Is Power Becoming A Useless Luxury? Are The Enthusiast's Days Numbered?

Like all things illegal, people are going to still find a way to get their fix. I know I am.

Horsepower is a necessity.

horsepower itself is a commodity. In this world of "me-too", other "luxuries" will be what makes cars stands out. Horsepower is not going away, but it was not that long ago that 240HP M3 in the US was considered large...now a base 328 has the same power.

as huu would say, only the raisin nuts feel they GOTTA HAVE humungous hp.

i can CRUISE ABOVE every legal limit in this country with LESS than 200 hp. at the same time getting 2x or 3x the mileage.

Take that Car & Driver.

And that all those BMW fanatics who are so proud of their road hugging Bimmers while driving on the, gasp, super winding I-405. I hope your sore butt appreciate your driving prowess.

I love cars..I love horsepower...and I am far, far from being alone.
However, power corrupts and ultimate power, ultimately corrupts. I'm
not talking horsepower but political power. Those in government who want to manage every aspect of our life want to take away our enthusiasm
for life, risk, reward and cars. Choose wisely every election or live a dumbed down grey existence. Personally speaking, they will have to remove the keys to my 424hp '34 Ford from my cold dead hands!

I'm neither a tree hugger nor an advocate for government control but government must step in a set a high MPG requirement or we are all going to hell by 2050. Most if not all want instant gratification and cannot see that this one time we must buckle down and reduce emissions because emissions only go away SLOWLY.

I would never drive a Prius because they are the most BORING cars on the planet (and they tend to have crappy brakes!) but i would certainly opt for an Audi 'E-tron' R4 or even an A1.

I do not think manufacturers or driving enthusiasts will ever give up the exciting sporty cars, but they (OEMs) just may change the way cars generate the power to do so.

Amen brother

Not to worry, the market will keep us whole. Nice to see that video again, one of Clarkson's best.

get a motorcycle!

This is cyclical just like in the 1970's when emission controls were inforced. EVERYONE said the horsepower wars were over and this was the death of performance.

After about 10 years performance started making a comeback, with increased power, better emissions, and better mileage.

Those controls ushered in the changes needed to move the industry forward.

This is not cyclical and it is not only about global temperatures. We are consuming 140% of what the planet can sustain. The US is already using more clean water than what nature can replenish. We're killing the oceans (Pacific Northwest and the Gulf of Mexico to name a few close to home)with massive dead zones from acid rain and fertilizer wash off. We have massively reduced the richness of our soils due to over fertilization in the name of producing more 'biofuels'.

Climate change is the main topic of environmentalists only because we need to act NOW and produce results (reduce total emissions by 50-80% by 2050, even with population increase), but the fact is if we do not reduce consumption, deforestation, water pollution, etc, there wont be many generations left to enjoy what we have now. There are 6.8 billion people on earth. If all consumed at the rate of Americans, the world would only be able to sustain 1.8 billion.

I recommend reading reports from the IEA, DOE, EPA, WEO, etc on emissions and energy outlooks, Some other sources are the Rocky Mountain Institute, US Census, the Smithsonian, the Christian Science Monitor, etc).

This is not about driving a hybrid and basking on the image like most prius drivers do (based on factual data on drivers intent to buy). We have all heard the stories. Change is coming wanted or not, but it does not mean we need to give up fun driving.

i will always speed, always mod, always drive a manual, always be a true enthusiast

Horsepower will always be important when shoppers look for a luxury car. The way they create that horsepower my change and become more efficient, but it will always be there. A good example of this would be the Infinti Essence.

I love how Pelosi is pushing the CAFE agenda when she flys back and forth to DC from California TWICE A WEEK in a private jet.

I'm sure everyone here can figure out the astronomical cost of the fuel, not to mention the emissions from these semi-weekly trips.

Digusting.

true indeed. 'do as i say, not as i do.'

Because Pelosi's state is going to hell in a handbasket that she helped to create. She needs to take her own advice she gave to the auto executives.