mustang is rumored to have performance to keep up with the 370Z or Genesis Coupe, and weight should be moderately close as well. Base V6 is around 23k, so I think you may find more enthusiasts looking at a V6 'stang than ever before. I'm intrigued.

I'm off to check my spark-plug status manually. I suppose I could just take the hood off, though...and leave it off. That would be a good system for that.

"Yep..they're there...still."

Clem

I suppose if I tried to write an article about chemisty or medicine and tried to sound smart to other people who don't know anything about the subject(s)...I'd probably sound about the same as the author of that article.

But...I wouldn't do that.

TJ said: Not knocking the car nor its sales success, I'm just thinking that they appeal to regular people and not just us.

Yeah, but it isn't ONLY enthusiasts that read magazines like Car and Driver...

skruffy wrote: Torquepower?

turborque?

Tom Heath wrote:

P71 wrote: TJ, Ford's decision to make the new engine 5.0L in displacement had *everything* to do with marketing. Also, see the 31MPG V6 ads. The people that are waiting may not be "enthusiasts", but they know a better product is coming.

The V6 Mustang is rumored to have performance to keep up with the 370Z or Genesis Coupe, and weight should be moderately close as well. Base V6 is around 23k, so I think you may find more enthusiasts looking at a V6 'stang than ever before. I'm intrigued.

See yesterday's Autoblog for said comparison: Battle of the Sixes: Ford Mustang V6 takes on Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 and Nissan 370Z

are they really gonna re-release the svo? i think a turboboosted 4banger with high torque-horsepowers would be cool in a mustang with carbonfiber and aluminum frame etc...

I want to do my own comparison. As that article points out, Mustang is significantly cheaper than the Hyundai, and way cheaper than the Z. (Read that sentence again...the times, they are a changing.)

just being able to compare the Mustang to the Z to the Hyundai is an incredible leap in the past 25 years