How come only some cars can go up to 80-85mph?

Question

How come there are only some cars (mainly from the late 70's-late 80's) can only go up to 80-85mph and today's cars can go up to 120-150mph?

Answer 1

You are referring to the speedometer range. Back in the 70's the politicians got together and decided that speedometers with a max. of 85 would discourage drivers from driving at 90 or 100.

There is nothing to prevent most of those cars from traveling much faster than the speedometer will read.

There are a few cars than have speed or RPM limiters, that absolutely prevent the higher speeds, but this is very rare.
Mostly, its just a question of horsepower balancing drag that sets the top speed.

Answer 2

But given such a high speed there is a very good chance that you will end up in court. There is now a national scheme which will allow drivers to take part in a speed awareness course as an alternative to prosecution. However, as this scheme is a new initiative it may be that some forces have not yet set it up at a local level. In order to qualify for the course, the driver must not have exceeded the speed limit by excessive amounts. Each force will set it's own trigger speed limits. A driver may only attend one course in three years and the offer of a course is at each Force's discretion. The course aims to improve the quality of the driving of the participants and also make them more aware of the consequences of speeding. You should inform your insurance company as the details you provide them form the basis for the quote and the subsequent cover. If any of the details change and if you do not inform them, it may invalidate your insurance cover. The penalty points are valid for three years but need to remain on your licence for four years. After four years, if you wish you may apply for a new counterpart licence that will not have any record of the points on it. You will need form D1 (previously D750) and a fee of £19.

Answer 3

Many factors determine the actual horse-power of a vehicle's engine.Ratio/ octane of gasoline/ race vehicle's for example use a blend that is close to jet fuel.[160] octane. Octane is the point where internal combustion takes place within the cylinders.
Vehicles such as 1989 Toyota Trecel, were not built for speed, they were built for economic transportaion.[45mpg]. With a quarter sized throtlebody injection system today they would be considered slow pokes. However, with gasoline at $3.50 per gal. they were extremely cheap to drive.

Answer 4

That was the mainstream in the 70's and 80's more fuel efficient, less powerful. Top speed suffers when you don't have the power of todays modern engines.

Answer 5

design but the race cars from those times went faster than that... my mom has a 95 Taurus that the speedo only goes to 85

Answer 6

They were built that way in an effort to conform to new fuel conservation and emissions standards. It took them a while to improve the technology enough to allow efficiency and power together.

Answer 7

well most cars have limiters on them so if a car's gauge says it could go up to 100 but only goes up to 85 mph then is limited! my car BMW is limited to 135 mph, but says 155 mph on the gauge!

Answer 8

those are for adult drivers, the cars that go 140 or better are race car drivers,if they had one that would go only 50-55 that would be for teen agers

Answer 9

there was never any need to go faster than that but today there are those highways called autobahns and that is when u want all that speed

Answer 10

we used to have 55 mph speed limit