Let the Horses Run!

Horsepower, That Is

Americans have a long-standing love for muscle cars. They expanded the Detroit empire in the 1960s and early 1970s, they’ve appeared in our favorite movies, and they’re mentioned in popular songs. And we like to compare. Whose motor is larger? Whose is faster? While this may be the conversation between neighborhood car enthusiasts, the biggest and most powerful engine in the world isn’t in the United States. In fact, it’s not even in a car. The diesel that earns this supreme designation is the Wärtsilä RT-flex96C, the 14-cylinder 107,389 horsepower mammoth that supplies enough energy to power a town. This Finnish build, however, doesn’t apply its 5,700 kW of energy to the power grid. It’s the powerhouse that runs the Emma Mærsk, a giant and fast cargo ship. Since you probably don’t captain a ship, and we don’t service and repair ocean-going vessels, bring the horsepower behind your four wheels to Jeff’s Auto Repair, location, in Seattle, Washington. We’ll assist you with all makes and models that roll down the road.

The Most Powerful Cars

Not surprisingly, Detroit’s golden era and the following decade produced the most iconic American muscle cars. These include various year models and packages of the Ford Mustang, the Dodge Super Bee, the Dodge Charger, the Chevrolet Corvette, Oldsmobile’s 442, Pontiac’s Catalina, the Pontiac Firebird, Chevrolet’s Chevelle, the GTO (“Judge”) by Pontiac, the Chevy Camaro, and the Buick Grand National (“GNX”). Technological advances have created a different generation of powerhouse vehicles. Modern powerful cars–those with a minimum of 1,000 horsepower–include both combustion- and hybrid-powered vehicles. Most, however, exceed the budget of the average household. Examples of these models include the Mercedes AMG, McLaren Speedtail, Hispano-Suiza Carmen Boulogne, Aria FXE, Aston Martin Valkyrie, and Zenvo TSR-S.

How to Get More Horsepower out of Your Car

If you’re into flexing your car’s muscles, please be careful! We are NOT recommending that you drive dangerously. There are, of course, steps you can take to increase horsepower. Changing air intakes, installing a turbocharger or supercharger, upgrading to a high-performance exhaust, or opting for a performance camshaft can increase power. For the average driver who needs a balance between a hauler for children and groceries and enough power to pull out into traffic confidently, there are some simpler (and less expensive) ways to increase horsepower. Some cars benefit from higher (rather than lower) octane gasoline. Other tips include proper engine lubrication, clean air filters, and timely tune-ups. Conveniently, these are services the ASE certified technicians can provide for you at Jeff’s Auto Repair in Seattle, Washington’s area. So come in and see us! Then let your horses run!