Quote:
Originally Posted by SlingShot
Didn't they start the SAE rating years ago when the insurance companies started charging their rates based on HP ?
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There is what they used to do, which was back in the 60's which ran without accessories. Think of it as Gross HP.
Then they standardized and tested with accessories and exhaust, essentially how it is in your car. Thinks of that as Net HP.
Kind of like your pay check. What you start with is Gross and what you are left with after all the taxes is Net.
But there was a lot of "hanky panky" in the Net Numbers in how you set up the test, what engines you used, etc.. As I recall, just a few years ago they went to a true industry standard (driven by GM as I am told, but don't quote me on that). Suddenly all Toyotas and Hondas lost 20 HP on their V6s in one year and that is why.
In the past, different regions had different measurement procedures. At one point (and it still may be true) Japan and Germany had different rating procedures. If you ever saw a Gernman car, it might have said XXX HP DIN, DIN being similar to SAE in the U.S.