Urban drivers today most commonly encounter stop-and-go traffic. Congested streets offer little opportunity to really test how quickly a vehicle can accelerate, but there are still situations where a rapid start helps to avoid an accident, or when it is imperative to merge quickly. Even though most operators of family cars rarely push their vehicles to the limit, Honda Accord 0-60 specifications show what is possible.
Acceleration measurements were first taken after the Second World War, and the best figures for Detroit-made vehicles exceeded sixteen seconds. Although unimpressive by modern standards, the stats soon began to show marked improvement. The sixties witnessed an explosion of technology sparked by the space race, and acceleration times were reduced by nearly half. The fastest vehicles could boast seven seconds.
The energy crisis that slammed Americans during the seventies caused a temporary decrease in acceleration standards. The introduction of unleaded fuel in combination with new exhaust emission controls sapped the strength of a generation of vehicles, and even the fastest muscle cars slowed down a bit. Designers worked around those requirements, producing new models that gradually crept back up the scale.
Today, it is common for ordinary cars to reach the sixty miles per hour goal in less than nine seconds. The much-maligned mini-van leaves older sports models in the dust, in spite of a stodgy reputation. Most newly produced automobiles easily beat the old records, and get twice as many miles from a gallon of gas while they do it. The days of impulse-driving cross country have waned, but new cars today could easily meet the challenge.
Car buffs generally look at acceleration figures before they even kick the tires, but many others simply find them mysterious. In reality, the best performing vehicles are often fitted with fast-launch technology, have all-wheel drive, and are wearing so-called sticky tires that rarely slip. Many of these vehicles can record times under 4 seconds, fast by any measurement.
Records are made to be broken, and times will probably go a little lower. For a vehicle used as daily transportation, however, the statistics are more of an indicator of overall performance. When a situation demands quick response in heavy traffic, knowing that the capability exists to escape from a sudden traffic snafu matters greatly when safety is a concern.
Accords are a good example. Most current models produced by this Japan-based corporation fall within the 5.5 to 7.6-second range. Older models can add up to eight seconds to the slowest times. Compared to some vehicles this is relatively slow, but for most drivers acceleration is adequate, and even compensated for by solid engine design and high quality production.
While carefully measured, figures do vary. Poor quality road surfaces can reduce performance, and standard tires can lose their grip. Trunk cargo and passengers add weight, which can also slow acceleration. Weather conditions are also a factor. The best way to determine if acceleration meets personal requirements is a test drive on a variety of roads in different types of traffic.
Acceleration measurements were first taken after the Second World War, and the best figures for Detroit-made vehicles exceeded sixteen seconds. Although unimpressive by modern standards, the stats soon began to show marked improvement. The sixties witnessed an explosion of technology sparked by the space race, and acceleration times were reduced by nearly half. The fastest vehicles could boast seven seconds.
The energy crisis that slammed Americans during the seventies caused a temporary decrease in acceleration standards. The introduction of unleaded fuel in combination with new exhaust emission controls sapped the strength of a generation of vehicles, and even the fastest muscle cars slowed down a bit. Designers worked around those requirements, producing new models that gradually crept back up the scale.
Today, it is common for ordinary cars to reach the sixty miles per hour goal in less than nine seconds. The much-maligned mini-van leaves older sports models in the dust, in spite of a stodgy reputation. Most newly produced automobiles easily beat the old records, and get twice as many miles from a gallon of gas while they do it. The days of impulse-driving cross country have waned, but new cars today could easily meet the challenge.
Car buffs generally look at acceleration figures before they even kick the tires, but many others simply find them mysterious. In reality, the best performing vehicles are often fitted with fast-launch technology, have all-wheel drive, and are wearing so-called sticky tires that rarely slip. Many of these vehicles can record times under 4 seconds, fast by any measurement.
Records are made to be broken, and times will probably go a little lower. For a vehicle used as daily transportation, however, the statistics are more of an indicator of overall performance. When a situation demands quick response in heavy traffic, knowing that the capability exists to escape from a sudden traffic snafu matters greatly when safety is a concern.
Accords are a good example. Most current models produced by this Japan-based corporation fall within the 5.5 to 7.6-second range. Older models can add up to eight seconds to the slowest times. Compared to some vehicles this is relatively slow, but for most drivers acceleration is adequate, and even compensated for by solid engine design and high quality production.
While carefully measured, figures do vary. Poor quality road surfaces can reduce performance, and standard tires can lose their grip. Trunk cargo and passengers add weight, which can also slow acceleration. Weather conditions are also a factor. The best way to determine if acceleration meets personal requirements is a test drive on a variety of roads in different types of traffic.
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