f1sh4u

Just interested if anyone knows why most of the major car manufactures limit new cars to 155 mph?

Steve

22BUK

It's because of an "agreement" between the German manufacturers and the German government to create a "limit" of 250kph.

All done, I believe, to keep the "Greens" less unhappy.

dashpig

Does it also have to do with the tyres fitted as standard to these type of cars, i believe they're only recommended safe up to 155 mph ??

There were rumours i heard it was something to do with fact that speed camera's did'nt go off above 155, which Top Gear disproved with a Tuscan - as well as the fact you really should'nt be doing 155 on the public roads

Nido

As said it's the German agreement - too many people spanking thier luxo-barges up at 200mph would result in speed limiting of all the remaining de-restricted areas of Autobahn

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

“gentleman’s agreement” hammered out in the 70’s, when Germany’s Green Party wanted to impose speed limits on de-restricted autobahns. Mercedes, BMW and Audi all agreed to limit their products’ top speed to 155mph.

f1sh4u

Cheers for the info chaps

Steve

AudiLover

the germans will be saying bye bye to that agreement soon

f1sh4u

How come?

AudiLover

Performance chip w. speed limiter removed

The Knowledge: Speed limiters
All you wanted to know about cars but were afraid to ask

Since 1987 all fast Jaguars, Audis, BMWs, Lexuses and all but one of the faster Mercedes have had a common top speed: 155mph. This is the result of a gentlemen’s agreement, originating with BMW, to fit speed limiters similar to those found in lorries.

There were two reasons for the agreement. First it was thought that it would preserve the unrestricted speed limit tradition of some stretches of Germany’s autobahns — something the car companies feared would be in jeopardy if they continued to make ever faster cars — and second it brought design advantages. If a car’s top speed is 155mph rather than, say, 200mph, it can have more comfortable suspension, require less aerodynamic work and use smaller brakes, lowering development and production costs. Manufacturers can also continue to improve acceleration times without commensurate increases in top speeds and the problems that brings.

Not all car makers are signed up to the agreement. VW may own Audi, but it also has Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley, which produce 200mph-plus cars, and the 2007 Audi R9 supercar will be allowed to run unrestricted. Mercedes exempts its SLR, while Porsche and Ferrari have never played ball.

Many industry insiders now believe that speed limiters have had their day and that manufacturers will quietly start to drop them as the pressure to sell more cars increases.

Ironically, the concept of speed limiters has filtered down to less exalted vehicles: in a recent trial in Britain cars were fitted with a system that combined speed limiter and satellite navigation technology. Speed limits were programmed into the sat nav’s map and the driver was prevented from exceeding them. The study found that accidents decreased by around one fifth, prompting calls to have all cars fitted with the system.

The London Times May 28, 2006

CrisPDuk

Nice Murdoch Press article, a little bit of truth liberally padded with badly researched bullsh!t

The bit about the gentlemen's agrement between German manufacturers is correct (although I thought it was before '87), and Jaguar have only had the limiter imposed since Ford's takeover (no one in their right mind would even attempt to get a Leyland built Jag up to 155, so a limiter was an unnecessary expense), although I think the 'R' spec cars are unlimited?

The bit about Audi owning Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley is bollox, they didn't in 1987.

The bit about Porsche not playing ball is true, but back in the '80s they were much smaller company than they are now, so nobody was overly bothered.

The bit about Ferrari is false, they are not a German car company, so the Germans would never have asked them (or the then independent Lamborghini, Maserati & Bugatti) in the first place, and under the political climate of the time, could not have imposed a limit without seriously upsetting the Italians!

There are more exceptions than those mentioned too. All of the RS Audis have had notoriously lax limiters (certain models allowing up to 300kph), most of the AMG cars will 'creep' over the limit, as will M Sport beemers, and I believe the VW phaeton's limiter is tardy in it's operation too, but as there is no actual record of any having ever been purchased by the general public that may be a myth.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

172 MPH,