Interesting read:

KOENIGSEGG CCR BREAKS SPEED RECORD

"The CCR raised McLaren's previously unofficial mark of 232.5mph set at Nardo/Prototipo in 1993 by 10mph."

Only 10MPH increase after 11 years of technology improvements? Shucks.. thats not very good is it. Guess we will have to wait for slush hydrogen or some other super fuel.

 

Remeber though, that hampering the tech advances are Government legislations on emmisions etc.

 

It takes an almost exponential increase in power (+improvements in aerodynamics) to see any real gains at this level of performance...10mph is quite a gain IMO.

Andy

 

It's actually a cubic relationship as far as aerodynamics are concerned and that's your major drag at high speed (as opposed to mechanical losses).

That means that to double your speed takes 8 times the power

 

Here we go dug out my old aerodynamics notes:

Power required to overcome drag
= Frontal area of vehicle * Coeff Drag * Velocity cubed * fluid density /2

Since frontal area, coeff drag and fluid density will remain constant (barring things like moveable spoilers) therefore if you double your speed you require 8 times the power (2 cubed)