List of automotive superlatives

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This page lists superlatives of the automobile industry - that is, the smallest, largest, fastest, lightest, best-selling, and other such topics.

In order to keep the entries relevant, the list (except for the Firsts section) will be limited to automobiles built after World War II. Many odd vehicles emerged in the early days of the automobile industry. There is a section for early superlatives, however.

The list will also be limited to production road cars that meet the following conditions:

  1. Vehicles constructed principally for the transport of people rather than other primary purposes.
  2. 20 or more examples must have been made by the original vehicle manufacturer and offered for commercial sale to the public in new condition - cars modified by either professional tuners or individuals are not eligible
  3. They must be street-legal in their intended markets and capable of passing any tests or inspections required to be granted this status
  4. They must have been built for retail sale to consumers for their personal use on public roads - no commercial or industrial vehicles are eligible

Some notes about units of measurement used herein

Engine capacity/displacement

Engine output

Power

  • 1 horsepower (hp) = 1 brake hp (bhp) = 1.0139 metric hp (PS) = 0.7457 kilowatts (kW)
  • 1 metric hp = 0.9863 hp = 0.7355 kilowatts
  • 1 kilowatt = 1.3410 hp = 1.3596 metric hp

Torque

  • 1 foot-pound force of torque ( ft•lbff) = 1.3558 newton-meter (N•m)
  • 1 newton-meter = 0.7376 foot-pound force

Fuel economy

  • 1 mile per US gallon = 1.2009 miles per imperial gallon = 0.4252 kilometers per L = 235.208 liters per 100 kilometers
  • 1 mile per imperial gallon = 0.8327 miles per US gallon = 0.3540 kilometers per L = 282.4731 liters per 100 kilometers
  • 1 kilometer per L = 2.3521 miles per US gallon = 2.8247 miles per imperial gallon
  • 1 L per 100 kilometers = 235.208 miles per US gallon = 282.4731 miles per imperial gallon

Power to weight or weight to power

(See also: weight-to-power ratio)

  • 1 hp per short ton = 1.12 hp per long ton = 0.82199 kilowatt per metric ton
  • 1 hp per long ton = 0.89286 hp per short ton = 0.76890 kilowatt per metric ton
  • 1 kilowatt per metric ton = 1.2166 hp per short ton = 1.3625 hp per long ton
  • 1 pound per hp = 0.60828 kilogram per kilowatt

Engine capacity

Flat-twin

  • Smallest flat-twin engine (gasoline) - 0.38 L (375 cc/23 in³) - 1948 Citroen 2CV
  • Largest flat-twin engine (gasoline) - 0.85 L (851 cc/52 in³) - 1957 Panhard Dyna Z [1]

Straight-3 (I3)

Straight-4 (I4)

V4 engine

  • Smallest V4 engine - 0.9 L (887 cc/54 in³) - 1960 ZAZ 965 V4
  • Largest V4 engine - 2.6 L (2568 cc/157 in³) - 1930 Lancia Lambda V4

Flat-4

Straight-5 (I5)

  • Smallest I5 engine (gasoline) - 1.9 L (1921 cc/117 in³) - 1981 Audi 100 1.9 E
  • Smallest I5 engine (Diesel) - 2.0 L (1986 cc/121 in³) - 1978 Audi 100 2.0 D
  • Largest I5 engine (gasoline) - 3.7 L (3653 cc/223 in³) - 2007 GM Atlas L5R 3700
  • Largest I5 engine (Diesel) - 3.5 L (3469 cc/212 in³) - 1990 Toyota Land Cruiser 1PZ Diesel

Straight-6 (I6)

V6 engine

  • Smallest V6 engine (gasoline) - 1.6 L (1597 cc/97 in³) - 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer 6A1
    • Honorable mention: - 1.0 L - 1960s DKW F102 (a two-stroke V6) (about 100 produced for testing, 13 fitted to road cars)[2]
    • Honorable mention: - 1.4 L (1396cc) Smart V6 consisting of two combined 3-cyl Smart Roadster engines. This twin turbocharged gasoline engine develops 225bhp at 5500rpm with 162lb ft of torque from 2250-4500rpm). Only 10 prototype Smart Coupé Brabus were fitted in 2003 with this engine made by Mercedes-Benz.
  • Smallest V6 engine (Diesel) - 2.5 L (2496 cc/152 in³) - 1996 Audi/VW 2.5 TDI (in multiple cars)
  • Largest V6 engine (gasoline) - 5.8 L (5755 cc/351 in³) - 1966 GMC 1000-3500 series 351E 60° V6
  • Largest V6 engine (Diesel automobiles) - 4.3 L (4304 cc/262 in³) - 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Supreme Brougham, Calais GM LT6

Flat-6

  • Smallest Flat 6 engine - 2.0 L (1991 cc) - Porsche 911
  • Largest Flat 6 engine - 3.8 L (3824 cc) - Porsche 911

V8 engine

  • Smallest V8 engine (gasoline) - 2.0 L (1990 cc/121 in³) - 1975 Ferrari 208 GT4
  • Smallest V8 engine (Diesel) - 3.3 L (3328 cc/203 in³) - 2000 Audi A8 3.3 TDI
  • Largest V8 engine (gasoline) - 8.2 L (8194 cc/500 in³) - 1970 Cadillac Eldorado 500
    • Honorable mention: 12.8 L (12782 cc/780 in³) - 2006 Weineck Cobra 780 (limited edition tuner car)
  • Largest V8 engine (Diesel) - 7.3 L (7275 cc/444 in³) - 1997 Ford F250 Power Stroke

W8 engine

V10 engine

  • Smallest V10 engine - 4.9 L (4921 cc/301 in³) - Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI
  • Largest V10 engine - 8.4 L (8381 cc/511 in³) - 2008 Dodge Viper

Flat-12

V12 engine

  • Smallest V12 engine - 2.0 L (1995 cc/122 in³) - 1948 Ferrari 166 Inter Colombo
    • Honorable mention: - 1.5 L (1497 cc/91 in³) - 1947 Ferrari 125 S Colombo (Not a production road car).
  • Largest V12 engine - 7.5 L (7467c cc/456 in³) - 1934 Packard Twelve Victoria
    • Honorable mention: - 7.7 L (7730 cc/471 in³) - TVR Cerbera Speed 12 (Vehicle never reached production).

W12 engine

  • Largest W12 engine - 6.0 L (5999 cc/366 cu in³) 2005 Audi A8

V16 engine

W16 engine

Dimensions

Overall

Wheelbase

Track

Weight

Other

Power

Most power

  • Petrol/Gasoline - (naturally-aspirated) - 485 kW (660 PS/651 hp) - 2003 Enzo Ferrari V12 engine
    • Honorable mention: 500 kW (680 PS/671 hp) - McLaren F1 LM (only 5 produced)
    • Honorable mention: The TVR Cerbera Speed 12 produced an estimated 701 kW (953 PS/940 hp) (the central shaft of TVR's dynamometer snapped before they could complete the test)
    • Honorable mention: 820 kW (1115 PS/1100 hp) - 2006 Weineck Cobra 780 (limited edition tuner car)
    • Honorable mention: 588.4 kW (800 PS/789.1 hp) - 2005 Ferrari FXX
    • Front-wheel drive: 226 kW (307 PS/303 hp) - GM LS4, 2005 Chevrolet Impala SS and Monte Carlo SS

Most torque

  • Petrol (naturally-aspirated) - 775 N•m (572 ft•lbf), 1997 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR 6.9 L (5987 cc/365 in³) M120 V12 engine.
    • Honorable Mention: 1760 N•m (1298.1 ft•lbf), 2006 Weineck Cobra 780 cui Limited Edition (12782 cc/780 in³) V8 engine. (Production car status is debatable.)
  • Petrol (forced-induction) - 1250 N•m (922 ft•lbf), 2005 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 L (7993 cc/488 in³) quad-turbocharged W16 engine.
  • Diesel - 1000 N•m (738 ft•lbf), Audi Q7 V12 TDI 6.0 L (5934 cc/362 in³)Twin Turbo V12

Most specific power (power to weight ratio)

  • 100–200 hp — 288.75 hp/metric ton (7.64 lb/hp) — Lotus 340R, 190 hp (142 kW) and 658 kg (1451 lb)
  • 200–300 hp — 657 hp/metric ton (3.35 lb/hp) — Ariel Atom 2 supercharged 300 hp (224 kW) and 456 kg (1005 lb)
  • 300–400 hp — 381 hp/metric ton (5.79 lb/hp) — 2003 TVR Tuscan S 400 hp (298 kW) and 1050 kg (2315 lb)
  • 400+ hp — 949 hp/metric ton (2.33 lb/hp) — 2007 SSC Ultimate Aero TT V8 engine 1180 hp (880 kW) and 1247 kg (2750 lb)

Most specific engine output (power per unit displacement)

  • Honorable Mention: 91.9kW (125PS/123.1hp)/Liter - Nissan Pulsar VZ-R SR16VE N1 (147 kW/200 PS/197hp 1.6L I4) (Limited production, about 1000 produced)
  • Honorable mention: 125.3 kW (168 hp)/litre - 2002 Radical Sportscars SR3 (252 hp (184 kW) 1.5 L I4 engine) - (Note: The Radical's status as a production car is disputed, and numbers refer to the competition version, there are no official data for the road version)
  • Honorable mention: 125 hp/liter - 1968 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (250 hp from a 2.0 liter V8 engine) - note: only 18 cars were built by the factory, at US$17,000 it was the most expensive car available to the public at the time.

Most specific torque (torque per unit displacement)

The mean effective pressure (MEP) is a useful comparison tool, giving the average cylinder pressure exerted on the piston.

  • Petrol (naturally-aspirated) - MEP 14.3 bar, 114 N•m (84 ft•lbf)/litre (370 N•m (273 ft•lbf)) - 2003 BMW M3 CSL
  • Petrol (forced-induction) - MEP 30.3 bar, 241.4 N•m (177.7 ft•lbf)/litre (482.1 N•m (355 ft•lbf)) - 2004 Mitsubishi Evo VIII MR FQ-400
    • Honorable mention: MEP 29.3 bar, 275.6 ft.lbf (172.3 ft•lbf)/litre - 700 N•m/516 ft•lbf Dauer 962 LeMans (Road-going version of the Group C Porsche 962)
    • Honorable mention: MEP unknown, 157 N•m (115.8 ft•lbf)/litre - 156 N•m/115 ft•lbf Suzuki Forsa (Turbocharged L3 Sohc 993cc)
  • Petrol (naturally-aspirated pistonless rotary engine) - MEP 21.5 bar, 170.8 N•m (126.0 ft•lbf)/litre (222 N•m (164 ft•lbf)) - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  • Petrol (forced-induction pistonless rotary engine) - MEP 28.4 bar, 226.3 N•m (166.9 ft•lbf)/litre (294 N•m (217 ft•lbf)) - 1995 Mazda RX-7 Turbo
  • Diesel - MEP unknown, 209 N•m (154.1 ft•lbf)/litre (400 N•m (294 ft•lbf)) - 2007 Fiat new 1.9 JTD Twin Stage Turbo engine (also used on 2007 Saab 9-3 1.9 TTiD)
    • Honorable mention: MEP 26.5 bar, 210.5 N•m (154.8 ft•lbf)/litre (400 N•m (294 ft•lbf)) - 2003 Opel Vectra OPC Concept (Not a production vehicle)

Economy

  • Highest USA EPA mileage - 48/60 mpg (4.9/3.9 L/100 km) - 2001 Honda Insight 5-speed
    • Note: in 2007 the EPA changed its measurement standards, changing the rating to 48/58 mpg (4.9/4.1 L/100 km)
  • Lowest USA EPA mileage - 8/13 mpg (29.4/18.1 L/100 km) - 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
  • Lowest EU fuel consumption - 2.99 L/100 km (78.6 mpg (US)) - 2002 VW Lupo 1.2 TDI 5-speed
  • Highest EU fuel consumption - 24.1 L/100 km combined city/hwy (9.8 US mpg) 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
  • Longest 90% range - 1500 km (932 mi) - 2005 Mercedes E220 CDI with 6-speed manual and optional 80 Liter fuel tank, calculated by using extra-urban Euro cycle mileage of 4.8 L/100 km (49 mpg)

Price

Performance

Sales

See also List of bestselling vehicle nameplates
  • Best-selling models:
    • Best-selling car nameplate - Toyota Corolla (more than 32,000,000 sold in nine generations since 1966)
    • Best-selling vehicle nameplate - Toyota Corolla (more than 32,000,000 sold in nine generations since 1966)
    • Best-selling single model - Volkswagen Beetle (21,529,464 of the same basic design sold worldwide between 1938 and 2003)
    • Best-selling 2-seat car - Chevrolet Corvette (1,302,401 sold between 1953 and 2003 (1,407,858 between 1953 and 2006, not including 2006 Z06)) [7]
    • Best single-year sales - >1,000,000 - Chevrolet Impala, 1965.[8]
    • Best single-month sales - 126,905 - July 2005 Ford F-Series [9]
    • Best Selling Minivan - Dodge Caravan, over 11,000,000 sold.
  • Lowest-production models: (excluding limited-production vehicles)

Firsts

Full-production vehicles are listed here. Many were preceded by racing-only cars.

Industry

Engine types

Engine technologies

Hybrid vehicles

Body

Transmission

-

Layout

Suspension

Brakes

Driver-aids

Active restraint

Passive restraint

Tires

Lighting

Electrical system

Climate control

In-car electronics and entertainment

Other

American types

Pre-War

  • Best-selling pre-war vehicle - Ford Model-T (15,000,000 sold between 1908 and 1928)
  • Least-expensive full-featured automobile - 1927 Ford Model-T ($300 is about $3500 in inflation-adjusted 2005 dollars)
  • Largest vehicle - Bugatti Royale - 21 ft (6.4 m) long, 180 in (4.57 m) or 170 in (4.32 m) wheelbase depending on model
  • Largest pre-war Straight-4 - 21.5 L (21495 cc) - 1912 Benz 82/200
  • Largest pre-war Straight-6 - 21.1 L (21112 cc) - 1905 Panhard et Levassor 50 CV
  • Largest pre-war Straight-8 - 12.8 L (12763 cc/778 in³) - 1929 Bugatti Royale

Other Data for Comparison

These data does not strictly obey the rules of the article, but gives some perspective on what theoretically can be achieved in automobiles.

  • Sport bike Engine - 192 hp/litre - 115 hp from 600 cc - Kawasaki ZX-6R
  • Smallest motorcycle straight-six: 750cc Benelli 750 Sei

External links

Footnotes

  1. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
  2. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
  3. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
  4. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
  5. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
  6. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
  7. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
  8. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
  9. ^ Georgano.
  10. ^ Georgano.
  11. ^ Georgano.
  12. ^ Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. (London: Grange-Universal, 1985)
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