Bada Bing

I was wondering if somebody could clarify how VW and Audi report their horsepower numbers for U.S. cars. I know that European DIN hp ratings are something like 1.5% higher than SAE numbers. That's why the new BMW 330i is rated 258 hp in Europe but 255 hp in the U.S. My confusion comes from the fact that Audi and VW apparently report the same number for both continents (200 hp for the 2.0T and 255 hp for the 3.2 V6).

The new Jetta is listed at 150 hp but U.S. car magazines list it at 148 hp. The new 2.0T engine is listed on the window sticker and all of VW and Audi's literature as having 200 horses but the review of the Passat and A4 2.0T quattro in this month's Car and Driver list them both at 197 hp. Can't VW and Audi get in legal trouble for knowingly misleading the public? The other unlikely explanation is that they retune their U.S. models to get back that extra lost 3-5 horses, but I highly doubt that. BTW, the S4 is listed at 344 hp in Europe but 340 hp in the U.S. so there is no consistency.

PetrolDave

In Europe the S4 figures assume 98RON gas, but standard European pump gas is only 95RON (you can get 98/99RON in some gas stations, but it is SERIOUSLY expensive stuff!).

DamienR8

As for legal trouble maybe. From what i know a couple of years ago, ford was sued because their marketing on their mustang showed higher numbers than what was actually available on the car. However that was a big horsepower issues, unlike the 3 hp difference in the audi. But who knows.....

a4flyer

Apparently they advertised and sold cars when first introduced using a falsely high hp rating. Don't know that it was intentional as much as some major screw-up. They had to mollify numerous customes - maybe even going so far as to take back cars. Can't remember the details but this was only a few years ago. It was way more than 3 hp...I gotta think there is some legitimate explanation for a 3 hp difference...maybe Euro vs US emissions equipment makes the difference?

slideurride

Sport compact car magazine found the (huge) discrepancy in the numbers that mazda was advertising for the rx8. Apparently it had something to do with emissions equipment if i remember correctly. For people who had already bought the rx8, mazda offered to either buy back the car or to give free maintenance for life & some spending money for some mazda accessories.