List of automotive superlatives.html
 
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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

Contents

Engine displacement

Flat-twin

Straight-3 (I3)

Straight-4 (I4)

V4 engine

  • Smallest V4 engine - 746 cc (46 cu in) - 1960 ZAZ 965 V4
  • Largest V4 engine - 2,568 cc (157 cu in) - 1930 Lancia Lambda V4

Flat-4

Straight-5 (I5)

  • Smallest I5 engine (gasoline) - 1,921 cc (117 cu in) - 1981 Audi 100 1.9 E
  • Smallest I5 engine (Diesel) - 1,986 cc (121 cu in) - 1978 Audi 100 2.0 D
  • Largest I5 engine (gasoline) - 3,653 cc (223 cu in) - 2007 GM Atlas L5R 3700
  • Largest I5 engine (Diesel) - 3,469 cc (212 cu in) - 1990 Toyota Land Cruiser 1PZ Diesel

Straight-6 (I6)

V6 engine

  • Smallest V6 engine (gasoline) - 1,597 cc (97 cu in) - 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer 6A1
    • Honorable mention: - 1,000 cc (61 cu in) - 1960s DKW F102 (a two-stroke V6) (about 100 produced for testing, 13 fitted to road cars)[1]
  • Smallest V6 engine (Diesel) - 2,496 cc (152 cu in) - 1996 Audi/VW 2.5 TDI (in multiple cars)
  • Largest V6 engine (gasoline) - 7,800 cc (476 cu in) - 1966 GMC 1000-3500 series 478E 60° V6
  • Largest V6 engine (Diesel automobiles) - 4,304 cc (263 cu in) - 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Supreme Brougham, Calais GM LT6

Flat-6

  • Smallest Flat 6 engine - 1,991 cc (121 cu in) - Porsche 911
  • Largest Flat 6 engine - 5,490 cc (335 cu in) - Tucker Torpedo
    • Honorable mention - 9,651 cc (589 cu in) - Tucker Torpedo prototype, never saw production

V8 engine

  • Smallest road car V8 engine (gasoline) - 1,990 cc (121 cu in) - 1975 Ferrari 208 GT4
    • Honorable mention - 1,600cc (98 cu in) - 1998 Suzuki C2 (concept car)
  • Smallest V8 engine (Diesel) - 3,328 cc (203 cu in) - 2000 Audi A8 3.3 TDI
  • Largest V8 engine (gasoline) - 8,194 cc (500 cu in) - 1970 Cadillac Eldorado 500
    • Honorable mention: 12,782 cc (780 cu in) - 2006 Weineck Cobra 780 (limited edition tuner car)
  • Largest V8 engine (Diesel) - 7,275 cc (444 cu in) - 1997 Ford F250 Power Stroke

W8 engine

    • Honourable mention: 4,000 cc (244 cu in) - 2002-2004 Volkswagen Passat W8 4 Motion

V10 engine

Flat-12

V12 engine

  • Smallest road car V12 engine - 1,995 cc (122 cu in) - 1948 Ferrari 166 Inter Colombo
    • Honorable mention: - 1,497 cc (91 cu in) - 1947 Ferrari 125 S Colombo (Not a production road car).
  • Largest V12 engine - 11,508 cc (702 cu in) - 1960 to 1965 GMC Twin-Six "702" for commercial trucks
    • Honorable mention: - 7,467 cc (456 cu in) - 1934 Packard Twelve Victoria (pre-WWII)
    • Honorable mention: - 7,730 cc (472 cu in) - TVR Cerbera Speed 12 (Vehicle never reached production).

W12 engine

V16 engine

Dimensions

Overall

Wheelbase

Track

  • Widest Front - 1,920 mm (76 in) - 2002 Unimog U5000
  • Widest Rear - 1,920 mm (76 in) - 2002 Unimog U5000
  • Narrowest Front - 990 mm (39 in) - Peel P50
  • Narrowest Rear - 521 mm (21 in) - Isetta

Weight

Other

Power

Most power

  • Petrol/Gasoline - (naturally-aspirated) - 485 kW (660 PS/651 hp) - 2003 Enzo Ferrari V12 engine
    • Honorable mention: 820 kW (1115 PS/1100 hp) - 2006 Weineck Cobra 780 (limited edition tuner car)
  • Front-wheel drive: 226 kW (307 PS/303 hp) - GM LS4, 2005 Chevrolet Impala SS and Monte Carlo SS
    • Honorable mention: 298 kW (400 hp) 1970 Cadillac Eldorado (400hp and 550ft/lbs measured at the crank)

Most torque

  • 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)citation needed
  • 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 — 1045 hp/metric ton (1.91 lb/hp) - 2007 Caparo T1 V8 engine 575 hp (429 kW) and 470 kg (1036 lb)

Most specific engine output (power per unit displacement)

  • Honorable Mention 126.49hp/litre - Ascari A10 (625hp/466kW/634PS 4941cc V8) (Limited production, only 50 to be produced)
  • Petrol/Gasoline (forced-induction) piston engine - 149 kW (203 PS/200 hp)/litre 400 hp - 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII FQ400 (298 kW (405 PS/400 hp) 2.0 L I4 (The FQ400's status as a "production car" is disputed)
  • Diesel (naturally-aspirated) - 33.4 kW (45.4 PS/44.7 hp)/litre (100 kW (136 PS/134 hp) DIN 3.0 L I6) - 1995 Mercedes E 300 D
  • Diesel (forced-induction) - 75.2 kW (102,2 PS)/litre (150 kW (204 PS) 2.0 L I4 twin-turbo) - 2007 BMW new 2L engines
    • Honorable Mention: 81.6 kW (111 PS/109.5 hp)/litre (156 kW (212 PS/209 hp) 1.9 L I4 twin-turbo) - 2003 Opel Vectra OPC Concept (Not a production vehicle)
  • Naturally-aspirated pistonless rotary engine - 140.5 kW (191.1 PS/188.8 hp) /litre - Mazda RX-8 Renesis (184 kW (250 PS/247 hp) JIS 1.3 L)
  • Forced-induction pistonless rotary engine - 157.4 kW (214.1 PS/212.3 hp)/litre - 2003 Mazda RX-7 13B-REW (206 kW (280 PS/276 hp JIS 1.3 L)( Numbers based on insurance claims for lower premiums, all Japanese supercars of that era (1988 to 2003) were rated at 276hp)

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 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 mpg-US (4.9 L/100 km/58 mpg-imp)/60 mpg-US (3.9 L/100 km/72 mpg-imp) - 2001 Honda Insight 5-speed
    • Note: in 2007 the EPA changed its measurement standards, changing the rating to 48 mpg-US (4.9 L/100 km/58 mpg-imp)/58 mpg-US (4.1 L/100 km/70 mpg-imp)
  • Lowest USA EPA mileage - 8 mpg-US (29 L/100 km/9.6 mpg-imp)/12 mpg-US (20 L/100 km/14 mpg-imp) - 2008 Hummer H2
  • Lowest EU fuel consumption - 2.99 L/100 km (94.5 mpg-imp/78.7 mpg-US) - 2002 VW Lupo 1.2 TDI 5-speed
  • Highest EU fuel consumption - 24.1 L/100 km (11.7 mpg-imp/9.76 mpg-US) combined city/hwy 2008 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
  • Longest 90% range - 1500 km (932 mi) - 2005 Mercedes E220 CDI with 6-speed manual and optional 80 L (21 US gal/18 imp gal) fuel tank, calculated by using extra-urban Euro cycle mileage of 4.8 L/100 km (59 mpg-imp/49 mpg-US)

Price

  • Most expensive - $1,600,000 - 2006 Bugatti Veyron
  • Most inexpensive - $125 - 1922 Briggs & Stratton Flyer ($1,364.22 in 2006, inflation adjusted) Note that this would be the factory price. The car is probably worth more due to its collector's value.

Performance

 It has been suggested that Fastest production car be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)
  • Quickest 0-60 mph (roughly equal to 0-100 km/h):
  • Quickest 0-200 km/h (124 mph) - 7.4 seconds - Auto Motor und Sport - 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4citation needed
  • Quickest 0-300 km/h time (185 mph) - 18.2 seconds, Auto Motor Und Sport - 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
  • Quickest 0-400 km/h time (248 mph) - 55 seconds - 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4citation needed
  • Quickest 0-100-0 mph:
    • Sports car (2 seat) - 9.9 sec - 2006 Bugatti Veyroncitation needed
      • Honorable mention: 9.4 seconds - 2006 Ultima GTR-720[4] - (Note: production numbers for GTR-720 are not available and the GTR's status as a "production car" is disputed.)
  • Highest top speed:

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 truck nameplate - Ford F-Series (1948–present) — America's bestselling vehicle for 23 consecutive years;3 over 29,000,000 in eleven generations.4
    • 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 single-year sales - 1.36 million - 2005 Toyota Corolla.
    • Best single-month sales - 126,905 - July 2005 Ford F-Series 5
    • Best-selling coupe - Ford Mustang (1964–present) — over 8,000,000 in five generations.
    • 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))6
    • Best Selling Minivan - Volkswagen Type 2

Firsts

Full-production vehicles are listed here. Many were preceded by racing-only cars. This list only includes developments that lead to widespread adoption across the automotive industry.

Industry

Engine types

Engine technologies

Hybrid vehicles

Body

Transmission

-

Layout

Suspension

Brakes

Driver-aids

Passive Restraint

Active restraint

Tires

Lighting

Electrical system