400BHP cars in pipeline: has Japan dropped the 280bhp 'limit'?

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I was reading Autocar this week, and they were getting all in a lather about some forthcoming Japanese monsters. Apparently, range-toppers from Toyota (new Supra), Honda (new NSX), Nissan (GT-R) Mazda (supercharged new-RX-7) and Subaru (all-new model) are in the works, and all of them, spookily, are said to be 400BHP.

So, has Japan dropped the 280BHP gentleman's agreement, in favour of one at 400BHP? Sounds logical, what with the horsepower wars going on in Germany and Italy at the moment, any new 'supercar' from Japan is going to get killed if it comes out under 300BHP. Of course we all knew that some horses were larger than others, but I suspect that there's a new agreement around that I've not heard about.

Has anyone else heard this?
 
I haven't heard any info on this, but it seems very interesting! If they set a new "gentleman's agreement" at 400BHP, are some cars going to be putting out numbers closer to the 450BHP mark like how they rated the Skyline at 280BHP but it actually put out a little over 300BHP?
 
Interesting point - the "gentleman's agreement" is a widely accepted rumor. The 280 PS limit is so that Japanese manufacturers can enter their cars in a certain JGTC racing class. So, if the JGTC changed its regulations, we might start seeing more powerful cars from the Far East.
 
Yeah, great find! I hope they do start putting up some higher numbers. I mean c'mon only 280 ps on a twin turbo car? I know they can do better than that. I'm mostly interested in the new GTR and supra but the NSX is always a nice car. I don't care too much for subaru but their still good cars.
 
risingson77 that's a great find. Did you guys read that the whole way through. I don't know whether to believe the JGTC theory or other one about protectig each other. Even though the JGTC one sounds good I'm more inclined to believe the one about how they restricted the numbers to protect the oconomy. Although thinking about it still doesn't make 100% sense.:confused:
 
My take: why would one manufacturer want to relinquish a perceived advantage over a rival? The JGTC theory just makes more sense to me, being a capitalist and all. ;)
 
How would that protect the economy? It sounds like it would do the exact opposite. If they're all going to produce 276 HP engines, there is no competiveness.

The JGTC theory makes perfect sense to me.
 
I would believe it apart from one little thing which is like one of the blokes said in the thread he posted was most of the people go along to see the GT500 class. I can't see why they just wouldn't go all out for that and give their cars whatever horse power. Okay the fact that GT300 actually shows the full potential of the actual car and could give a consumer kind of whoose car is better idea. But it seems that they're concerving a bit much of their cars capiability's just for racing. I just would of imagined that if they wanted good sales then maybe they could give the things like skylines etc. 350 bhp (for argument sake) and still enter the GT500 which most of the viewers really want to watch. That's all. Just my little theory. I'm generally with you lot in thinking that the JGTC theory is probably the correct reason for it all, but I'm not 100% with it. But that's just my opinion...
 
I didn't know that it was ACTUALLY a law, I thought it was more of a "Monkey see monkey do" Because the Mitsubishi GTO(3000gt) was rated at 310HP, and was sold as such...
 
It wasn't really a law, just seemed to of done it to get into racing. But now they're forgetting that and giving more BHP. I'd imgine they'd might carry on producing the old 276BHP cars so they can still in GT 300 (and before any of you lot say anything yes I am admitting defeat and going along with the JGTC theory).
 
i have a question, the jdm Subaru impreza wrx sti is rated at 276hp but dynos over 300, and the wrx sti we get here is rated at 300hp; does that mean that the jdm spec impreza is better?
 
No, not really. When you have a small engine (especially with a turbo) a little extra displacement goes a long way towards smoothing your power curve. There's more to power than the HP/displacement ratio.
 
they only post the rpm @ which 280 ps is reached.

take a look at the figures on the R34 for example.
if 280 is reached at let's say 4400 rpm, then that's what they'd list, 280 hp @ 4400 rpm

it might or might not be the maximum hp for that car..;) sneaky lil bastages. :D
 
Originally posted by Driftster
I didn't know that it was ACTUALLY a law, I thought it was more of a "Monkey see monkey do" Because the Mitsubishi GTO(3000gt) was rated at 310HP, and was sold as such...
Click to expand...
Because nobody would bother to race an overweight, over-teched "super"car? :confused:
 
can someone tell me the differcne between ps and kilowatts ( i deal in Kilowatts)
 

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